ANALYSIS | Mathieu van der Poel: redefining greatness beyond the Tour de France

Mathieu van der Poel is one of the most celebrated cyclists of his generation. With 50 career victories, six Monument wins, and a world title on the road, the Dutchman has cemented his status as one of the greatest riders of all time. Yet, his relationship with the Tour de France, cycling’s most iconic race, remains strained. In an honest reflection during an interview with Sporza, van der Poel admitted: “It’s a race that I don’t really like. Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey, there’s not much to gain for me in the Tour.”

This statement underscores the unique frame through which van der Poel views his career. For a rider who thrives on the drama and unpredictability of one-day classics, the Tour’s structured focus on general classification (GC) and sprint stages offers limited appeal. “I’d rather ride five races in which I’m competing to win than 20 stages in which I’m not competing for the win half the time,” he added, a sentiment that challenges traditional notions of cycling glory.

The Tour de France is a stage for the world’s best riders, and there is no question that van der Poel belongs in this category. However, the Tour’s evolution over the years has increasingly favoured GC contenders and sprinters, leaving little room for classics specialists like van der Poel to shine. In the current format, stages often fall into two extremes: flat terrain for the sprinters or punishing mountain stages for the GC riders. The in-between stages that might suit a rider of van der Poel’s calibre are becoming increasingly rare, although the first week of this year’s Tour could give Van der Poel more chances.

This trend is not lost on van der Poel or his father, Adrie van der Poel. Adrie, himself a former professional cyclist, remarked in an interview during the 2024 Tour, “What can you do with his type of rider in the Tour? There are hardly any stages for true classics specialists.” The lack of opportunities for riders like Mathieu raises an important question: should the Tour de France reconsider its stage design to better cater to a broader range of talents? After all, the Tour is as much about showcasing the diversity of cycling as it is about crowning a GC champion.

For van der Poel, the thrill of racing lies in the intensity and unpredictability of classics and other one-day events. These races, such as Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, are tailored to riders with his skillset. They demand explosive power, technical mastery, and a willingness to take risks, all of which are hallmarks of van der Poel’s riding style. In contrast, the Tour’s focus on endurance over three weeks, coupled with its emphasis on team dynamics and strategy, often leaves little room for riders like him to shine.

Despite his mixed feelings, van der Poel’s Tour de France appearances have not been without their moments of brilliance. In the 2021 Tour, he delivered an unforgettable performance, winning Stage 2 and claiming the yellow jersey. The victory was not just a show of his explosive power and raw talent but also an emotional tribute to his late grandfather, Raymond Poulidor, a Tour legend who never wore yellow himself. Van der Poel held the maillot jaune for six days, thrilling fans with his aggressive riding and reaffirming his status as a once-in-a-generation talent.

This memorable stint in yellow highlighted what van der Poel can bring to the Tour when the conditions suit him. It also underscored the potential for creating more stages that cater to riders with his abilities. However, such opportunities have been few and far between in subsequent editions of the race.

Since then, van der Poel’s role in the Tour has shifted. In 2023, he rode in a supportive capacity, leading out his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen to multiple stage wins and the green jersey. While his efforts were instrumental to the team’s success, van der Poel expressed a desire to do more than just act as a “delivery man.” Speaking to The Independent ahead of the 2024 Tour, he said, “I want to do something for myself in the Tour as well. That’s my biggest goal.”

This sentiment reflects a broader frustration shared by many classics specialists who feel sidelined by the Tour’s current format. For riders like van der Poel, the race offers limited opportunities to showcase their full range of skills, making it difficult to balance personal ambitions with team commitments.

The rivalry between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert is one of the most compelling narratives in modern cycling, both on and off the road. Both riders are versatile, with the ability to excel across disciplines, but their career trajectories on the road have actually highlighted contrasting strengths. Van der Poel has dominated the classics, with victories in Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, and Milano-Sanremo. In contrast, van Aert has made his mark in Grand Tours, amassing multiple stage wins while also supporting Jonas Vingegaard’s GC ambitions at Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Whilst van der Poel has just one Tour stage win to his name, Van Aert has just the one monument win in his career so far.

What sets van Aert apart in the Tour is his ability to balance team duties with personal success. Despite his role as a key domestique for Vingegaard, van Aert has consistently found opportunities to hunt for stage wins. This dual approach has earned him success in France and raised questions about whether van der Poel could adopt a similar strategy while supporting Philipsen in the sprints. Could van der Poel learn from van Aert’s ability to maximise his chances in the Tour without compromising team goals?

On the flip side, van Aert might look to van der Poel’s success in the classics as a blueprint for improving his own Monuments record. Despite his incredible talent, van Aert has often fallen short in cycling’s biggest one-day races, a serious contrast to van der Poel’s six Monument wins. The key difference lies in their approach: van der Poel’s laser focus on specific objectives has allowed him to peak at the right moments, whereas van Aert’s broader commitments might dilute his effectiveness in the classics.

Their contrasting approaches also highlight the broader challenges faced by multi-disciplinary riders in modern cycling. Balancing personal ambitions with team obligations is a delicate art, and both van der Poel and van Aert offer valuable lessons in how to navigate this dynamic. For van der Poel, the key may lie in finding a way to prioritise his strengths without sacrificing his contributions to the team.

Van der Poel’s candid comments about the Tour highlight a broader issue in professional cycling. While the Tour de France will always prioritise GC battles and sprint finishes, there is a strong case for designing stages that better cater to classics specialists. These riders bring a different element to the sport, thrilling fans with their attacking style and ability to tackle races in different ways compared to the usual stereotypical finishes to any mountain or sprint stage. Incorporating more stages that suit their strengths would not only make the race more diverse but also ensure that the Tour remains a true showcase of cycling’s most talented riders.

As van der Poel continues to carve out his unique legacy, his relationship with the Tour will remain a fascinating subplot in his career. Whether or not the race evolves to accommodate riders like him, one thing is certain: Mathieu van der Poel’s legacy as one of the very best is secure regardless of if he never wins a second Tour de France stage.

While many riders use the spring classics as a warm-up for their summer campaigns, van der Poel has consistently shown that the spring is where he truly excels. His victories in races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix have become defining moments of his career, as he thrives on the cobbles and in the brutal conditions in March and April. These performances have also reinforced his preference for one-day races over stage races, where his explosive power and handling skills are best utilised.

For van der Poel, the classics represent the pinnacle of cycling. The unpredictable nature of these races, combined with their rich history and challenging courses, makes them the ultimate test of a rider’s skill and maximum ability on a single day. In contrast, the Tour’s emphasis on endurance and consistency over three weeks often feels at odds with his strengths, leaving him to question his role in the race.

Van der Poel’s comments about the Tour also raise important questions about the future of cycling. As the sport continues to evolve, there is a growing need to ensure that its biggest events remain inclusive and representative of all disciplines. By embracing a more diverse range of stage designs, the Tour de France can not only attract a wider audience but also provide a platform for riders like van der Poel to shine.

Ultimately, the Tour’s ability to adapt will determine the presence of the classics riders in the coming years. By recognising the value of classics specialists and creating opportunities for them to thrive, the race can reaffirm its status as the ultimate celebration of cycling. For van der Poel, this could mean a renewed sense of purpose in the Tour and a chance to add to his already illustrious legacy, as he is no mere lead-out man.