Mathieu van der Poel abandons Tour de France to focus on Tokyo Olympic Games

MRDEBRETAGNE GUERLDAN FRANCE JUNE 27 Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands and Team AlpecinFenix stage winner celebrates at podium during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 2 a 1835km stage from PerrosGuirec to MrdeBretagne Guerldan 293m LeTour TDF2021 on June 27 2021 in MrdeBretagne Guerldan France Photo by Michael SteeleGetty Images
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) has left the Tour de France, bringing an end to his debut after eight stages and a week in the yellow jersey.

The Dutchman, who won at Mûr-de-Bretagne on stage 2, relinquished the overall lead on Saturday’s first outing in the mountains, and decided not to start stage 9.

His major season target has always been the mountain bike race at the Olympic Games later this summer and he will now turn his full focus to Tokyo.

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