'Another year older, a bit stronger, that's the key' - Max Poole's path to Grand Tour top 10 finish

13 British male riders have finished in the top 10 overall of a Grand Tour. Last May, Max Poole (Picnic PostNL) came close to adding his own name to that list in just his third Grand Tour. 

The 22-year-old battled his way to eleventh place at the 2025 Giro d’Italia inside of 4:00 from Michael Storer (Tudor), who rounded out the top 10. 

Poole’s target for the latter part of the season, the Vuelta a España, was blighted after he was diagnosed in August with Epstein-Barr, the same virus that Mark Cavendish had suffered with during his career. 

Ultimately, following the conclusion of the Giro at the end of May, Poole raced 10 more times throughout 2025 as he was ruled out of his late-season goals.

Poole got his new campaign underway in Portugal at the Volta ao Algarve, and the British rider expressed his satisfaction to be back amongst the action, as he told Domestique at the Portuguese stage race.

“Yeah, obviously it's been a while since I've properly raced, since the Dauphiné really, so it's just nice to be back in a bunch,” Poole said to Domestique.

“Some good European racing. I think being on European roads makes quite a big difference at the start of the season, and it’s just getting used to being back in the bunch and back enjoying racing again.”

Poole also highlighted the relaxed nature of his return to racing, with the main goal being getting back into the flow ahead of his major targets later down the line, where he will look to improve on his best Grand Tour result, being that Giro performance in 2025. 

Poole ultimately finished 54th at the Volta ao Algarve, as he continues to build form for his later goals.

“I think over the last couple of years, definitely I would say I gained quite a lot of experience, and now it's just about I think putting it all together and making the step physically as well,” said Poole when asked what he is focused on for breaking into the top 10 across a three-week race.

“Another year older, a bit stronger, and I think that's the key really, just putting it all together, and I think we still have a lot to get out of myself, and I think we have some time to put that into practice.”

Until the start of this season, Poole hadn’t been the only rising British GC prospect on the books of Picnic PostNL. 

Oscar Onley’s (Ineos Grenadiers) fourth-place finish at the Tour de France was a significant result for the Dutch team. With Onley’s departure to Ineos Grenadiers, Poole was asked if he feels an added sense of responsibility within the team and how he manages pressure and expectations. 

“No, not really, I have a lot of motivation myself. I want to achieve a lot of things, and the team trust in me a lot, and all the guys who I go to the races with back me a lot, and I think this first part of the season it's not so much about the results,” said Poole.

“It's more them getting back into racing. 
I have the motivation myself, but the most important thing is just to get the race fitness and enjoy it.”