Van der Poel switches to wider tyres for Classics

Mathieu van der Poel, a prominent Dutch cyclist, has shared his thoughts on a recent Cyclingnews test that examined the benefits of wider tyres in professional cycling. The test revealed that wider tyres, particularly 40mm, can provide a speed advantage, particularly on cobbled surfaces. Van der Poel admitted that he has been slow to adopt this trend. Last year, he preferred narrower 28mm tyres, while his team moved to 30mm. He recognizes that wider tyres allow for lower pressure, improving performance on rugged terrain. This year, he plans to use 30mm tyres during the Classics races. The Cyclingnews test compared various tyre sizes from 26mm to 40mm across different conditions. It found that the difference in rolling resistance could lead to significant watt savings. Notably, the switch to 40mm tyres could provide over 70 watts of benefit on cobbles. Van der Poel's team recently switched to Pirelli tyres, giving him access to the 40mm option. However, Van der Poel's current race bike, the Canyon Aeroad CFR, cannot accommodate the wider tyres. He would need a different bike to benefit from the speed of 40mm tyres, which would likely be less aerodynamic. The test concluded that while wider tyres can enhance performance, factors like aerodynamics and bike design need careful consideration. Van der Poel reflected on the trend, pointing out that some riders are already using 35mm tyres in races like Paris-Roubaix. He expressed curiosity about how far the trend toward wider tyres will go, suggesting there may be a limit beyond which wider tyres do not yield faster speeds. Despite being cautious about the shift in technology, Van der Poel continues to excel in cycling. He won the Paris-Roubaix race in 2024, setting a record average speed. His success suggests that his current approach to equipment is working well.