Mathieu van der Poel

Born in Kapellen, Van der Poel comes from a family of professional cyclists; his brother David was also prominent in cyclo-cross racing, winning the 2013 National Under-23 Championships in Hilvarenbeek.{{cite news|url=http://www.gelderlander.nl/algemeen/sport/broers-van-der-poel-beiden-kampioen-1.3604940|language=nl|title=Broers Van der Poel beiden kampioen|trans-title=Brothers Van der Poel are both champions|work=De Gelderlander|publisher=Koninklijke Wegener NV|date=13 January 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104035820/http://www.gelderlander.nl/algemeen/sport/broers-van-der-poel-beiden-kampioen-1.3604940|archive-date=4 November 2013}} His father, Adri, is a former six-time Dutch National Champion and the World Cyclo-cross Champion for 1996; he was also twice a stage winner at the Tour de France and a winner of several Classics during his career.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/540608/mathieu-van-der-poel-wins-junior-road-worlds-title.html|title=Mathieu van der Poel wins junior road Worlds title|first=Gregor|last=Brown|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|date=28 September 2013|access-date=2 November 2013}}

His maternal grandfather was French cyclist Raymond Poulidor,{{cite news|url=http://www.rfi.fr/sports/20130928-le-petit-fils-raymond-poulidor-champion-monde-juniors|language=fr|title=Le petit-fils de Raymond Poulidor champion du monde juniors|trans-title=The grandson of Raymond Poulidor is junior world champion|work=RFI.fr|publisher=Radio France Internationale|date=28 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} winner of the 1964 Vuelta a España, who also finished the Tour de France in runner-up position three times and in third place five times.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/4091376.stm|title=1957–1966: Anquetil 5–0 Poulidor|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=29 June 2005|access-date=3 November 2013}}

Van der Poel made his debut in cyclo-cross during the 2009–10 season, competing in the novices ranks. He won several local races, and at the National Championships in Heerlen, Van der Poel finished in second place, fifteen seconds behind champion Erik Kramer.{{cite news|url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/erik-kramer-david-van-der-poel-dutch-national-champions-youth-categories|title=Erik Kramer and David van der Poel Dutch National Champions in the Youth Categories|first1=Bart|last1=Hazen|first2=Jamie|last2=Mack|work=Cyclocross Magazine|publisher=PFS|date=10 January 2010|access-date=3 November 2013}} During the 2010–11 season, Van der Poel won all of the races that he contested; he also combined this with racing on the road in the summer of 2011, and won the Dutch Novice Time Trial Championships in Zwartemeer. The following winter, Van der Poel advanced to the junior ranks, and was immediately dominant in this season; out of all the races he contested, he failed to finish first on only four occasions. He also claimed the junior titles at National,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dutch-national-championships-2012/junior-men/results|title=Van der Poel wins Dutch junior 'cross title|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=8 January 2012|access-date=3 November 2013}} European,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/championnats-deurope-2011/junior-men/results|title=Van der Poel takes junior title|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=6 November 2011|access-date=3 November 2013}} and World Championship level,{{cite news|url=http://www.cxmagazine.com/junior-men-results-2012-cyclocross-world-championships-koksijde|title=Mathieu van der Poel Wins First Race of the World Championship in Koksijde|first1=Chris|last1=Bagg|first2=Christine|last2=Vardaros|work=Cyclocross Magazine|publisher=PFS|date=28 January 2012|access-date=2 November 2013}} each one by a convincing margin.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/news/mathieu-van-der-poel-takes-worlds-junior-cx-title_204695|title=Mathieu van der Poel takes worlds Junior CX title|first=Dan|last=Seaton|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=28 January 2012|access-date=3 November 2013}}

File:Mathieu van der Poel Krawatencross 2013.jpg]]

During the 2012 road season, Van der Poel got his first general classification victory{{cite news|url=http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/21193-ronde-des-vallees-a-hemonstoir-et-3-classements.html|title=Ronde des Vallées à Hémonstoir — Et. 3: Classements|language=fr|work=Directvelo|date=12 August 2012|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Ronde des Vallées à Hémonstoir — Stage 3 Classification|first=Frédéric|last=Gachet|publisher=Association Le Peloton}} at the Ronde des Vallées; he also won the young rider classification at the same race. Van der Poel was a member of the Dutch World Championship squad, when he competed in the junior road race; he finished within the 56-rider main group, and as the best-placed Dutch rider, in ninth position.{{cite web|url=http://cycling.sportresult.com/results/cr/2012/WM/11RES00.pdf|title=Final Results / Résultats finaux: Road Race Men Juniors / Course en ligne Hommes Junior|work=Sport Result|publisher=Tissot Timing|date=23 September 2012|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104024956/http://cycling.sportresult.com/results/cr/2012/WM/11RES00.pdf|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=dead}} Picking up where he left off the previous winter, Van der Poel's 2012–13 cyclo-cross campaign was flawless; he contested thirty races, and won every single one of them.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-cyclo-cross-van-der-poel-termine-la-saison-invaincu-30761.html|language=fr|title=Van der Poel termine la saison invaincu!|first=Alexandre|last=Mignot|work=Cyclism'Actu|publisher=Swar Agency SPRLS|date=25 February 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Van der Poel finished the season undefeated!}} Having defended his European title in the United Kingdom,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/european-continental-championships-2012-2/junior-men/results|title=Van der Poel repeats as European junior champion|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=3 November 2012|access-date=3 November 2013}} Van der Poel maintained his Dutch title in Hilvarenbeek on the same day that his brother David won the Under-23 Championships.

