"He conveys an incredible sense of power": Tour director Prudhomme applauds Mathieu van der Poel as a "super champion"
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel will once again be one of the star attractions of the upcoming 2026 Tour de France. Having the Dutch superstar at the starting line is by no means great news for the organizing party as the 31-year-old never fails to deliver a spectacle, even if he's won only two Tour stages so far in his career.
One of those who has best summed up that fascination is Christian Prudhomme, director of a Tour de France shaping up to be fiercely contested this year, who offered some very special words for the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider and grandson of Raymond Poulidor in an interview with Wielerflits.
"Mathieu is the champion he is thanks to his grandfather, his father, his mother… but above all, thanks to himself," Prudhomme explained.
The French director recalled a moment during a Paris-Nice edition, when a mural dedicated to his grandfather was unveiled at the start in Yvelines. "When Mathieu arrived at Paris-Nice, a mural of his grandfather was unveiled at the start in Yvelines. An entire apartment wall with Raymond’s face. Mathieu stopped in front of it and took a selfie," he recounted.
That scene left a mark on Prudhomme, although he insists what he saw then went beyond a family bond with a legend of French cycling. "In that moment I don’t immediately see his grandfather, but the champion Mathieu van der Poel," he said.
For years, Prudhomme crossed paths with Poulidor at the Tour de France, where the historic French rider remained tied to the race as Credit Lyonnais ambassador and was routinely linked to the yellow jersey.
Over time, the Tour director has also followed Van der Poel’s trajectory closely, as the protagonist of some of the most spectacular moments in recent cycling.
A unique presence on the bike
The Dutchman’s victories in races like Paris-Roubaix and his performances at the Tour have deepened the admiration he commands within the sport. Prudhomme singled out the 2024 edition of the French Classic as one of the most striking moments he has witnessed from the race director’s car.
"Mathieu alone out front in the rainbow jersey, and us there in the car right behind," he recalled. The Tour director admitted that image created a special feeling among everyone in the race vehicle: "It was a moment of incredible satisfaction, because everyone in the car was aware we were following a super champion," he said.
Mathieu van der Poel, Alpecin-Premier Tech star
Prudhomme also highlighted the way Van der Poel commands the bike, something that, he said, is even more impressive when seen up close. "Mathieu has an imposing presence on the bike. He’s so agile, he handles the bike with such mastery… he conveys an incredible sense of power," he noted.
The moment that impressed Prudhomme the most
Among all the champions he has followed during his tenure as race director, Prudhomme placed that Van der Poel masterclass at Paris-Roubaix among his most cherished memories.
"It was a moment of absolute privilege. For me, that was without doubt the moment of greatest admiration for a champion from the car," concluded the Tour de France director.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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