Van der Poel reveals his comeback race, with one stage already "marked in red": "The question is how my form is"
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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel will return to racing at the end of August, making his first appearance since abandoning the Tour de France. The Alpecin–Deceuninck rider will line up at the Renewi Tour, the WorldTour stage race through the Netherlands and Belgium. That means the former world champion will not be riding the Vuelta a España.
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Van der Poel did not start stage 16 of the Tour after being diagnosed with pneumonia. Since that withdrawal, the multiple cyclo-cross world champion hasn’t raced on the road, but that will change with the Renewi Tour, which starts on August 20 in Terneuzen, Netherlands.
Of course, the recent Tour stage winner, Van der Poel claimed stage 4, hasn’t been sitting idle. Training under the Spanish sun, he and his training partners have been producing top numbers once again. His race program remained unclear for a while, but the Dutchman has fond memories of this event. “I have good memories of the Renewi Tour, especially my victory in 2020. Last year I was in a good position, until knee pain after a near-crash in the time trial unfortunately forced me to skip the final stage.” Van der Poel said via the race’s social channels.
Van der Poel has already marked one stage in red in Renewi Tour: "But the question is how my form is"
The Belgium-based rider added: "This summer I haven’t raced since abandoning the Tour de France, so it’s a bit of a question how the form is. But the course suits me. Especially the stage finishing in Geraardsbergen on the third day is one I have marked in red.”
Before the Renewi Tour, Van der Poel will make an appearance in the Netherlands at the post-Tour criterium in Etten-Leur, where plenty of big names are also expected.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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