The month after winning his Dutch title, Van der Poel became the first cyclist to defend his junior world title, by winning the race in Louisville, Kentucky, ahead of teammate Martijn Budding.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dutch-top-medal-count-at-louisville-cross-worlds|first=Laura|last=Weislo|title=Dutch top medal count at Louisville 'cross Worlds|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=4 February 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|quote=Aside from Marianne Vos's sixth rainbow jersey in the women's race, the Dutch were top two in the juniors with Mathieu van der Poel and Martijn Budding, won the U23s thanks to a tenacious ride by Mike Teunissen, and Lars van der Haar was third in the elites.}} In the 2013 road season, Van der Poel contested several Nations' Cup Juniors events for the Dutch national team. At the Course de la Paix, Van der Poel won the opening stage{{cite news|url=http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/25883-course-de-la-paix-juniors-et-1-classements.html|title=Course de la Paix Juniors — Et. 1: Classements|language=fr|work=Directvelo|date=2 May 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Course de la Paix Juniors — Stage 1 Classification|first=Nicolas|last=Gachet|publisher=Association Le Peloton}} in a six-rider select group; he held the race lead into the following day, where Mads Pedersen assumed the race lead for the remainder of the race in an individual time trial around Třebenice. Van der Poel finished third, behind Pedersen and Logan Owen.{{cite news|url=http://zmj.cz/en/2013/the-yellow-pedersen-has-closed-up-the-course-de-la-paix-winning|title=The yellow Pedersen has closed up the Course de la Paix winning|date=10 May 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|work=Závod míru juniorů|publisher=CK Slavoj Terezín}} His next appearance came at the Grand Prix Général Patton, where he soloed – from {{convert|14|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining{{cite news|url=http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?id=OTQyOA&MenuId=MTYxNw&LangId=1&BackLink=%2FTemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI5%2Flayout.asp%3FMenuID%3DMTYxNw|title=UCI Juniors Nations Cup: The Danish increase lead|work=UCI.ch|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|date=12 July 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – to a six-second victory on the race's second and final stage in Wincrange, en route to finishing second place overall, five seconds adrift of race-winner Christoffer Lisson of Denmark.{{cite web|url=http://www.wincrange.lu/files/6/9/document_id347.pdf|title=Wëntger Gemengeblad N°24|language=lb|trans-title=Wincrange Municipal Bulletin No. 24|work=Wincrange.lu|publisher=Administration Communale de Wincrange|date=September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|page=21}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the process, he also won the points and mountains sub-classifications.

