'What's happening here?' - Was 'stupid' Mathieu van der Poel attack a 'joke' at very start of Stage 9 of the Tour de France?
Updated 14/07/2025 at 09:06 GMT+1
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Cycling has its innumerable traditions, things that just 'don't happen'. But for the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, unwritten rules are there to be broken, and the latter sought to do just that on Stage 9 of this year's Tour de France. Attacking at kilometre zero in a bid to win the stage was such a bold move that one cycling legend thought it was a joke.
WATCH: 'What's happening here?' - Alpecin launch daring early attack from 0km on Stage 9
Video credit: TNT Sports
There was no time to draw breath at the start of Stage 9 of the 2025 Tour de France, as the Alpecin-Deceuninck pairing of Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert detonated a move so shocking that legendary cycling voice Sean Kelly thought it was a "joke".
Barely had tour director Christian Prudhomme waved the flag to set off the day in earnest, than Van der Poel and his team-mate had charged off the front, putting minutes between themselves and the peloton in the blink of an eye.
"Keep your eye on this, how will it go?' Rob Hatch said on TNT Sports commentary as the bunch rolled under the yellow 0km banner amid the Alpecin attack.
"Mathieu van der Poel is already off in search of some early green jersey points - but no one wants to follow him!"
Interjecting, Sean Kelly exclaimed: "What's happening here? This is an interesting one, this has to be a joke between the riders or the team.
"There's something going on here. They surely aren't going to ride the 174km with two [riders]."
Hatch continued: "Still no reaction... nobody for now is chasing."
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Tudor Pro Cycling rider Larry Warbasse joined the commentary after the Alpecin pair had built up a lead of over four minutes, and remarked: "I don't think anyone expected that, I think we were all a bit in shock.
"I think a lot of people will say it's probably, maybe stupid, just because they're going to waste a lot of energy.
"But honestly, you never know. I think it's cool, Van der Poel is a racer. He's doing something that is totally against the logic of what he should be doing.
"But sometimes that's how people win races. If you don't dare you can't win."
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Why did Alpecin send MVDP on early attack? Jensy gets the inside view
Video credit: TNT Sports
Meanwhile, Jens Voigt, on the motorbike, sought to get to the bottom of the plan by speaking to the Alpecin team car.
Asked if the Van der Poel attack was planned, sporting director Gianni Meersman responded: "We thought that the race was going to be controlled until the first intermediate sprint, and then try to motivate some guys - at least six to eight riders - to make the race a little bit harder than it was yesterday. But now the situation is like it is, of course."
Van der Poel and Rickaert battled bravely all day out front, with the Dutchman going solo in the final kilometres.
At one stage, Van der Poel looked like staying away to land one of the all-time great wins, but he was heartbreakingly gobbled up by a charging peloton with 700 metres to go.
Afterwards, he said it had been Rickaert's "dream" to be on the podium - and after winning the day's combativity award - the Belgian veteran got that honour.
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Watch: Exhausted Van der Poel reflects on achieving 'dream' for team-mate
Video credit: TNT Sports
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