JUST IN NEWS FANS REGRET: Mathieu van der Poel Shocked by Disturbing Contract Misunderstanding with UCI WorldTeam
Cycling world fans were left stunned this weekend following reports that Mathieu van der Poel had already signed a multi-year contract with a top UCI WorldTeam — a deal many believed marked the next big move in his storied career. However, both van der Poel and his current team have since issued statements denying that any formal contract has been agreed. What began as early whispers in the press rapidly spiraled into definitive “signing” headlines that now appear to be premature.
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🔍 What Was Reported
A number of outlets claimed the Dutch star had inked a deal to depart Alpecin-Deceuninck by the end of this season, joining a rival team known for its big budgets and aggressive race calendar. Speculation grew around a four- or five-year commitment, generous terms, and promises of van der Poel being positioned as a lead rider for Classics, stage races, and world titles.
Fans immediately responded with both excitement and sadness: excitement at the possibilities of new challenges, sadness over the end of his long tenure at his home team. Supporters flooded social media with tributes to what might be his last season in current colours, and theory-crafting about what the switch could mean for his race programme and heritage.
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🚨 The Denials
Only hours after the deal stories went viral, van der Poel’s camp strongly refuted the reports. A spokesperson clarified: “No contract has been signed, no offer is finalized. Mathieu remains committed to his current team for now.” Alpecin-Deceuninck likewise dismissed rumours of imminent departure, acknowledging only that conversations about van der Poel’s future are ongoing — as they are with many elite riders — but nothing binding has been agreed.
The misunderstanding appears to stem from an interview in which van der Poel expressed interest in new challenges and slight fatigue with his current schedule, which some media outlets mis-interpreted as confirmation of changed allegiance.
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😞 Fan Regret & Backlash
Now, many fans are feeling misled. Threads on forums comment on how quickly speculation turned into supposed fact. One fan wrote, “Felt my heart sink thinking it was over at Alpecin — then found out it was just rumours.” Others criticize media outlets for rushing headlines without verification.