Just across the Dutch border in the Belgian town of Maasmechelen, mountain biker Jens Schuermans is waiting for Tom Dumoulin. It is to be a meetup of two athletes from vastly different cycling disciplines. Having trained just a few kilometers apart for years, today marks their first actual ride together—in the woods, on mountain bikes.
Dumoulin is no stranger to off-road riding, having gone out often during and after his pro cycling career. But he is about to step up his MTB game—and how. Together, they are preparing to dive into the trails and talk about two worlds in cycling: mountain biking and road racing.
MTB Equipment: Two Giants
The two agree to meet at Jens’ family home in Maasmechelen. Quick glances at each other’s bikes turn into a detailed conversation. Both ride the Giant Anthem, a full-suspension cross-country mountain bike—equipped with XTR.
Tom inspects Jens’ bike, squeezing the brake levers, compressing the suspension, and checking tire pressure. “Your setup is different from mine,” Tom says. They adjust Tom’s setup, specifically tweaking lever positions, adjusting the suspension, and releasing air to lower the tire pressure.
Mountain bikes are, by design, significantly different from road bikes. UCI technical regulations for road racing are strict, while mountain biking enjoys more freedom, leading to innovations like progressive geometries. Besides, cross-country (XCO) mountain biking is more explosive and technical. These dynamics require a different posture and bike fit than road cycling.
On the Trails
The day’s excitement focuses as Tom and Jens drop into the singletrack. Jens maneuvers actively on his bike, using his dropper post and playfully engaging the terrain. Tom, accustomed to a meticulously calibrated road bike, finds the dynamic posture and use of a dropper post a bit of an adjustment. Nonetheless, it’s clear he feels at home on a mountain bike.
An old coal mine up ahead turns the landscape into a maze, with trails with significant elevation and technical challenges. The pair shares their professional experiences as they ride, though some of Jens’ ambitious trail choices occasionally force Tom to dismount. Laughing, Tom reflects, “I think Jens overestimated me a bit. He figured I could handle it as an ex-pro. On the road, I descend with the best, but on a mountain bike, I had to skip a few sections today.”
Similarities and Differences Between MTB and Road Cycling
While mountain biking and road cycling share some similarities, they are fundamentally different. Road racing emphasizes tactics, as Tom explains:
“The beauty of road racing lies in its tactical game—the team dynamics, staying shielded from the wind, and knowing when to push forward. That’s wherein I found so much joy.”
For Jens, the skills required to excel as a mountain biker feel completely natural: physicality, technique, and individuality. Yet, he acknowledges his team's indispensable role: “Performance isn’t possible without the support of so many people. Our team is very close—mechanics, caregivers, everyone. You spend months together on the road, sharing victories and losses.”
To Tom, mountain biking offers a connection to nature and a rush of adrenaline:
“When everything flows—whether it’s a beautiful trail or descent—it’s an amazing feeling. Being close to nature and that little adrenaline kick make it special.”
A Crossover of Disciplines
In recent years, more cyclists have successfully bridged multiple disciplines, from Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel to Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The exchange of skills benefits both sides. Mountain biking techniques like descending have improved road cycling safety and performance, thanks in part to people like Oscar Saiz, a former Spanish downhill pro turned road cycling coach:
“About ten to twelve years ago, Louis Delahaye (Rabobank) approached me to help him improve descending safety. We started from a safety standpoint, but once the performance benefits became clear, the focus shifted. With power meters and GPS, riders saw the tangible gains in speed, confidence, and energy efficiency.”
- Oscar Saiz
Oscar points out that having “dirt time” is key to becoming a better rider. He’s referring to cyclists who frequently ride mountain bikes or venture off-road. Riders who bring that experience to road cycling tend to excel at reading corners, determining braking points, and maintaining speed. Of course, some riders possess a natural aptitude for these skills without off-road experience. However, refining techniques can prove advantageous for both groups.
In one test, riders tackled a three-minute descent. The fastest rider opened a 15-second gap. But the time difference wasn’t the most significant win. Power meter analysis revealed that the fastest rider maintained an average output of 90 watts compared to the 180 watts one of his teammates put in. The difference lies in the technique. This test demonstrated how sound technique can increase the safety, speed and efficiency of your descents. With energy left in the bank for the rest of the race.
This example illustrates the importance of looking beyond conventional approaches. In any sport, staying open to external input is critical for gaining new insights and driving progress. Techniques and innovations from mountain biking—such as advanced bike handling—are becoming more popular in road cycling. Conversely, insights from road racing, like scientifically driven approaches to nutrition and specific training methods, are making their way into mountain biking. This cross-pollination benefits both disciplines, pushing boundaries and advancing each sport.
Embracing Differences
Throughout the ride, Jens and Tom discuss everything from training schedules to memorable moments in their careers. A shared theme is the importance of enjoying what you do—a principle that kept Jens in mountain biking:
Jens:
"I love the focus of training every day, working toward my own goals. That might come across as selfish, but there’s so much fulfillment in navigating the pressure to perform on my own terms. It’s one of the main reasons I’ve stayed with mountain biking—I couldn’t see myself giving up my ambitions. I greatly respect riders who dedicate themselves to supporting a team leader, but that life wasn’t for me. Mountain biking is different; it’s a smaller, tighter group of pros where your individual performance means everything. If you don’t deliver, you lose your spot. There’s beauty in setting your own goals and putting in the work to achieve them. It doesn’t always work out, but when it does—those moments are unforgettable. For me, mountain biking isn’t just a sport; it’s the perfect balance of challenge and reward, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything."
Two worlds, two extraordinary careers: one retired, the other still going strong. Despite their differences, Jens and Tom find common ground in their love for cycling. As Tom sums it up:
Tom:
“It’s great to talk about our sports. They’re different yet similar—the race schedules, the structure of an athlete’s life. A fantastic day, celebrating two amazing sports.”
Tech Innovations Crossing Over
Many mountain bike innovations have found their way into road cycling, including ICE TECHNOLOGIES disc brakes, thru-axles, wider rims, tubeless setups, and lower tire pressures.
ICE TECHNOLOGIES can be found throughout the braking system, keeping the brakes cool and feeling consistent. An aluminum core sandwiched between stainless steel helps heat dissipation in the discs, as does the finned design of the brake pads.
Together, these improvements result in a temperature drop of 150 degrees Celsius compared to an ordinary, non-ICE TECHNOLOGIES system. This gives you less brake fade, reduced wear, maintained power and absolute control.
