Mathieu van der Poel Set to Begin Life’s Greatest Ride Yet: Cycling Icon Promises to Tie the Knot with Longtime Girlfriend in a Love Story as Enduring and Passionate as His Legendary Career
In the high-octane world of professional cycling, where every second is measured, every watt counted, and every victory scrutinized, there exists a rare oasis of stillness—love. And for Mathieu van der Poel, the ferocious Dutchman who has stormed finish lines, conquered cobbles, and shattered expectations across disciplines, it’s this very oasis that now draws him into a new chapter of life. Away from the roaring crowds and podium champagne, Van der Poel has made a quiet but profound promise: to marry his longtime girlfriend, Roxanne Bertels.
The announcement, whispered first in the inner cycling circles before blossoming into full confirmation, signals not just a romantic milestone, but an emotional turning point for a man whose career has been defined by intensity, independence, and the pursuit of perfection. Now, after years of balancing global fame, relentless training, and a schedule that would test even the strongest of bonds, Van der Poel is ready to say “I do.”
This is the story of love and legacy, of partnership amid pressure, and of a champion who, after years of racing alone, has chosen to walk into the future side by side.
A Love That Outpaced the Peloton
Mathieu van der Poel and Roxanne Bertels first met in the quieter corners of the sport—far from the chaos of race day and the blinding flash of media cameras. Roxanne, a Belgian model and lifestyle professional, wasn’t drawn to Mathieu for his rainbow jerseys or monumental victories. What attracted her was the grounded, introspective man behind the helmet. The one who read books between flights, who preferred countryside rides to social scenes, and who always carried a quiet reverence for family.
Their relationship unfolded slowly and organically. Where many celebrity pairings ignite with speed and fizzle just as fast, Mathieu and Roxanne built something enduring. They’ve weathered long seasons apart, grueling training camps, and the endless circus of elite sports, all while maintaining a bond built not on headlines but on trust.
“We’ve always supported each other’s dreams,” Roxanne once said in a rare interview. “He has his races. I have my career. But at the end of the day, we meet in the middle.”
It’s that “middle” that’s now becoming something permanent.
A Life Lived in the Spotlight—Together
Few athletes are as relentlessly watched as Van der Poel. Whether it’s storming the Tour of Flanders or fighting for world titles in cyclocross, every move he makes is dissected, praised, or doubted. And yet, despite the glare, Roxanne has managed to stay mostly out of frame—intentionally so.
She doesn’t attend every race, and she rarely gives interviews. But her presence has been constant in the background, a calming influence on a life otherwise filled with chaos. She’s been there through injuries and frustrations, through training slogs and travel delays, through wins that stunned the world and losses that haunted him for months.
In private, teammates have long noticed her influence. “When Roxanne’s around, Mathieu is different,” says one Alpecin-Deceuninck staffer. “Calmer. More focused. Like he doesn’t have to prove anything.”
Indeed, as the years passed and Van der Poel evolved from prodigy to legend, Roxanne remained his anchor. Through the towering highs and crushing lows, she reminded him that there’s a world beyond cycling—and that even the most solitary champions need someone waiting at the finish line.
The Decision to Propose
Sources close to the couple say the decision to get engaged wasn’t made lightly. Van der Poel, methodical in everything from race tactics to life decisions, reportedly spent months contemplating the moment. Friends say he wanted it to be perfect—personal, meaningful, and above all, sincere.
And then it happened.
The location? A quiet, windswept hill in the Dutch countryside. Just the two of them, their shared memories, and a simple question. She said yes, of course.
There was no paparazzi. No public announcement. Just a photo posted days later on social media, captioned only with a heart and the date. The cycling world erupted. Not in controversy, but in celebration. Fans from Belgium to Australia, Italy to Japan, flooded the comments with congratulations.
Suddenly, the man who has made millions dream on the bike was inspiring something deeper off it: hope, love, commitment.
Balancing the Bike and the Bride
Planning a wedding is never easy. Planning a wedding while also attempting to conquer the Spring Classics, compete in the Tour de France, and possibly prepare for the Olympic Games? Near impossible.
And yet, that’s exactly what Van der Poel and Roxanne are doing.
According to close confidants, the couple has opted for a private ceremony in late 2025, after the racing season. The venue is reportedly a countryside estate tucked between the Dutch-Belgian border—close to both of their roots and far from the flash of Paris or Rome.
Roxanne has taken the lead on most of the planning, while Mathieu remains focused on the road. Still, he’s involved. He’s picking the music. He’s written personal vows. And, in true Van der Poel fashion, he’s already planning the post-wedding ride—a symbolic loop around their favorite training roads, just the two of them.
“It’s not about being perfect,” Roxanne has said. “It’s about being real. That’s who we are.”
The Family Ties That Bind
For Mathieu, the concept of family isn’t abstract—it’s sacred. The grandson of Raymond Poulidor and the son of Adrie van der Poel, he comes from cycling royalty. But the lessons he’s learned from his lineage go far beyond the bike.
Adrie, who’s known as much for his stoicism as his tactical brilliance, reportedly gave his son one piece of advice about marriage: “Win or lose, go home together.”
That idea—of partnership, of unity—has shaped how Mathieu approaches this next chapter. He’s seen the toll that relentless ambition can take on personal lives. He’s determined not to let cycling, as beautiful and brutal as it is, overshadow what matters most.
Friends say his relationship with Roxanne has only deepened his appreciation for balance. Where once he might have obsessed over data, now he’s more willing to close the laptop and take a walk. Where he once trained through fatigue, he’s now more attuned to rest, both physical and emotional.
“Love hasn’t made him softer,” a teammate quipped. “It’s made him smarter.”
The Symbolism of the Ride Ahead
To many, marriage is a contract. To Van der Poel, it’s a commitment—a long ride with no finish line. Like the greatest stage races, it will have headwinds and tailwinds, climbs and descents, moments of euphoria and exhaustion. And just like on the bike, he’s ready to suffer when it counts and smile when it’s over.
There’s symbolism in that. For a man who has given everything to his sport, this is a rare moment of giving to someone else. Of pausing the endless chase for titles, just long enough to celebrate something timeless.
Roxanne, for her part, has no illusions about life with a professional cyclist. There will be absences. There will be pressure. But there will also be a bond no podium can replicate.
“He doesn’t need to win for me,” she once said. “He just needs to come home.”
A New Legacy Begins
As Van der Poel rides into the heart of 2025 with marriage on the horizon, his legacy begins to shift. Not away from the bike, but deeper into the human being beneath the jersey.
Yes, he may still win Paris-Roubaix. Yes, he may still don yellow in the Tour. Yes, he may still chase Olympic gold. But now, those goals are framed not by individual glory, but by shared meaning.
He’s not just racing for history anymore. He’s racing for a future—for anniversaries and children and quiet mornings with coffee, not just early starts with heart rate monitors.
In marrying Roxanne, Mathieu is writing a new kind of story. One that isn’t defined by watts or rankings or trophies. But by love. By partnership. By choosing each other, day after day, no matter the weather.
Conclusion: The Greatest Ride of All
In the world of cycling, the road never really ends. Even after the finish line, there’s always another ride. Another climb. Another test.
For Mathieu van der Poel, that road now stretches in a beautiful new direction.
He’s raced against time. He’s battled legends. He’s conquered monuments.
Now, he begins his greatest ride yet—not alone, but alongside the woman who’s stood by him through it all.
No crowds. No trophies. Just two hearts, one promise, and a lifetime of roads still left to ride.
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