# Adri van der Poel

Adri van der Poel (born 17 June 1959) is a retired Dutch cyclist. Van der Poel was a professional from 1981 to 2000. His biggest wins included six classics, two stages of the Tour de France and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in 1996. He also obtained the second place and silver medal in the World Road Championships in 1983 behind Greg LeMond and five second places in the World Cyclo-Cross championships. The Grand Prix Adrie van der Poel is named after him.

## Career

Van der Poel began his career on the road and during his first season as a professional he obtained second place in Paris–Nice behind Stephen Roche and second place in the La Flèche Wallonne. In the Tour de France, he won two stages; his stage win in 1988 set the record for fastest stage (since then only surpassed by three cyclists). Van der Poel also competed in cyclo-cross during the winter and obtained great results – that he turned full-time to cyclo-cross in the latter part of his career where he won the World Championships in 1996 and the World Cup and Superprestige classifications in 1997. Van der Poel retired after the 2000 Cyclo-Cross World Championships where he finished fourth and which was won by his teammate Richard Groenendaal.
In 1983 he tested positive for strychnine. He said that his father-in-law had served a pigeon pie for Sunday lunch, and only when he tested positive did he realise that the pigeons had been doped with strychnine.

## Family

Van der Poel is the son-in-law of the famous French cyclist Raymond Poulidor. His sons David and Mathieu are also cyclists. Mathieu van der Poel became cyclo-cross world champion himself in the junior race in 2012 (Koksijde) and 2013 (Louisville, Kentucky) and then matching his father's title in 2015 (Tábor, Czech Republic), and exceeding his father, winning titles in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. Mathieu is less prolific in professional road cycling, having won the UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race only once in 2024, along with the wins at Tour of Flanders in 2020, 2022, and 2024, Strade Bianche in 2021, Milan-Sanremo in 2023, and Paris-Roubaix in 2023 and 2024.
Van der Poel's brother Jacques was also a professional cyclist from 1986 to 1992.

## Major results
### Cyclo-cross
#### 1983–1984

    Superprestige
       1st Zürich-Waid

#### 1984–1985

    2nd UCI World Championships
    Superprestige
       3rd Gavere

#### 1986–1987

    1st National Championships

#### 1987–1988

    2nd UCI World Championships

#### 1988–1989

    1st National Championships
    2nd UCI World Championships
    Superprestige
       2nd Wetzikon

#### 1989–1990

    1st National Championships
    2nd UCI World Championships

#### 1990–1991

    1st National Championships
    Superprestige
       1st Gavere
       2nd Gieten
    2nd UCI World Championships

#### 1991–1992

    1st National Championships
    Superprestige
       2nd Gavere
    3rd UCI World Championships

#### 1992–1993

    Superprestige
       1st Valkenswaard
       3rd Roma

#### 1993–1994

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       2nd Loenhout
       3rd Igorre
    Superprestige
       2nd Overijse

#### 1994–1995

    3rd Overall Superprestige
       1st Overijse
       1st Diegem
       2nd Harnes
       3rd Wetzikon

#### 1995–1996

    1st UCI World Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Pontchâteau
    3rd Overall Superprestige
       1st Sint Michielsgestel
       2nd Wetzikon
       3rd Diegem
       3rd Harnes
    1st Surhuisterveen
    1st Vossem

#### 1996–1997

    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Praha
       1st Koksijde
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gieten
       1st Milan
       1st Sint Michielsgestel
       1st Harnes
    1st Woerden
    1st Kalmthout
    1st Nommay
    1st Essen
    1st Loenhout
    1st Haegendorf

#### 1997–1998

    2nd Overall Superprestige
       1st Diegem
       1st Wetzikon
       2nd Gieten
       2nd Overijse
       2nd Harnes
       3rd Silvelle
       3rd Milano
    2nd Overall UCI World Cup
       2nd Eschenbach
       2nd Praha
       2nd Koksijde
       2nd Heerlen
       3rd Pontchâteau
    1st Harderwijk
    1st Niel
    1st Rijkevorsel
    1st Zeddam
    1st Loenhout
    1st Surhuisterveen

#### 1998–1999

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Nommay
       3rd Koksijde
    3rd Overall Superprestige
       1st Harnes
       2nd Wetzikon
       3rd Silvelle
       3rd Diegem
    1st Pijnacker
    1st Montevrain
    3rd UCI World Championships