Van der Poel booked stage victories at the Ain'Ternational–Rhône Alpes–Valromey Tour; riding for Enerthem-BKCP, he won a five-rider sprint on the opener,{{cite news|url=http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/27631-ain-ternational-valromey-tour-et-1-classements.html|title=Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Et. 1: Classements|language=fr|work=Directvelo|date=11 July 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Stage 1 Classification|first=Nicolas|last=Gachet|publisher=Association Le Peloton}} and defeated France's Élie Gesbert in a head-to-head finish on the final stage,{{cite news|url=http://www.bndestem.nl/sport/sport-regionaal/mathieu-van-der-poel-wint-tour-du-valromey-1.3914572|title=Mathieu Van der Poel wint Tour du Valromey|language=nl|work=BN DeStem|date=14 July 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Mathieu Van der Poel wins Tour du Valromey|publisher=Koninklijke Wegener NV}} to take the overall race victory by almost half a minute from Gesbert.{{cite news|url=http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/27722-ain-ternational-valromey-tour-et-4-classements.html|title=Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Et. 4: Classements|language=fr|work=Directvelo|date=14 July 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Ain'Ternational Valromey Tour — Stage 4 Classification|first=Frédéric|last=Gachet|publisher=Association Le Peloton}} Prior to his next Nations Cup appearance, Van der Poel won the Dutch National Junior Road Race Championships in Chaam.{{cite news|url=http://www.bd.nl/sport/welten-beste-nieuweling-in-chaam-1.3929344|title=Welten beste nieuweling in Chaam|language=nl|work=Brabants Dagblad|date=24 July 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Welten best newcomer in Chaam|publisher=Koninklijke Wegener NV|quote=Bij de junioren ging de titel naar Mathieu van der Poel, de zoon van oud-prof Adrie van der Poel. [In the juniors, the title went to Mathieu van der Poel, the son of former professional Adrie van der Poel.]}} At the Trophée Centre Morbihan, Van der Poel won the race overall,{{cite news|url=http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?id=OTUwNQ&MenuId=MTI2Mjc|title=UCI Juniors Nations Cup: France takes the lead in Brittany|work=UCI.ch|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|date=7 August 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007061930/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?id=OTUwNQ&MenuId=MTI2Mjc|archive-date=7 October 2013}} having defended the race lead from the start, after winning a head-to-head sprint against Belarus' Aleksandr Riabushenko on the opening stage. In the lead up to the World Championships, Van der Poel dominated the Grand Prix Rüebliland event, as he won the opening three of the race's four stages.{{cite news|url=http://www.radsport.ch/de/news/Hollaender-Mathieu-van-der-Poel-ueberlegener-Sieger-GP-Rueebliland-ging-in-Brugg-zu-Ende.html|title=Holländer Mathieu van der Poel überlegener Sieger — GP Rüebliland ging in Brugg zu Ende|work=Radsport.ch|publisher=Elite Timing GmbH|date=2 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|language=de|trans-title=Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, the clear winner — GP Rüebliland went to Brugg to end|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104164014/http://www.radsport.ch/de/news/Hollaender-Mathieu-van-der-Poel-ueberlegener-Sieger-GP-Rueebliland-ging-in-Brugg-zu-Ende.html|archive-date=4 November 2013}} He won a three-rider sprint in Bettwil to win the opening stage, before a solo victory the following day in Leutwil, and a victory in a {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} individual time trial in Hunzenschwil. Pedersen got the better of Van der Poel in a bunch sprint on the final stage, but Van der Poel had done enough to win the race overall by 46 seconds over Pedersen.

This form made Van der Poel one of the favourites for the World Championships,{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/09/news/logan-owen-came-close-but-picked-the-wrong-moment-to-go_304394|title=Logan Owen came close, but picked "the wrong moment to go"|first=Gregor|last=Brown|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=28 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|quote=I knew he'd [Van der Poel] be a favorite coming into the day. He has a really good kick on that steep climb.|archive-date=3 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203114354/http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/09/news/logan-owen-came-close-but-picked-the-wrong-moment-to-go_304394|url-status=dead}} where he would lead the Dutch squad. In addition to competing in the road race, Van der Poel contested the junior time trial race for the Netherlands, along with Sam Oomen. Van der Poel finished 50th out of the 84 riders to complete the course, over two minutes down on the eventual world champion Igor Decraene of Belgium.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15526/World-time-trial-championship-Decraene-earns-junior-title-for-Belgium.aspx|first=Shane|last=Stokes|title=Decraene earns junior title for Belgium|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=24 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} In the road race, Van der Poel attacked on the final lap,{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/8945962/|title=Mathieu van der Poel wins junior men's road race title|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=28 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} and bridged up to the race leader Franck Bonnamour of France; he later distanced him on the final climb of Via Salviati – around {{convert|5|km|1|abbr=on}} from the finish – and soloed away to win the gold medal, ahead of Pedersen and Albania's Nikaj Iltjan.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-road-world-championships-2013/junior-men-road-race/results|title=Van der Poel wins junior men's world title|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=28 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15542/World-Championships-Mathieu-van-der-Poel-confirms-cross-talent-to-take-junior-road-rainbow.aspx|first=Ben|last=Atkins|title=Mathieu van der Poel confirms cross talent to take junior road rainbow|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=28 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}}

File:Mathieu van der Poel in front of Wout Van Aert (24505539275).jpg at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Namur, 2015]]

