Whereas the Tour de France stays, by far, the most important race in biking, for some riders – like Mathieu van der Poel – it presents little in the best way of motivation. For 2025, the Dutchman is extra centered on finishing his set of world titles with the mountain bike cross-country rainbow jersey.
Van der Poel is presently injured and taking outing of his cyclocross season, a self-discipline he’s a six-time world champion in. He is additionally gained one highway world title to date in his illustrious profession from the Glasgow World Championships in 2023.
Nonetheless, regardless of two appearances at MTB Worlds in 2018 and 2023, that title nonetheless eludes him, as he solely managed a 3rd place and DNF respectively.
“If I might select, I wish to grow to be world champion mountain biker this 12 months. I have never succeeded but and it retains enjoying behind my thoughts,” Van der Poel instructed Sporza, with an eye fixed additionally on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“I’ve yet one more probability for that: LA will virtually actually be the final Video games I take part in. It will be nice to attempt to end in LA on the mountain bike.”
Compared to his pleasure about extra off-road racing in the summertime, Van der Poel is much less enthusiastic concerning the Tour de France. It has characterised his July for the previous 4 seasons, nonetheless, he nonetheless describes it as “a race that I do not actually like.”
His finest version got here in 2021 when he gained the second stage and famously went into the yellow jersey, honouring his late grandad Raymond Poulidor who by no means achieved the feat. Since that triumph up the Mûr-de-Bretagne, he is but to win a stage on the Tour.
“Other than making an attempt to win phases and put on the yellow jersey, there’s not a lot to realize for me within the Tour,” he instructed the Flemish broadcaster, admitting that the presence of sprinter Jasper Philipsen helps him discover the motivation.
“I would fairly trip 5 races wherein I am competing to win than 20 phases wherein I am not competing for the win half the time.
“With Jasper on board, my purpose is at all times to assist him win as many phases as potential. I like that and it additionally takes the stress off me.”
Whereas Alpecin-Deceuninck are but to announce his full highway schedule, Van der Poel did shed some gentle on what he’ll be doing after concentrating on his seventh ‘cross world title in February.
“Not like final 12 months, I most likely will not proceed till Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It’s going to merely be till Paris-Roubaix,” stated Van der Poel, additionally revealing that he might race Paris-Good for the primary time as “New races present new impulses.”
He’ll seemingly comply with a well-known one-day marketing campaign from Milan-San Remo proper the best way by to Paris-Roubaix, with a 3rd successive victory in northern France and a fourth Tour of Flanders title as key targets.
However regardless of his absolute dominance in Flanders final season, he is conscious that the return of Tadej Pogačar to the cobbled enviornment will make breaking the report for essentially the most de Ronde victories, with 4, a a lot more durable job.
“Will probably be tough to beat him, however it’s a problem that I’m completely satisfied to just accept,” admitted Van der Poel.
“We’re occupied with how we will shut the hole on Pogacar as a result of that will likely be essential to beat him within the Tour.
“Maybe that may be accomplished by barely totally different and harder coaching. That’s the reason I’m skipping the World Cup CX in Benidorm, for instance, as a result of a coaching camp in that very same interval will make me higher in direction of the spring.”
Van der Poel and Pogačar are the highest two lively Monument riders on the earth, having gained eight of the final 10 between them and having a complete of six and 7 wins respectively. Each have been dominant in 2024 and a conflict at Flanders in 2025 ought to see repeats of the thrilling duels they’d in 2022 and 2023.
