Mathieu van der Poel was worried about the start of the Tour – now he wins the yellow jersey for the second time in his career

It encompassed everything that makes cycling racing exciting, dangerous, or brutal – this first weekend of the Tour de France in the Pas-de-Calais. There were strong winds, heavy rain, crashes, wind edges, and vicious climbs. To put your stamp on two stages held under such conditions requires a multi-talented cyclist. One like Mathieu van der Poel.

The 30-year-old Dutchman has already been a road world champion in his career, has won the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix three times each, and has twice won Milan–San Remo, another cycling monument. However, he hasn't won a stage of the Tour de France in four years.

Unlike the other pros, van der Poel spoke less about safety concerns, nervousness in the peloton, and the dangers they pose before this year's Tour de France start in Lille. Instead, he said, "It will be a great week for our team." There are numerous opportunities for him and the other star of the Equipe Alpecin-Deceuninck , Jasper Philipsen. "I will try to help Jasper in the sprint and will do everything I can to ensure he's in a good position," van der Poel said.

It's not a given that he says things like that. Just a month ago, van der Poel was worried about his participation in the Tour. A true multitalent, he competes not only on the road, but also in cyclocross, where he is a seven-time world champion, and in mountain biking . In the latter discipline, he participated in a World Cup race again after a four-year hiatus – and crashed twice. He suffered a scaphoid fracture and a ligament injury in his wrist.

Some experts criticized van der Poel for his daring off-road ride and the resulting injuries. They argued that he was jeopardizing his optimal preparation for the most important tour of the year, even jeopardizing his start in the Tour. They said he was weakening his team, was to blame for the crashes, and should concentrate on the road. These critics are likely to have fallen silent by Sunday.

Van der Poel is the star of the first two stages of the Tour. As he himself predicted, he skillfully led his teammate and sprint star Philipsen through the chaotic opening stage in Lille, pushing him to a horrendous pace as a breakaway rider. The Belgian Philipsen triumphed in the sprint , now has ten stage wins in the Tour de France – and wore the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. At least for one day.

Van der Poel, for his part, triumphed in the complicated second stage of the Tour to Boulogne-sur-Mer, ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. "It was more difficult than I expected. The ramps in the finale were tough," said van der Poel. Thanks to the victory, he took the leader's jersey from his teammate. This shouldn't dampen the mood: "We get along well and are always honest with each other," said van der Poel about his relationship with Philipsen.

The next flat stage of the Tour is already on the agenda for Monday. Van der Poel will then again navigate Philipsen as safely as possible to the finish line and support him there as a lead-out rider, regardless of the yellow jersey.