After weeks of uncertainty following a wrist injury suffered
during a mountain bike race in May, Mathieu van der Poel look set to start the
2025 Tour de France on July 5th. It will be the nine time world champion’s (across
3 disciplines) fifth appearance at the race, and though his relationship with
the Tour has always been complicated, Alpecin-Deceuninck believe this year’s
route offers a rare alignment of opportunity and motivation.
Van der Poel has already delivered another standout season
in 2025, claiming victories at both Milano–Sanremo and Paris–Roubaix to further
cement his status as one of the great one-day racers of all time. With several
stages in the opening week and a half of the Tour favouring classics
specialists, Van der Poel is expected to target early stage wins before
switching focus to the mountain bike later in the season.
However, Van der Poel’s multi-discipline focus (balancing
road racing, cyclocross, gravel, and mountain biking) has drawn criticism in
recent weeks, with some questioning whether it hampers his long-term goals or
his full potential in any single discipline.
Alpecin-Deceuninck team boss Philip Roodhooft has now
responded to those criticisms in a revealing interview with Helden Magazine,
defending both Van der Poel’s race schedule and the team's unorthodox
philosophy.
“The Tour is not his favourite race, but whose rider is?
Maybe Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard,” Roodhooft said. “It is so busy and
hectic before, during and after each stage.”
He argued that while the Tour de France remains the most
important event on the calendar, it is far from the most enjoyable, for riders
or journalists.
“Look, when I ask journalists what the most important race
of the year is, they all say: the Tour. But when I ask which race is more
pleasant to work on? Most will answer: the Giro or the Vuelta. That goes for
cyclists too.”
Still, Roodhooft acknowledged the power and prestige of the
Tour, noting that a stage win there holds more impact than anywhere else.
“The Tour is the biggest. The impact of winning a Tour stage
is so much bigger than winning a stage in the Giro or the Vuelta. Mathieu is
more than intelligent enough to know that too. He's not stupid, you know.”
Usually, van der Poel’s role at the Tour is to deliver
Jasper Philipsen to stage victories, and van der Poel actually has one stage
win to his name. This seems small for a man of his talent, but that could
change in 2025.
Roodhooft believes that ASO, the organisers of the Tour, have
gone out of their way in 2025 to design a course that encourages participation
from versatile stars like Van der Poel and Wout van Aert, acknowledging that
the presence of such names enhances the event’s spectacle and reach.
“In 2025, the organisation has mapped out a course with a
number of stages that fit Mathieu's profile well. I think after the 2024 Tour,
the ASO has consciously opted for stages more suitable for riders like Mathieu
and Wout.”
According to Roodhooft, this balance of opportunities makes
the Tour not just compatible with Van der Poel’s ambitions, but a vital part of
a season that also includes the Mountain Bike World Championships in September.
“This year there are a number of good opportunities for
Mathieu in the Tour. After that, there is still enough time to participate
well-prepared in the World Mountain Bike Championships. So it does not conflict
this year.”
The Dutchman’s ambitions extend beyond the current season.
Roodhooft hinted that Van der Poel is already laying the groundwork for a run
at Olympic gold in mountain biking at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, making his
return to the discipline this autumn even more significant.
“Now it all fits. We also know that it will take some time
to be completely top of the mountain biking game again. The 2028 Games may also
be in the back of his mind. That may seem a long way off, but to be good in Los
Angeles, Mathieu has to start working on it now.”
The Alpecin-Deceuninck approach, built on mutual trust and
flexibility, is rare in modern pro cycling, where specialisation and marginal
gains dominate. Yet Roodhooft is adamant that giving Van der Poel the freedom
to pursue all three disciplines, and even post Instagram photos water skiing, is
precisely what has kept him happy, healthy, and winning.
“We’ve been giving Mathieu that space for fifteen years… We
don’t feel he’s taking irresponsible risks. And if it goes wrong, everyone can
say: very stupid. But it’s worked for the past fifteen years.”
“We don’t tell Mathieu to choose one or the other,” he
continued. “We combine a degree of freedom with discipline. And all of that in
a framework that is professional enough to meet the standards of cycling
today.”
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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