While the Tour de France stays, by far, the most important race in biking, for some riders – like Mathieu van der Poel – it gives little in the way in which of motivation. For 2025, the Dutchman is extra targeted on finishing his set of world titles with the mountain bike cross-country rainbow jersey.
Van der Poel is presently injured and taking outing of his cyclocross season, a self-discipline he’s a six-time world champion in. He’s additionally received one street world title thus far in his illustrious profession from the Glasgow World Championships in 2023.
However, regardless of two appearances at MTB Worlds in 2018 and 2023, that title nonetheless eludes him, as he solely managed a 3rd place and DNF respectively.
“If I might select, I wish to turn out to be world champion mountain biker this yr. I have not succeeded but and it retains enjoying at the back of my thoughts,” Van der Poel advised Sporza, with a watch additionally on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“I’ve another likelihood for that: LA will nearly definitely be the final Games I take part in. It could be nice to attempt to end in LA on the mountain bike.”
In comparability to his pleasure about extra off-road racing in the summertime, Van der Poel is much less enthusiastic concerning the Tour de France. It has characterised his July for the previous 4 seasons, nevertheless, he nonetheless describes it as “a race that I do not actually like.”
His greatest version got here in 2021 when he received the second stage and famously went into the yellow jersey, honouring his late grandad Raymond Poulidor who by no means achieved the feat. Since that triumph up the Mûr-de-Bretagne, he is but to win a stage on the Tour.
“Apart from making an attempt to win phases and put on the yellow jersey, there’s not a lot to realize for me within the Tour,” he advised the Flemish broadcaster, admitting that the presence of sprinter Jasper Philipsen helps him discover the motivation.
“I’d slightly trip 5 races during which I’m competing to win than 20 phases during which I’m not competing for the win half the time.
“With Jasper on board, my purpose is all the time to assist him win as many phases as doable. I like that and it additionally takes the stress off me.”
While Alpecin-Deceuninck are but to announce his full street schedule, Van der Poel did shed some gentle on what he’ll be doing after focusing on his seventh ‘cross world title in February.
“Unlike final yr, I most likely will not proceed till Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It will merely be till Paris-Roubaix,” stated Van der Poel, additionally revealing that he might race Paris-Nice for the primary time as “New races present new impulses.”
He’ll probably observe a well-recognized one-day marketing campaign from Milan-San Remo proper the way in which by means of to Paris-Roubaix, with a 3rd successive victory in northern France and a fourth Tour of Flanders title as key objectives.
But regardless of his absolute dominance in Flanders final season, he is conscious that the return of Tadej Pogačar to the cobbled area will make breaking the file for probably the most de Ronde victories, with 4, a a lot harder activity.
“It will probably be troublesome to beat him, however it’s a problem that I’m blissful to simply accept,” admitted Van der Poel.
“We are fascinated about how we will shut the hole on Pogacar as a result of that will probably be essential to beat him within the Tour.
“Perhaps that may be executed by barely completely different and tougher coaching. That is why I’m skipping the World Cup CX in Benidorm, for instance, as a result of a coaching camp in that very same interval will make me higher in direction of the spring.”
Van der Poel and Pogačar are the highest two lively Monument riders on the planet, having received eight of the final 10 between them and having a complete of six and 7 wins respectively. Both had been dominant in 2024 and a conflict at Flanders in 2025 ought to see repeats of the thrilling duels that they had in 2022 and 2023.
