Mathieu van der Poel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mathieu van der Poel
Mathieu van der Poel Brussels 2020.jpg
Van der Poel at the 2020 Universities Cross
Personal information
Full nameMathieu van der Poel
Born (1995-01-19) 19 January 1995 (age 26)
Kapellen, Flanders, Belgium
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb; 11 st 11 lb)
Team information
Current teamAlpecin–Fenix
Disciplines
RoleRider
Rider type
Amateur team
2012–2013IKO Enertherm–BKCP
Professional team
2014–BKCP–Powerplus[1][2]
Major wins
Cyclo-cross
World Championships (2015, 2019, 2020, 2021)
European Championships (2017–2019)
National Championships (2015–2020)
Mountain Bike
European XCO Championships (2019)
National XCO Championships (2018)
Road

Grand Tours

Tour de France
1 individual stage (2021)

Stage races

BinckBank Tour (2020)
Tour of Britain (2019)

One-day races and Classics

National Road Race Championships (2018, 2020)
Tour of Flanders (2020)
Strade Bianche (2021)
Amstel Gold Race (2019)
Dwars door Vlaanderen (2019)
Brabantse Pijl (2019)
Grand Prix de Denain (2019)
Medal record
In this Dutch name, the surname is Van der Poel, not Poel.

Mathieu van der Poel (born 19 January 1995) is a Dutch cyclist who currently rides for UCI ProTeam Alpecin–Fenix.[3] He competes in the cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing and road bicycle racing disciplines of the sport and is best known for winning the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tábor in 2015, Bogense in 2019, Dübendorf in 2020 and Ostend in 2021, the Junior Road Race World Championships in Florence in 2013,[4] and twice winning the Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships, in Koksijde in 2012[5] and Louisville in 2013; the first rider to win multiple titles at that level.[6] As well as this, Van der Poel was the winner of the 2018 Dutch National Road Race Championships in Hoogerheide,[7] as well as the 2019 editions of Dwars door Vlaanderen,[8] the Brabantse Pijl,[9] and the Amstel Gold Race.[10]

Born in Kapellen, van der Poel comes from a family of professional cyclists; his brother David is also prominent in cyclo-cross racing, winning the 2013 National Under-23 Championships in Hilvarenbeek.[11] His father, Adri, is a former six-times Dutch National Champion and the World Cyclo-cross Champion for 1996; he was also twice a stage winner at the Tour de France and a winner of several Classics during his career.[4] His maternal grandfather was French cyclist Raymond Poulidor,[12] winner of the 1964 Vuelta a España, who also finished the Tour de France in runner-up position three times and in third place five times.[13]

Career[]

Junior career[]

Dominance in cyclo-cross and first road race wins[]

Van der Poel made his debut in cyclo-cross during the 2009–10 season, competing in the novices ranks. He won several local races, and at the National Championships in Heerlen, Van der Poel finished in second place, fifteen seconds behind the champion Erik Kramer.[14] During the 2010–11 season, Van der Poel won most of the races that he contested; he also combined this with racing on the road in the summer of 2011, and ultimately won the Dutch Novice Time Trial Championships in Zwartemeer. The following winter, Van der Poel advanced to the junior ranks, and was even more dominant than the previous season; out of all the races he contested, he failed to finish first on only four occasions. He also claimed the junior titles at National,[15] European,[16] and World Championship level,[5] each one by a convincing margin.[17]

During the 2012 road season, Van der Poel achieved his first general classification victory[18] at the Ronde des Vallées; he also won the young rider classification at the same race. Van der Poel was also a member of the Dutch World Championship squad, when he competed in the junior road race; he finished within the 56-rider main group, and finished as the best-placed Dutch rider, in ninth position.[19] Picking up where he left off the previous winter, Van der Poel's 2012–13 cyclo-cross campaign was flawless; he contested thirty races, and won every single one of them.[20] Having defended his European title in the United Kingdom,[21] Van der Poel maintained his Dutch title in Hilvarenbeek on the same day that his brother David won the Under-23 Championships.[11]

World champion in cyclo-cross and on the road[]

Van der Poel at the 2013 Krawatencross.

