"I’ve never seen myself as a role model" - Inside Mathieu van der Poel's mind as he opens up on the thought process behind his racing style
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel has never tried to fit in and follow a race dictated by others, the Dutchman has always tried to forge his own path to sensational monument wins, World Championships and Tour de France glory. So what's the secret to his success? the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider has given an insight into his racing approach.
At 31, he's won eight monument titles across Milano Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix, combined with his 2023 World Championships, four Tour de France stage wins and several other marquee victories, he's set to go down as one of the best riders of his generation.
Known for his devastating solo attacks, fearless will to blow apart races from long range and his ability to often match Tadej Pogacar in one-on-one classics duels, the Dutch rider has provided an insight into his thought process and how he views racing - from his love of the sport to his personality on the saddle.
“I try to be myself, both on and off the bike. I think that’s really important. I do everything I can, but I’ve never seen myself as a role model or anything like that. I just want to have fun because I love this sport," Van der Poel said in an extensive interview with Pirelli.
“It’s part of who I am; as a cyclist, the love of the bike is everything. You spend so many hours in the saddle that you can never compete at the highest level unless you truly love it—every single day.”
Perhaps his turf could well be Paris-Roubaix. The site of three victories throughout his career, he has at times dominated over the brutal cobbles. He describes the environment as a different world - something that plays perfectly with his instincts.
Mathieu van der Poel beat Tadej Pogacar in this year's final stage of the Tour de France
Paris-Roubaix and Mathieu van der Poel
“That’s a whole different world; it’s such a challenging race.
"It's brutal, especially the section through the Bos van Wallers, which wasn't designed for cycling. It's really a race of instinct; you always have to find the right balance."
After years of career-defining performances, van der Poel can often rely on his experience to speak to him in race situations. Helping him to navigate the tricky world of tactics, he admitted that making specific pre-race plans aren't really in his checklist before he takes to the line.
“Thanks to my experience, I can usually tell right away whether it’s going to be a good or bad day, but tactics remain tricky.
“So many things can happen in a race that I always ride on instinct. I never really make a plan before the start, even though you know the key moments when you need to be up front.”
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Dutchman's intuition backed up by physical strength
When the dust settles, his instincts often lead him down the right path. With 64 wins on the road across a sensational career, van der Poel also has the legs to back up his senses.
"I leave the rest up to my intuition. That works for my mind and keeps me relaxed. I'm simply ready for any scenario. And these days, it's mainly about who's the strongest. You need exceptional legs to win.
"I don’t think I’ve changed that much, but the races in general have. These days, you always have to be ready; otherwise, you’ll miss a move.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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leedorney06-11-2026 - Just my opinionleedorney06-11-2026
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- Rubbing is racing.
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