Mathieu van der Poel continues his rehabilitation and recovery from a back injury while riding his bike outdoors in Spain.

Van der Poel just started riding indoors and outdoors earlier this week, riding in warmer temperatures in Denia on Wednesday.

Alpecin Phoenix notes that he has not resumed training, but is testing his back for pain while riding outside.

"Mathieu is only cycling as part of his rehabilitation. For a professional cyclist, such excursions are part of cycling. It is not a resumption of training," said team manager Christoph Rudhoeft.

Van der Pol is trying to overcome a back injury that plagued him late last year and forced him to cancel his cyclocross campaign this winter.

The injury was reportedly caused by switching between road and mountain bikes as he targeted his road campaign in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics last summer. Although he fell in the men's cross-country race, his back pain is not believed to have worsened.

In December, he was diagnosed with a swollen disc and told that it could heal completely if he rested completely.

According to Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab), Van der Pol plans to begin training on Monday if his back is pain-free. The report said that the race program will not be finalized until Van der Pol completes a pain-free training block.

He has resumed riding again, but will begin at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium on February 26 and the Strade Bianche in Italy on March 5." It is unlikely that he will be racing in the "Opening Weekend.