Mathieu van der Poel could do without the Tour de France in 2025. Photo: Alpecin-Deceuninck/Photonews
Mathieu van der Poel’s program for the start of the 2025 season is oriented around the classics with Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in his sights. As for whether he will be at the start of the Tour de France, the question is still unanswered.
Mathieu van der Poel (29 years old) spoke to Sporza on his 2025 season. After a thunderous start in cyclo-cross with five victories in a row, the Dutchman of the team Alpecin-Deceuninck has stalled with rib pain which prevents him from continuing his momentum. However, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor has his eyes fixed on the road season where he hopes to shine on the classics, once again, after a planned return to Paris-Nice early March.
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Mathieu van der Poel, not passionate about the Tour de France
« It’s a race that I don’t really like, declared Mathieu van der Poel near Sporza about the Tour de France. Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey, there is not much for me to gain in the Tour. I’d rather do five races where I’m competing to win than 20 stages where I’m not competing to win half the time. Afterwards, with Jasper Philipsen, my goal is to help him win as many stages as possible. I like it and it takes the pressure off me.«
Tadej Pogacar, the man to beat in the classics for MvdP
« It will be difficult to beat him, but it’s a challenge I’m happy to take on. We are thinking about how to close the gap with Pogacar. » Indeed, Mathieu van der Poel will meet the Slovenian on several meetings in 2025, including Milan-Sanremo and especially the Tour of Flanders. “Maybe this can be done with a little different and more difficult training. This is why, for example, I am not doing the World Cup cyclo-cross in Benidorm because a training course at the same time will allow me to perform better in the spring. »
More mountain biking goals for Mathieu van der Poel
Comfortable on all terrains, Mathieu van der Poel would like to add another World Champion title to his list of achievements. after road and cyclo-cross, the mountain bike world title remains a major objective for the Dutchman of the team Alpecin-Deceuninck. “If I can choose, I would like to become world mountain bike champion this year. I haven’t gotten there yet and this idea is running through my head. » Concerning the Olympic title, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor knows that he only has one possibility left… “I only have one chance left for this: Los Angeles 2028. It is almost certain that the Los Angeles Games will be the last one in which I will participate. It would be great to try to finish in Los Angeles, perhaps by mountain bike. »
“I’m definitely not going to continue running until I’m 40. I think it’s important to stop at a climax. Sometimes we see runners continuing to run for too long. For my post-career, I know I won’t be bored. I still have a list of things to do. »
