Mathieu van der Poel

De Ronde champ compliments rivals van Aert and Pogačar: ‘Attacking is the most honest way to be in a final with the best riders.’

Pogačar was the strongest on the day, but tactics and sprint prowess won out.

We speak to van der Poel's physio and dive into his training data to understand the Dutchman's fast-track from back problems to De Ronde.

"Pogačar was really impressive on the climbs, so I was happy to stay on his wheel."

What does it take to win Flanders?

Chasing pair never gave up and ended up sprinting for the victory in late-race catch.

Mathieu van der Poel continues steamrolling into the classics after coming out on top in dramatic duel with Tadej Pogačar.

Tour de France champion misses podium after animating the final hour of racing of De Ronde debut.

'It’s another learning experience, maybe dropping back out of uni and back to primary school when it comes back to a sprint for the finish,' says former sprinter.

Pogačar animates the race with three huge attacks but comes undone in final sprint, finishing fourth.

Here's what some of the pre-race favorites for the men's and women's races said at the start lines in Antwerp and Oudenaarde ahead of mythical cobbled monument.

Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte now solely carry the hopes of the Dutch squad.

Oliver Naesen may not win Flanders on Sunday, but he will likely take home the Best Analogy of the Weekend award.

VeloNews picks out 10 riders to keep an eye out for in the second monument of the men's spring classics campaign.

Lotto-Soudal among several teams hoping to fill the void left by Wout van Aert as Belgian outfit continues its pursuit of points and podiums.

Forecasters calling for cold temperatures, afternoon wind, but only moderate chance of showers at Tour of Flanders.

The so-called ‘Wolfpack’ is reeling so far in the spring classics, but the team is counting on Kasper Asgreen and Florian Sénéchal to carry pride across Tour of Flanders.

Riders continue to struggle with illness and fitness ahead of Sunday's De Ronde: ‘We are all chasing shape.’

Van der Poel puts his form on display with a second career Dwars door Vlaanderen victory.

Alpecin-Fenix star wins mid-week classic in bold confirmation that he will be a favorite for victory Sunday at Tour of Flanders.

‘I think Stefan Küng just hesitated a bit. He was the guy who should have gone, I guess. That was it,’ says Ineos leader.

Tadej Pogačar was active — and narrowly escaped a mid-race crash — in the cobbled semi-classic as a warmup for Sunday's Tour of Flanders.

The 2020 winner is confident in both his form and his team ahead of the Tour of Flanders.

Johan Museeuw gives his thoughts on homeland pressure and how he thinks this year's Tour of Flanders could be won

'I look forward to trying and racing for the victory again,' says pre-race favorite.

We look at power numbers from Mathieu van der Poel’s unbelievable ride at Coppi e Bartali.

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl star remains confident in his finishing sprint if he's in the final selection at Tour of Flanders.

Everything you need to know about 2022 men's Tour of Flanders, from the climbs and cobbles to the contenders and conditions.

Van der Poel comeback victory at Coppi e Bartali on same day van Aert crushes E3 Classic promises resumption of epic rivalry at De Ronde.

Dutch superstar wins in bunch kick after riding in a breakaway to confirm fitness ahead of expected Tour of Flanders start.

Belgian rider sets eyes on Gent-Wevelgem after edging out Dylan Groenewegen in photo finish at Brugge-De Panne.

The Dutchman says the chance to take the pink jersey is the main reason for him to ride the Giro

'I have indicated to the team that I will not dismount again after 10 days,' Dutch rider says of his Tour de France hopes.

Mind games and engineering: Kate Wagner dissects and explains how the Slovenian rider masterminded an incredible victory in Milan-San Remo.

Alpecin-Fenix confirms Dutch star will race Coppi e Bartali in latest sign that Mathieu van der Poel is on track to race Tour of Flanders.

Jumbo-Visma star covered attacks from Tadej Pogačar but could not chase down the attacking Mohorič on the Poggio descent.

Dutch rider tips his hat to Mohorič but calls out a lack of cooperation in the chase group.

Slovenian breakaway ace surprises favorites with solo dash off the bottom of the Poggio and down the Via Roma.

