Mathieu van der Poel 'paying the price for the attacks he has committed on his body' says physio

DENDERMONDE BELGIUM DECEMBER 26 Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands and Team Alpecin Fenix crosses the finishing line on second place during the 2nd Dendermonde UCI CycloCross Worldcup 2021 Mens Elite CXWorldCup UCIcyclocrossWC on December 26 2021 in Dendermonde Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Van der Poel in action at the UCI World Cup round in Dendermonde on Boxing Day (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Mathieu van der Poel will only return to cyclo-cross action when he feels no pain from his back injury, according to Alpecin-Fenix team manager Christoph Roodhooft. Meanwhile, the Dutch rider's physiotherapist has suggested his 'body is paying the price' for years of competing across multiple disciplines.

Van der Poel, who returned to action with a second place at the UCI World Cup in Dendermonde on Boxing Day, abandoned the Superprestige race in Heusden-Zolder the next day, and was later diagnosed with swelling on an intervertebral disc.

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