Cycling superstar Mathieu van der Poel spoke in an interview about the end of his career and his aversion to the Tour de France. The Dutchman also sent a challenge to Tadej Pogacar.
“I definitely won’t race anymore until I’m 40,” Mathieu van der Poel told Sporza. The 29-year-old added: “I think it’s important to stop at a peak or at a point where you can make peace with it. Sometimes you see riders racing for too long.”
However, van der Poel is not aiming to end his career anytime soon. The all-rounder dreams of a gold medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“LA will almost certainly be the last games I take part in,” he emphasized: “It would be very nice if I could win there, maybe on a mountain bike.”
Van der Poel doesn’t like the Tour de France
In the interview, van der Poel also commented on the Tour de France. “It’s a race I don’t particularly like,” he admitted: “Apart from trying to win stages and wear the yellow jersey, there’s not much for me to gain from the Tour.”
Van der Poel is also satisfied with his role at Alpecin-Deceuninck in helping his teammate Jasper Philipsen to victories. “My goal every time is to help him get as many stage wins as possible. I like that and it also takes the pressure off me.”
Van der Poel wants to focus on the Tour of Flanders this year. With a fourth win he would become the sole record holder.
However, van der Poel faces great competition in the spring classic from Tadej Pogacar. “It will be difficult to beat him, but that is a challenge that I am happy to accept,” the Dutchman sent a challenge to the Tour winner.