'I feel pretty good in training but training isn’t racing so for me I'll see how I feel in the end,' Dutch rider says ahead of season debut.

The Dutchman's addition bolsters a start list decimated by illness

Alpecin-Fenix officials confirm the Dutch star will race the Italian monument 'without expectations or ambitions.'

The 27-year-old Dutchman could reportedly make his return to racing at the Italian Monument.

Reports indicate the rider could be back for Coppi e Bartali on March 22, Alpecin-Fenix officials refuse to confirm calendar just yet.

After back issues delayed the start of his season, the Dutch star looks set to begin racing at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali.

According to his father, Van der Poel is enjoying training in Spain but is still not 100% ready to race.

Frenchman starts as a major favorite for the iconic dirt road race in Italy.

The Dutch superstar is riding his bike again after an injury timeout, but a return to competition is not yet confirmed.

Wout van Aert has wingmen, Mathieu van der Poel is MIA, omicron is raging and Roubaix is rescheduled – top teams expect chaos on the cobbles.

Van Aert puts Paris-Roubaix at the center of spring with intention to peak late for cobblestone classic.

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl boss comes out fighting, says he’s not afraid of Jumbo-Visma ahead of classics campaign.

Van der Poel clocking up easy miles after long layoff, team hopeful of return to proper training Monday.

With or without van der Poel and van Aert, it was an inevitability Pidcock would be crowned cyclocross king some day.

Dutch star still not training as back problem persists, father Adrie pushes back against idea 'MvdP' is over-raced and under-rested.

Alpecin-Fenix described the procedure as "minor."

Doctors removed scar tissue around the Dutchman's knee as he's sidelined from racing due to a non-related back injury.

Who is the fastest finisher in the peloton? What can't Tadej Pogacar do?

The Dutch women will head to Fayetteville with a formidable eight-rider line-up, while just two elite men are selected after Mathieu van der Poel's injury woes.

Mathieu van der Poel has to take complete rest and potentially misses out on the spring classics as well as the cyclocross world championships.

No more cyclocross races for Mathieu van der Poel this season due to lingering back injury.

The Dutchman has been plagued by a back injury since May 2021, but his team believes the injury will heal with rest.

The Dutchman may have to look to Egan Bernal, Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot as he figures out his next moves.

After over a decade of juggling disciplines, Mathieu van der Poel’s physio says, “His body is now paying the price.”

'Rest should really be the priority now:' Team officials and medics paint bleak picture of MvdP's chance of making 'cross world championships.

A muddy Roubaix, a miracle ride at the Olympics, a temper tantrum in Spain, the ever-booming gravel scene, what wasn't to like in 2021?

Belgian star defends team tactics and prefers to remember the 'goosebumps' of racing in front of 1 million fans on home roads.

Our editors weigh in on the 21 must-know, high-drama headlines of 2021 and why they matter: Part one.

Three-time defending world cyclocross champion will take a break from training to try to recover in time to start the Fayetteville worlds in January.

Van Aert has won five out of five ‘crosses into the final week in December and looks unbeatable. So why hasn’t he committed to the Fayetteville worlds?

Van Aert maintains 100 percent record for the season while van der Poel struggles and abandons.

Van Aert makes it four-in-four as van der Poel places second in season debut.

Words: Brad Roe; Images: Chris Auld & James Startt

The Dutch star hopes to 'surprise' himself in his CX debut but thinks Wout van Aert may be too strong for him this weekend.

Van der Poel, van Aert, Pidcock to clash multiple times this 'kerstperiode' – here's who's racing when, and what to expect.

'I don't want to be third every time:' Rising Brit looks to level up with the two bosses of 'cross as he sets long-view on Fayetteville worlds.

Dutchman postpones CX start after injuring knee during fall in training, will debut in Dendermonde on December 26.

Mathieu van der Poel will start his cyclocross season at Dendermonde.

Mathieu van der Poel returns to 'cross next weekend, setting stage for highly anticipated showdown with van Aert on December 26.

Race director tips van Aert, van der Poel and Alaphilippe as top contenders for rainbow jersey in Wollongong.