Mathieu van der Poel’s father, Adrie Van der Poel, has spoken out for the first time since his son’s early and unexpected withdrawal from the Tour de France, revealing that Mathieu is recovering slowly and cautiously after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
The Dutch cycling star shocked fans and commentators when he abandoned the race during the first week, citing fatigue and illness. While initial reports suggested a general loss of condition, it has now been confirmed that the 29-year-old was battling the early stages of pneumonia, a condition that significantly impacted his breathing, energy levels, and ability to recover during and after stages.
“Pneumonia is a serious issue,” said Adrie Van der Poel, a former pro cyclist himself. “People may have underestimated what he was dealing with. This wasn’t just a bad day or minor illness—this was something that could have turned dangerous if he had continued pushing.”
According to his father, Mathieu had been feeling unwell even before the Tour began but had hoped that it was nothing more than a temporary virus or allergic reaction. However, as the stages unfolded, his condition worsened, and his performances quickly declined—far from the dominant form fans have come to expect from the reigning world champion.
“He was coughing a lot, and his body just wasn’t responding,” Adrie explained. “There were signs, but he didn’t want to make excuses. He tried to fight through it, like he always does, but this time it caught up to him.”
Mathieu van der Poel’s withdrawal was a major blow not just to his team, Alpecin–Deceuninck, but also to fans who were looking forward to his fierce battles in the punchy, technical stages where he normally thrives. Instead, the team had to readjust their strategy while giving their star rider time to rest and recover away from the spotlight.
Despite the setback, the Van der Poel camp remains optimistic. Adrie confirmed that Mathieu is under medical supervision and is following a structured recovery plan that includes rest, light activity, and close monitoring of his lung function and immune response. “He’s recovering cautiously, as he should,” Adrie said. “There’s no rush, no pressure. The focus is on full recovery—nothing else matters right now.”
It remains unclear when Mathieu will return to racing. His schedule for the remainder of the season, including possible appearances at the World Championships and other late-season classics, will depend entirely on his health progress in the coming weeks.
For now, the priority is recovery. Adrie emphasized that pushing too hard, too soon would risk further complications, something neither the rider nor the team is willing to entertain. “He’s still young and has so much ahead of him. This year may not go as planned, but health comes first.”
As fans and fellow riders send their well wishes from around the globe, the cycling community waits patiently for one of its most electrifying talents to bounce back. If there’s one thing Van der Poel has proven throughout his career, it’s that setbacks never keep him down for long.
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