Van der Poel moved into the under-23 category ahead of the 2013–14 cyclo-cross season.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/02/news/mathieu-van-der-poel-v-logan-owen-a-tale-of-two-juniors-whose-ending-has-yet-to-be-written_273689|title=Mathieu Van Der Poel v. Logan Owen: A tale of two juniors whose ending has yet to be written|first=Chris|last=Case|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=2 February 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} In his first race in the class, Van der Poel won the GP Mario De Clercq – in the BPost Bank Trophy – at Ronse, defeating nearest rival Gianni Vermeersch by twelve seconds.{{cite news|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/2884/Veldrijden/article/detail/1722227/2013/10/13/Mathieu-van-der-Poel-meteen-beste-belofte-in-Ronse.dhtml|first=Dimitri|last=Eeckhaut|title=Mathieu van der Poel meteen beste belofte in Ronse|language=nl|trans-title=Mathieu van der Poel immediately best promise in Ronse|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|publisher=De Persgroep Nederland|date=13 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} After he finished third in his first World Cup race,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-cyclo-cross-world-cup-1-2013/u23-men/results|title=Vanthourenhout wins World Cup in Valkenburg|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=20 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} Van der Poel won the second round of the season at Tábor in the Czech Republic, beating Vermeersch once again by three seconds.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-cyclo-cross-world-cup-2-2013/u23-men/results|title=Mathieu van der Poel prevails in Tabor World Cup|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=26 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} In the process, Van der Poel became the first rider since Niels Albert in 2004 to take an under-23 race victory as a first-year rider.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-der-poel-quickly-transitions-to-top-of-u23-cyclo-cross|title=Van der Poel quickly transitions to top of U23 cyclo-cross|first=Peter|last=Hymas|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=27 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} He completed a clean sweep of victories in the major cyclo-cross competitions, by winning at Ruddervoorde in the Superprestige the following day, leading home his rivals by almost a minute.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/hansgrohe-superprestige-ruddervoorde-2013/u23-men/results|title=Van der Poel victorious in first Superprestige round|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=27 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}} He won a silver medal at the UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic,{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1018/Wielrennen/article/detail/3538253/2013/11/03/Van-der-Poel-kan-kunststukje-niet-herhalen-bij-EK-beloften.dhtml|title=Van der Poel kan kunststukje niet herhalen bij EK beloften|language=nl|trans-title=Van der Poel can not repeat feat at European Championships for Prospects|date=3 November 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|work=Algemeen Dagblad|publisher=AD NieuwsMedia|agency=Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau}} finishing 23 seconds behind winner Michael Vanthourenhout.

Van der Poel turned professional with the {{UCI team code|BKP|2014}} team at the start of the 2014 season, joining brother David at the squad, having signed a four-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/veldrijden/130920_van_der_poels_naar_BKCP|title=Broers Van der Poel worden prof bij BKCP|language=nl|trans-title=Brothers Van der Poel to be pros with BKCP|date=20 September 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|work=Sporza|publisher=Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103215527/http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/veldrijden/130920_van_der_poels_naar_BKCP|archive-date=3 November 2013}} Prior to doing so, Van der Poel made his elite debut in the Scheldecross Antwerpen,{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15965/Young-crossers-Van-der-Poel-and-Van-Aert-confirming-talent.aspx|title=Young crossers Van der Poel and Van Aert confirming talent|first=Kyle|last=Moore|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=8 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013}} in December 2013; Van der Poel was competing alongside professionals as there was no under-23 race. He finished second in the race, five seconds behind his future teammate Niels Albert,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/soudal-scheldecross-antwerpen-2013/elite-men/results|title=Albert triumphs at Scheldecross|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=7 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013}} having dropped Philipp Walsleben and Rob Peeters in the closing stages.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15963/Albert-triumphs-in-Scheldecross-at-Antwerp-in-BKCP-sweep.aspx|title=Albert triumphs in Scheldecross at Antwerp in BKCP sweep|first=Kyle|last=Moore|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=7 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013}} He again finished second to Albert ten days later in the Grand Prix De Ster Sint-Niklaas, losing out in a two-man sprint finish.{{cite news|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20131218_00893847|language=nl|title=Fotofinish bezorgt Niels Albert zege tegen Mathieu Van der Poel|trans-title=Photo finish gives Niels Albert win against Mathieu Van der Poel|work=Sportwereld–Het Nieuwsblad|publisher=Corelio|date=18 December 2013|access-date=29 December 2013}} He ended 2013 with his fourth Superprestige victory of the season at Diegem.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/superprestige-diegem-2013/u23-men/results|title=Mathieu van der Poel wins Superprestige Diegem|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=29 December 2013|access-date=29 December 2013}}

File:Mathieu van der Poel Albstadt 2018.jpg in Albstadt]]

