‘I’m getting older by the day’: Mathieu van der Poel fears age is not on his side in fight for rainbow jersey
Dutch rider is one of the favourites to become road World Champion in Wollongong on Sunday
Mathieu van Der Poel has gone close to becoming road World Champion once before but he fears time is not on his side as he chases his rainbow dream.
On Sunday in the elite men’s road race at the World Championships 2022, the Dutch rider will look to better his 2021 finishing position when he came eighth behind Julian Alaphilippe in Leuven, Belgium.
According to Wielerflits, the grandson of cycling legend Raymond Poulidor fears time is not on his side as he attempts to win the rainbow jersey again this weekend.
He said: “I am also getting older every day now, the chances of grabbing that rainbow jersey are getting smaller every year.”
Although with that said, Van der Poel will no doubt be glad to know that in reality what he fears most is completely unfounded. This is because since its inception, 39 winners of the rainbow jersey have been in fact aged 28-years-old and above. Moreover, Spain’s Alejandro Valverde was 38 when he won the hallowed rainbow bands in Innsbruck, Switzerland in 2018.
The Dutch rider has proven himself as being in solid form ahead of Sunday’s race in Wollongong. Before flying to Australia, the 27-year-old took a resounding victory at the GP de Wallonie race in Belgium holding off Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar) in a steep uphill kick to the line.
"THE CHANCES OF GRABBING THAT RAINBOW JERSEY ARE GETTING SMALLER"
His display in Belgium proved that despite a break from racing, Van der Poel is still very much a ‘spring chicken’ and far from being the ageing pro of yesteryear still hoping for a shot at glory.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Earlier this year Van der Poel won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in impressive style and then held the maglia rosa for three stages. In the following months he lost form and admitted at the Tour de France that he couldn’t put his finger on the issue that was troubling him.
However, the Dutch star explained that so far so good in recent weeks and that he’s ready for Sunday's showdown with his long standing rival Wout van Aert.
“I did everything I could to be in shape for this World Championships. I know my body well, but in the Tour we also saw that it is not an exact science,” he said.
“Sometimes things don’t go your way and the human body is not a machine. It can sometimes be difficult, but I do feel that I am good. Otherwise I would not have travelled. You never know if it’s enough for Sunday but I will go for it."
If Van der Poel’s words are anything to go by then he has cancelled his premature zimmer frame order, put his slippers back in his wardrobe and is now more than ready for a shot at World Championship glory.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered major races elsewhere across the world. As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and focuses on coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
The National Cycling League appears to be fully dead
Effective immediately, the NCL paused all its operations in order to focus on restructuring and rebuilding for the 2025 season.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2025 route: white roads, twin time trials and a huge final week await in May
The three-day Albanian start could shape things early, too
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Is Mathieu van der Poel winning races “in zone 2” helping or hindering cyclo-cross?
The Dutch world champion has turned up off-road now, and immediately won twice. Is this fun?
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I don’t think it would be a surprise to anyone' - Mathieu van der Poel on Tadej Pogačar winning Paris-Roubaix
Dutchman says current road world champion has already proven he has what it takes to thrive on the cobblestones of the Hell of the North
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to miss cyclocross season to build for road with new Q36.5 team
Former world champ says he won’t race his CX bike this winter, Wout van Aert will ride six races
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jasper Philipsen: 'All eyes will be on us at the Classics but we will be ready'
Milan-San Remo winner says Alpecin-Decuninck will be prepared to have a target on their back next year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel to race 11 cyclocross races this season, from the Zonohoven World Cup to the World Championships
Dutchman to defend his world title in northern France at beginning of February
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert’s cyclo-cross campaign still up in the air
Belgian said to be struggling to run after serious knee injury sustained at the Vuelta a España
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar says blistering Sormano attack was 'planned' after cruising to fourth Il Lombardia title
World Champion ends his season on a high in Italy with 25th victory of the year secured at Italian Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Latvia protest against Mathieu van der Poel's World Championships result, saying he 'endangered spectators'
Latvian Cycling Federation calls on UCI to explain decision not to disqualify Dutchman who mounted pavement
By Tom Davidson Published