One of the biggest letdowns of this year’s Tour de France was the unexpected withdrawal of Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutch rider had secured a win on Stage 2, came close on several other occasions, and wore the yellow jersey multiple times in the early stages. His dynamic and unpredictable racing style, reminiscent of his dominant spring classics form, brought excitement to the event, and it was evident he was enjoying the Tour more than in past years. However, his strong start was cut short when he was sidelined with pneumonia.
Wielerflits caught up with Van der Poel’s father, Adrie, for an update. “I saw on TV that he apparently got on his bike today, but I haven’t spoken to him. He messaged me yesterday morning saying he was feeling much better, but he also understands the importance of taking it slow. Pneumonia is serious. It’s smarter to rest a bit too long than to start again too soon.”
Adrie mentioned that his son may have gone for a light ride if the weather allowed, but added, “Normally, he’s mature enough now to follow good advice.”
This year marked a shift in Van der Poel’s approach to the Tour. He had previously struggled to find joy in the race due to its structure not playing to his strengths. But with more classics-style stages in the 2025 edition, the route suited him well, and he performed accordingly. Before this year, it had been four years since his last Tour stage victory.
Reflecting on his son’s run and sudden exit, Adrie said, “I don’t dwell on those things. You shouldn’t bring it up to him either. I think the disappointment hit hard this year because he was incredibly well-prepared and saw so many opportunities. A few things didn’t go his way, but when you look back winning a stage, battling for yellow, reclaiming it dramatically, spending a day out front with just one other rider that’s all pretty fantastic, in my opinion.”
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