"Chapeau Mathieu": Niewiadoma inspired by Van der Poel's relentless Paris-Roubaix comeback
CyclingTuesday, 14 April 2026 at 17:12
Mathieu van der Poel will look back on Paris-Roubaix with mixed feelings. The Dutchman from Alpecin-Premier Tech won the last three editions, but ran into too much bad luck on Sunday to challenge for a fourth. Still, he received a compliment from an unexpected source.
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Van der Poel was riding superbly until the Arenberg Forest, where it all fell apart. The former world champion punctured for the first time and then could not clip into the pedals of teammate Jasper Philipsen 's bike.
Tibor Del Grosso also punctured, but was smart enough to take his good tyre out and swap it into Van der Poel's bike. The Dutchman jogged back to where he had left Philipsen's bike, taking his time.
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Van der Poel got back on his own machine, rode through the Forest, but stopped again just before the corner. Another puncture. This time he got a replacement bike quickly, with the team car now close by.
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Niewiadoma saw a fighter, not a quitter
Van der Poel put his race into perspective afterwards. He was happy for winner Wout van Aert and cleared his head on the golf course the following morning. At Alpecin-Premier Tech, team boss Christoph Roodhooft was angry and disappointed. He regretted his decision to let Philipsen and Van der Poel race with different pedal systems.
In podcasts and post-race analysis, a critical note about Van der Poel's mindset also surfaced. Laurens ten Dam saw a resigned rider strolling through the Forest. "He never really believed in it," Ten Dam said.
Kasia Niewiadoma completely disagrees. The Polish rider has faced plenty of setbacks in her own career and watched Van der Poel's comeback with her jaw on the floor. He rode almost all the way back to the front and still sprinted for third place in the Vélodrome.
"If I ever have a bad day on the bike, I'll think back to that fight," Niewiadoma wrote on Monday on her social media channels. She praised Van der Poel for what she saw as an extraordinary race. "Chapeau Mathieu, what an incredible battle!"
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Niewiadoma eyes Amstel Gold
The former Tour de France Femmes winner is set to race Amstel Gold Race on Sunday the 19th March. Niewiadoma won the Dutch classic in 2019, out sprinting none other than Annemiek Van Vleuten on the line.
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Latest Comments
- Here is a novel idea......it's a road bike race, stick to smooth asphalt courses! Cobble is like mild off-road cross riding!!!!Germanrazor14-04-2026
- Rider X, y and z? Could you update?yaNzKEWL21-03-2026
- Can anyone help me understand the thinking behind the two punishments? Are the commissaires saying you get thrown out of the race for a second inadvertent disposal of a bidon (even to the delight of fans) but that as long as you can afford it you can show off your phalangeal cuticles all day long on international TV? Aking for a friend.packfiller7112-03-2026
- It's a bit embarrassing that. Isn't the main sponsor supposed to keep them at 36.5 ?tomjacques03-03-2026
- They were close to cracking a very tired Tadej that wasn't fully focused on the TdF with a team of riders focused solely on cracking Tadej. And if they cracked him, he would have still won. Tadej won't be racing the giro this year. It'll be an even easier win for him.Veganpotter09-02-2026
- Nice!Bea22-01-2026
- Those events are mental rest for him. Fun, without expectations. *Sagan lost his abilities because he gained weight and got lazy. Pogi will likely retire before that has a chance at happening.Veganpotter14-12-2025
- Ah, the consequences of riding for Israel.Veganpotter11-12-2025
- Pidcock could follow everyone but Pogi while finishing 3rd. No second place rider this season😃Veganpotter16-11-2025
- Now the Palestinian protestors can stop their whining. Trump came to the rescue. So they can now STFU and go back to waving the rainbow flags.raufus15-10-2025
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