Wout Poels had a brilliant 2023 campaign, becoming a Grand Tour stage winner for the first time in his career at the Tour de France and then backing it up with more success at the Vuelta a Espana.
“Now I almost have to go to the Giro d'Italia. To be able to win a stage in all three,” Poels laughs on the AD podcast, In Koers alongside Jumbo-Visma's Dylan van Baarle. "It would be nice to have won a stage in all the big tours. It is a personal goal to try that sometime.”
The Dutchman has ridden the Italian Grand Tour three times previously in his career, back in 2014, 2018 and 2022 respectively. In those attempts, the closest Poels has ever come to winning a stage was sixth in both 2014 and 2018.
“Part of the upcoming Giro will cover the Strade Bianche route, so perhaps I should also include that in my planning. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bump over it once,” Poels previews ahead of the 2024 season, refusing to rule out his participation.