"I choose Mathieu van der Poel" - Patrick Lefevere laments never having worked with Cyclocross World Champion
Cycling
Patrick Lefevere was the manager of Soudal - Quick-Step for over two decades and throughout the years he managed some of the best classics riders in history. He had known Mathieu van der Poel from a very very young age and wanted to have partnered with the Dutchman, and he is the riders he laments the most not having been able to do so.
"What I liked about Dutchmen, and especially Niki, is that when he was angry during a race and he had taken a shower, he would say: 'Guys, sorry about that.' A Flemish person doesn't have that. He keeps it to himself and then it only comes out after three weeks," Lefevere told Wielerevue.
This very much comes as a hint for the next question which was to be which rider, from those he hadn't worked with, would he have wanted to do so. The answer is Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and Milano-Sanremo winner Mathieu van der Poel.
"Then I choose Mathieu van der Poel. His father Adrie [van der Poel] rode for my team for three years. Adrie sometimes rode around at Rabobank with VIP'S and we would sometimes run into each other. I always asked about David [van der Poel] and Mathieu," the Belgian recalls. "David started racing at a certain point, but Adrie said then 'the youngest is ten years old, but can already do everything with a bike. You'll hear more about him.'"
Sure enough that was to be the case, and Mathieu van der Poel would already show signs of greatness from a very young age. However, although scouting isn't as sharp as the current day, in the 2010's there were already many eyes on Mathieu van der Poel looking to secure him before he got any TV time.
"When he started racing, he already got material from the Roodhooft brothers (who currently manage the Alpecin-Deceuninck, ed.). He never left. Those riders are now also connected to a bike manufacturer (Canyon, ed.) through a contract".
Lefevere also provided some insight into what is a less usual business model in the sport, but one that gains more and more traction with some athletes. "At that team, the manufacturer pays the most, I think. They pay part of the contract of the riders. I find that annoying, because then they have too much power over the rider. On the other hand, it does help of course."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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