Cycling news - Alpecin-Fenix's Mathieu van der Poel quits 2021 Tour de France at Stage 9 to focus on Tokyo Olympics
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Updated 04/07/2021 at 15:02 GMT
Alpecin-Fenix's Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel was pleased with his Tour de France performance for this season's edition, having won a stage and held the yellow jersey for six days, but has now decided to abandon the Tour. He explained he has taken the decision to preserve his chances at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Highlights: Catch up with everything from a barnstorming Stage 8 at the Tour de France
Mathieu van der Poel is abandoning the Tour de France to focus on the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics.
The 26-year-old Dutch rider won one of his Alpecin-Fenix team’s two stage victories, and also held the yellow jersey before Tadej Pogacar took over as leader in the General Classification.
Speaking ahead of stage 9 in the Alps, Van der Poel confirmed his decision.
“It’s impossible against the real climbers to defend, it wasn’t my goal to go for GC, it’s been an amazing week for me and the team. We won two stages and had the yellow for six days. It’s been my first Grand Tour and we can be really proud of that,” he said.
He then explained why he would withdraw, to be able to focus on the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games where he will represent his country.
“I will not start today. We decided with the team it is in my best interests to quit the race and focus on the Olympics now,” he said.
“I’m going to take some time to recover from this first week. We know it would have been difficult for me and I have some other goals.
“It was impossible for me to do the whole tour and then be at my top at Tokyo. I’ll be back next year.”
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