The month after winning his Dutch title, Van der Poel became the first cyclist to defend his junior world title, by winning the race in Louisville, Kentucky, ahead of teammate Martijn Budding.[22] In the 2013 road season, Van der Poel contested several Nations' Cup Juniors events for the Dutch national team. At the Course de la Paix, Van der Poel won the opening stage[23] in a six-rider select group; he held the race lead into the following day, where Mads Pedersen assumed the race lead for the remainder of the race in an individual time trial around Třebenice. Van der Poel ultimately finished the race in third place, behind Pedersen and Logan Owen.[24] His next appearance came at the Grand Prix Général Patton, where he soloed – from 14 km (8.7 mi) remaining[25] – to a six-second victory on the race's second and final stage in Wincrange, en route to finishing second place overall, five seconds adrift of race-winner Christoffer Lisson of Denmark.[25][26] In the process, he also won the points and mountains sub-classifications.[26]

Van der Poel booked stage victories at the Ain'Ternational–Rhône Alpes–Valromey Tour; riding for Enerthem-BKCP, he won a five-rider sprint on the opener,[27] and defeated France's Elie Gesbert in a head-to-head finish on the final stage,[28] to take the overall race victory by almost half a minute from Gesbert.[29] Prior to his next Nations Cup appearance, Van der Poel won the Dutch National Junior Road Race Championships in Chaam.[30] At the Trophée Centre Morbihan, Van der Poel won the race overall,[31] having defended the race lead from the start, after winning a head-to-head sprint against Belarus' Aliaksandr Riabushenko on the opening stage.[31] In the lead up to the World Championships, Van der Poel dominated the Grand Prix Rüebliland event, as he won the opening three of the race's four stages.[32] He won a three-rider sprint in Bettwil to win the opening stage,[32] before a solo victory the following day in Leutwil,[32] and a victory in a 9 km (5.6 mi) individual time trial in Hunzenschwil.[32] Pedersen got the better of Van der Poel in a bunch sprint on the final stage, but Van der Poel had done enough to win the race overall by 46 seconds over Pedersen.[32]

This form made Van der Poel one of the favourites for the World Championships,[33] where he would lead the Dutch squad. In addition to competing in the road race, Van der Poel contested the junior time trial race for the Netherlands, along with Sam Oomen. Van der Poel finished 50th out of the 84 riders to complete the course, over two minutes down on the eventual world champion Igor Decraene of Belgium.[34] In the road race, Van der Poel attacked on the final lap,[35] and bridged up to the race leader Franck Bonnamour of France; he later distanced him on the final climb of Via Salviati – around 5 km (3.1 mi) from the finish – and soloed away to win the gold medal,[4] ahead of Pedersen and Albania's Nikaj Iltjan.[36][37]

Senior career[]

Van der Poel at the 2018 Cross-country World Cup in Albstadt.

Van der Poel moved into the under-23 category ahead of the 2013–14 cyclo-cross season.[38] In his first race in the class, Van der Poel won the GP Mario De Clercq – in the BPost Bank Trophy – at Ronse, defeating nearest rival Gianni Vermeersch by twelve seconds.[39] After he finished third in his first World Cup race,[40] Van der Poel won the second round of the season at Tábor in the Czech Republic, beating Vermeersch once again by three seconds.[41] In the process, Van der Poel became the first rider since Niels Albert in 2004 to take an under-23 race victory as a first-year rider.[42] He completed a clean sweep of victories in the major cyclo-cross competitions, by winning at Ruddervoorde in the Superprestige the following day, leading home his rivals by almost a minute.[43] He won a silver medal at the UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic,[44] finishing 23 seconds behind winner Michael Vanthourenhout.

Van der Poel turned professional with the BKCP–Powerplus team at the start of the 2014 season, joining brother David at the squad, having signed a four-year contract.[45] Prior to doing so, Van der Poel made his elite debut in the Scheldecross Antwerpen,[46] in December 2013; Van der Poel was competing alongside professionals as there was no under-23 race. He finished second in the race, five seconds behind his future teammate Niels Albert,[47] having dropped Philipp Walsleben and Rob Peeters in the closing stages.[48] He again finished second to Albert ten days later in the Grand Prix De Ster Sint-Niklaas, losing out in a two-man sprint finish.[49] He ended 2013 with his fourth Superprestige victory of the season at Diegem.[50]

