"A bit strange. It was my first time really experiencing that" - Max Poole admits to having rest-day struggles at debut Grand Tour
Cycling
20-year-old British rider, Max Poole has shown a lot of promise in his career to date and as such, big things are expected of the Team DSM-Firmenich man in the years to come. In 2023 he took another step in his development by making a Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana.
“The team presentation was something I'll probably never forget,” recalled Poole in conversation with Cycling News. “You feel like you're there then, I think. It’s been hard to get to this point, not just this year but over the years.”
It was the perfect start to life as a Grand Tour rider for Poole as well. In the darkness and downpours of the opening stage team time-trial, Team DSM-Firmenich took the stage win and the first Red Jersey of the race. “We knew we could do a good ride with the group of riders we had and our equipment, all the experts working hard," Poole says. “Such a crazy, crazy way, the highest possible way to start, and I'll never forget that feeling of sitting in the seats with the guys and celebrating."
Seen as a potential Grand Tour winner of the future, the 2023 Vuelta a Espana was supposed be a testing of the waters in regards to general classification challenges for Poole. Sadly, that wasn't quite how things transpired.
“There was a part for me to try and get some experience and develop in the GC skills. The first week was pretty tough. I had some quite bad stomach problems, like quite a few others, so it was quite disappointing not really to be able to keep going with that only after a few days," he admits before crediting teammate Romain Bardet with some key advice. “In the meetings, they have a lot of knowledge of how things will go, if it's going to be a big fight for the break - which was every day anyway. They get a feel for what might happen on stages. Romain is such an experienced rider; you really can learn a lot from him, and it was really nice to do my first Grand Tour with him in the team.”
Rest days were also something new for Poole and as such, not something he has fully worked out yet. “Personally, I don't think I really like them too much…I just feel like I stiffen up with it. The first one was a bit strange. You're still in the race, but you're not racing. It was my first time really experiencing that," Poole says but nevertheless, he finished the race. “When you're coming from school to switch on the TV and watch the race, and now I've just crossed the line, and I've done it myself - it's definitely a big achievement. At the same time, I'm still looking ahead…I still want to push myself, and now the goalposts have moved a bit."
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- yeah, that’s a more fair assessment. “reaching mathieu’s level” doesn’t mean you’re planning to replicate his whole career. the former IS doable, potentially. it’s just the latter that likely is not.OCexile25-12-2024
- That’s not entirely true. Every person follows their own development path and peaks differently. Remco and Primoz had hardly started cycling before elite level. Jonas was pretty much under the radzr until he unexpectedly had to take over responsibility at JV. Some guys only get real good in their thirties others have peaked mid-twenties. You can’t tell in advance how and upto what level they will progress, obviously his career might not have MVDPs length but nothing says he could not end up doing a few seasons at his level.Mistermaumau25-12-2024
- well, del grosso is 21 right now. when mathieu was a year younger than that, he was already winning elite level world championships, not U23. i think del grosso will be a very good pro for years, but if he was really going to be the next van der poel someday, he’d already have to be at that level right NOW. van der poel was showing signs of true greatness when he was 15-16. THAT’S what generational talent looks like.OCexile25-12-2024
- Yeah.... gear 😅.mikolajjj24-12-2024
- It shouldn’t be about expectations in the first place should it? Besides, if you look at everyone’s calculations as a whole they don’t add up in the first place. There’ll be 2-3 riders with a 50% chance, a dozen with 10 or 20% and dozens more with a 5% so we’re expecting at least 2 if not 3 winners. Remind me again who won before her? Says it all about using data to decide on participation.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- Ok, happy I’m not too interested in this team coz’ the account of what happened is really hard to follow.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- The UCI is worse than USA CyclingVeganpotter24-12-2024
- It's not like they wanted her to not win😅 She had an outstanding Olympics. But there's a reason why she wasn't expected to win the road race and that's ok. Things like this happen and it's great...better than seeing expected winners win.Veganpotter24-12-2024
- Bruyneel ? The man with a lifetime ban from cycling...why do you keep giving him and his doper mate, Armstrong, a platform?DJ24-12-2024
- yeah, agree. on the subject of being a “complete rider,” i do think that’s getting more interesting. mathieu seems to have decided he wants to get much better at climbing the the high mountain passes. he appears to be looking for new challenges, which should be interesting to watch. in most cases you’d dismiss a goal like that at age 30, but it’s mvdp. he’s never going to climb with the real climbers, but if he can improve enough it could open up stage wins when the parcours isnt just purely toothy and punchy.OCexile24-12-2024