TRADE DEADLINE: Mathieu van der Poel Rejects Lucrative Offer, Commits to Current Team
In a shocking move, Mathieu van der Poel, the star cyclist, has rejected a staggering $98.76 million offer from a rival team, choosing instead to remain with his current squad. The news sent shockwaves through the cycling world, with fans and pundits alike speculating about the reasons behind van der Poel’s decision.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the offer from the rival team was one of the largest in cycling history, with a multi-year contract that would have made van der Poel one of the highest-paid cyclists in the world. However, despite the tantalizing prospect of a significant payday, van der Poel ultimately decided to prioritize his current team’s vision and values.
“I’m thrilled to continue with my current team,” van der Poel said in a statement. “We’ve built something special here, and I believe in our mission to dominate the cycling world. The financial offer was certainly enticing, but ultimately, it’s about more than just money – it’s about the passion, the camaraderie, and the shared goal of success.”
Van der Poel’s decision has sparked widespread admiration from fans and fellow cyclists, who praise his commitment to his team and the sport. As the cycling world looks ahead to the upcoming season, all eyes will be on van der Poel and his team, eager to see if they can translate their dedication into victory.
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Reigning road world champion Mathieu van der Poel is heading to Zürich to defend his title on September 29, but the Dutchman won’t be racing the Vuelta a España as preparation.
Van der Poel won last year’s world title in Glasgow in August hot off the Tour de France but he won’t have a recent Grand Tour in his legs as he heads to Switzerland in late Septmeber.
In preparation for the 2021 and 2022 Worlds, he took on a series of smaller one-day races in Belgium, such as the Gooikse Pijl and GP de Wallonie, and it seems likely that he’ll follow a similar path this time around once he returns to racing following the Paris Olympic Games.
His Alpecin-Deceuninck team, meanwhile, will take on the Vuelta a España with 2023 points classification winner Kaden Groves leading the eight-man selection.
The Australian sprinter won three stages last year, including the final stage in Madrid. He’s still seeking his first win of the current season following four podium placings at the Giro d’Italia. The Vuelta looks likely to be his final Grand Tour with the team ahead of a mooted move to a new-look Astana team next season.
Groves will be accompanied by seven men helping him in the lead-out and seeking their own chances to score stage wins.
Juri Hollmann and Luca Vergallito will make their Grand Tour debuts as the race kicks off with a 12km time trial in Lisbon on August 17, while Edward Planckaert, Maurice Ballerstedt, Xandro Meurisse and Oscar Riesebeek also fill out the squad.
