Enjoying Suffering and Mental Strategies

Mathieu reflects on finding joy in suffering, coping with bad days, and using music during training.

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Episode notes

In this month’s edition of the How To Series, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed sits down with one of the world’s most dominant cyclists, Mathieu van der Poel. Will and van der Poel sit down to unpack how to perform across disciplines, sustain longevity in elite-level sport, and embrace suffering for greatness.

Van der Poel shares his training philosophy, what motivates him to push through the toughest moments of a race, and how he uses WHOOP data to optimize recovery. From sleep habits, to caffeine consumption, to strength training, and key recovery habits, van der Poel offers an inside look at how listening to his body and staying consistent drives performance.

The conversation reflects the highs and lows of van der Poel's career, from battling pneumonia at the Tour de France, to the impact his long-term team has made on his career, to the role of fierce rivalries in pushing him to the next level. This episode offers an exclusive look into the mindset it takes to be one of the best endurance athletes in the world.

(00:40) Mathieu van der Poel on Versatility as a Cyclist

(03:21) Aspiring To Go Pro: van der Poel’s Upbringing in Cycling

(04:36) Measuring Success In Cycling

(05:55) Skills and Metrics Needed To Gain Power Over The Competition

(08:06) A Week In Training To Gain Endurance

(09:13) Essential Recovery Techniques

(11:12) Learning To Enjoy The Suffering in Training

(13:28) Overcoming Setbacks: Pneumonia & Tour de France

(15:10) Importance Of Building A Supportive Team

(16:32) Mathieu’s Motivations: Favorite Races & Inspiration In Sport

(20:23) Turning To The Data: Monitoring Metrics Throughout The Race

(23:55) Strength Training As A Cyclist & Mitigating Injury