"Mathieu is better off focusing on other races” – Christoph Roodhooft explains why Van der Poel skips Strade Bianche against likes of Pogacar and Pidcock
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel will not return to Strade Bianche in 2026, despite having won the race in spectacular fashion just five years ago.
The Dutchman’s absence from the Tuscan gravel Classic has again raised questions, particularly as the race continues to grow in prestige and difficulty. But according to Alpecin-Premier Tech team boss Christoph Roodhooft, the decision is rooted in both the evolving nature of the race itself and the level of competition now expected at the front.
Strade Bianche, he argues, has become significantly harder than the version Van der Poel conquered in 2021. With more climbing, a denser concentration of elite contenders, and riders such as Tom Pidcock and Tadej Pogacar capable of dominating the toughest terrain, the calculation for Van der Poel’s spring calendar has inevitably shifted.
For Alpecin-Premier Tech, the conclusion is straightforward: the Dutchman’s focus is better placed elsewhere in the Classics campaign.
A race that has changed
Roodhooft believes the biggest factor behind the decision is the growing physical demands of the Tuscan Classic.
“It has become much tougher. Compare it with five years ago, the amount of climbing has increased by 20 to 25%,” he said in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad. “In the past, this race was already on the limit for the classic, punchy riders. But back then, it could still just about work. Now it’s over that limit.”
Van der Poel’s relationship with Strade Bianche has always been slightly unusual. His victory in 2021 remains one of the most memorable editions of the race. On the gravel climb of Le Tolfe, he attacked alongside Julian Alaphilippe and Egan Bernal before dropping both on the steep final ramp into Siena’s Piazza del Campo.
Yet despite that iconic win, Strade Bianche has never become a permanent fixture in his spring programme. The Dutchman returned only once afterwards, finishing fifteenth in 2023, and has since been absent again from the Tuscan start line.
The rivals factor
Course evolution is not the only consideration. The strength of the modern start list also plays a role in shaping the team’s thinking. “If you run into Pidcock or Pogacar at 100% it would be very hard,” Roodhooft explained, referring to the riders who now regularly dominate the race’s toughest terrain.
Riders such as Tom Pidcock and Tadej Pogacar have increasingly turned Strade Bianche into a race decided on long gravel climbs and sustained power efforts, terrain that naturally favours riders with a slightly different profile.
“And yes: then Mathieu is better off focusing on other races,” Roodhooft added.
Training priorities and calendar balance
There is also a practical element to the decision. The placement of Strade Bianche in the calendar leaves little room between other important objectives in Van der Poel’s programme.
With Tirreno-Adriatico beginning the day after Strade Bianche, the team see more value in using that period as part of a structured training block. “Mathieu also needs a good training block from time to time,” Roodhooft noted, pointing out that the days between Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Tirreno-Adriatico can be used productively to build form.
For Van der Poel, the broader focus remains on the cobbled Classics and the Monuments where he has built much of his modern palmares.
That does not mean Strade Bianche has lost its appeal. “I’m even sure Mathieu himself also regrets it,” Roodhooft admitted. “In the end, it remains an attractive race.”
But the team’s conclusion remains pragmatic. “As the race is today, Mathieu has little business there.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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