What's happening to Van der Poel at the Tour de France

Mathieu van der Poel has not found the measure of the Tour de France. A race in which he made a spectacular debut in the 2021 edition, where he gave a real exhibition on the Mur de Bretagne and wore yellow, but since then he has not managed to shine in this race despite continuing to insist on his attempt.

In the absence of victory Van der Poel finds new roles for Tour de France 2023

Mathieu van der Poel took great care in preparing for this season. He started his cyclocross campaign very late and, despite being tortured by his eternal rival Wout van Aert, he managed to win on the most important day of the year, the World Championship. From there, after a mini pre-season, he linked up with the classics, where he shone again with an undisputed triumph at Milan-San Remo and the Paris-Roubaix finale, not forgetting the Tour of Flanders, where only an unreachable Pogacar could prevent the Dutchman from reaching the flandrier Olympus.

After the classics he took a long break, skipping the Giro d'Italia which last year took its toll on him so that when the Tour de France arrived he had nothing more in his legs so he ended up abandoning on the now famous stage of the Col du Granon. He arrived at the start of this Tour de France 2023 after finishing third in the Dutch championship and apparently in progression.

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However, so far in the Tour de France he has hardly been seen in the breakaways. Only yesterday, in an excessively hard stage for his characteristics, we have had glimpses of the Van der Poel we know, even made an attack with tremendous intention that, having had a little more luck or a little less quality rivals than those of today, surely had led to a good end.

However, in the face of this lower level of form than might be expected, Mathieu van der Poel has not been shy about turning himself into a real worker, giving us some tremendous stage finishes in the task of getting Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter Jasper Philipsen in the best possible position until the final meters. In fact, he can thank the Dutch genius for three of his four wins.

In statements today before the start Mathieu admitted that he had not been feeling well in the last few days, apparently because he had been ill, which adds to arrive in a not optimal shape for the Tour de France, the race where almost everyone arrives at its best time of the year. However, we have to be clear that Mathieu's number one goal this season is the Glasgow World Championships. It is there that he has to achieve top form and not here at the Tour, which is just another step in his preparation despite the fact that a rider of his level is required to win wherever he rides.

In any case, there is still half a Tour de France to go and, according to Mathieu, his infection is gradually clearing up and he is feeling better. For sure in the remainder of the Tour de France we will see Van der Poel winning or close to it. Today he has already shown signs of his progression.