The day that will bring the Tour de France to Montpellier and the top of Mont Ventoux begins with the announcement of Mathieu van der Poel's withdrawal from the Tour de France. Alpecin - Deceuninck has just released a statement that reads:

We regret to announce that Mathieu van der Poel is forced to prematurely abandon the Tour de France.

Mathieu had been showing symptoms of a common cold in recent days. Yesterday afternoon, his condition began to significantly worsen. The team doctor closely monitored him throughout the day. In the evening, Mathieu developed a fever and was taken to the Centre Hospitalier de Narbonne for further examinations.

Medical tests revealed that Mathieu is suffering from pneumonia. In consultation with the medical staff, it was decided that he can no longer continue the race. His health is the top priority, and rest and recovery are now essential.

Mathieu will need to rest for at least an entire week. After this period, he will undergo further medical examinations to assess his recovery and determine the next steps of his rehabilitation.