#### 1999–2000

    1st Harderwijk
    1st Lutterbach
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       2nd Essen
    3rd Overall Superprestige
       2nd Overijse
       2nd Diegem
       3rd Ruddervoorde
       3rd Surhuisterveen
       3rd Heerlen
    2nd National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       3rd Leudelange
       3rd Kalmthout

### Road
#### 1980

    7th Road race, Olympic Games
    9th Overall Étoile des Espoirs

#### 1981

    1st Stage 1 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
    2nd Overall Paris–Nice
       1st Stage 3
    2nd La Flèche Wallonne
    2nd Le Samyn
    3rd Road race, National Championships
    4th Scheldeprijs
    6th Overall Critérium International
    6th Gent–Wevelgem
    6th Grand Prix de Fourmies
    6th Ronde van Limburg
    10th Rund um den Henninger Turm

#### 1982

    1st Züri-Metzgete
    1st Stage 4 Paris–Nice
    2nd Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
    2nd GP Union Dortmund
    4th Overall Ronde van Nederland
    5th Circuit des Frontières
    8th Amstel Gold Race

#### 1983

    1st Grote Prijs Jef Scherens
    1st Nationale Sluitingsprijs
    1st Prologue Tour de Luxembourg
    2nd Road race, UCI World Championships
    2nd Paris–Tours
    2nd Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
    2nd Trofeo Baracchi (with Hennie Kuiper)
    3rd Road race, National Championships
    3rd Giro di Lombardia
    3rd GP Union Dortmund
    4th Overall Grand Prix du Midi Libre
    4th Gent–Wevelgem
    4th Paris–Brussels
    4th Trofeo Laigueglia
    4th Rund um den Henninger Turm
    6th Paris–Roubaix
    6th Grand Prix de Cannes
    7th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
    7th Omloop Het Volk
    8th Overall Paris–Nice
    9th Overall Three Days of De Panne

#### 1984

    4th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
       1st Points classification
       1st Stage 4
    4th Grote Prijs Jef Scherens
    6th Giro di Lombardia
    6th Paris–Brussels
    6th Grand Prix Impanis
    Tour de France
       Held after Stage 4

#### 1985

    1st Brabantse Pijl
    1st Clásica de San Sebastián
    1st Paris–Brussels
    1st Scheldeprijs
    1st Binche-Tournai-Binche
    1st Grand Prix d'Isbergues
    1st Grand Prix de Cannes
    Tour de Luxembourg
       1st Stages 1 & 4
    2nd Overall Nissan Classic
       1st Stage 5
    2nd Giro di Lombardia
    3rd Overall Three Days of De Panne
    4th Overall Ronde van Nederland
    5th Omloop Het Volk
    6th Paris–Tours
    7th Nationale Sluitingsprijs
    7th Critérium des As
    9th Paris–Roubaix
    10th Overall Grand Prix du Midi Libre
    Tour de France
       Held after Stages 4–8

#### 1986

    1st Tour of Flanders
    1st Nationale Sluitingsprijs
    2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
    2nd Dwars door België
    2nd Critérium des As
    3rd Paris–Roubaix
    3rd Züri-Metzgete
    4th Paris–Tours
    5th Rund um den Henninger Turm
    6th Overall Nissan Classic
    6th Overall Three Days of De Panne
    6th Amstel Gold Race
    6th Giro del Lazio
    7th Milan–San Remo
    7th Tour du Haut Var
    7th Nice–Alassio
    8th Grand Prix de Fourmies
    10th Road race, National Championships
    10th Gent–Wevelgem

#### 1987

    1st Road race, National Championships
    1st Paris–Tours
    1st Giro del Piemonte
    1st Druivenkoers Overijse
    1st Grand Prix des Fourmies
    1st Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
    1st Nationale Sluitingsprijs
    1st Stage 9 Tour de France
    3rd Overall Ronde van Nederland
    4th Critérium des As
    5th Overall Nissan Classic
    7th Overall Tour of Sweden
       1st Stage 1 & 2
    8th Tour of Flanders
    8th Trofeo Baracchi (with Steven Rooks)
    9th Amstel Gold Race
    9th Clásica de San Sebastián
    9th Brabantse Pijl

#### 1988

    1st Overall Étoile de Bessèges
    1st Overall Herald Sun Tour
       1st Stage 7b
    1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
    1st Stage 16 Tour de France
    2nd Road race, National Championships
    3rd Tour of Flanders
    3rd Grand Prix La Marseillaise
    4th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
       1st Stage 5
    4th Overall Nissan Classic
    5th Grand Prix Impanis
    6th Giro dell'Etna
    6th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
    6th Giro del Lazio
    6th Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
    7th Milan–San Remo
    7th Brabantse Pijl
    7th Züri-Metzgete
    8th Overall Tour de Luxembourg
    8th Overall Three Days of De Panne
    8th Druivenkoers Overijse

