How does the classics king compare to other top cyclists?
Mathieu van der Poel is well known as one of the best cyclists in the world, but he’s also a pretty rapid runner (Photo: Loic Venance / AFP)
Published November 16, 2025 03:15PM
Mathieu van der Poel has underlined a become the latest pro cyclist to show considerable running talent, with the Dutchman knocking out an impressive 10km time in recent days.
The road and cyclocross star ended a near-three year absence from Strava on Thursday morning, posting a run of 33 minutes and 52 seconds for 10.05km. The effort in Xàbia, Spain equated to a pace of 3:22 per kilometer.
Velon was more precise, removing the extra 0.05km to give him a 10km time of 33:41. It listed his 5km time as 16:48.
Van der Poel’s time is a very rapid pace for a cyclist, but not the best. In December 2021 Eddie Dunbar competed in a local 5km race in Cork, Ireland, finishing 15th in a time of 15:26.
Van der Poel’s friend Freddy Ovett went even faster that same month, covering 5km in 14:41 while competing in a race in Girona.
He is the son of Olympic gold medalist Steve Ovett, which goes a long way in explaining his blistering running pace.
‘A guy who can do everything well’
Former pro Freddy Ovett (L) has been encouraging Van der Poel to swop cleats for running shoes (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ovett junior is perhaps responsible for Van der Poel’s exercise choice on Thursday. The former pro ran with the world cyclo cross champion, also covering the 10km distance at a pace of 3:22 per kilometer.
He retired from professional cycling several years ago but has remained in touch with Van der Poel. Indeed it seems he was the catalyst for the Dutchman to return to Strava, and may be in part responsible for him to do even more running in the future.
The idea of a much bigger immersion in the sport appears to have originated with the social media star Average Rob. He stated on the Lamber and Albert Podcast that Van der Poel promised to do a full Ironman with them, before clarifying “I think that’s something for four, five, six, or ten years from now. For after his career. Or when he’s in a more relaxed phase and wants to use it as training.
“Apparently, he’s a much better swimmer than people think. He’s a guy who can do everything well. A phenomenon.”
However Ovett appears to be pushing the contest to happen even sooner. In recent days he posted on social media that “MVDP confirms that he will do an @ironmantri if this reel gets 100k likes.”
Van der Poel’s response? “Still need to do the @averagerob one ”
That Instagram clip now has over 90,000 likes, and is growing.
Could it happen this winter? It would be unexpected for most professionals, but the running training might come in useful for Van der Poel’s cyclocross races.
Those hoping for a temporary switch of sports will be keeping their eyes fixed on his Strava account in the weeks ahead, particularly if further brisk runs are logged.
The running cyclists: Van Avermaet, Dumoulin, Pooley
Greg Van Avermaet won the gold medal his age group at the recent Ironman 70.3 world championship (Photo: David Pintens / Belga Mag / Belga via AFP) (Photo: DAVID PINTENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
As the Velon post showed, Van der Poel and Dunbar are just two riders who have posted impressive running times.
Earlier this month former pro Greg Van Avermaet won the 40-44 title at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Other pros have also taken on the discipline and performed well.
As for marathons, there is also a history of former bike riders taking on the challenge. In October past Tour de France runner up and Giro champ Tom Dumoulin clocked a 2:29.21 in the Amsterdam Marathon.
Nacer Bouhanni completed the Frankfurt Marathon last year in 2:34:36, while Ovett ran the Malaga Marathon last December in a time just 12 seconds slower.
Former road world champion Abraham Olano did the San Sebastian Marathon in 2:39:19 in 2006.
The 2010 world time trial champion Emma Pooley showed great flair in the discipline, winning the women’s Lausanne Marathon in 2013 in a time of 2:44:29. That put her inside the top 20 times by British women that year.
What’s unclear right now is just how hard Van der Poel was pushing himself in recent days. Has he got more speed in the tank? And could his Ironman participation happen sooner rather than later?
Either way, his cyclocross rivals may be feeling a little nervous about their upcoming battles.