“It all started with a discussion we had, Johan and I, last night (So Saturday), revealed Mathieu Van der Poel, who once again was at the end of his strength. IHe told me that he dreamed of climbing at least once on the Tour podium. I replied that if we left together, he might receive the price of fighting spirit. “
The green jersey does not interest me. “
And even if he could not follow the infernal rhythm printed by the triple winner of Paris-Roubaix to the end, Rickaert received this individual distinction. “I am very happy for him. He deserves it. He does so much job in the shadows”added Van der Poel, before giving in to the 31 -year -old Flandrian. “”In fact, everything started from a joke that I dropped to Mathieu. I did not expect him to take it seriouslylaunched the native of Waregem. From the moment he replied: ‘OK, we’re going’, I had to attend. I think I did it. Besides, when the cars went back to me, all the sports directors congratulated me. It’s incredible what we did. “
“It’s just a shame to have been taken up so close to the goal”concludes a Van der Poel, who claims not to think of the green jersey. “”No, he doesn’t interest me. What I wanted was just to escape the longest as possible. “ It will have lasted more than 173 terminals!
Tour de France 2025 – “I find it a shame that some teams do not show the jersey”: the opinion of our consultant Kévin Van Melsen