“Aren’t you ever tired?!” Van der Poel hits the golf course just 3.5 hours after Renewi Tour finale

It was a stellar week for Van der Poel. After two relatively quiet stages, the Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck exploded in the queen stage to Geraardsbergen, attacking with ferocity and seizing the stage win. The leader’s jersey, however, went to runner-up Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), by just one second. That made the final two stages a thrilling battle for overall victory, especially the final stage.

Stage 5 took place around Leuven, on a familiar course that hosted the 2021 World Championships. It was twisty and vicious, with short climbs, perfect for the former world champ. Van der Poel pulled and pushed the race to its limits and even took the bonus seconds during the “green kilometer,” temporarily moving into the virtual lead. But he couldn’t break away, and De Lie came flying out of nowhere to win the sprint, just ahead of Van der Poel. It meant the Dutchman missed out on the overall victory by the narrowest of margins.

A disappointment, sure, but a short-lived one. The main goal was to get back in shape for the Mountain Bike World Championships, and that mission was accomplished. In fact, it looked like Van der Poel still had energy to spare. Less than 3.5 hours after finishing the final stage in Leuven, he was already out on the golf course with his girlfriend, Roxanne Bertels.

Golf might not be the most intense sport, but walking an entire course after five brutal days of racing? That still takes some serious stamina. Even Roxanne was surprised: “Aren’t you ever tired?” Not on the golf course, apparently. “My happy place,” Van der Poel called it on Instagram.