Mathieu van der Poel Returns to Make a Mess of Pogačar’s Monument Mission

Mathieu van der Poel is back, and he’s got (more) monuments in his mind.

Team Alpecin-Premier Tech confirmed Van der Poel will return to the road Saturday at Omloop Nieuwsblad before he builds toward a huge blowout with Tadej Pogačar in a triple-header of spring monuments.

MVDP and Pogi will face-off at Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix in the second series of their Box Office bouts of 2025.

Van der Poel was the one rider who could defang Pogačar through the spring last year.

He withstood Pogi’s onslaught on the Cipressa and Poggio of San Remo, and matched him blow-for-blow across the pavé of Roubaix.

With two wins at “La Primavera” and a hat-trick at “The Hell of the North,” the Dutchman – and the unique challenges of the two courses – stands square in Pogačar’s path as the Slovenian looks to sweep all five monuments.

Van der Poel’s speedy teammate Jasper Philipsen will also be at San Remo and Roubaix to make it double trouble for Pogačar.

After winning a historic eighth cyclocross world title in February and then risking his knees on a ski holiday, MVDP has recently been training like a lunatic across the smooth tarmac of the Costa Blanca.

Now it’s time for him to go full beast mode once more, starting Saturday in the Omloop.

Van der Poel spring 2026:

Omloop Nieuwsblad
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan San Remo
E3 Saxo Classic
In Flanders Fields-Middelkerke to Wevelgem (Gent-Wevelgem)
Tour of Flanders
Paris-Roubaix