Van der Poel returns to racing after Tour de France exit
Mathieu van der Poel will return to racing next week in the Renewi Tour, his first competitive appearance since abandoning the Tour de France due to pneumonia. The 30-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck leader will headline a strong field in the five-day Belgian-Dutch WorldTour stage race, which runs from Wednesday 20 August to Sunday 24 August.
Before that, Van der Poel will ease back into competition this Sunday at a post-Tour criterium in the Netherlands. In the Renewi Tour, where he claimed both the overall title and a stage win in 2020 after an impressive long-distance solo, he hopes to add another chapter to that success. “I have good memories of this race,” he said. “Last year I was in a good position, but after a near-crash in the time trial I had to skip the final stage because of knee pain.”
Van der Poel has not raced since leaving the Tour de France in its final week. The illness interrupted what had been a high-profile campaign that included a stage victory, several days in the yellow jersey and multiple breakaway appearances. “It is still unclear how my form is, but the course suits me. Especially the stage finishing in Geraardsbergen on the third day is one I have marked,” he added.
The 2025 Renewi Tour starts in Terneuzen and finishes in Breskens before moving to Belgium for the remaining four stages. The highlight for many will be the Friday stage to the Vesten in Geraardsbergen, featuring the iconic Muur, while the final day in Leuven is expected to deliver an aggressive finale.
Organiser Golazo has already confirmed a top-level start list. Alongside Van der Poel, the race will feature defending champion Tim Wellens, European champion Tim Merlier, Thibau Nys, Biniam Girmay, Paul Magnier, Olav Kooij, Jasper Stuyven, Mathias Vacek and Matej Mohoric.
For Van der Poel, the Renewi Tour marks the start of his build-up towards his main late-season goal, the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland on 14 September. Although his form may be uncertain, the terrain suits him, and with Mathieu van der Poel you know there will be action.
