Cyclo-cross record is the only thing that counts for Van der Poel, Tour will come later
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For Mathieu van der Poel, everything is currently all about making history in cyclo-cross. Yesterday in Zonhoven he won the first cyclocross he rode this season with an unparalleled solo. And on February 2, he hopes to win his seventh world title in cross-country in Liévin, France, which would equal the Belgian record holder Erik De Vlaeminck.
Only then does he think about the spring classics and the Tour de France, which seems more suited to him than ever.
His team boss at Alpecin-Deceuninck, Philip Roodhooft, is still cautious about riding the Tour in 2025. Think of illness and falls. “It is still a long way from making decisions about that.”
For Van der Poel, only cyclo-cross counts for the time being. “The record number of world championships in cyclo-cross is the only thing left for me to achieve here. Yes, I am working on that, otherwise I would not be racing now.”
‘Approach has changed slightly’
Van der Poel has only completed two cross-training sessions. Last year he said he was already in much better shape, but he peaked much too early. “That’s why I’ve changed my approach a little. I really want to be the best version of myself at the World Cup.”
It surprised him that he drove the competition home like that on Sunday. “Today was great, much better than I expected, but during training I didn’t feel in great shape yet. I’ll just stick to my plan and everything will be fine.”
Today the second of his eleven cyclocross races this season awaits, in Mol, Belgium. A duel with his rival Wout van Aert is not yet possible. The Belgian, three-time world champion, has reported sick.
“Yes, of course I think that’s a shame,” says Van der Poel. “I like to cross against Wout. He has always been a tough opponent who pushes me to the limit. Hopefully he will be there again in Loenhout (Azencross, December 27, ed.).”
Tour de France
Van der Poel will not elaborate on his plans for the road season until January. In short, he says: “It will be a bit like all the years.” Think of, of course, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which he has won three and twice respectively.
However, he opts for a slightly different structure towards those matches. He will not start his road season in Milan-San Remo, but in Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico.
And the Tour de France? Roodhooft already sees that “the 2025 Tour de France will look very different from this year’s”. With many more hill rides, including a ride to the Mûr-de-Bretagne. Van der Poel won the stage and the yellow jersey there in 2021, after which he pointed to the sky in tribute to his grandfather Raymond Poulidor.
Team boss Roodhooft about Van der Poel: ‘He has to be there for the big moments’
Not to forget: the first real mountain stage is only on day twelve. That offers perspective for Van der Poel. “The basic principle remains that we believe Mathieu should be there for the big moments,” says Roodhooft. “He thinks so too.”
This year Van der Poel “didn’t really have a good time” in the Tour. The stages were not tailored to his needs, there were few stages suitable for adventurers and classic riders. It was either a big climb or a sprint. Van der Poel made himself useful in the lead-out for sprinter Jasper Philipsen.
Roodhooft: “The people of the Tour organization ASO, in all their skill, listened to the riders, I think. It did not only apply to Mathieu that the course was not ideal. There were also others, I mention Mads Pedersen, Matej Mohoric, a Van Aert. I think they looked at the Tour to see how they can offer those people a route that is more interesting.”
And the Mountain Bike World Cup?
And well, for the all-rounder there is also the Mountain Bike World Championship at the end of August, the only discipline in which Van der Poel has not yet won a world title.
Roofdhooft, somewhat mysteriously: “The Tour and the Mountain Bike World Cup are not mutually exclusive.”
Cyclo-cross record is the only thing that counts for Van der Poel, Tour will come later
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Cyclo-cross record is the only thing that counts for Van der Poel, Tour will come later