After finishing second to Wout van Aert in his opening race of 2014 at the Grand Prix Sven Nys,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/bpost-bank-trofee-gp-sven-nys-2014/u23-men/results|title=Van Aert wins GP Sven Nys U23|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=1 January 2014|access-date=5 January 2014}} Van der Poel secured the overall under-23 World Cup title with his fourth win of the season, at the Memorial Romano Scotti in Rome.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-cyclo-cross-world-cup-6-2014-cdm/u23-men/results|title=Van der Poel powers to World Cup victory in Rome|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=5 January 2014|access-date=5 January 2014}} He achieved his first professional victory at the Boels Classic Internationale Cyclo-cross in Heerlen, beating closest rivals Thijs van Amerongen and Rob Peeters.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/boels-classic-internationale-cyclo-cross-heerlen-2014/elite-men/results|title=Mathieu van der Poel wins Boels Classic Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerlen|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=16 February 2014|access-date=25 May 2014}} In his first senior road race, Van der Poel finished seventh in the Omloop der Kempen, which had finished in a sprint to the line in Veldhoven. Just a few weeks later he secured his first professional victory on the road, winning the Ronde van Limburg.{{cite news|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20140615_01141299|language=nl|title=Mathieu van der Poel wint Ronde van Limburg|trans-title=Mathieu van der Poel wins Ronde van Limburg|work=Sportwereld–Het Nieuwsblad|publisher=Corelio|date=15 June 2014|access-date=15 January 2020}}

He began to compete in the cross-country cycling discipline of the sport having set his sights on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2017 he placed 2nd in the World Cup at Albstadt behind world champion Nino Schurter. In 2018 he raced a full World Cup season finishing 2nd in the series overall and 3rd at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, as well as winning the Dutch National Championship.

At the 2018 European Cycling Championships in Glasgow, Van der Poel competed in the cross-country mountain bike and the road race, winning a silver medal in the latter.

File:Mathieu van der Poel finisht voor Anthony Turgis, Dwars door Vlaanderen 2019 - fotograaf Lieven De Cock.jpg]]

Van der Poel won the 2019 Dwars door Vlaanderen.{{cite web|url=https://www.cxmagazine.com/2019-spring-classics-recap-van-dijk-van-der-poel-win-dwars-door-vlaanderen |title=2019 Spring Classics Recap: Van Dijk, Van der Poel Win Dwars door Vlaanderen |work=Cyclocross Magazine |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=5 April 2019}}

In March 2019, van der Poel won the 2019 Grand Prix de Denain. He attacked from a leading group of three riders, including Alex Kirsch of Luxembourg and {{UCI team code|TFS|2019}} and Estonian Mihkel Räim of {{UCI team code|ICA|2019}}, and rode over eight kilometers solo to the finish.{{cite web |last1=Ostanek |first1=Daniel |title=Van der Poel wins Grand Prix de Denain |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-denain-porte-du-hainaut-2019/results/ |website=Cyclingnews.com |date=24 March 2019 |access-date=14 October 2021 |quote=Van der Poel went for it again with a brutal attack on the final sector. His companions were left floundering in his wake and were swallowed up by the peloton on the run-in. The 20-second gap looked fragile but Van der Poel was in full solo time trial mode and held strong on the run-in to secure an impressive victory.}}

At the 2019 Amstel Gold Race, van der Poel was the first of the favourites to attack at 43 km to the finish together with Gorka Izagirre, but their attempt was brought back by the peloton soon after. After the final ascent of the Cauberg, Julian Alaphilippe and Jakob Fuglsang had a lead of 30 seconds over the two chasers and nearly a minute over the group behind. With 3 km to go their lead was up to 40 seconds over Michał Kwiatkowski. At that point, the two in front stopped collaborating with each other, attempting to conserve energy for their final sprint. However, they were then caught in the last kilometer, first by Kwiatkowski and then by the other chase group led by Van der Poel. In the ensuing sprint, Van der Poel proved to be the strongest{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Patrick |title=Mathieu Van der Poel wins Amstel Gold Race |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-2019/results/ |website=Cyclingnews.com |access-date=6 November 2019 |date=21 April 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Jonny |title=Mathieu van der Poel ambushes Alaphilippe to win Amstel Gold Race 2019 |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/mathieu-van-der-poel-ambushes-alaphilippe-win-amstel-gold-race-2019-420793 |website=Cycling Weekly |access-date=6 November 2019 |date=21 April 2019}}

In October, van der Poel won the 2020 Tour of Flanders, by outsprinting Wout van Aert. The pair had broken away with Julian Alaphillipe before the latter crashed out in an incident involving a race motorcycle.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/54592334 |title=Tour of Flanders: World champion Julian Alaphilippe crashes as Mathieu van der Poel wins |work=BBC Sport |access-date=18 October 2020}}

File:FrancePaysDeLaLoireStGermainLeFouillouxTourDeFrance5eEtapeMVanDerPoel.jpg in the 2021 Tour de France]]

In 2021, Van der Poel competed in his first grand tour, the 2021 Tour de France. Here he succeeded in winning the second stage and acquired the yellow jersey, which he wore for six days. He also secured the King of the Mountain jersey on that stage, which he held for a single day.

