"It's a race that I don't really like" - Mathieu van der Poel says he has 'nothing to gain' from riding the Tour de France

Cycling
Wednesday, 08 January 2025 at 10:36
mathieuvanderpoel 2
Mathieu van der Poel has a palmares most riders could only dream of, taking World Championship titles in multiple disciplines, numerous Monument victories and more. In terms of Grand Tour success though, one stage of the Giro d’Italia and one of the Tour de France is a comparatively small return for a rider of Van der Poel's qualities.
The 2025 Tour de France however, on paper at least, is a more Van der Poel friendly course. According to the Dutchman himself though, his interest in continuing to ride the French Grand Tour every year just isn't as strong as it is for other races. In an in depth interview with Sporza, the Alpecin-Deceuninck leader opens up on his love-hate relationship with the Tour de France.
"It's a race that I don't really like," he admits honestly. "Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey (two things he has already done), there's not much to gain for me in the Tour. I'd rather ride 5 races in which I'm competing to win than 20 stages in which I'm not competing for the win half the time."
On his last couple of Tour de France appearances, Van der Poel has, very successfully operated as last leadout man for teammate Jasper Philipsen, helping the Belgian to numerous stage victories and a Green Jersey in the 2023 edition. "With Jasper on board, my goal is always to help him win as many stages as possible," the former world road race champion explains. "I like that and it also takes the pressure off me."
Van der Poel also hints that a first trip to Paris-Nice could be on the cards for 2025. "New races provide new impulses," he concludes. "That is why Paris-Nice could be an option instead of Tirreno-Adriatico, which I have already ridden a few times."
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19 Comments
FredMan 08 January 2025 at 14:02+ 138

To MVDP, even if he wins 10 stages of the TDF, if he can't be overall champion (GC), he still loses.. so he thinks he has nothing to gain. He'd rather win a hundred minor races than frustrate himself trying to win the grandest race of them all. The mindset of a winner, you say? Maybe, but I don't think so. Nevertheless, he's a great cyclist. Monuments and classics, one-day races are his thing. He can ride a one-day 300 km race and win it, but a 3,500 km race spread over 21 days? Forget it.. he can win a stage or two, wear the yellow jersey for a day or two, (no mean feat, by the way) and finish in 50th place just the same, not even good enough for a podium, and he doesn't like it. To him, it's a waste of time.

Mistermaumau 08 January 2025 at 20:58+ 3618

You’re both right but also both (me too) biased by this endless indoctrination through the expectations of others (no cyclist is worth mentioning without a tdf legacy) and sorry Fred but the part about him having to win the whole thing is misguided, Cavendish is venerated by most and he might not have even reached 50th in the how many editions he did (about double Merckxs). As rightly said Mathieu rides for HIMSELF (aside obligations) take it or leave it, I really don’t think he (and most others, even Cav or Pog) lie around in bed at night worrying or strategising about how to cement a place in history. We are lucky to witness a period where some of the best cyclists are (aside from money) motivated in the right way, you can often see in the authentic way they celebrate crossing the line after a huge effort, MVDPs are some of the best, 100% dedication, my favourite was the communion with his grandfather when he won that stage, it was visibly (worth seeing again if available) so powerful, I even think the only reason he tried the TdF at all (he’d never really shown any interest personally and I’m pretty sure it was a business “obligation” was in hommage to his grandfather who meant so much to him. Once done I think he realised he doesn’t enjoy it (should he (any of us actually) force himself to do a job he isn’t enjoying?) and saw no more reason to continue but being open he accepted to try something new, lead-out man and did it admirably. His riding career has now probably “peaked” and he’ll want to focus on those things personally still important before it’s too late and leads to regrets. I am sure he’ll regret his luck/carelessness at Olympics more than anything TdF related and among future goals, that will be his number 1 rectification target and sorry for those TdF obsessors (who often watch nothing else all year) but for many the Olympics are more important than eg the Tour, no matter what the majority of cycling thinks, and they have that right.

alsene 09 January 2025 at 08:17+ 64

Right... Unless the two people above consider 2 Paris Roubaix and 3 Ronde meaningless... You don't win that many editions by being lucky.

OCexile 08 January 2025 at 22:04+ 576

i’m pretty sure
mathieu has never spent a moment of his adult life dreaming of winning the Tour. he’s known for a very long time that that’s not the kind of rider he is. I’m also pretty sure he’s known for a very long time that TDF stages count for a lot in the palmares of big puncheurs like him and wout. he hasn’t decided he doesn’t care about racking up stage wins at the tour because they wouldn’t matter in terms of his legacy. he KNOWS they would. so it’s more interesting than that. he doesn’t care about stages IN SPITE of knowing how much they “matter.” he doesn’t care because he just DOESN’T CARE about anyone else’s standards or judgments. he decides what he’s interested in, what captures his imagination, and he just does THAT (within the WIDE parameters of free choice he’s allowed at Alpecin, which are certainly wider and freer than anyone else in the peloton).

Mistermaumau 08 January 2025 at 22:24+ 3618

Completely agree.

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