Mathieu van der Poel on Remco Evenepoel: "Receives much more media interest than I do. And not always in a positive way"

Mathieu van der Poel specializes in the classics and one-day races, but surprisingly is yet to be in many battles with Remco Evenepoel. The Dutchman is not as familiar with the Belgian as with other rivals such as Wout van Aert or Tadej Pogacar, but they don't necessarily intend on racing against each other much in the future.

“Good question, it's not that we have a lot of the same interests. He doesn't cross. Remco, especially in Belgium, receives much more media interest than I do. And not always in a positive way," van der Poel said of his rival to HUMO. He acknowledges the difficulties and pressure that has been put on the Soudal - Quick-Step rider since a young age.

At the World Championships in 2021, 2022 and 2023 both were big favourites but due to different circumstances, both did not directly battle each other. Evenepoel's success in the one-day races has also included Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Clásica San Sebastián, races where van der Poel does not find such comfort due to the length of the climbs.

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“We have a lot of fun on the bike. Maybe it helps that we are not direct competitors," van der Poel believes. "We have already agreed that I will skip the Tour of Flanders for a year if he wants to take his chance. On the condition that he skips Liège-Bastogne-Liège," he concludes jokingly.