For Mathieu Van der Poel, the 2026 Tour de France will be special even before the race gets underway. Just days before heading to Barcelona, where the Grande Boucle will start on Saturday, the Dutch superstar shared wonderful personal news: he will become a father for the first time in a few months.

An announcement that adds even deeper meaning to a season already full of satisfaction for the Alpecin-Deceuninck champion. As always, Van der Poel arrives at the Tour with very clear ideas: the objective remains a stage victory.

During the press conference organized by Alpecin-Deceuninck at the Sagrada Família, on the eve of the official team presentation, the Dutch champion reiterated what his mission will be on the French roads.

"My objective remains the same every year: win a stage and help Jasper Philipsen in his quest for the green jersey. It's nice to start in a great city like Barcelona. I think the first stages could really suit our characteristics. I hope we can experience a positive start to the Tour like we had last year".

A dual mission, then: seeking personal success while putting his talent at the service of the Belgian sprinter, who is again targeting the points classification.

The 2026 edition will open with a team time trial, and Van der Poel explained that he has paid particular attention to this discipline in recent weeks. Coming off an excellent second place in the Tour de Suisse time trial, behind only Tadej Pogacar, the Dutchman revealed that he has slightly modified his training program.

"We've trained a bit more with the whole team because the first stage is a team time trial. I've spent a few extra hours on the bike compared to usual, and it's been very useful work. I hope we can demonstrate a good level".

Among the early stages, the one that attracts the most attention from the Alpecin champion is the second stage, which is set to finish on the Montjuïc circuit, with three passages up the 1.6-kilometer Montjuïc climb at 9.3%. An explosive finish that seems tailor-made for powerful riders like Van der Poel, even though the level of competition will be extremely high.

"It will be very difficult. I've already said it during the Tour de Suisse: when you have opponents like Tadej Pogacar or Remco Evenepoel, who are also targeting this type of finish, everything becomes more complicated. But we'll try and see how it goes".

Like many riders, Van der Poel will also have to contend with the high temperatures expected during the first part of the Tour. "For me, the heat is always a bit complicated. I've done a lot of acclimatization training, and the high temperatures we found in Spain will help me. But they will never be the conditions I prefer".

The announcement of his first child makes this Grande Boucle even more meaningful in the life of the Dutch champion. But once he pins on his number, Van der Poel will return to doing what he does best: attacking, igniting the race, and hunting for victories.

The early stages seem to suit his characteristics perfectly and could offer him an immediate opportunity to secure that victory that represents his main personal objective. At the same time, he will be one of Alpecin-Deceuninck's key men in supporting Jasper Philipsen in his pursuit of the green jersey.