#### 1989

    1st Stage 6 Paris–Nice
    1st Stage 5 Tour Méditerranéen
    2nd Brabantse Pijl
    2nd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
    3rd Omloop van de Drie Zustersteden
    4th Omloop van de Vlaamse Scheldeboorden
    6th Scheldeprijs
    6th Veenendaal–Veenendaal
    8th Binche-Tournai-Binche
    10th Amstel Gold Race

#### 1990

    1st Amstel Gold Race
    1st Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
    1st Omloop van de Vlaamse Scheldeboorden
    2nd Dwars door België
    2nd Omloop Mandel-Leie-Schelde
    3rd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
    4th Giro dell'Etna
    5th Overall Three Days of De Panne
    5th Scheldeprijs
    5th Paris–Brussels
    5th Tour de Berne
    6th Milano–Torino
    6th Coppa Bernocchi
    6th Giro del Piemonte
    6th Grand Prix de Fourmies
    7th Omloop Het Volk
    7th Veenendaal–Veenendaal
    8th Paris–Roubaix
    10th GP Ouest-France
    10th Grand Prix de Lune

#### 1991

    1st Circuito de Getxo
    1st Stage 4 Ronde van Nederland
    2nd Clásica de Sabiñánigo
    3rd Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
    3rd Overall Tour de Luxembourg
       1st Points classification
    4th Overall Nissan Classic
    4th Paris–Tours
    4th Grand Prix de Fourmies
    4th Grand Prix d'Isbergues
    5th Road race, National Championships
    5th Trofeo Luis Puig
    5th US Pro Championship
    7th Dwars door België
    8th Milano–Torino
    8th Grand Prix des Amériques
    10th Overall Kellogg's Tour
       1st Stage 5

#### 1992

    1st Points classification, Nissan Classic
    2nd Overall Kellogg's Tour
    2nd De Kustpijl
    3rd Ronde van Midden-Zeeland
    5th Circuito de Getxo
    6th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
    7th Dwars door België
    9th Züri-Metzgete

#### 1993

    4th Veenendaal–Veenendaal
    5th Paris–Roubaix
    5th Paris–Tours
    5th GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
    6th Amstel Gold Race
    7th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
    8th Road race, National Championships

#### 1994

    1st Profronde van Heerlen
    2nd Nationale Sluitingsprijs
    3rd Druivenkoers Overijse
    3rd Grand Prix Impanis
    4th De Kustpijl
    5th Paris–Tours
    7th Paris–Brussels
    9th Cholet-Pays de la Loire
    10th Grand Prix de Fourmies

#### 1995

    5th Omloop van het Houtland
    7th Brabantse Pijl
    8th Nokere Koerse
    10th Grand Prix de Denain

#### 1996

    7th Ronde van Midden-Zeeland
    10th Nationale Sluitingsprijs

#### 1997

    4th Nationale Sluitingsprijs

#### 1998

    9th De Kustpijl

#### 1999

    1st Grote Prijs Marcel Kint

### Grand Tour general classification results timeline

| Grand Tour | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| / Vuelta a España | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Giro d'Italia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tour de France | — | 102 | 37 | DNF | 51 | 110 | 105 | 84 | DNF | 111 | — | DNF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Classics results timeline

Monuments results timeline :
| Monument | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| Milan–San Remo | — | 61 | 31 | 50 | 18 | 7 | 46 | 7 | 31 | — | 74 | 42 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tour of Flanders | 14 | 33 | 34 | — | 15 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 64 | 68 | 26 | 46 | 26 | 58 | 60 | — | — | — | — |
| Paris–Roubaix | — | 32 | 6 | — | 9 | 3 | 37 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liège–Bastogne–Liège | 24 | 25 | 7 | — | 40 | 2 | 46 | 1 | — | 53 | 48 | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Giro di Lombardia | — | 44 | 3 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Major championship results timeline

| | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| World Championships | DNF | — | 2 | DNF | 59 | 67 | 18 | 49 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 14 | DNF | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| National Championships | 3 | 18 | 3 | 11 | — | 10 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 8 | 11 | — | — | — | 20 | — | — |
Legend :
| — | Did not compete |
| DNF | Did not finish |