In a STUNNING revelation that has shaken the cycling world to its core, Dutch superstar Mathieu van der Poel has dropped an emotional, career-defining bombshell:
“I almost quit everything.”
Yes, you read that right.
The reigning king of cyclocross, road, and mountain biking – the man hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent – has CONFESSED he came seconds away from walking away from the sport entirely. And now, for the first time, he’s revealing the heartbreaking truth behind it.
MIND OVER MEDALS
In a raw, tear-filled sit-down interview with Dutch outlet De Tijd, van der Poel bared his soul.
“Everyone saw the wins, the rainbow jerseys, the crowds cheering. But they didn’t see what happened when the cameras were off,” he said quietly. “I was mentally breaking… and no one knew.”
While the cycling community celebrated his 2023 World Championship win and his dominant performances across the Spring Classics, Mathieu was battling silent demons – burnout, identity crisis, and a crushing pressure to be perfect.
I LOST WHO I WAS”
Van der Poel says the turning point came in late 2023 after his incredible Paris-Roubaix victory – a race he won with such dominance that he left fans and analysts speechless.
But behind the scenes?
“I should have been happy. I should’ve been celebrating. But I felt nothing,” he confessed. “I remember sitting alone in the hotel room after the win, staring at the trophy thinking, ‘Why am I even doing this?’”
His routine had become robotic: train, race, win, repeat. The joy that once powered his legendary breakaways and fearless attacks was gone.
“I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I was just… performing. Not living.”
CLOSE TO DISAPPEARING
According to close sources, Mathieu secretly considered quitting the sport in early 2024. Plans were drawn. A retirement announcement was drafted. His inner circle was split between disbelief and support.
“He was ready to walk away,” one insider revealed. “He told us, ‘If I do this for another year, I’ll lose myself completely.’”
And the world would’ve never known — because he was prepared to vanish without a farewell.
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE: “A NEVER-ENDING JUDGEMENT DAY”
In his interview, Mathieu didn’t just blame burnout — he pointed fingers at toxic online culture.
“I’d win a race and people would still comment, ‘Why didn’t he attack earlier?’ or ‘He got lucky.’ And when I lost, the criticism was relentless.”
Van der Poel admitted to doom-scrolling through hate messages after races, even on podium days.
“They didn’t see the sacrifice. They didn’t see the pain. They saw a robot who either performed or failed.”
SECRET STRUGGLES: INJURIES, ANXIETY, AND ISOLATION
Behind the champion exterior, van der Poel was nursing more than just mental wounds. Chronic back issues, recurring knee pain, and severe sleep deprivation were wrecking his body.
“I was popping painkillers like candy,” he admitted. “No one saw me icing my legs at 3 a.m., shaking from exhaustion and asking myself, ‘Is this worth it?’”
He also revealed he refused therapy for over a year, believing it was “weak” to talk about emotions.
“I thought, ‘I’m van der Poel. I’m not supposed to break.’ But I was wrong. I was breaking every day.”
THE MOMENT THAT SAVED HIM
According to van der Poel, the moment that saved his career came during a quiet walk in the woods with his father, Adri van der Poel, himself a cycling legend.
“He said, ‘You’re not Mathieu the cyclist. You’re Mathieu the human. You owe nothing to anyone but yourself.’”
That conversation, he says, “reset” his perspective and convinced him to take a full two-month break from training — his longest time off a bike since childhood.
REBUILDING — AND REBIRTH
During those months, Mathieu disconnected completely. No interviews. No bike. No social media. Just meditation, therapy, and time with his family and partner Roxanne.
He says it was “the hardest thing” he’s ever done — not racing. But it saved him.
When he finally returned to training in April 2024, he was lighter, clearer, freer.
“I came back not to prove anything… but to fall in love again. And I did.”
NOW WHAT?
The shock confession has sent shockwaves across the cycling world. Fans, athletes, and even rival riders are speaking out in support.
Tour de France contender Tadej Pogačar posted:
“Huge respect to Mathieu for speaking his truth. We all suffer in silence too often.”
Even cycling’s gruffest icon, Wout van Aert, tweeted a simple red heart emoji in solidarity — a rare public gesture between the long-time rivals.
Van der Poel says he’s now recommitted to the sport, but with new boundaries.
“If I ever feel myself slipping again, I’ll stop. I don’t want to be a champion at the cost of my soul.”
FANS REACT: “WE ALMOST LOST A LEGEND”
The cycling world is still digesting the news — and the emotional fallout is massive.
“Mathieu was our hero. To think he was suffering this much behind the scenes… it’s devastating,” wrote one fan on Instagram.
Another commented: “I’ll never judge an athlete the same way again. Thank you, MVDP, for reminding us that even giants hurt.”
FINAL WORDS: “I ALMOST QUIT EVERYTHING. BUT NOW I’M FINALLY LIVING.”
Mathieu van der Poel’s confession is more than a headline — it’s a WARNING to the sports world: behind every superhuman performance is a human being.
And while we nearly lost one of the greatest cyclists of all time, we may have just witnessed something even more powerful:
The resurrection of Mathieu van der Poel — not just as a cyclist, but as a man.
Leave a Reply