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