Lead-out king Danny van Poppel eyes a fresh start with new classics team

Cycling
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 at 09:45
sam welsford danny van poppel

For years, Danny van Poppel has been regarded as the best lead-out rider in the peloton, but for someone of his caliber, he feels there haven’t been enough wins. That frustration is something the 31-year-old Dutchman has expressed before. At Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Van Poppel often had to take on the role of sprinter himself, as the designated leaders underperformed. This winter, he decided to push Sam Welsford to the limit. The 28-year-old Australian has a few months to prove himself—not just to the team, but especially to his lead-out. Van Poppel explains to IDLProCycling.com that this has turned into a promising project.

What did you do this winter?

"I’ve been a pro for 13 years now, so you pretty much know what you need to do by this point. I trained a lot, just like in previous years. The approach has worked well over the last three or four seasons, so I’m sticking with it."

You won't stay off the bike for three weeks?

"Yes, I do, but after that, I start itching to ride again. I have a routine: after those three weeks, I make sure to get back into it."

We’ve talked before about your ambitions each year, but the program often changes. Do you have a rough idea of what 2025 will look like?

"Yes, I’ll start with the Tour Down Under and the UAE Tour, focusing on sprinting. Then we’ll do some classics with a new classics team, which is exciting for us. After that, I’ll take a break, then Hungary, Switzerland, and I’m set for the Tour de France. But I’m being cautious about that."

Just one Grand Tour then?

"Well, we haven’t discussed what happens after the Tour yet—that’s the main focus."

So, sprinting again, another year with Sam Welsford. I saw you training hard with him on social media. How’s your confidence in him after what was a disappointing 2024? You’ve said before that he needs to improve quite a bit...

"Yes, last year just wasn’t good—I’m very open and honest about that. It was a huge disappointment for me because after Sam Bennett left in 2022, I was hoping for a fresh start. I never expected this. I genuinely believe that if there’s a fast sprinter behind me, we can win ten to fifteen races a year. I’m absolutely convinced of that, and I don’t say things like that lightly. That’s why I was so disappointed.

This winter, Sam moved to Monaco, and we’ve trained together every day. I now see it as a bit of a project. He comes from the track and has only been a pro for three years, so I need to be realistic. I hope I’ve taught him a lot—I’ve shared plenty of tips and secrets. Tonight, we’re even going to watch sprint videos together, and then we’ll see how it goes. I’m trying to share all my experience to help him perform as well as possible."

A lead-out even to the hotel room, then?

"Yes, we’ll watch videos together to see what can be improved. I really enjoy that, and we’ll see how it turns out. I’m certain he’ll be much better than he was last year."

sam welsford danny van poppel bora hansgrohe
Welsford still started the year well in 2024 with three stage wins at the Tour Down Under

Van Poppel doesn't know if Welsford is the top sprinter he wants

In 2024, you were quite critical at times. Is Welsford the kind of person who takes criticism well?

"I don’t really care how someone reacts; at this level, you just have to say what needs to be said. There’s no time for a soft approach here. A lot is expected of us, so it’s okay to be tough. I’ve told Sam very clearly that things weren’t good enough, and I think it was a wake-up call for him."


Besides everything you’re doing for him, is the team planning to try anything radically different? We’ve read everywhere that Red Bull was mostly just a name during the first half of the year but is now bringing in all its expertise. How does that affect the sprint train?

Besides everything you’re doing for him, is the team planning to try anything radically different? We’ve read everywhere that Red Bull was mostly just a name during the first half of the year but is now bringing in all its expertise. How does that affect the sprint train?

"We’re going to focus on getting Sam on track in the first few weeks, and then we’ll see if he delivers and what races he’ll be assigned to. The team is quite strict about that, which I think is great. If someone works hard and performs, they deserve opportunities. With Red Bull, I’ve seen a lot of changes—maybe a 30 or 40 percent improvement overall. That’s pretty impressive. This is my fourth year with the team, so I know where we started. We have to keep up with modern cycling, and now we have the budget for that. You can immediately see that with more money, smarter people have joined, and things are getting done."

Fabio Jakobsen has mentioned that he became too much of a sprinter and struggled on climbs. Can you broadly explain where Welsford’s challenges lay?

"It’s somewhat similar, I think. Sam still had the track in the back of his mind and maybe didn’t realize that working with me means giving it 110 percent. Australians are a bit more laid-back, and I’m the opposite. I want to win races, I’m super driven, and I give everything, including being critical of myself.

We can’t necessarily expect non-European riders to share the same Dutch-Belgian upbringing and culture we have. For example, at Rabobank, if you were five minutes late, you’d hear about it. That’s how I was raised, but Sam and I had good conversations about it, and we’ve found common ground. We’re fully committed to 2025. I’m not making any predictions yet, but I do know we’ve worked much harder than last year. Now, it’s time to turn that into results."

Now that the Olympics are over, you must be relieved that the full focus is finally on the road for him?

"Yes. It’s a bit harsh, but for Australians, an Olympic gold medal means so much more than it does for us. It makes you a huge star. It’s good that chapter is closed, also for him."

Do you believe that if everything goes right, Sam Welsford could be among the top two or three sprinters in the world?

"If everything goes right, yes. I really see it as a great project. Sam moved to Monaco and started working with my trainer. We’ve been doing a lot of the same things, and when you always train together, you have to communicate a lot. He’s changed 180 degrees. Now, if I say we’re meeting at the roundabout at 9:00, he’s there. That’s been great to see. I have a lot of experience to share, but I also don’t want to put too much pressure on him. If he just focuses on sprinting hard, the results will come."

With Mick and Tim van Dijke joining, you’re getting some extra power in the train...

"Yes, absolutely! I’m super excited about the Van Dijke brothers and immediately told CEO Ralph Denk that we need those guys on board. There are certain things you notice in the peloton that team directors might not see. Mick and Tim understand the game and have great bike-handling skills. If I were to build my dream train, they’d definitely be in it."

Are they joining the train immediately, or will there be some trial and error?

"Mick is joining us for Paris-Nice, and we’ll see how it goes from there. But I already have complete trust that it will work out with them. If we can also get a top finisher... I believe the team is keeping that in mind for the future, that we need a world-class sprinter."

It would be good if we didn't see Danny van Poppel sprinting by himself anymore?

"Haha, yeah, pretty much! I’ve changed a bit in that regard. I was very focused on Bennett and Welsford, but when Sam suddenly didn’t go to the Giro, I decided not to rely entirely on one guy anymore. I just want to win races, and sometimes you have to grind through. One day, there will be a super-fast sprinter with whom I can win my dream Tour stages. I’m not leaving this team—I’m super happy here. That’s the main thing."

You mentioned that the super-fast sprinter might still come. Or is he already here? It sounds like you’re not putting all your faith in Welsford.

"Well, it’s still business. I do believe in Sam’s potential, but I’m hesitant to say too much. I’ve seen how it hasn’t worked out before, but deep down, I still believe in it. That’s also what makes it exciting—it can only get better from here."

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