Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and Wout Van Aert (Belgium) represent the epitome of contemporary racing. They are the Generals of the younger generation of riders that have turned cycling on its head in the last two years or so, together with the likes of Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič, Marc Hirschi, Remco Evenepoel, Egan Bernal, to name a few.
Long have gone the days of targeting just two or three races per year and using the rest for training. What they are showing now is a more aggressive approach to racing and less fear of going against the grain of established tactics and preparation. More focused training from a younger age is propelling younger and younger riders to the top of the professional peloton.
Van Aert and van der Poel have locked horn for years while racing in cyclocross, but on the road, it is a fairly new situation. While van der Poel might have the edge on the cyclocross circuit (just), on the road it's a closer affair:
van der Poel
Ronde van Vlaanderen (WT)
Strade Bianche (WT)
Amstel Gold (WT)
Dwars door Vlaanderen (WT)
BinckBank Tour (WT)
Brabantse Pijl (Pro)
Tour of Britain (Pro)
National Road Race X2
Van Aert
Milano-Sanremo (WT)
Strade Bianche (WT)
Tour de France stages x3
Tour de France TTT
Danmark Rundt (Pro)
National Time Trial X2
In terms of wins, van der Poel is ahead with 5 World Tour wins against the 2 of Van Aert. They both have won at least one stage race. However, although in many races they end up fighting it out for the win (see Flanders 2020 and Tirreno-Adriatico 2021), the differences are bigger than one might expect. Van Aert is double national TT champion, while van der Poel is double national road champion. VA has raced and won stages at the Tour de France, while vdP has yet to race a three-week Grand Tour. VA tends to win in sprints, while vdP is more eclectic, winning solo as well as in sprints (uphill and not).
Their tactics often see Van Aert make full use of his team, while van der Poel prefers to set the pace, whether in front of the peloton or while in a breakaway. And these are the main differences because the Belgian is a team player. He works hard for his team (Jumbo-Visma) when required, like during the Tour, on flat, windy, mountainous stages alike. And he's repaid by having teammates shielding him, protecting him and positioning him for a win during a stage or a classic.
Van der Poel does not have the same level (or want/need) of help. He rides for Alpecin-Fenix, (Pro Continental, although now invited to all World Tour races) and within the team, he is the undisputed leader. If he races, he leads, he goes for the win, while Van Aert is both a leader and a domestique.
We've seen this type of rivalries many times in the past: Coppi and Bartali, Anquetil and Poulidor, Merckx and De Vlaeminck, Hinault and LeMond, and more recently Boonen and Cancellara. In most cases, one of the two riders is clearly better, but often the success happens on the back of the rivalry between the two. It's too early to know in the long term who will be more successful of our two young riders: the Dutchman is more unpredictable, the Belgian more surprising. Their careers cross and by doing so they push each other to ever higher achievements. Van Aert's characteristics mean he is more likely then van der Poel to aim for all 5 monuments, and the latter's explosive nature might make it more difficult to be sustainable for a long time.
One thing is for sure, in every race they enter, they are talked about, they're watched, they entertain and inspire. They both attract the love of fans all over the world and have polarised the cycling community. Whether it is Van Aert falling off his bike on the steep climb in Siena but still finish 3rd in his first attempt, or van der Poel collapse after a 60 km solo victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, their grit and determination will be a legacy for years to come and pro cycling is better because of their presence.
