You can be the grandson of Raymond Poulidor, be among the greatest champions of your generation, and not be excited about the Tour de France. This is the case and the state of mind of Mathieu van der Poel who affirmed in an interview with the Belgian site Sporza that he was not passionate about the Grande Boucle.
Despite a promising start, the Dutchman, winner of a stage and wearer of the yellow jersey for six days during his first participation in 2021, was particularly discreet, even disappointing during the following three. “It’s a race that doesn’t excite me,” he said. Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey, there is not much for me to gain in the Tour. »
The 2023 road world champion, who has become a luxury teammate and sprint starter for his teammate at Alpecin-Deceuninck, Jasper Philipsen admits to taking pleasure in this role which allows him to free himself from all pressure, but he affirms also not having any particular fondness for the Tour. “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,” argues the rider who will celebrate his 30th birthday on January 19.
This season where he will try to become the only record holder for victories at the Tour of Flanders (4), Van der Poel could prefer Paris-Nice (March 9 to 16) to Tirreno-Adriatico (March 4 to 10). “This year’s course creates a new dynamic. This is why Paris-Nice could be an option instead of Tirreno-Adriatico, which I have raced a few times,” he continues, talking about his preparation for the Flandrian classics.
“Beating Tadej Pogacar in the Ronde promises to be difficult,” he adds. But I am happy to try to take up 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 only one objective in 2025, that who has already been world champion on road, in cyclo-cross (six times) and in gravel, “would opt for the world title in mountain biking” which is still missing from his record.
