21 Things You Didn’t Know About the Seven-Time World Champion Mathieu van der Poel

Mathieu van der Poel is a household name in the world of cycling, known for his explosive speed, versatility, and impressive list of victories. With a career that includes triumphs in Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, and six cyclo-cross world titles, the Dutchman has carved out an enviable legacy. However, there’s much more to this talented rider than meets the eye. Here are 21 things you didn’t know about Mathieu van der Poel:

1. Dual Nationality: Though born in Belgium to a French mother and Dutch father, Van der Poel races under the Dutch flag.
2. Grandfather’s Legacy: His grandfather on his mother’s side was Raymond Poulidor, a legend in cycling who earned the title “the Eternal Second” for finishing second in the Tour de France three times.
3. Tribute to Poulidor: In the 2021 Tour de France, his team wore a special purple and yellow kit in honor of his grandfather.
4. Shared Victories: Both Van der Poel and Poulidor won Milan-San Remo and claimed stage victories at the Tour de France, 50 years apart.
5. Early Team Experience: Van der Poel rode for the IKO Enertherm – BKCP team in 2012, a club that also featured cyclo-cross star Sanne Cant.
6. Cycling Heritage: His father, Adri van der Poel, is a former winner of the Tour de France stage, Tour of Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
7. Shared Success: Father and son both share victories at prestigious events such as the Tour of Britain, Tour de France, Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Amstel Gold Race.
8. Racing for Fun: Van der Poel once joined the Giro del Veneto in 2022 out of boredom, as he didn’t want to sit idle between races.
9. Family Rivalry: His older brother, David, is also a cyclist and won the 2018 Tour Alsace.
10. Early Cyclo-Cross Glory: Mathieu won his first World Cyclo-Cross Championship as a junior in 2012, beating Wout van Aert, his future rival.
11. Rivalry with Van Aert: Despite their fierce competition, Van der Poel and Van Aert are not friends, and have never been close, according to Van Aert’s former coach.
12. Junior Success: In 2013, Van der Poel took his first major road win at the Dutch National Championships and added a World Championship to his tally.
13. Fortnite Fan: Van der Poel is a huge fan of the video game Fortnite and even has a custom pair of Shimano cycling shoes featuring its motifs.
14. Cyclo-Cross Champion: At just 20 years old, Van der Poel became the youngest ever cyclo-cross world champion in 2015.
15. First Road Win: His first senior road win came in 2014 at the Ronde van Limburg, though his first WorldTour victory was in 2019 at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
16. Powerhouse Performance: Van der Poel hit a remarkable 1362 watts on his way to victory at Strade Bianche in 2021.
17. Grand Tour Stage Wins: While he’s won two Grand Tour stages—stage two of the 2021 Tour de France and stage one of the 2022 Giro d’Italia—he has never won beyond stage two.
18. Milestone Achievements: In 2023, he became one of only four riders to win both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix in the same year.
19. Lamborghini Brand Ambassador: Van der Poel is a brand ambassador for Lamborghini Antwerp and even has a personalized Urus.
20. Mountain Biking: In addition to road racing, he won the European Mountain Biking Championship in 2019 and competed in the Tokyo Olympics, where he crashed and injured his back.
21. Legal Troubles: In 2022, Van der Poel was charged with assault after an incident with two teenage girls during the World Championships in Wollongong, Australia. However, the conviction was later quashed by an Australian court.

Mathieu van der Poel’s career is full of impressive feats both on and off the track. From his cycling lineage to his love for video games, he continues to intrigue and inspire fans worldwide with his versatility, achievements, and unique personality.