Mathieu van der Poel Warns of Rider Safety Concerns Ahead of Paris-Roubaix Defense

Mathieu van der Poel, the reigning Paris-Roubaix champion, is gearing up to defend his title this Sunday. However, the Dutchman has raised concerns about the safety of riders in the peloton, citing them as the main danger in cycling races.

Following a horrific crash during stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country, where several riders sustained serious injuries, including race leader Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel, van der Poel emphasized the risks that riders take during races. Despite efforts by race organizers to improve safety, van der Poel believes that the inherent nature of cycling makes it impossible to eliminate all risks.

Van der Poel, who recently clinched his third Tour of Flanders victory, is considered a favorite for Paris-Roubaix. However, he expressed skepticism about a last-minute change made by race organizers to introduce a chicane before the notorious cobbled Trouée d’Arenberg section. The world champion believes that the chicane may cause more harm than good, potentially leading to riders getting stuck and losing valuable time.

Despite his concerns about safety, van der Poel remains focused on his goal of winning his sixth Monument title. He acknowledges the dangers of cycling but is determined to navigate through the peloton and be in contention for victory.

As van der Poel prepares to take on the challenging Paris-Roubaix course, his thoughts on rider safety add an additional layer of complexity to what is already known as one of the toughest one-day races in professional cycling.