'I will need a bit of luck' – Mathieu van der Poel delivers strong mountain bike return at Les Gets but keeps a lid on World Championships expectations

Mathieu van der Poel made a strong return to mountain bike racing at the Les Gets XCO event but finished second, losing a two-way battle for the win to Adrien Boichis. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider performed competitively in the race, which served as a build-up to the Mountain Bike World Championships. Despite his encouraging return, Van der Poel tempered expectations for the World Championships, stating he will need a bit of luck to contend for the title.