Van der Poel on the hunt for the yellow one for his grandfather Poulidor

The teams are introduced, The 2021 Tour de France is taking its first stepsAnd among the most explicit declarations of… war, that of Mathieu Van der Poel leaves no room for doubt. Mathieu wants to win the first stage tomorrow, to win the yellow jersey and dedicate it to his grandfather Raymond Poulidor.

Obviously, like everything that concerns professionalism and one of its most media-friendly characters, the declaration of intent is also supported by a campaign halfway between marketing and charity, called “MerciPoupou”.

Thus, on the occasion of the presentation last night in Brest, the Alpecin-Fenix He wore a uniform inspired by the colours worn by Raymond Poulidor throughout his career, with the French team Mercier.

The witness

Between 1962 and 1976, Poulidor participated for 14 times at the Tour de France and 8 times he finished on the podium in Paris, without having worn the yellow jersey for a single day. This also happened on his last finish on the Champs-Elysées in July 1976, when he took third place behind Van Impe and Zoetemelk.

Today, 45 years later, his grandson Mathieu van der Poel he takes up the baton and is about to make his Tour de France debutIf there's one reason that convinced the Dutchman (fully focused on the mountain bike Olympics) to accept the challenge, it's the opportunity to pay homage to his grandfather, who passed away in November 2019.

Now it's his turn chase the yellow dream and collect the legacy that his grandfather He left his legacy to himself and to the entire cycling world. Generations follow, but the aspirations remain the same. 

A long story

Alpecin-Fenix's sponsors immediately joined the campaign. "We couldn't miss this opportunity," said team manager Philip Roodhooft, "for many reasons. Forty-five years after the end of Raymond Poulidor's incredible career, his grandson Mathieu is starting the Tour de France for the first time. This is a unique opportunity for him and his team to pay tribute to his grandfather. and to one of the most iconic cyclists the cycling world has ever had.

"The fact that our partners support "Merci Poupou" demonstrates their long-term commitment. Alpecin is the longest-standing cycling sponsor with a 75-year history, while Fenix ​​and Canyon aren't just looking for a commercial return on their investment. They primarily want support the team and the riders who chase their dreamsDreams that have their origins in the cycling heritage to which we were all introduced by our (grandparents) parents."

For charity

The initiative, it was said, has charitable purposes. In fact, a website completely dedicated to this purpose has been developed. On www.mercipoupou.com Fans will be able to purchase a MerciPoupou replica shirt or cap. The proceeds from online sales will be donated to charitable organizations and projects that support children and adolescents in sport: details will be revealed in brief during the Tour de France, to keep attention high on the project.

«For my grandfather»

Van der Poel's words, which we remember in the touching images at his grandfather's funeral, are deeply inspiring.

«My grandfather – he says – he recognized my joy for cycling early on And he always said that my brother David and I were more talented than him. I wish he could be here today and experience this moment with our family. He's been dreaming about it for a long time, but I'm sure he's as proud as ever.I am delighted to be able to pay him a final tribute in such an emotional way that we can all say together: MerciPoupou!