Mathieu van der Poel

Mathieu van der Poel is one of the most thrilling and multi-talented cyclists in the history of the sport, a Dutch phenomenon whose ability to dominate across road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking places him in a category that is entirely his own. Born on January 19, 1995, in Kapellen, Belgium, van der Poel carries extraordinary cycling genetics — he is the grandson of French cycling legend Raymond Poulidor and the son of Adrie van der Poel, a former professional cyclist who won Paris-Tours and competed in the Tour de France.

Van der Poel's cycling career began in cyclocross, where his rivalry with Belgium's Wout van Aert has produced some of the most compelling racing in the discipline's history. He has won multiple Cyclocross World Championships, dominating the muddy, technical courses of European winter racing with a combination of power, technical skill, and fearless bike handling. His cyclocross victories established him as a global cycling star before he had even focused seriously on the road.

His transition to road racing produced immediate and spectacular results. Van der Poel's attacking style — characterized by audacious long-range moves, explosive accelerations, and a willingness to ride from the front — has redefined expectations of what is possible in one-day road racing. His ability to race aggressively from the start of a race and still possess the power to contest the finish has drawn comparisons to the great classics riders of the past.

The 2023 Road World Championship in Glasgow provided van der Poel's most emphatic road racing victory. He attacked with over 90 kilometers remaining in a 271-kilometer race, riding solo for the majority of the distance to win by a massive margin. The performance was so dominant that it drew comparisons to the legendary solo rides of cycling history, and it confirmed van der Poel as the most exciting one-day racer of his generation. The rainbow jersey he earned has been worn with distinction in subsequent races.

Van der Poel's classics palmares is already extraordinary. His victories at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix — two of cycling's five Monument races — demonstrate his ability to excel on the most demanding and prestigious courses in road racing. His 2024 Paris-Roubaix victory, achieved with a devastating late attack over the cobblestones, was a masterclass in power and tactical awareness.

His versatility extends to mountain biking, where he competed at the Tokyo Olympics. While that particular race ended in disappointment due to a crash, his ability to compete at the highest level across three cycling disciplines is unprecedented in the modern era. His mountain biking skills have informed his bike handling on the road, giving him confidence in technical situations that would trouble less skilled riders.

Van der Poel's racing style is defined by aggression and spectacle. He is fundamentally opposed to conservative, tactical racing, preferring to animate races with attacks that force his rivals to respond. This approach, while not always successful, produces racing that captivates audiences and generates the dramatic narratives that make cycling compelling. His willingness to fail in spectacular fashion is part of what makes his victories so memorable.

The van der Poel-van Aert rivalry is the defining sporting duel of modern cycling. The two athletes, who have competed against each other since their youth, push each other to extraordinary heights across multiple disciplines. Their head-to-head battles in cyclocross, classics, and stage races are appointment viewing for cycling fans worldwide.

Mathieu van der Poel's legacy in cycling is that of a generational talent whose versatility and attacking spirit have made him one of the sport's most beloved figures. His World Championship, his Monument victories, and his dominance across multiple disciplines paint a picture of a cyclist whose like the sport may never see again.