"I just wasn't good enough": Danny Van Poppel reverts to lead-out role despite earlier sprint ambitions as Meeus partnership thrives again

Danny van Poppel has returned to a familiar role as elite lead-out man for Jordi Meeus, despite having previously outlined ambitions to pursue more personal sprint opportunities in 2026. The current Dutch national champion, who recently guided Meeus to victory at the Brussels Cycling Classic, has reflected on a season shaped by setbacks and a renewed focus on teamwork within Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.

Van Poppel had entered the season with a clear intention to explore his own sprinting chances after winning the Dutch national title against top-tier rivals such as Olav Kooij and Dylan Groenewegen. However, illness, injuries, and missed opportunities disrupted that trajectory and forced a rethink.

“I just wasn't good enough,” Van Poppel told Wielerflits. “I had some injuries and illness. That can happen in your career, I guess.”

That reset led to discussions with team management about redefining his role within the squad, particularly after a Giro d’Italia plan built around his sprint ambitions did not materialise. “Then I sat down with Zak Dempster and we said that above all, we want to score again,” he said. “In recent weeks I have ridden a lot with Jordi Meeus and that is great racing. We have sprinted a lot and won a lot.”

Although Van Poppel is once again primarily seen in lead-out duty, he insists his role is no longer strictly defined and can still include selective sprint opportunities depending on race situations.

“I’m going to alternate a bit, one time as a sprinter and the other as a lead-out,” he said. “I’m slightly better uphill than Jordi. If he’s not in the mix one time, I’ll sprint myself. But the goal is to pilot Jordi. It’s been going very well for a few weeks now.”

Van Poppel and Meeus have re-established a highly efficient sprint dynamic, with clear mutual understanding developed through years of racing together. That chemistry, Van Poppel says, is now a key competitive advantage in bunch sprints.

“We know what we have in each other,” he said. “He gives me peace of mind, and I give that back to him. We know each other inside out. Jordi is a smart sprinter, understands exactly how it works, and always follows me.”

“If you have a good bond off the bike, you see that in the race too. Things are finally going well again now, and we have something planned together.” That plan may extend into major objectives such as the Tour de France, where both riders could again form part of the team’s sprint structure.

Despite stepping back from sprint leadership for now, Van Poppel still reflects positively on his national title, even if he is realistic about replicating that success.

“I enjoyed it very much; everything I achieved is, of course, a nice bonus,” he said. “I never thought I would become Dutch champion. And the way it happened too: sometimes someone wins with team tactics, but that wasn't the case for me. We are going to try to do it again, but I’m not counting on it.”