Did Van der Poel's tough 2022 pay off for the Dutchman this year?

On Saturday, Mathieu van der Poel will start his third Tour de France with clear objectives: to win, have fun, help Jasper Philipsen and finish the race. Around the time the Dutch National Championship was being kicked off in Valkenburg last Sunday, there was already a lot of talk about the upcoming major race.

After being tricked by the Jumbo-Visma guys and standing on the podium alongside Dylan van Baarle and Olav Kooij, Van der Poel referred to his National Championship experience as a "frustrating" race, but before the start, he mentioned that it's also a "special" race. "And this year, it fits well into my Tour preparation, so that's the reason I'm at the starting line here."

In the past, we have seen Tour contenders crash during the Dutch National Championship, but that wasn't something on Van der Poel's mind. When asked about any fears of smacking into the ground, he responded promptly, "If I was afraid of crashing, then I couldn't race anywhere."

"As far as I'm concerned, the Tour can start," states Van der Poel

All in all, we saw an eager Van der Poel, a rider who is looking forward to the three-week race that will start in Bilbao this year. "I'm definitely happy with where I stand, I had a perfect preparation. I feel good, so as far as I'm concerned, the Tour can start."

According to Van der Poel, starting in the Baloise Belgium Tour and sacrificing the Tour de Suisse, much to the surprise of some cycling enthusiasts, is still the right approach. "I don't pay too much attention to what other people think. I do my own thing, and by now, I have the experience to know what I need to do to be in good shape. We had a good preparation, and I was able to race in Belgium, which I think has made me better," concludes the Alpecin-Deceuninck team leader.

The idea that you need a tough Tour de Suisse or Critérium du Dauphiné to perform well in the Tour doesn't apply to MVDP. He also enjoys doing things differently at times. "Of course, sometimes it doesn't work out, but often it goes well. A different approach doesn't necessarily have to be more successful. There are multiple paths you can take in order to reach top form."

Van der Poel seeking answers as to why he is so eager to finish the Tour

Van der Poel has repeatedly expressed his very strong desire to complete the Tour de France, but why is that? "I finished the Giro before, but afterwards, I didn't really improve. On the contrary, even," he says, asking himself the same question, digging for an answer. "This time, I've had a better preparation. For the Giro, it was very short. I feel good now, and I've been able to do everything, so I hope I don't come out of the Tour feeling too exhausted. After all, the World Championships are also still ahead," referring to the title race in Glasgow.

It's possible that last year's heavy Giro-Tour combo is only now paying off, with some delay. "I had my best spring this year, but whether that's related to finishing the Giro, I don't know. I can't say for sure," says the Dutchman, who also indicates that his form is just as good as in the spring. "It's been a long time since I felt this good. I had to race differently because of my back problems. Now it's getting better and better, so I can start racing like I used to - the way I prefer."

In the Basque Country, Van der Poel will immediately encounter two stages that could suit him well, before the race continues with two stages tailored more to the abilities of his teammate and sprinter Jasper Philipsen. The other Alpecin-Deceuninck riders for this Tour edition are Ramon Sinkeldam, Jonas Rickaert, Michael Gogl, Søren Kragh Andersen, Silvan Dillier and Quinten Hermans.