Van der Poel reveals his intentions for the Tour 2024

Mathieu Van der Poel explains the objectives he faces in the Tour. The Dutch rider will focus his efforts on supporting Jasper Philipsen in the sprints and securing a stage win, despite acknowledging that the design of the race leaves him with few opportunities. The Tour de France ends just a few days after the Olympic Games challenge.

Van de Poel's plan for the Tour 2024: key piece for Philipsen and dreaming of a stage

The Tour de France 2024 starts tomorrow for the first time on Italian soil in the Tuscan town of Florence. Teams are finalizing details before the 176 riders called to the start line sweat it out over the next three weeks. Moments of tension containment and sticking to the plan to ensure everything goes well in the most important race of the year. In the midst of all this, Alpecin-Deceuninck organized a press conference with its two biggest stars, Mathieu Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen.

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Both riders agree that the race starts with two stages in which they will have a hard time getting into the battle to raise their arms in victory. Van der Poel, who three years ago wore the yellow jersey by winning the second stage, believes that "it depends on the race and what other teams want to do". Although he confessed that he still had to recon the stage route, he admitted that it seemed quite tough and that "there will be a yellow jersey at the finish line, so it will definitely not be an easy stage".

"I think the first two stages are quite tough. Last year there were doubts about whether it would be possible. It was too tough. This year, it always depends on the race, but it seems it will be too tough again." "I have raced in this region before and I know how tough it is."

Philipsen - current green jersey of the Tour - also knows what it's like to win at the start of the Tour - he did it last year in the third stage - and stated that he can "start without any stress" and raise the level of demand as favorable stages to his interests begin to arrive.

The Tour features several stages that are expected to end in a sprint, in a rare year without a finish in Paris, and in the peloton Philipsen is one of the biggest experts in the field. "Every year is tough; the Tour is never easy. The stages are tough, but I think opportunities will arise".

The Belgian explained that "I think the maximum opportunities for us as a team are maybe nine, including the gravel stage. But some of those stages end with a breakaway. If we can do six sprints out of nine, that would be good".

Philipsen also mentioned the rivals he will have to face to defend the green jersey and pointed to Mads Pedersen as the main opponent to snatch the coveted jersey. "I probably think Mads will be one of my big competitors" and added that "he has shown that he is a strong cyclist capable of scoring in all stages".

In fact, he stated that "definitely, if he sets his mind to it from the first stage, I think it's different from last year. If he goes 100%, he will be a great rival".

Van der Poel will have fewer opportunities than his teammate. Although he will once again play a key role as Philipsen's support in the sprints, his chances of increasing his personal stage win tally are quite limited. "The thing is that there are only a few opportunities for riders like me" and that "the easier stages have almost 3,000 meters of altitude, so it's not that easy anymore", he explained.

The Dutch rider stated that "for the sprint stages, it's obvious that we are going for Jasper and then the stages that suit me we also make very tough, as in all Grand Tours."

The intention is to finish the three weeks of competition and then focus on the Olympic Games. "The plan is to complete the entire Tour and, if possible, try to win a stage. Then I'll be there for the sprint stages for Jasper. It's a bit similar to last year, but when I had chances, I was a bit sick. So I hope to take advantage of my opportunities if they arise".

The Tour closes on July 21, while the Paris 2024 Olympic Games event will be on August 3.

Alpecin-Deceuninck has chosen these eight riders to compete in the Tour 2024: Mathieu Van der Poel, Silvan Dillier, Robbe Ghys, Soren Kargh Andersen, Axel Laurance, Jasper Philipsen, Jonas Rickaert, and Gianni Vermeersch.