“I’m definitely looking at Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert" - Mathieu van der Poel sees Belgians as biggest challengers for Olympic gold

After a quiet 2024 Tour de France, Mathieu van der Poel is now turning his attention towards the upcoming Olympic Games and a fight for gold medal in the men's road race. One of the most open races in all of cycling however, the Dutchman is far from guaranteed a medal in Paris this summer.

Having completed a post-Tour de France criterium in Roeselare on Tuesday evening, the current Rainbow Jersey holder gave an update to his form and how he's feeling at a crucial part of the year, with both the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Zurich coming up over the next weeks and months.

“A criterion like this is a good activity to keep the tension on your legs after the Tour,” Van der Poel says in conversation with VTM from the criterium. “I also took part in this last year to stay in shape for the World Championships. I am trying to repeat the successful formula of the World Championships in Glasgow, but of course every year is different. I already feel less tired than last year. Now we have to wait and see how my body reacts to the new intensive training.”

With the Olympic road race having the added dynamic of very small teams, a maximum of four on one nation's lineup together, things can often throw up somewhat unexpected results. As such a pre-race favourite such as Mathieu van der Poel isn't necessarily as well placed as would normally be the case.

In terms of the rivals, Van der Poel sees the Belgian team as the main competitors of himself and any other gold medal hopefuls. “I’m definitely looking at Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert," the Dutchman explains honestly. "But Jasper Stuyven also rode a very strong Tour de France. The Belgians will form a very strong block.”