"Van der Poel was good, but not brilliant" - Michel Wuyts hopes Mathieu van der Poel will improve at Tour de France

Mathieu van der Poel has had a flawless preparation for Tour de France. After some bad luck at Dwars door het Hageland, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider won a stage and general classification of Baloise Belgium Tour. Dutch championship was a bit of a disappointment, but Van der Poel never really got a chance against tactically well prepared Jumbo-Visma. Michel Wuyts discusses his chances at Tour de France in Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast.

Although Wuyts has no doubts that Van der Poel will take a stage, he certainly does not see an unapproachable rider. "I am very happy that he is there, he will undoubtedly provide fireworks and win a stage. In Baloise Belgium Tour, however, he could have been caught. In the stage in and around Durbuy, where he forced the decision, the young riders of Trek-Segafredo refused to work together efficiently. They didn't close the gap, purely out of selfishness. That Van der Poel was good, but not brilliant."

"You also saw that in the Dutch championship," Wuyts therefore has doubts, but expects Van der Poel to improve. "Although you have to assume that the big men will have another layer on top towards the Tour de France. You can now also see that in Van Baarle and Van Aert."