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Sunday, 5 July 2026
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Sunday, 5 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Mathieu van der Poel

Also known as: Dutchman · Tallon Griekspoor · Griekspoor

Mathieu van der Poel — Dutch cyclist who won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and finished fourth at Paris-Roubaix.

2026-01-082026-07-05
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. July 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel said there is no special strategy, just trying to get close to the final climbs

    Source

    “"I don't think there's something special in the strategy," said cobbled classics specialist Mathieu van der Poel of the Alpecin Premier Tech team.”

    Tour de France to start with team time trial ‘bang’
  3. April 2026

  4. The Namibian

    Van der Poel missed out on his three main Spring objectives

    Source

    “For his great rival Mathieu van der Poel, though, his year seems almost as good as over after missing out on his three main Spring objectives.”

    What next for Pogacar, Van der Poel after Roubaix blow?

  5. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel is reigning three-time champion of Paris-Roubaix

    Source

    “To do so, he will have to dethrone reigning three-time champion Mathieu van der Poel, who is aiming for a record-equalling fourth success on the northern French cobbles.”

    Pogacar dreaming of Monument clean sweep

  6. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel was aiming for new record fourth victory in Tour of Flanders

    Source

    “Van der Poel was himself aiming for a new record fourth victory in the second Monument of the season, but instead, Pogacar made it two from two in the prestigious one-day classics having won Milan-San Remo last month.”

    Pogacar wins joint record third Tour of Flanders
  7. March 2026

  8. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel broke away 16km from finish and soloed to victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

    Source

    “Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel broke away 16km from the finish line and soloed to victory at the season-opening cobbled classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday.”

    Van der Poel romps to cobbled classic win
  9. February 2026

  10. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel won eighth cyclocross world title earlier this month

    Source

    “Fresh from making history earlier this month by winning an eighth cyclocross world title, Van der Poel has been relaxing and skiing since, leaving everyone to wonder when and where he would start his road season.”

    Van der Poel, Van Aert resume battle at season's 1st cobbled classic

  11. The Namibian

    Mathieu van der Poel will line up for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday

    Source

    “The suspense was finally broken on Wednesday when his Alpecin-Premier Tech team revealed that the 31-year-old would line up for the first race of the traditional Opening Weekend double-header in Belgium — Omloop on Saturday and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.”

    Van der Poel, Van Aert resume battle at season's 1st cobbled classic
Sport

Tour de France opens with team time trial format change

The News

The Tour de France launches this weekend in Barcelona with a team time trial—the first in seven years and the first opening stage of its kind since 1971. The innovation is individual timing for each rider rather than the traditional approach of awarding the team's time based on the fourth or fifth finisher, creating tactical opportunities for teams to position time-trial specialists and climbers strategically.

3 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

  1. Tour de France opens with team time trial format change

    The Tour de France launches this weekend in Barcelona with a team time trial—the first in seven years and the first opening stage of its kind since 1971. The innovation is individual timing for each rider rather than the traditional approach of awarding the team's time based on the fourth or fifth finisher, creating tactical opportunities for teams to position time-trial specialists and climbers strategically.

    3 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Sinner eyes career Grand Slam at French Open

    World number one Jannik Sinner arrives at the French Open as the overwhelming favourite to win the men's title, with a career Grand Slam within reach after claiming the Italian Open and becoming the second player to win all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. Alcaraz, the defending champion who beat him in last year's final, is ruled out through injury.

    19 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 26 April

  1. Sinner extends winning streak at Madrid Open tennis

    World number one Jannik Sinner defeated Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-3 at the Madrid Open, extending his winning streak to 19 matches and his Masters 1000 winning run to 24 consecutive victories. Coco Gauff overcame a stomach virus to beat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

    26 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Pogacar seeks record fourth Monument; Van der Poel struggles

    Tadej Pogacar, the world champion, missed out on winning all five Monument races at Paris-Roubaix but can still become the first rider to win four Monuments in a single calendar year. His rival Mathieu van der Poel faces an uncertain path forward after finishing fourth at Roubaix and missing his three main Spring objectives.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. Pogacar chases cycling Monument clean sweep at Paris-Roubaix

    World champion Tadej Pogacar aims to win Paris-Roubaix on Sunday and become only the fourth rider to complete cycling's Monument clean-sweep by winning all five of sport's most prestigious one-day classics. If successful, he would join Belgians Eddy Merckx, Roger de Vlaeminck, and Rik van Looy in that elite group.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 6 April

  1. Pogacar wins record-tying third Tour of Flanders victory

    World champion Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of Flanders on Sunday for a joint record third time, dropping rival Mathieu van der Poel with 18km remaining. The victory is Pogacar's second Monument triumph this season and his 12th overall, placing him second on the all-time list behind only Eddy Merckx.

    6 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

  1. Pogacar wins Milan-San Remo, claims fourth Monument race

    Tadej Pogacar defeated Tom Pidcock in a thrilling final sprint to win Milan-San Remo, adding a fourth of cycling's five "Monument" races to his collection. The 27-year-old Slovenian recovered from a crash before the Cipressa climb to claim victory on the 298-kilometre course, becoming the first world champion to win the race since Giuseppe Saronni in 1983.

    22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 1 March

  1. Medvedev wins Dubai title after Griekspoor withdraws with hamstring injury

    Daniil Medvedev claimed his second Dubai ATP 500 title on Saturday when opponent Tallon Griekspoor withdrew due to a left hamstring injury sustained in his semi-final. Medvedev said he remains uncertain about competing at next week's California ATP 1000 event due to partial UAE airspace closures following Iranian strikes on the region.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Van der Poel wins Dutch cycling classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

    Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel broke away 16km from the finish to solo victory at the season-opening cobbled classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Tim van Dijke and Florian Vermeersch. Demi Vollering won the women's 135km edition, dominating the sprint finish.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 28 February

  1. Van der Poel returns to racing at Belgium cobbled classic

    Former world champion Mathieu van der Poel will begin his road season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this weekend, joining rival Wout van Aert at the opening race of the European cobbled classics season. The pair are among several top cyclists set to compete in the 208-kilometre event from Gent to Ninove on Saturday.

    28 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 8 January

  1. US advances to United Cup semis; Poland, Swiatek also win

    Coco Gauff won her singles match and then teamed up with Christian Harrison to win the deciding mixed doubles as the defending-champion United States beat Greece to reach the United Cup semi-finals. Poland also secured their semi-final spot with wins from Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz against the Netherlands.

    8 January 2026 · New Era →

Mathieu van der Poel — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute