Tears, anger and betrayal: Roxanne Bertels reveals the hellish secret behind Van der Poel’s painful withdrawal

The silence has finally been broken. What began as Mathieu van der Poel’s inexplicable withdrawal from stage 16 has now become a national scandal, after Roxanne Bertels – his partner – broke the silence with a revelation that sent shockwaves through the cycling world. Her emotional cry, “I beg them not to let him race anymore!”, leaves nothing to the imagination. Behind the smile of a champion lies a fierce battle that no one should have ignored.

According to Bertels, Van der Poel has been in the grip of a serious, yet undisclosed illness for weeks, which has completely exhausted him physically and mentally. His participation in the Tour became a torture, a battle against his own body, while the outside world only observed his declining performance without understanding the true reason. The decision to abandon stage 16 was not born of sporting strategy, but of sheer desperation—a moment when even a champion had to acknowledge his limits.

The most shocking part of this whole story, however, isn’t Van der Poel’s decline, but the icy silence of the Dutch Cycling Federation. As his health deteriorated, the federation chose to remain silent, to not communicate, to conceal the truth. Roxanne Bertels argues that this silence was not only irresponsible but also dangerous. “They left him in the saddle while he begged for help,” she says. “They saw his pain, but did nothing. For the image. For the sponsors. For the big money.”

The reactions on social media are undeniable. Cycling fans are furious. Many feel misled, even cheated. Why was the health of a national hero swept under the rug? Why was Van der Poel the man sacrificed for the appearance of strength and perseverance? And more importantly: who is responsible for this neglect?

Cycling experts are now also beginning to question how long Van der Poel had been riding with these complaints. Were signals ignored? Was there pressure from the federation or sponsors to keep racing at all costs? Some speak of a system that pushes athletes to their limits, even when their health is at stake.

Meanwhile, the question is growing louder: will Van der Poel ever return to the highest level? Roxanne Bertels leaves no doubt about it: “If it were up to me, he’d quit. For his life, for his future. No race is worth losing.”

The cycling federation has yet to issue an official response to Bertels’s statements. But the pressure is mounting. The calls for transparency, accountability, and humanity are louder than ever. Because this time, it’s not about yellow jerseys or podium finishes. This time, it’s about something far more important: the health and dignity of an athlete who gave his body for the people, and lost almost everything in the process.