After finishing second to Wout van Aert in his opening race of 2014 at the Grand Prix Sven Nys,[51] Van der Poel secured the overall under-23 World Cup title with his fourth win of the season, at the Memorial Romano Scotti in Rome.[52] He achieved his first professional victory at the Boels Classic Internationale Cyclo-cross in Heerlen, beating closest rivals Thijs van Amerongen and Rob Peeters.[53] In his first senior road race, Van der Poel finished seventh in the Omloop der Kempen, which had finished in a sprint to the line in Veldhoven. Just a few weeks later he secured his first professional victory on the road, winning the Ronde van Limburg.[54]

Van der Poel in the yellow jersey in the 2021 Tour de France

More recently he has begun to compete in the cross-country cycling discipline of the sport setting his sights on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2017 he placed 2nd in the World Cup at Albstadt behind world champion Nino Schurter. In 2018 he raced a full World Cup season finishing 2nd in the series overall and 3rd at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, as well as winning the Dutch National Championship. At the 2018 European Cycling Championships in Glasgow, Van der Poel competed in the cross-country mountain bike and the road race, winning a silver medal in the latter.

In 2021, Van der Poel competed in his first grand tour, the 2021 Tour de France. Here he succeeded in winning the second stage and acquired the yellow jersey, which he would wear for six days. He also secured the King of the Mountain jersey on that stage, which he held for a single day.

Major results[]

Main article: List of career achievements by Mathieu van der Poel

References[]

