“The day after a classic, I was dead. He’s playing golf!” Adrie van der Poel on Mathieu’s chances of making Tour of Flanders history, Tadej Pogačar, and remembering his own Ronde win 40 years on

Adrie van der Poel, 1986 Tour of Flanders victor, recently shared insights on the road.cc Podcast regarding his son Mathieu's prospects of securing a record-breaking third Ronde win this Sunday. The 64-year-old reflected on his own career, including his triumph over Sean Kelly, and contrasted his post-race exhaustion with Mathieu's seemingly effortless recovery, quipping, "The day after a classic, I was dead. He’s playing golf!" He also touched upon Tadej Pogačar and the perceived irrelevance of records.

This commentary arrives as Mathieu van der Poel stands on the precipice of history, poised to become the most successful rider in the Tour of Flanders' storied past, a feat his father never achieved. Adrie's perspective offers a unique blend of paternal pride and the hard-won wisdom of a Classics legend, highlighting the stark evolution in rider physiology, training, and recovery protocols over four decades. His comparison with Pogačar underscores the current era's dominance by multi-talented champions, making Mathieu's potential achievement all the more significant in a highly competitive field.

Ultimately, Adrie's casual dismissal of records rings hollow; for fans, and indeed for Mathieu himself, a third Ronde title would be a monumental, indelible mark on cycling history, regardless of his father's golfing observations.