"Mathieu has never raced to finish fifteenth" - Adrie van der Poel knew his son had the form to capture Tour de France victory
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel's complicated relationship with the Tour de France got a whole lot better on Sunday as the former world champion surged to a resounding breakaway win - one he likely had targeted long before the race.
As Alpecin - Premier Tech endured a frustrating first week in the sprints, many speculated whether van der Poel was in form or motivated to chase victories at La Grand Boucle, with his lead-outs for Jasper Philipsen unsuccessful after three attempts.
But just as frustration boiled over for Alpecin, the Dutchman delivered a reprieve as he got himself into a winning move. Despite a strong chase from UAE, Lidl-Trek and INEOS, van der Poel and his breakaway survivors Tom Pidcock, Tobias Johannessen and Alex Baudin.
Dominating the sprint, van der Poel picked up just his third stage win at the Tour de France. For his father, legendary cyclist Adrie van der Poel, the Tour de France has often offered little opportunities for his son, but he likes the Tour when he gets to go for the win.
"When he wins, yes!," Adrie joked in an interview with Cyclism'Actu.
Adrie van der Poel delighted as son takes win
"There was a Tour where not a single stage suited him. In those situations, I understand why he wonders what he's doing there. It's good to work for Jasper [Philipsen], but today he was able to race for himself."
Adrie responded to criticism of his son during the week, and insisted he knew that Mathieu had the potential to strike gold at the grand tour.
He continued: "I was convinced he was doing very well. But he'd already seen from the start that the stages were far too difficult, with climbs of seven kilometers. If he's truly at his peak and the weather's a bit cooler, he can make it through."
Alpecin frustration turns to celebrations
"But Mathieu has never raced to finish fifteenth. He's always been like that. When he has a chance to win, he gives it his all. Otherwise, he takes it easy."
Pressure has certainly been relieved in the Alpecin team bus, and it's exactly what the team needed, Adrie said. He highlighted that the team can now push on for victory.
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"All we needed was a win. We know very well that we can't win every sprint. There are some very strong sprinters like Kooij and Merlier. But I've always said it: we have to keep believing," Adrie said.
"We just need to win one. There might still be one or two more stages for Jasper. Maybe he'll go for another victory. But the hardest part is now over!"
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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