'I can only say Mathieu is fine' - Alpecin-Deceuninck fully confident in Van der Poel for World Championships

2023 UCI Road World Championships: Mathieu van der Poel en route to road race victory
2023 UCI Road World Championships: Mathieu van der Poel en route to road race victory (Image credit: Getty Images)

For an insider report on defending World Champion Mathieu van der Poel's final build-up for this Sunday's road race, you could hardly do better than go to Alpecin-Deceuninck team manager Christoph Roodhoft.

Roodhoft was present in the team car during Van der Poel's final pre-Worlds race, the Tour de Luxembourg, which the squad's Netherlands star opened up with a victory on stage 1 and held the lead for several days before finally dropping to second overall behind Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious).

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

Read more
Remco Evenepoel tries to control Tadej Pogačar at Il Lombardia
'How can we make it as difficult as possible for Pogačar?' - Belgian national coach already working on Rwanda World Championship plans
Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines celebrates at podium as 2024-2025 World Cup overall winner after second place in Hoogerheide
Michael Vanthourenhout wins Cyclocross World Cup overall, hopes Belgians sweep podium at Worlds
Van der Poel lit up the racing several times at Tirreno-Adriatico
'I found the percentages I was looking for' - Van der Poel impressed by Ganna, Pedersen and Pogačar, nears top shape for Milan-San Remo
Mathieu van der Poel goes on the attack
'I need to be at 110% to beat Pogačar' - Mathieu van der Poel takes aim at Milan-San Remo
Mathieu Van der Poel during the top riders press conference of the 60th Tirreno Adriatico 2025 on March 9 2025 in Lido di Camaiore Tuscany ItalyCycling Tyrrhenian Adriatic 2025 Top Riders Press Conference Italy Lido Di Camaiore 09 Mar 2025
Mathieu van der Poel looks to find best form in Tirreno-Adriatico before another showdown with Classics rivals
Van der Poel and Van Aert on the podium at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Maasmechelen
'It'll make them more beautiful' - Mathieu van der Poel welcomes Van Aert's decision to race Cyclocross World Championships
Latest in
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 26 Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team LidlTrek on second place poses on the podium ceremony after the 49th Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 Mens Elite a 1956km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 26 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Yellow cards for Milan, Kristoff and Schwarzmann at crash-hit Classic Brugge-De Panne
Belgian Piet Allegaert of Cofidis and Belgian Milan Fretin of Cofidis pictured after a fall during the 'Classic Brugge-De Panne' men's elite one-day cycling race, 195,6 km from Brugge to De Panne, Wednesday 26 March 2025.
BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
Classic Brugge-De Panne medical updates – Stitches for Tim Merlier, collapsed lung and broken ribs for Lionel Taminiaux
Snow was an indicator that the high mountains had arrived on stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya with more to follow on stage 4
Volta a Catalunya celebrates summit finish on 'cycling landmark' Montserrat for first time in 30 years
FIRENZE ITALY JUNE 27 Magnus Cort of Denmark Alexander Kristoff of Norway Soren Waerenskjold of Norway Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway Tobias Halland Johannessen of Norway Johannes Kulset of Norway Rasmus Fossum Tiller of Norway Odd Christian Eiking of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility during the 111th Tour de France 2024 Team Presentation UCIWT on June 27 2024 in Firenze Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Extra Tour de France wildcard invitations, test of gear restrictions approved by Pro Cycling Council
Team Ineos' Egan Bernal (R) rides during the 3rd stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalunya cycling tour of Catalonia, a 178,3 km race between Viladecans and La Molina, on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Egan Bernal calls Volta a Catalunya stage 'crazy' as sprint decides major climbing stage
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) takes a moment to enjoy the stage 3 victory and GC lead as he sits next to snowbank on mountaintop finish Wednesday at Volta a Catalunya
'I've beaten a great rival' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Juan Ayuso says after narrow mountaintop victory over Primož Roglič
Latest in News
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 26 Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team LidlTrek on second place poses on the podium ceremony after the 49th Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 Mens Elite a 1956km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 26 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Yellow cards for Milan, Kristoff and Schwarzmann at crash-hit Classic Brugge-De Panne
Belgian Piet Allegaert of Cofidis and Belgian Milan Fretin of Cofidis pictured after a fall during the 'Classic Brugge-De Panne' men's elite one-day cycling race, 195,6 km from Brugge to De Panne, Wednesday 26 March 2025.
BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
Classic Brugge-De Panne medical updates – Stitches for Tim Merlier, collapsed lung and broken ribs for Lionel Taminiaux
Snow was an indicator that the high mountains had arrived on stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya with more to follow on stage 4
Volta a Catalunya celebrates summit finish on 'cycling landmark' Montserrat for first time in 30 years
FIRENZE ITALY JUNE 27 Magnus Cort of Denmark Alexander Kristoff of Norway Soren Waerenskjold of Norway Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway Tobias Halland Johannessen of Norway Johannes Kulset of Norway Rasmus Fossum Tiller of Norway Odd Christian Eiking of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility during the 111th Tour de France 2024 Team Presentation UCIWT on June 27 2024 in Firenze Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Extra Tour de France wildcard invitations, test of gear restrictions approved by Pro Cycling Council
Team Ineos' Egan Bernal (R) rides during the 3rd stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalunya cycling tour of Catalonia, a 178,3 km race between Viladecans and La Molina, on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Egan Bernal calls Volta a Catalunya stage 'crazy' as sprint decides major climbing stage
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) takes a moment to enjoy the stage 3 victory and GC lead as he sits next to snowbank on mountaintop finish Wednesday at Volta a Catalunya
'I've beaten a great rival' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Juan Ayuso says after narrow mountaintop victory over Primož Roglič