Cyclo-cross, the spring road classics, the Tour de France ... All terrains are suitable for Mathieu van der Poel who will try, Monday July 26, to win a medal during the MTB event of the Tokyo Olympics.
Grandson of French cycling legend Raymond Poulidor, the 26-year-old Dutchman is an ogre who devours his passion for cycling on all surfaces.
For the Olympics, an event he calls "something big, bigger than sport", he chose to focus on mountain biking.
A discipline he knows well for having finished second in the general classification of the 2018 World Cup and won the bronze medal at the World Cup in the same year.
"Mathieu's presence is good for mountain biking, because it makes people talk about cross-country, it's really cool to have him on the circuit", also appreciates the French world champion Jordan Sarrou, who will also be one of the contenders for Olympic gold.
Coming from cyclo-cross
Mathieu van der Poel fell into the pot of cycling as a child - but more of a road bike. His father, the Dutchman Adrie van der Poel, is a former professional; his mother, Corinne, is the daughter of Raymond Poulidor. Yet it was in cyclo-cross, a non-Olympic discipline alternating asphalt roads, nature trails and improbable obstacles, that he made his name. He is also a quadruple world champion in the discipline, with a last title obtained in January 2021.
"When I was 18, I was noticed by the Belgian team (of the manager of Alpecin-Fenix) Philip Roodhooft", recently told AFP David, the older brother of Mathieu (29 years old against 26 for the youngest).
"They offered me to ride for them as a hope. Mathieu joined me two years later in the same way."
His notoriety soared after his first major road victory, on the Amstel Gold Race in 2019.
A preparation amputated by the Tour de France
Mathieu van der Poel experienced an atypical preparation for the event.
It has indeed been aligned on the roads of the Tour de France by its Alpecin-Fenix team, which allows it to combine disciplines with a few obligations.
"I would have preferred a different preparation, but my Tour was very successful. It is not obvious to combine three disciplines and I can be proud that things are going well in all three," he explained.
The look full of emotion and eyes filled with tears, Mathieu Van der Poel won for his grandpa, who from up there must be very proud.
# TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/fwJCUka2EG
- In the Musette (@DansLaMusette) June 27, 2021
During the Great Loop, he indeed burst the screen.
He won the yellow leader's jersey on the second stage, a jersey his grandfather had never worn despite his immense career.
The young champion also burst into tears on the podium.
He then valiantly defended him for six days until his loss in the eighth stage.
He then decided to give up to start focusing on Tokyo.
"It was in my interest to give up the Tour and concentrate on the Games," he said.
"For me, it was impossible to do the entire Tour and get to Tokyo in top form."
The Dutchman prepared at home for two weeks and won Tokyo late, arriving only four days before the event.
A very short time to recognize the course and get used to the hot and humid climate of Japan.
Adversaries to his measure
On the road - or rather the dirt road - towards the medal in Tokyo, Mathieu van der Poel has several strong opponents, starting with another follower of the multisurface: Tom Pidcock.
Coming from cyclo-cross like him, the Briton made his debut on the road with the Ineos Grenadiers team.
He also won the Belgian classic of the Brabant Flèche and believes he is better prepared than his opponent.
Mathieu Van der Poel will also have to be wary of the reigning world champion, the French Jordan Sarrou, who finished his preparation on July 10 by taking second place in the French championships, betrayed 150 meters from the finish by a breakage of chain, as he went into the sprint for victory.
Before riding tomorrow on the @ Tokyo2020 Olympic circuit, the French mountain biking team recognized him today on foot.
👀 pic.twitter.com/dVMkXzmsJd
- FFC (@FFCyclisme) July 22, 2021
Among the other favorites, Mathieu van der Poel will watch the two Swiss Nino Schurter and Mathias Flückiger.
Nino Schurter is aiming for a fourth consecutive Olympic medal, after bronze in Beijing-2008, silver in London-2012 and gold in Rio-2016.
Flückiger, double vice-world champion and impressive winner of the last World Cup stage in Les Gets on July 4, also arrives in great shape.
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR