"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

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...”