Van der Poel wins Tour de France stage in grandfather's homeland

Mathieu van der Poel claimed his third Tour de France stage victory on Sunday, crossing the finish line in Ussel, France. The win held particular emotional weight as the stage traversed roads near the hometown of his late grandfather, cycling icon Raymond Poulidor.

"Every time I'm at the Tour, it's special for me, his memory is present. You don't need to be near his home for me to remember him," Van der Poel stated. The Dutch rider for Alpecin celebrated after a long breakaway, proving strongest in the finale.

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Every time I'm at the Tour, it's special for me, his memory is present. You don't need to be near his home for me to remember him.

Van der Poel's career in the Tour de France is often intertwined with the legacy of Poulidor, who was famously known as the "eternal second" for his near misses in winning the race. His grandson, a celebrated winner in his own right, often draws parallels and pays homage to his grandfather's enduring popularity, especially on these French roads.

"It's never easy for me to win here. When I go on a breakaway, everyone is watching me, and that creates extra obligations. I've only won three times in the Tour; it's always an extraordinary race for me," Van der Poel added. He recalled his previous victories in 2021 and last year, both also accompanied by the yellow leader's jersey, a feat his grandfather never achieved despite eight podium finishes in Paris.

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It's never easy for me to win here. When I go on a breakaway, everyone is watching me, and that creates extra obligations. I've only won three times in the Tour; it's always an extraordinary race for me.