Mathieu van der Poel ahead of cobbled Classics: 'I'll try and do my best everywhere and hopefully win'
The Dutchman comes roaring back into form at the BinckBank Tour and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, now setting his sights on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) has promised to try and win everywhere as he prepares to line up for the cobbled Classics this October, including his first-ever participation in Paris-Roubaix.
The Dutch road race champion will first line-up at Brabantse Pijl as defending champion on Wednesday October 7, no longer able to defend his title at the cancelled Amstel Gold Race the following weekend on Saturday October 10.
Van der Poel will then race Gent-Wevelgem on the Sunday before readying himself for a second Tour of Flanders appearance followed by his debut Hell of the North.
"If I can choose I'd rather win a Monument but it's not that I don't want to win in Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday or Gent-Wevelgem," Van der Poel said as to his priorities this October. "It's been a strange season and I'm just going to try and do my best everywhere and hopefully win."
The 25-year-old was speaking after finishing his maiden Liège-Bastogne-Liège in a respectable sixth place.
>>> Peter Sagan gets lost after Giro d’Italia stage and is towed to hotel by fans
Van der Poel was unable to go with Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) when the world champion attacked near the summit of Roche-aux-Faucons, the leading quartet then working hard to not let the Van der Poel-led chase group back into the fold all the way to the finish line.
"I think I surprised myself a little bit to finish in the top 10 today," Van der Poel admitted. "I'm really happy with the sixth place but on the other hand, it's a bit of a pity that we see Mohorič managed to still close the gap to the front group from the group I was in so that's maybe the downside of the day. But in general, I can be very happy."
While Van der Poel single-handedly brought the race back together in last year's Amstel Gold Race before winning the sprint for the line, Alaphilippe, Marc Hirschi (Sunweb), Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) knew what the Dutchman was capable of and made sure to keep him at arm's length.
Such was the effort Van der Poel exerted to bring the chase group within 14 seconds of the leaders that he was not able to jump across like Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-McLaren) did. Van der Poel did, however, still win the sprint from the chase group to finish sixth.
"For sure it was a bit difficult because it was at the last minute that it was decided I'd do this race so I didn't do a recon," Van der Poel said as to one explanation why he was not able to follow Alaphilippe's attack. "Tom Dumoulin was pulling really hard and they attacked when I was on the limit so I don't know if I was able to go...I don't think so.
"Afterwards, we were quite a good group together and I hoped if we joined together I could sprint but it was too late."
Moreover, Van der Poel lined up at Liège a day after putting the peloton of the BinckBank Tour to the sword, taking a magnificent solo stage win and overhauling a 17-second deficit on GC to claim the overall victory.
"After the BinckBank Tour I think it gives a lot of confidence for the races that are coming," Van der Poel said ominously, although he'll face stiff competition from his cyclo-cross nemesis Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), whose form has been mightily impressive since racing returned after lockdown.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Inspired by bikepacking events overseas, Rapha introduces the Rapha Yomp Rally
Rapha today announced the launch of the inaugural Rapha Yomp Rally, a five-day 375-mile adventure across some of the most stunning mixed-terrain roads California has to offer.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
From false promises and heartbreak to hope - How Heidi Franz is bouncing back from the last-minute collapse of B&B Hotels
Mind games, false promises and a life left in limbo. How American Heidi Franz navigated the B&B Hotels demise and found a kickstart to her new European life
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
‘Cyclo-cross can’t exist with just three riders’ - Sven Nys on CX appearance fee disparity
Some CX riders reportedly forced to race for free due to large appearance fees handed to Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Sven Nys says Tom Pidcock skipping cyclo-cross World title defence ‘makes sense’
‘An effort to win in Hoogerheide will cost so much’ says Belgian cyclocross legend on a course that favours Pidcock's rivals
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel deserve big CX appearance fees, says British champ
British national champion says Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel receive high appearance fees for a reason
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert wins round 12 of the Men's Cyclocross World Cup in the Zonhoven sandpit
The early stages suggested it was going to be a battle between the top four, but Van Aert went clear and never looked back
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse win X20 Trofee Herentals cyclo-cross
It's a Dutch golden day out in Belgium as the Alpecin pair win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout van Aert comes out on top once more in battle of cyclocross ‘big three’ at Superprestige Diegem
Puck Pieterse victorious in women’s race in Diegem, Belgium
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel says he 'still needs to be better' despite second World Cup victory
Dutchman dispatched arch rival Wout van Aert in Antwerp, Belgium even with knee injury suffered 24 hours previously
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated