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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel has offered an interesting glimpse into his cycling mindset. The Dutch rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech has been among the world’s best cyclists for years, and in an interview with sponsor Pirelli, van der Poel explains how he plans to continue getting the best out of himself even in 2026.
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Van der Poel has enjoed plenty of success in his career
What is the biggest motivation behind van der Peol's success?
Throughout the year, van der Poel constantly talks about his goals, results, ambitions, and what’s next. Tire manufacturer Pirelli asked him a few questions to explore the driving force behind his career, in which he alternates between the biggest road classics, stages in Grand Tours, and world titles in cyclocross and mountain biking.
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"His style is that of a man born to do this," reads the poetic introduction. “He follows only his own vision, and his icy gaze and sharp features are reminiscent of heroes from another era. He is a legendary figure, synonymous with invincibility.”
"MVDP is capable of making the impossible seem logical when it really counts," says Pirelli, which ranks van der Poel among the world's greatest athletes. "Like Gilles Villeneuve in Formula 1 and Michael Jordan in the NBA, he has redefined what it means to be cool."
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Mathieu van der Poel
Van der Poel cycles because he loves it
The glowing reviews are necessary to understand where Pirelli’s questions about van der Poel’s lifestyle and racing mindset come from. “He made multidisciplinary racing possible; he designed socks and an aero handlebar, and an all-white outfit became a statement.”
The conversation begins with the observation that people these days want to be like van der Poel. “I try to be myself, both on and off the bike. I think that’s really important. I do everything I can, but I’ve never seen myself as a role model or anything like that. I just want to have fun because I love this sport.”
And that’s reflected in my performance, he told Pirelli. “It’s part of who I am; as a cyclist, the love of the bike is everything. You spend so many hours in the saddle that you can never compete at the highest level unless you truly love it—every single day.”
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Van der Poel in action at the World Championships.
"Observer" van der Poel is in top form
According to van der Poel, he can always push himself to the limit because he enjoys it. And that’s why he’s able to compete in so many different types of races. For example, he’s won Milan–San Remo once, as well as Paris–Roubaix several times. “That’s a whole different world; it’s such a challenging race.”
"It's brutal, especially the section through the Bos van Wallers, which wasn't designed for cycling. It's really a race of instinct; you always have to find the right balance," said Van der Poel, also referring to the equipment—and, in the case of Pirelli, the tires.
Van der Poel says he has always been an “observer,” even back in his cyclocross days. He knows exactly which tires and tire pressures he needs and has a perfect sense of his own condition. “Thanks to my experience, I can usually tell right away whether it’s going to be a good or bad day, but tactics remain tricky.”
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Van der Poel rarely makes a plan
At Alpecin-Premier Tech, they’ve come to realise that making a plan with Van der Poel will always be difficult. Because: “So many things can happen in a race that I always ride on instinct. I never really make a plan before the start, even though you know the key moments when you need to be up front.”
"I leave the rest up to my intuition," says Van der Poel. "That works for my mind and keeps me relaxed. I'm simply ready for any scenario. And these days, it's mainly about who's the strongest. You need exceptional legs to win."
Van der Poel has already won races with his legs, rather than with tactics. “I don’t think I’ve changed that much, but the races in general have. These days, you always have to be ready; otherwise, you’ll miss a move.”
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Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026