"It seems they finally have a rider who can win the Tour again" - Mathieu van der Poel on Paul Seixas, 2026 Tour de France, Roubaix, Pogacar and Van Aert

Mathieu van der Poel has endured a difficult spring classics campaign hunting for more big wins and is now enjoying some well deserved rest ahead of his Tour de France build-up. He has talked about many topics concerning his spring campaign, battles with Tadej Pogacar, opinion on Paul Seixas and has confirmed his presence at the 2026 Tour de France.

It was a spring where he has won Omloop het Nieuwsblad, adding it to his already extensive palmarès; two stages at Tirreno-Adriatico; and also the E3 Saxo Classic. In the latter, it was a narrow win, following an early attack and a comitted chase from the peloton behind.

"It's one of my best moments this year, without a doubt, and a race I really enjoy. Overall, it doesn't seem like it was a great season because we didn't win any Monuments, but Philipsen and I managed several victories in other important races, so we can be happy," van der Poel said in an interview with AS. "We'll try again in 2027".

However the spring lacked the big wins he aimed for. At Milano-Sanremo, a crash derailed his day late on. Although he managed to follow Mathieu van der Poel's attack on the Cipressa, he later couldn't follow on the Poggio.

At the Tour of Flanders the scenario was similar, with the Dutchman getting dropped with the exact same race scenario as 12 months prior. At Paris-Roubaix then he rode to a fourth place, one that was impressive taking into consideration a set of mechanicals on the Trouée d'Arenberg cost him two minutes on the road.

"Yes, that's Roubaix for you; you need a bit of luck. I was one of the strongest, but that particular section was unpleasant for us this year," he said of the five-star sector. "My performance after that motivates me, and that's why I have to be happy even though I couldn't win".

The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider showed he had the legs to win, but in Roubaix there are countless variables, and luck was not one that he could benefit from this year. In the end it was Wout Van Aert who took the victory, something he praised.

"Looking at other sprints, it's normal that Van Aert is faster, but what's also incredible is what Pogacar does to get there. He makes the podium every year in all the Monuments, and that's spectacular".

After a few slower weeks, he has been able to recover, and soon will begin preparing for the 2026 Tour de France, the next big goal on his schedule.

"We're preparing the schedule for the Tour de France, which I will definitely be in. We have to see which races I do before going there, and it's likely that some of them will be mountain bike races. Obviously, the Tour is the main objective in these next few weeks".

He may have the company of the young prodigy Paul Seixas, who has finished second at the recent Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a result that is better than what van der Poel has ever achieved at La Doyenne.

"He's incredible. What we saw in Liège this week, at just 19 years old, was spectacular," he argues. "For France, after so many years, it seems they finally have a rider who can win the Tour again".

However to succeed at the Tour de France, if he is present there, Seixas has to overcome none other than Tadej Pogacar in his prime - a rival that van der Poel knows all too well.

"He's a very difficult enemy to beat. Everyone in cycling knows that, in most races, if you can beat Pogacar, it means you're very close to winning. I'll keep trying, I'm still improving, and I'm convinced I can beat him again".

Asked how he would like to be remembered in cycling, van der Poel responded: "As part of a generation that changed cycling, the way we race, attacking from start to finish. It would be good if these kinds of races were remembered".

As previously mentioned, van der Poel may do a few mountain bike races up until the Tour de France. Combining several disciplines will continue to be part of his schedule, even if in cyclocross he may race less after an eighth world title conquered last winter.

It's difficult. I'm not young, but sometimes it's good to try different things, and I still have goals to achieve. Perhaps less so in cyclocross, although I really enjoy it, and I'll have to see what the next few years hold".

However, he has the very clear goal of winning the mountain bike world championships, the only major rainbow jersey a rider of his skillset hasn't conquered yet. He's not been far, but admits that in late August that may be the final big goal of his season.

"Yes, it's very possible. It's true that the Tour de France is quite close to its end, but I think I can arrive in top form and give it my all," he says. A rider that has conquered so much must always look for ways to stay motivated, and this goal might be his new calling.

"The Mountain Bike World Championships, because no one has ever won in all disciplines (road, cyclocross, mtb and gravel). I'm missing mountain biking, so it would be a historic victory".