"That move by Van der Poel to go so early... So stupid" - Analysts blast Mathieu van der Poel but Boonen jumps to his defence after World Championships
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel's daring World Championships attack - which ultimately laid down the gauntlet for the rainbow jersey race - has divided former professionals as two ex-riders criticised his long-range attack while Tom Boonen jumped to his defence.
The Dutch rider opted to make the race hard with over 80 kilometres to go, instigating a vicious breakaway move that saw him joined by Quinn Simmons and Oscar Onley only for over 40 kilometres. But things didn't quite work out for the 2023 world champion.
Van der Poel made the move on the punchy Montreal circuit to try and get ahead of the favourites and climbers. The move was ultimately brought back with 41 kilometres to go before Brandon McNulty's solo effort caught the contenders off-guard.
While the tactic helped ensure he stuck with the favourites for the finale, van der Poel was left somewhat depleted in the aftermath, lacking the same sharpness in subsequent attacks while some suggested he could have conserved his energy and made the move later in the race.
Bakelants and Planckaert blast Dutch rider
For Jan Bakelants and Eddy Planckaert, they share the opinion that his form meant that he could remain with the climbers on their favoured terrain before making his move later in the race.
"When you see how Van der Poel shone, you think: why didn't he wait longer? It was an anticlimax," Bakelants said on Wielerclub Wattage.
Planckaert weighed in: "When you see how the race unfolded… Where is the race tactic of the past? That move by Van der Poel to go so early… So stupid. He was the best rider in the race. If he reads the race like his father could – and like we used to be able to – then he wins the race on one leg, right?"
Tom Boonen defends World Championships attack
Meanwhile, legendary classics specialist Tom Boonen jumped to van der Poel's defence, noting that he simply reacted to an opening in the race and gave himself a better chance of remaining with climbers later in the race. He believes the tactic was the right move.
"I thought it was an impressive move, because he reacted to the conditions that were already there. The race had already been tough. He wanted to anticipate the riders who normally climb better than him.
"He wanted to gain a minute, but that didn't work out. He hit his limits there. I dare to doubt whether he would have won the race otherwise. If Mathieu hadn't done that, you would have had a very different race behind him. In my opinion, he rode a great race."
After Montreal, the Alpecin Premier-Tech rider's road season is drawing to a close. While he will rest in the coming weeks, the Dutchman hasn't confirmed if he will make a return to Cyclocross over winter.
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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