Van der Poel participated in the Mountain Biking event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The event had seven laps, but he crashed on a descent in the first lap, as he was apparently unaware that a ramp, present during practice, had been removed.{{cite tweet |user=mathieuvdpoel |number=1419573776082030595 |title=Ik was niet op de hoogte, die plank lag er tijdens de verkenning wel. Enkel meegekregen dat hij op het testevent was weggehaald |last=Van der Poel |first=Mathieu |date=26 July 2021 |website=twitter.com |access-date=20 September 2021}} He managed to continue racing, but eventually pulled out after the sixth lap, unable to make up lost time.

Due to persistent back problems, worsened by his Olympic crash, Van der Poel did not defend his title at the 2021 Tour of Britain.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CTE8zPBMuN-/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CTE8zPBMuN- |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Back Issues|publisher=Alpecin-Fenix|date=27 August 2021|access-date=20 September 2021}}{{cbignore}} He won the 2021 edition of the Antwerp Port Epic, which he used as a trial run for the UCI World Championships.

He came eighth at the 2021 UCI Road World Championships and finished his road season in the 2021 Paris–Roubaix where he took the final podium place covered head to toe in mud.{{Cite web |title=PARIS ROUBAIX 2021 RESULTS - Road Bike Action |url=https://roadbikeaction.com/paris-roubaix-2021-results/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=roadbikeaction.com|date=3 October 2021 }} He put an initial hold on his cyclocross season due to his continued back pain, and eventually raced twice before pulling out altogether. At his first race, the Dendermonde World Cup, he finished second behind Wout van Aert. In his second and final race of the season, he crashed early on and pulled out after seven laps.{{Cite web |title=Telenet Superprestige Heusden-Zolder 2021 |url=https://cyclocross24.com/race/heusden-zolder/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Cyclocross24.com |language=en}}

In September 2021, he renewed his contract with Alpecin–Fenix until 2025.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-05 |title=Mathieu van der Poel to stay with Alpecin-Fenix until 2025, targets World Championship treble |url=https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/mathieu-van-der-poel-to-stay-with-alpecin-fenix-until-2025-targets-world-championship-treble_sto8525405/story.shtml |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Eurosport |language=en}}

File:GI220042 van.der poel (52123723140).jpg]]

After three months of rest due to his back pain, Van der Poel began his 2022 season at Milan–San Remo, where he finished third.{{cite web |last1=Ostanek |first1=Daniel |title=Matej Mohoric wins Milan-San Remo with daring Poggio descent |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-2022/elite-men/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=19 March 2022}} He rode in the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali, a five-day stage race, where he won the fourth stage.{{cite web |last1=Frattini |first1=Kirsten |title=Settimana Coppi e Bartali: Mathieu van der Poel wins stage 4 |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/settimana-internazionale-coppi-e-bartali-2022/stage-4/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=25 March 2022}}

He won the Dwars door Vlaanderen.{{cite web |title=Dwars door Vlaanderen: Mathieu van der Poel wins from small bunch |url=https://www.velonews.com/news/road/dwars-door-vlaanderen-mathieu-van-der-poel-wins-from-small-bunch/ |website=VeloNews.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=30 March 2022}}

At the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Tadej Pogačar, making his debut at the race, attacked on the second ascent of Oude Kwaremont and the Koppenberg to pull ahead of the peloton with a select group of riders including van der Poel. Pogačar accelerated twice more on the final ascent of Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg with only van der Poel able to go with him. The duo rode slowly inside the final kilometre as they prepared for the sprint but this action allowed Dylan van Baarle and Valentin Madouas to come back in the final few hundred metres before van der Poel took the win in the sprint finish.{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-2022/elite-men/results/|title=Van der Poel tops Van Baarle in a Tour of Flanders thriller|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|publisher=CyclingNews|date=3 April 2022|access-date=3 April 2022}}

