"It was a very special day" - Van der Poel 'proud and grateful' following stage 9 dedicated to his grandfather Raymond Poulidor

Stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France was full of tributes to the legendary Raymond Poulidor. A truly emotional and unforgettable day for his grandson Mathieu van der Poel.

"It was a very special day, especially with the start in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, where I cycled as a child in the summer," recapped the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider who was visibly emotional prior to the start of the stage in his late grandfather's hometown.

Finishing atop the historic Puy de Dome, van der Poel was never really a realistic challenger for the stage win. Riding the day on a specially customed bike adorned with pictures of Poulidor's victories, the day was still very memorable for the 28-year-old Dutchman.

"The finish at Puy de Dome was also impressive. There were a lot of people cheering on the sidelines," van der Poel continues. “It wasn't a stage for me to do anything special, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am proud and grateful that I was able to experience a day like this in the Tour."