"What if Mathieu were to ride for INEOS Grenadiers?" - Jan Bakelants positive that van der Poel would win much more with stronger team

After a prosperous cyclocross campaign, Mathieu van der Poel is gearing up for the road season, with the Alpecin-Deceuninck team focusing on the upcoming spring classics.

Jan Bakelants has experience riding with him in the peloton, and thus, understands his potential. He ponders about what he could accomplish if given the opportunity to ride for well-established teams that can support him for a flawless finish.

“I have to compliment Alpecin on their transfers. They have been smart with their budget. Van der Poel will never have had such a strong team, but you cannot compare it to the teammates of, for example, Wout van Aert at Jumbo-Visma. I think it's an interesting thought experiment: what if Mathieu were to ride for INEOS Grenadiers? Then he has a squad that can carry a race from start to finish. This way he always arrives in an ideal position in the final. How much would he win then,” he told HLN.

Considering the issue of back pain that affected his performance in the cyclocross season, Bakelants is questioning whether it will have the same impact during the road season. “What is an important question this spring: will his back play up? That story keeps coming back, but at the same time I notice that he always gives the doubters tit for tat. He also knows that he no longer has twenty years to race,” concluded Bakelants.