Mathieu van der Poel told the Flemish press that he “is not passionate” about the Tour de France, where he has not won a stage in his last three participations.
We understood that Mathieu van der Poel does not have a strong taste for the Tour de France. In an interview with Sporza this Sunday, the Dutchman indicated that he “is not passionate” about the biggest race in the world, where he struggles to shine from a personal point of view apart from his first participation in 2021.
“There is not much to gain for me in the Tour”
In four participations in the Tour de France, Mathieu van der Poel has won only one stage in 2021, from his debut in the event, then wearing the yellow jersey for six days during this same edition. “It’s a race that doesn’t excite me. Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey, there’s not much for me to gain in the Tour,” commented the world champion. on road 2023.
During his last three participations, Mathieu van der Poel was mainly seen throwing sprinter Jasper Philipsen, his teammate at Alpecin-Deceuninck. “I prefer to do five races where I am able to win than 20 stages where I am not competing for victory half the time,” argued “MVDP” which will celebrate its 30th anniversary on January 19.
Mathieu van der Poel, however, admits to taking “pleasure” in his role with Jasper Philipsen, where he helps him as a pilot fish “to win as many stages as possible”. “I like it and it takes the pressure off me,” said Raymond Poulidor’s grandson.
Van der Poel would like to be mountain bike world champion in 2025
His main goals in 2025 will be to win the Tour of Flanders for the fourth time and become world mountain bike champion. Calendar-wise, Van der Poel could prefer Paris-Nice (March 9 to 16) to Tirenno-Adriatico (March 4 to 10). “This year's route creates a new dynamic. This is why Paris-Nice could be an option instead of Tirreno-Adriatico, which I have run a few times,” he continues, talking about his preparation for the Flandrian classics.
“Beating Tadej Pogacar in the Tour of Flanders promises to be difficult. But I am happy to try to take on this challenge by thinking about how to reduce the gap” which, according to him, separates him from the Slovenian winner of the Flemish monument in 2023 But if he had to choose a single objective in 2025, the one who has also been world champion six times in cyclo-cross and once in gravel, “would opt for the world title in mountain biking” which is missing. still on his list.