  1. ^ "Corendon-Circus maakt plannen voor 2019 bekend!" [Corendon-Circus announces plans for 2019!]. Corendon–Circus (in Dutch). Team Ciclismo Mundial BVBA. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  2. ^ "De nieuwe speelkameraadjes van MVDP: "Er zal meer naar ons gekeken worden"" [The new playmates for MVDP: "We will be looked at more"]. Sporza (in Dutch). Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Alpecin-Fenix". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Brown, Gregor (28 September 2013). "Mathieu van der Poel wins junior road Worlds title". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Bagg, Chris; Vardaros, Christine (28 January 2012). "Mathieu van der Poel Wins First Race of the World Championship in Koksijde". Cyclocross Magazine. PFS. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Mathieu Van Der Poel defends junior world cyclocross title". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel claims Dutch title". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (3 April 2019). "Instinct delivers Van der Poel to victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. ^ Long, Jonny (17 April 2019). "Mathieu van der Poel shows incredible strength to win De Brabantse Pijl 2019". Cycling Weekly. TI Media. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Mathieu Van der Poel wins Amstel Gold Race". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 21 April 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Broers Van der Poel beiden kampioen" [Brothers Van der Poel are both champions]. De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Koninklijke Wegener NV. 13 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Le petit-fils de Raymond Poulidor champion du monde juniors" [The grandson of Raymond Poulidor is junior world champion]. RFI.fr (in French). Radio France Internationale. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  13. ^ "1957–1966: Anquetil 5–0 Poulidor". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 June 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  14. ^ Hazen, Bart; Mack, Jamie (10 January 2010). "Erik Kramer and David van der Poel Dutch National Champions in the Youth Categories". Cyclocross Magazine. PFS. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Van der Poel wins Dutch junior 'cross title". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Van der Poel takes junior title". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  17. ^ Seaton, Dan (28 January 2012). "Mathieu van der Poel takes worlds Junior CX title". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  18. ^ Gachet, Frédéric (12 August 2012). "Ronde des Vallées à Hémonstoir — Et. 3: Classements" [Ronde des Vallées à Hémonstoir — Stage 3 Classification]. Directvelo (in French). Association Le Peloton. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  19. ^ "Final Results / Résultats finaux: Road Race Men Juniors / Course en ligne Hommes Junior" (PDF). Sport Result. Tissot Timing. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  20. ^ Mignot, Alexandre (25 February 2013). "Van der Poel termine la saison invaincu!" [Van der Poel finished the season undefeated!]. Cyclism'Actu (in French). Swar Agency SPRLS. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  21. ^ "Van der Poel repeats as European junior champion". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  22. ^ Weislo, Laura (4 February 2013). "Dutch top medal count at Louisville 'cross Worlds". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 3 November 2013. Aside from Marianne Vos's sixth rainbow jersey in the women's race, the Dutch were top two in the juniors with Mathieu van der Poel and Martijn Budding, won the U23s thanks to a tenacious ride by Mike Teunissen, and Lars van der Haar was third in the elites.
  23. ^ Gachet, Nicolas (2 May 2013). "Course de la Paix Juniors — Et. 1: Classements" [Course de la Paix Juniors — Stage 1 Classification]. Directvelo (in French). Association Le Peloton. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  24. ^ "The yellow Pedersen has closed up the Course de la Paix winning". Závod míru juniorů. CK Slavoj Terezín. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "UCI Juniors Nations Cup: The Danish increase lead". UCI.ch. Union Cycliste Internationale. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wëntger Gemengeblad N°24" [Wincrange Municipal Bulletin No. 24] (PDF). Wincrange.lu (in Luxembourgish). Administration Communale de Wincrange. September 2013. p. 21. Retrieved 3 November 2013.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ Gachet, Nicolas (11 July 2013). "Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Et. 1: Classements" [Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Stage 1 Classification]. Directvelo (in French). Association Le Peloton. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  28. ^ "Mathieu Van der Poel wint Tour du Valromey" [Mathieu Van der Poel wins Tour du Valromey]. BN DeStem (in Dutch). Koninklijke Wegener NV. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  29. ^ Gachet, Frédéric (14 July 2013). "Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Et. 4: Classements" [Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Stage 4 Classification]. Directvelo (in French). Association Le Peloton. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  30. ^ "Welten beste nieuweling in Chaam" [Welten best newcomer in Chaam]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). Koninklijke Wegener NV. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013. Bij de junioren ging de titel naar Mathieu van der Poel, de zoon van oud-prof Adrie van der Poel. [In the juniors, the title went to Mathieu van der Poel, the son of former professional Adrie van der Poel.]
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b "UCI Juniors Nations Cup: France takes the lead in Brittany". UCI.ch. Union Cycliste Internationale. 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Holländer Mathieu van der Poel überlegener Sieger — GP Rüebliland ging in Brugg zu Ende" [Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, the clear winner — GP Rüebliland went to Brugg to end]. Radsport.ch (in German). Elite Timing GmbH. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  33. ^ Brown, Gregor (28 September 2013). "Logan Owen came close, but picked "the wrong moment to go"". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 3 November 2013. I knew he'd [Van der Poel] be a favorite coming into the day. He has a really good kick on that steep climb.
  34. ^ Stokes, Shane (24 September 2013). "Decraene earns junior title for Belgium". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  35. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel wins junior men's road race title". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  36. ^ Farrand, Stephen (28 September 2013). "Van der Poel wins junior men's world title". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  37. ^ Atkins, Ben (28 September 2013). "Mathieu van der Poel confirms cross talent to take junior road rainbow". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  38. ^ Case, Chris (2 February 2013). "Mathieu Van Der Poel v. Logan Owen: A tale of two juniors whose ending has yet to be written". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  39. ^ Eeckhaut, Dimitri (13 October 2013). "Mathieu van der Poel meteen beste belofte in Ronse" [Mathieu van der Poel immediately best promise in Ronse]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). De Persgroep Nederland. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  40. ^ "Vanthourenhout wins World Cup in Valkenburg". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  41. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel prevails in Tabor World Cup". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  42. ^ Hymas, Peter (27 October 2013). "Van der Poel quickly transitions to top of U23 cyclo-cross". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  43. ^ "Van der Poel victorious in first Superprestige round". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  44. ^ "Van der Poel kan kunststukje niet herhalen bij EK beloften" [Van der Poel can not repeat feat at European Championships for Prospects]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). AD NieuwsMedia. Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  45. ^ "Broers Van der Poel worden prof bij BKCP" [Brothers Van der Poel to be pros with BKCP]. Sporza (in Dutch). Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  46. ^ Moore, Kyle (8 December 2013). "Young crossers Van der Poel and Van Aert confirming talent". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  47. ^ "Albert triumphs at Scheldecross". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  48. ^ Moore, Kyle (7 December 2013). "Albert triumphs in Scheldecross at Antwerp in BKCP sweep". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  49. ^ "Fotofinish bezorgt Niels Albert zege tegen Mathieu Van der Poel" [Photo finish gives Niels Albert win against Mathieu Van der Poel]. Sportwereld–Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Corelio. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  50. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel wins Superprestige Diegem". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  51. ^ "Van Aert wins GP Sven Nys U23". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  52. ^ "Van der Poel powers to World Cup victory in Rome". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  53. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel wins Boels Classic Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerlen". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  54. ^ "Mathieu van der Poel wint Ronde van Limburg" [Mathieu van der Poel wins Ronde van Limburg]. Sportwereld–Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Corelio. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""