Livigno hosts Mathieu van der Poel before Tour de France assault

Mathieu van der Poel is getting ready for his second Tour de France, with a different preparation then 2021. Whilst last year he rode the Tour de Suisse in anticipation for the Grand Boucle, this year he's focused on recovering from the Giro d'Italia and a stint in Livigno to enter the French race in top form.

Whilst he entered the race on his best legs last year, taking the stage win and yellow jersey atop the Mur de Bretagne on the second stage, this year van der Poel is likely to have a slower approach into the race. He's currently in an altitude training camp in Livigno, mixing Mountain Biking with road riding, and benefiting from the effects of altitude ahead of the race. He will be chasing stages, alongside helping Jasper Philipsen in the bunch sprints.

The fifth stage should provide the Dutchman with his first opportunity to strike in the race as the riders will head into the cobbles of northern France. The following day in Longwy, aswell as the eighth stage into Lausanne should be ideal finales for the Alpecin-Fenix rider, who made a very successful return to racing this sprint with wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour des Flandres.