Peter Sagan, the most successful green jersey winner in Tour
de France history, believes Mathieu van der Poel has what it takes to contend
for the points title this year, if he wants it.
“He's definitely the type of rider who can do it,” Sagan
told WielerFlits, “but it very much depends on how he feels and what the team's
plan is.”
Van der Poel hasn’t publicly committed to chasing the green
jersey, but with Jasper Philipsen out and a strong first week behind him, the
door is wide open. Van der Poel has won a stage, and been in yellow for several
days, and now has a decision to make about his goals for the rest of the race.
Sagan, who won the jersey seven times, was quick to point out the physical and
tactical demands of going for green.
In this year’s edition of the Tour, there are very few pure
sprinting days. That could give someone like Mathieu van der Poel, who prefers
more punchy days, a chance to take the jersey.
“It can be really difficult to attack one day and give
everything for points, only to be back in the bunch sprint the next,” he said.
“But he could definitely do it. I've done it seven times, so he can do it
once.”
Sagan emphasized the importance of a smart, measured
approach over sheer strength, something he said Van der Poel already
understands. Recalling his own days, he noted how their team would look to
force selections on climbs before sprints or try to drop rivals early.
“Like Van der Poel, I used to have a few guys around me, and
with them, you don't race hard, but smart,” he said. “Because you can't do
everything.”
But Sagan sees another name in the mix, Jonathan Milan. The
Italian sprinter has impressed in the first week, and Sagan believes he could
be a serious threat.
“I also see Milan as a favorite because he can score a lot
of points in the sprint stages,” Sagan said. “You just don't know if someone is
going to grow in the Tour, or if they're going to get worse. How is someone
going to get through the mountains? Everything is still open.”
Despite all his success, Sagan remains slightly bitter about
the one that got away. In 2017, he was controversially disqualified after a
crash on Stage 4, “It could even have been eight,” he said. “That was a joke,
right?”
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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