Danny van Poppel did something in Ede on Saturday that his famous father Jean-Paul never managed to do: become Dutch champion. The 31-year-old rider beat two top sprinters, but from next week in the Tour de France he will in principle be a domestique again.
Van Poppel has only been Dutch champion for a few minutes when Ralph Denk is already on the phone. The big boss of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is “super happy and proud” after the eighteenth victory of the season for his team.
Logically, Van Poppel and Denk don’t talk about the Tour so soon after the race. But Van Poppel’s clever victory in Ede brings up the eternal question about the modest Brabander. Is he best used as a finisher or as a luxury helper?
When announcing the Tour selection last Friday, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was clear. Jordi Meeus will start next week Saturday in Lille as the sprinter of the top team. Van Poppel must help his Belgian teammate to victories as the last man.
Van Poppel has said several times in recent years that he prefers not to be the leader. But at the Dutch Championships he shows again that he does have those qualities. He beats Olav Kooij (silver) and Dylan Groenewegen (bronze), two men who have won mass sprints in major tours. “I surprise myself here,” says the winner.
Van Poppel achieves his 23rd victory in 13 seasons
Due to his victory on the Arnhemseweg, Van Poppel will be allowed to ride his seventh Tour de France in the red-white-blue. Last year, Groenewegen won a stage in that champion’s jersey in the biggest cycling race in the world. Can Van Poppel match that performance?
“I didn’t even dare to think about that question until today. But who knows,” says the new Dutch champion. Jokingly: “I have to talk to Ralph Denk. It is special to beat someone like Olav Kooij. He is the sprinter for the future.”
Van Poppel was also the man for the future a long time ago. As a junior he was very successful. As a professional he has ‘only’ 23 victories in 13 seasons. “In the past, I found it difficult to deal with the fact that I won a lot in my youth and less as a professional. But I have become older and wiser. Then you learn to put things into perspective.”
Van Poppel also always had to deal with the fact that his father was a top cyclist. Jean-Paul van Poppel sprinted to 64 professional victories between 1985 and 1995. He won nine Tour stages and nine stages in the Vuelta a España, among other things.
But Jean-Paul van Poppel never became Dutch champion. “At least I have something he didn’t have now,” says Danny van Poppel laughing. “He will be overjoyed and super proud. But I’m not going to compare our honours lists. Because I can’t match his successes.”