"We're keeping our fingers crossed, he feels good" - Mathieu van der Poel's dad is confident heading into the Paris Olympics

Mathieu van der Poel spent the past three weeks a bit under the radar. Wearing the rainbow didn't grant the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider wings to win a stage himself. Even then, he played a key role in Jasper Philipsen's three triumphs, which was almost enough to defend the Green jersey from last year. But back to the Dutchman. Van der Poel declared ahead of the race that Tour de France would be only a piece in the puzzle which should be completed at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Cyclism'Actu asked his father Adrie van der Poel whether he thinks Mathieu is ready for the Olympics. "Yes, I think so, but there are many who are ready as we saw at the Tour. But hey, it's another race." For example Tadej Pogacar. "He's a rider I've been following for a long time, he's great, he puts on a show. We know him, he does exceptional things. He races a bit as he wants, if he wants to attack he attacks, I like that!"

And what about doubts and suspicions? "It was the case in the past, it's talked about today, it will be talked about in the future... I hope and believe that cycling is a clean sport. Some things have changed, like training, bikes, altitude training... These are things that have changed cycling, in our time it was different. Now there are riders who are ready with very few days of racing, in our time you had to do races to be in shape. Many things have changed, you have to accept it."

The punchy course in Paris should more than suit the Dutchman. Will Mathieu become the new Olympic champion? "We're keeping our fingers crossed, he feels good. The last stages were tough, but I don't think he suffered too much. It's good training, there are two weeks left to dot the i's. I'm very confident, he's going to do something good."