After a fourth in Amstel Gold Race{{cite web |last1=Trifunovic |first1=Pete |title=Michał Kwiatkowski narrowly wins Amstel Gold Race 2022 in photo finish |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/michal-kwiatkowski-narrowly-wins-amstel-gold-race-2022 |website=cyclingweekly.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=10 April 2022}} and a ninth in Paris–Roubaix,{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Barry |last2=Ostanek |first2=Daniel |title=Dylan van Baarle wins thrilling Paris-Roubaix |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-2022/elite-men/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=17 April 2022}} Van der Poel made his first appearance at the Giro d'Italia,{{cite web |title=VAN DER POEL PLOTTED GIRO APPEARANCE SPECIFICALLY TO WIN FIRST STAGE |url=https://roadbikeaction.com/van-der-poel-giro-d-italia-2022/ |website=Road Bike Action |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=6 May 2022}} the second Grand Tour participation of his career. He won the opening stage and wore the pink leader's jersey for three stages.{{cite web |title=Mathieu van der Poel calls Giro d'Italia debut a success and sets sights on Tour de France |url=https://www.velonews.com/events/giro-ditalia/mathieu-van-der-poel-calls-giro-ditalia-debut-a-success-and-sets-sights-on-tour-de-france/ |website=VeloNews.com |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=30 May 2022}} He also won the overall Combativity Award.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Jonny |title=A Giro to remember for meme-tastic Mathieu, whose attention now turns to the Tour |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2022/05/a-giro-to-remember-for-meme-tastic-mathieu-whose-attention-now-turns-to-the-tour/ |website=CyclingTips |access-date=11 June 2022 |language=en |date=30 May 2022}}

In September, Van der Poel was convicted of common assault against two girls aged 13 and 14, after an incident in a hotel in Sydney the night before the Road World Championship; the conviction was overturned following appeal in December.{{cite news |title=Mathieu van der Poel: Common assault conviction overturned |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/63968918 |access-date=30 December 2022}}

File:Mathieu van der Poel Milan-Sanremo 2023.jpg]]

Van der Poel began his 2023 season with a win at the X20 Trofee Herentals cyclocross race.{{Cite web |title=Results X2O Trofee Herentals 2023 |url=https://cyclocross24.com/race/12507/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Cyclocross24.com |language=en}} He followed this up with two further wins and two silver medals before taking part in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, which he won for a fifth time after a tight sprint against Wout van Aert.{{Cite web |author1=Daniel Ostanek |date=2023-02-05 |title=Mathieu van der Poel sprints past Wout van Aert to clinch fifth Cyclocross World Championships crown |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships-2023/elite-men/results/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}

At Milan–San Remo, Van der Poel attacked at the top of the Poggio di San Remo, leaving his main rivals Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogačar and Filippo Ganna behind and soloing into the finish in San Remo.{{cite news|first1=Stephen|last1=Farrand|first2=Alasdair|last2=Fotheringham|author-link2=Alasdair Fotheringham|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-2023/elite-men/results/|title=Milan-San Remo: Mathieu van der Poel ignites Poggio descent for solo victory|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=18 March 2023|access-date=5 June 2023}}

In April, Van der Poel won Paris-Roubaix, setting a new record of 46.841 km/h, an improvement of more than 1 km/h over the previous record, and finished second in the Tour of Flanders.{{cite news |title=Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix after Degenkolb crash and Van Aert flat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/09/van-der-poel-wins-paris-roubaix-after-degenkolb-crash-and-van-aert-flat |access-date=9 April 2023 |agency=Reuters |work=The Guardian |date=9 April 2023}}

On 6 August 2023, van der Poel won the elite men's road race at the 2023 UCI Road World Championships, held in Glasgow as part of the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships. van der Poel attacked the leading group of riders including van Aert, Pogacar and Mads Pedersen (cyclist) in the closing laps and despite suffering a crash and damaging his shoe was able to extend his lead to take solo victory.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-06 |title=Mathieu van der Poel Wins the 2023 Men's World Championship Road Race |url=https://www.bicycling.com/racing/a44743918/uci-world-championships-2023-mens-road-race-results/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Bicycling |language=en-US}}

Van der Poel began his 2024 road season at Milan-San Remo, where Van der Poel rode for his teammate Jasper Philipsen, following Tadej Pogačar's attacks over the top of the Poggio and pacing the final lead in to San Remo, where Philipsen sprinted for the win.{{cite web |title=Milan-San Remo: Jasper Philipsen snatches narrow victory in fastest edition |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-2024/elite-men/results/ |website=CyclingNews |access-date=6 October 2024 |date=16 March 2024}}

Van der Poel had a strong cobbled classics season, winning the E3 Saxo Classic, finishing second at Gent–Wevelgem, and then winning the Tour of Flanders for a record-tying third time.{{cite web |title=Mathieu van der Poel Triumphs Over Wout van Aert in Grueling E3 Saxo Classic |url=https://www.bicycling.com/racing/a60278273/e3-saxo-classic-2024-results/ |website=Bicycling.com |access-date=6 October 2024 |date=22 March 2024}}{{cite web |title=Tour of Flanders 2024: Mathieu van der Poel converts Koppenberg attack into third triumph |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/tour-of-flanders-2024-mathieu-van-der-poel-solos-third-triumph |website=Olympics.com |access-date=6 October 2024 |date=31 March 2024}} The next week, Van der Poel won Paris-Roubaix for the second consecutive year.{{cite web |title=Paris-Roubaix 2024: Mathieu van der Poel retains classic cycling title in style |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/cycling-paris-roubaix-2024-mathieu-van-der-poel-retains-title |website=Olympics.com |access-date=6 October 2024 |date=7 April 2024}}

