Mathieu van der Poel celebrates birthday in Spain with long workout, good company and coffee along the way

After the race, Van der Poel explained how he planned to spend his special day: a long training ride with some familiar faces. “We’re going to do a long training ride, but that’s something I enjoy doing,” he said. “Stopping for coffee along the way — that’s nice.”

Joining him for the birthday outing were a few riders who had come to cheer him on in Benidorm, including Jasper Philipsen. “There were quite a few riders from the area who I train with a lot, so it was nice that they could come watch,” Van der Poel added.

Van der Poel is expected to return to northern Europe later this week to compete in the upcoming cyclo-cross races, including Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide. The weather on the Costa Blanca hasn’t been ideal, but he said he was still hoping for a good long ride before heading back north.

Van der Poel will spend a few more days on the Spanish coast, before returning to the Low Countries for the Maasmechelen cyclocross and, of course, Hoogerheide next weekend.

Best wishes on the birthday, Mathieu!