Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, has faced strong criticism from fans after announcing a partnership with a private jet company.
The 30-year-old Dutch cycling star announced his collaboration with private jet firm Flying Group just before the Tour. In a short post, he wrote: "I am excited to share that I am an ambassador for Flying Group – proud to represent a company that is taking private aviation to the next level."
Fans reacted quickly with criticism, and the post has since garnered nearly 2,000 comments, most of which are negative. The comments focused on the environmentally unfriendly impact of private jet travel, especially at a time when many event organizers and teams – including Tour de France organizer ASO – are trying to reduce emissions.
Van der Poel responded to the criticism, which included comments like "Take the train, man, and lead by example," "Truly disappointing," and "Is climate change a joke to you?" with a new comment under his post. Explaining his decision to partner with the Antwerp-based company, which has 18 private jets in its fleet, he wrote that private jet travel is necessary to "protect my time, health, and peace of mind" as a top athlete.
"I have seen the reactions and want to be open about my collaboration with Flying Group as a partner committed to sustainability. I understand the environmental concerns and respect everyone's opinion," van der Poel wrote. "At the same time, how I travel is important for my sport and career. I work very hard every day to achieve the best result, and that means making choices that protect my time, health, and mental well-being. Flying in a calmer atmosphere, with less stress and exposure, helps me stay focused and healthy."
Van der Poel emphasized that this collaboration is not about luxury but about performance, recovery, and support that helps him always give 100%. "This collaboration is not about luxury, but about performance, recovery, and support – so that I can give my best in every competition," he stated. "I always try to make responsible choices where possible, but I still stand by my commitment to my goals. Thank you to those who understand."
It is unknown how often van der Poel uses private jets, but just two flights a year would increase his carbon emissions above the global average and nearly match the annual CO2 footprint of an average Dutch citizen.
A recent study showed that the average private jet trip in 2023 generated 3.6 tons of CO2 emissions. In comparison, the average Dutch citizen's CO2 emissions in 2024 were 6.6 tons. The European Union average was 5.6 tons, and the global average was 4.7 tons.
According to 2023 data, a private jet flight generated an average of 4.19 kg of CO2 per kilometer. Flying from Antwerp to Alicante, for example, would generate at least 6.29 tons of CO2 emissions – a staggering 4559% more than a passenger on a commercial flight covering the same distance (0.135 tons).
