Mathieu van der Poel contraint d’abandonner le Tour de France en raison d’une pneumonie Le coureur d’Alpecin-Deceuninck, vainqueur de la deuxième étape et porteur du maillot jaune pendant un court moment, a été diagnostiqué d’une pneumonie après avoir présenté des symptômes ressemblant à un rhume, qui se sont aggravés pendant la journée de repos. Il a été hospitalisé à Narbonne pour y recevoir un traitement.

Mathieu van der Poel contraint d’abandonner le Tour de France en raison d’une pneumonie

Le coureur d’Alpecin-Deceuninck, vainqueur de la deuxième étape et porteur du maillot jaune pendant un court moment, a été diagnostiqué d’une pneumonie après avoir présenté des symptômes ressemblant à un rhume, qui se sont aggravés pendant la journée de repos. Il a été hospitalisé à Narbonne pour y recevoir un traitement.

 

August 3, 2025 – Narbonne, France – Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel has been forced to withdraw from the 2025 Tour de France after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, who made a spectacular early impact on this year’s race with a stage win and a brief spell in the coveted yellow jersey, was hospitalized in Narbonne following a deterioration in his condition during the race’s first rest day.

Van der Poel, 30, began experiencing cold-like symptoms during Stage 8, but initially continued to race despite apparent discomfort. Team doctors monitored his condition closely, but as the symptoms worsened, particularly with shortness of breath and fatigue, he was sent for medical evaluation. On Monday morning, just hours before the start of Stage 10, tests confirmed he had developed pneumonia.

“It’s a huge disappointment, of course,” said Van der Poel in a brief statement released by the team. “After such a strong start to the Tour, I was hoping to compete all the way to Paris. But my health has to come first. I want to thank the team, the medical staff, and all the fans for their support.”

The Alpecin-Deceuninck team announced the withdrawal shortly before Tuesday’s stage. According to team manager Christoph Roodhooft, Van der Poel was admitted to a hospital in Narbonne on Monday evening as a precautionary measure, where he is now receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

“This is not something we take lightly,” Roodhooft said. “Mathieu is one of the toughest riders in the peloton, and for him to step off the bike means his body was sending a clear signal. We’re confident he’ll make a full recovery, but right now, rest and treatment are the priority.”

Van der Poel’s absence is a major blow to the Alpecin-Deceuninck squad, which had built much of its Tour strategy around the Dutchman’s versatility and explosive power. His victory in Stage 2, a hilly finish in the Massif Central, thrilled fans and demonstrated the form he brought into the Tour. His performance in the opening stages earned him the yellow jersey for two days, marking his first time in the maillot jaune since 2021.

Tour organizers and fellow riders expressed their sympathies, with race leader Tadej Pogačar calling Van der Poel “a great champion and a fierce competitor.” “It’s never good to see someone leave the race like this. I hope he recovers quickly and comes back stronger,” Pogačar said.

Van der Poel’s departure also reshuffles the dynamics of the remaining sprint stages and intermediate classics-style routes, where he was expected to be a key aggressor.

With two weeks of racing still to go, the Tour de France continues without one of its most dynamic talents. For fans and teammates alike, Van der Poel’s sudden exit is a stark reminder of the physical toll the world’s toughest bike race can exact—even on its brightest stars.