"Something can always happen. But hey, Remco crashed into the open door of a car during training" - Philip Roodhooft dispels concerns over Mathieu van der Poel's skiing trip
CyclingFriday, 14 February 2025 at 10:34
After his winter dominance in cyclocross, Mathieu van der Poel recently took a well-deserved break from racing ahead of the start of his road season. Because of the fact he chose to go on a skiing holiday though, the Dutchman came in for criticism from some notable names due to the potential risks. According to Alpecin-Deceuninck boss Philip Roodhooft though, those concerns were misplaced.
One of those concerned voices came from Belgian Classics star of years gone by, Greg van Avermaet. "As a spring cyclist, it is not advisable. I was never forbidden, because BMC was a Swiss team and AG2R was in Chambéry, in the Alps. Many teammates grew up on skis and always went skiing on holiday. But I never dared to do it. Self-knowledge is important," the former Olympic gold medallist told Het Nieuwsblad recently. "Mathieu also has plenty of technique and experience. So the risk is smaller for them. But to the riders who have never done that, I would say: please wait, because it can end badly."
As mentioned though, Roodhooft fails to see why he should dictate how Van der Poel spends his relaxation time. "We didn't forbid him when he was fifteen, we can't deny him when he's eighteen, twenty-one or thirty," the Alpecin-Deceuninck boss explains to Het Laatste Nieuws. "We don't feel that Mathieu is doing irresponsible things."
As Roodhooft also notes, the threat of injury of crash is just a real whilst on a relaxed bike ride as it is skiing at the Alps. "Of course, something can always happen," he admits, before paying reference to one of the biggest news stories of the road off-season, that saw the current double Olympic champion and Tour de France hopeful Remco Evenepoel forced off bike for around two months after a training ride ended in disaster in early December. "But hey, Remco crashed into the open door of a car during training. So yeah...”
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Barney17-05-2025 - Sometimes I am, you’re right. Seems like a waste of time to live life on the toilet. Do you feel better now you’ve managed to unload some of your frustration on a completely anonymous poster?Mistermaumau17-05-2025
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Michael Schumacher is a vegetable. Skiing accident. A lot of people meet with accidents while skiing. The competitive spirit can sometimes cause the people to disregard safety. MVDP has already done that in Australia.
Senna died working, is that a preferable way to go? You do realise people die all the time for thousands of reasons often not of their own choice? If MVDP was risk averse, he’d not have taken up cycling. Every person has their own natural risk level and can only feel relaxed living it and that’s an important part of not ending up frustrated which is a bigger danger to your safety than doing what you’re comfortable doing. Millions of people practice skiing at every different level without dying. If Schumacher had skied more regularly he might not have been so naïve about the increased risks he took. By the way, it’s only because of Schumacher people even discuss skiing safety as a social subject.
life’s too short. go skiing.