“I think Mathieu can win both” – Adrie van der Poel certain his son can win Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Il Lombardia

Earlier this month, Mathieu van der Poel made history once again by winning Paris-Roubaix for the third consecutive year. His 2025 campaign has already been remarkable, beating Tadej Pogacar at both Milano-Sanremo and Roubaix, and finishing third at the Tour of Flanders, which Pogacar won.

The rivalry between Van der Poel and Pogacar is fast becoming one of the defining narratives of this era. But the question now being asked is: which of the two could go on to complete the fabled ‘Monument Grand Slam’?

Only three riders, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, and Roger De Vlaeminck, have won all five Monuments. Van der Poel already has multiple wins at Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. Pogacar, on the other hand, has claimed multiple victories at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Il Lombardia, and the Tour of Flanders.

And Mathieu has someone at home who knows what it takes to win these races, his father, Adrie van der Poel, who won Liège in 1988 and also claimed a Flanders title, among other major victories.

Speaking to Bici.Pro, Adrie reflected on his son’s most recent triumph and what may still lie ahead, "I think the last Roubaix was really special. It was a really emotional race," he said. "Precisely because it was the last chapter of a challenge between two great champions, which always leaves uncertainty about its final outcome. I think it was a great race and seeing its final outcome filled me with pride."

Despite Mathieu already being 30, Adrie still sees room for growth, “I think he can still improve. Of course, he is thirty years old now, but he is used to hard work and at this point he needs to change something in his preparation. I think he can still improve a little, not much but he has to do it to continue winning because the level always rises.”

On whether his son could win Liège, Adrie said, “It's a question that many asked me last Sunday. He could win it, he has every chance, but the route has a big influence. The organizers love to make their races more and more difficult and by doing so they increasingly narrow down the group of favorites, of those who can win.

“The Lombardia is a beautiful race, only they make it too difficult. So by doing so you exclude many riders, classic riders, from the fight for success. Today I think that only 2-3 riders can win the classic of the dead leaves. When I was racing it was the reign of uncertainty, there could be 50 who started with the possibility of winning and this made it more uncertain and interesting.”

“I'm just saying that races like the Monuments should be a battleground for everyone, they shouldn't be made too difficult in their construction, more space should be left for the teams' strategies and the riders' imagination.”

When asked if Mathieu can complete the set, Adrie expressed optimism, “I think Mathieu can win both. It takes a good day and a bit of luck, but in the conditions he is in he has every chance of doing so, I am optimistic. It is clear, however, that the other three classics are tailor-made for him, they are better suited to his characteristics and the victories at the Milan-Sanremo are truly a feather in his cap.”

Van der Poel has only ridden Il Lombardia once, in 2020, when he finished tenth. But Adrie believes with the right preparation, success is possible, “He has done the Lombardia only once, in 2020. And he came in tenth. I say that with the right conditions he could compete. He has to arrive with the right weight, maybe lose something like he did last year before the world championships and he got on the podium in a very tough race.

“ He knows he can do it, therefore, that his body will respond. It would be important to prepare him by going to the Vuelta and then tackling some hilly races, challenging in terms of altitude, to get used to it. It is clear that on Pogacar's terrain it would be very tough, but we can try.”

In 2025, Van der Poel will also target the mountain bike World Championship, a discipline where he already has a strong pedigree, but not the rainbow jersey…

“It's difficult to change bikes during the season. But I think he's already shown in the past that he's capable of it. He's won World Cup races, which means he's a winner there too. I think his choice is right, considering the road world championship is too tough and demanding even as an away race. It's a goal to chase this year. So I think he'll give it his all. He'll try, without putting too much pressure on himself, let's say it's a ‘plus’ in his season. It's part of those goals he's set between now and the end of his career, as well as winning an Olympic medal.”

Adrie also praised his son’s calm and adaptable approach to racing, “Cyclocross and road are in his DNA, as is a bit for our family. Mathieu on the other hand has one virtue: he lives each event in a fairly relaxed way. He is aware of being well prepared, of being healthy and of having nothing to worry about. He is not often nervous about a race and this is a good thing.”

“Mountain biking is perhaps more of a whim, a divertissement, but I think that for him cyclocross in the winter is an excellent preparation and I also think that, with the methods and times as he has interpreted it in the last two years, it is an excellent thing. So I think he doesn't have to change much, do some cyclocross, take a little break and then give his all for the world championship.”

But when asked who is more likely to complete the Grand Slam, Adrie is realistic, “I think it's a little easier for Tadej than Mathieu, this year's results in Sanremo and Roubaix say he's very close to the top in those two races too, without Mathieu he would have won them, I think. Objectively he's the one who's really capable of doing the Grand Slam.”