Tibor del Grosso looks to thrive in van der Poel's absence: "Mathieu doesn't ride every spring Classic, so I'm sure I can still ride for my own chance"
Cycling
Tibor del Grosso has turned into a World Tour rider this year with Alpecin-Deceuninck, and far away from the spotlight of Mathieu van der Poel, has been evolving as a quality classics rider who is eager to take his opportunities in 2026 to perform in the absence of his teammate.
In 2025, besides a great performance at the Volta a Catalunya where he finished on stage podiums twice, he rode to sixth at Dwars door Vlaanderen. "It was a shame I couldn't keep up with the three Visma riders who were going, but behind them I rode with Mads Pedersen. And hey, if he can't keep up, it's no shame for me," Del Grosso said to Wielerevue.
"It's really cool to be riding with guys like that around me. These are the guys I used to watch on TV not so long ago. That really makes me hungry for more". But he finished with strong competitors, and then focused on a more modest calendar away from the World Tour spring classics. However he took the opportunity to take his first pro win at the Tour of Turkey, and finished fourth at the queen stage of the Renewi Tour in Geraardsbergen, where van der Poel took the win.
He's racing a cyclocross schedule this winter, but what will follow on the road next year? "The team is still working on the planning, but I absolutely hope I'll be riding the bigger Classics now. Quite a few guys have left us, so I think the team will be interested as well. Mathieu doesn't ride every spring Classic, so I'm sure I can still ride for my own chance."
In some races he is certain to have freedom taking into consideration his quality, but with the departure of riders such as Gianni Vermeersch and Quinten Hermans, he is likely to become a key support rider for the Dutchman at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix - races he hasn't participated in. These seem set to be in his calendar: "It also seems like a great challenge to win De Ronde and Roubaix with the team."
And the cobbled classics are certainly where he sees himself erforming the best. The 22-year old's future is bright on the road. "That's where I really see my future. I'm quite tall now, so the Ardennes will be tough. Especially if you have to compete against Tadej and Remco there".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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