“That's crucial for the preparation for the Tour” – Mathieu van der Poel believes the Dauphine is the secret for more Tour de France glory
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel will line up for the Critérium du
Dauphiné this Sunday, using the week-long race as a key step in his build-up to
the Tour de France, despite still recovering from a broken wrist.
The Dutch rider, who stormed to victories at Milano–Sanremo
and Paris–Roubaix earlier this spring, has only one Tour stage win to his name,
dating back to 2021. That is something he hopes to change this summer, and the
Dauphiné is now central to his preparation.
Van der Poel has been able to train “reasonably well” in
recent weeks, according to Alpecin–Deceuninck team boss Christoph Roodhooft,
but he hasn’t been at full capacity.
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“Mathieu was very motivated to do everything possible to be
able to ride,” Roodhooft told Sporza. “Despite a painful wrist, he tried
to train.”
“It didn't work out optimally, but still very well. Some
days are better than others, but Mathieu was able to handle it mentally well.
All in all, it wasn't too bad, because it could have been worse.”
The decision to add the Dauphiné to his calendar came after
reflecting on last year’s Tour de France, when Van der Poel appeared to lack
sharpness in the opening stages. Whilst Van der Poel has been crucial in
helping Jasper Philipsen in the sprints, we have not seen the very best of the
Dutchman on his own.
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“Last year, we had the idea that he lacked some competition
rhythm in the first week of the Tour,” Roodhooft said. “That's why we want to
approach it differently now with the Dauphiné added. That was in danger of
falling away due to the broken wrist.”
Van der Poel was clear he didn’t want to arrive at the Tour
cold, but instead ready to attack at full gas. “That was a foregone
conclusion,” Roodhooft said. “That's why it's important that he can still
participate in the Dauphiné. That's crucial for the preparation for the Tour.”
While expectations remain realistic, Van der Poel is not
attending the Dauphiné to merely ride anonymously in the bunch.
“What he can do in the Dauphiné, where he will also find a
number of interesting stages on his path, is still the question,” said
Roodhooft. “Whether he can be successful right away is something else. But he
is there not to miss that competition toughness. If he sees a chance to win one
of the first stages, he will of course not let that pass.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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