In October, Van der Poel won the UCI Gravel World Championships, dropping breakaway companion Florian Vermeersch with 13 km to go and winning solo with over a minute gap.{{cite web |title=UCI Gravel World Championships: Mathieu van der Poel dominates with solo victory |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-gravel-world-championships-2024/elite-men/results/ |website=CyclingNews |access-date=6 October 2024 |date=6 October 2024}} This marked Van der Poel's eighth world championship across three different disciplines.

In March, Van der Poel won the 2025 Milan-San Remo, out-sprinting Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogačar after following Pogačar's attack on the Cipressa with 25 km to go.{{cite web |last1=Lycett |first1=Joseph |title=Milan-San Remo: Long sprint nets Mathieu van der Poel victory in thrilling three-way battle against Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogačar |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-2025/elite-men/results/ |publisher=CyclingNews |access-date=22 March 2025}} It was van der Poel's second win at the race, and seventh monument of his career.

On 13th April, he won the Paris-Roubaix race, Tadej Pogacar got the second place, followed by Mads Pedersen in the third place.

{{Main|Van Aert–Van der Poel rivalry}}

Van der Poel and Belgian Wout van Aert have competed against one another in cyclo-cross and road races for over a decade, and their rivalry is considered one of the greatest in cycling's history.{{cite web |last1=Thewlis |first1=Tom |title=Wout van Aert v. Mathieu van der Poel - a truly rare and iconic sporting rivalry |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/wout-van-aert-v-mathieu-van-der-poel-a-truly-rare-and-iconic-sporting-rivalry |publisher=Cycling Weekly |access-date=1 May 2025 |date=7 February 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Patrick |title=Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert: The anatomy of a rivalry |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/mathieu-van-der-poel-and-wout-van-aert-the-anatomy-of-a-rivalry/ |publisher=CyclingNews |access-date=1 May 2025 |date=3 February 2023}} In cyclo-cross, they have dominated the discipline, with Van Aert winning three world championships from 2016-2018, and Van der Poel winning seven between 2015 and 2025. On the road, Van der Poel has consistently outperformed Van Aert in Monuments and the world championships, but Van Aert is considered the more versatile rider, as he has consistently been better in bunch sprints, time trials, and long climbs.{{cite web |last1=Cotton |first1=Jim |title=Van der Poel vs. Van Aert: A Data-Driven Primer on the Greatest Rivalry in Pro Cycling |url=https://velo.outsideonline.com/cyclocross/cyclocross-racing/van-der-poel-vs-van-aert-whos-won-most-a-data-driven-primer/?scope=anon |publisher=Velo |access-date=1 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501003641/https://velo.outsideonline.com/cyclocross/cyclocross-racing/van-der-poel-vs-van-aert-whos-won-most-a-data-driven-primer/?scope=anon |archive-date=1 May 2025 |date=30 January 2025}}

{{see also|List of career achievements by Mathieu van der Poel}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite news |last1=Poole |first1=Harry |title=Van der Poel wins men's road race world title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/66360631 |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport}}

}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{sports links|properties=-P9822}}
• {{TeamNL|mathieu-van-der-poel|old_id=5474-mathieu-van-der-poel}}

{{Alpecin–Fenix riders}}

{{UCI Cyclo-cross World Champions – Men's elite race}}

{{UCI Road World Champions – Men's road race}}

{{Milan–San Remo winners}}

{{Tour of Flanders winners}}

{{Paris–Roubaix winners}}

{{UCI Road World Champions – Men's junior road race}}

{{UCI Cyclo-cross World Champions – Men's junior race}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poel, Mathieu Van Der}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Cross-country mountain bikers

Category:Cyclists at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Dutch cyclo-cross cyclists

Category:Dutch Giro d'Italia stage winners

Category:Dutch Tour de France stage winners

Category:Dutch male cyclists

Category:Dutch people of French descent

Category:Living people

Category:Olympic cyclists for the Netherlands

Category:People from Kapellen, Belgium

Category:UCI Cyclo-cross World Champions (men)

Category:UCI Road World Championships cyclists for the Netherlands

Category:Tour de Suisse stage winners

Category:Cyclists from Antwerp Province

Category:Overturned convictions in Australia

Category:People acquitted of assault

Category:Belgian male cyclists

Category:Belgian people of French descent

Category:Belgian people of Dutch descent

Category:UCI Road World Champions (elite men)

Category:Cyclists at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen

Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen