Unveiling 21 overlooked facts about Mathieu van der Poel
Mathieu van der Poel: A Multidisciplinary Cycling Phenom
Mathieu van der Poel, the brand ambassador for Lamborghini Antwerp, boasts an impressive collection of Urus vehicles, one of which sports a unique number plate. Known for his versatility and aggressive racing style, van der Poel has made a name for himself in the world of cycling.
Born into a cycling dynasty, van der Poel is the grandson of the late French cycling legend Raymond Poulidor. This family link ties him to one of cycling’s most cherished figures, a man who never won the Tour de France despite multiple podium finishes but was celebrated for his longevity and popularity in the sport.
Van der Poel's notable achievements in cycling span across various disciplines. In 2015, he became the youngest ever cyclo-cross world champion at the age of 20 years and 13 days. Since then, he has gone on to win a record-equalling seven elite cyclo-cross world championships (2015, 2019–2025).
In addition to his cyclo-cross success, van der Poel has also made a mark on the road. His first senior road win came in 2014 at the Ronde van Limburg, but his first WorldTour win did not come until 2019 at Dwars door Vlaanderen. Since then, he has secured major classic race victories such as the 2019 Amstel Gold Race, the 2019 Dwars door Vlaanderen, and the 2020 Tour of Flanders.
Van der Poel's Grand Tour success includes winning stages in both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and wearing the yellow jersey in the 2021 Tour de France for six days. He became the first male cyclist to win world championships across road, cyclo-cross, and gravel disciplines, including the Gravel World Championship in 2024 and the Road World Championship in 2023.
Off the bike, van der Poel has made headlines for his unique collaborations. Shimano, for instance, created a special pair of cycling shoes adorned with motifs from the video game Fortnite for him.
However, van der Poel's career has not been without challenges. He competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but crashed and injured his back, an injury which has hampered him since. In 2022, he was charged with two counts of common assault at the World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, after a confrontation with two teenage girls. Although he was fined, the conviction was later quashed by an Australian court.
Despite a rivalry with Wout van Aert, van der Poel and van Aert have never been close and do not talk to each other at races. In 2021, van der Poel hit 1362 watts on his way to victory at Strade Bianche, demonstrating his incredible strength and determination.
In 2023, van der Poel joined an elite group of riders by winning both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix in the same year. As he continues to push the boundaries of cycling, van der Poel remains one of the most exciting talents in contemporary cycling.
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Van der Poel, despite his success in various cycling disciplines such as cyclo-cross and road racing, experienced a setback when he crashed during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, resulting in a back injury.
In a bid to showcase his passion for sports beyond cycling, Shimano created a unique pair of cycling shoes with Fortnite motifs for van der Poel.
