Exclusive interview Wout Poels | "My main goal is to win a stage in the Giro and complete the trilogy of stage wins in the grand tours"

In 2025, Wout Poels will be completing his 17th season as a professional, an example of career longevity while remaining highly competitive. This season he accepted a new challenge, the XDS Astana Team, leaving Bahrain-Victorious, where he had been for 5 seasons, in search of more opportunities.

In addition to his personal goals, the Dutchman's mission is to help the team save itself from relegation, something he is very committed to. In an exclusive interview with CyclingUpToDate and sister channel CiclismoAtual, Poels revealed the reasons that led him to accept this challenge: "I'm always looking for new challenges in my career. I know the team needs a lot of points to stay in the WorldTour and I see that as a big challenge for me this season - to contribute and help the team secure its place. The team has a rich history, with grand tour victories and many other successes, so it wouldn't be right for such an important team to leave the WorldTour. We hope to be able to put it back on the level it deserves."

When asked which team was his best, Poels replied in good spirits: "This is my 17th season as a professional cyclist. Well, I'd say XDS Astana Team," he chuckles. "What else could I say? Honestly, it's very nice to be here. Even though I've only been with the team for two months, I already feel really good."

Poels has already made his debut for the new team and achieved a top 10 overall finish in the Tour of Oman, more specifically 7th place, against good competition: "I was very happy with my result in the Tour of Oman because it was my first race of the season and my first race with my new team. It was a great way to start the year and leave a good impression. When a team believes in you, you have to deliver".

"So I was very happy to be in good shape, especially on the last day, when I finished 6th on Green Mountain. Overall, I was pleased with my performance that week and with the end result, especially given how challenging it can be to start a season strongly after changing teams, equipment, coaches, basically everything. It looks like my winter preparation went well and it was good to start the season on a high note."

After the Middle Eastern race he headed to Europe, where he'll have a packed calendar, "My plan for the first half of the year is quite clear: Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya, and altitude camp, Tour of Turkey and the Giro d'Italia. "My main goal is to win a stage in the Giro and complete the trilogy of stage wins in the Grand Tours. Secondly, I want to help the team score as many points as possible - either by winning myself or by supporting my teammates. It doesn't matter, as long as we succeed as a team."

Wout Poels already has 24 career victories to his name, with many of these World Tour triumphs marked by great performances, but when it comes to choosing the best victories, he has no doubts: "All victories are special, but of course some stand out more than others. The win at Liege-Bastogne-Liege was an incredible day for me - very, very special. In a way, it changed my cycling career and I'm very proud of that victory. I'd also say my stage win in the Tour de France, because the Tour is the Tour - it's always hard to win there."

At 37, it's inevitable to think that retirement from cycling is getting closer, but Poels doesn't look at age and wants to continue enjoying cycling, "Unfortunately, I'm not young anymore, but I still feel young! At the moment, I have no idea when I'll retire from cycling. Of course I've thought about it, but for now I'm just concentrating on my bike and my season. I don't worry too much about that."