Belgian and Dutch media are now reporting that Alpecin Phoenix star Mathieu Van der Poel could compete in this year's Tour de France if the UCI reduces the number of riders on each team from eight to seven. However, Cycling News understands that team numbers will not be reduced for the Grand Tour, but van der Poel's team manager, Philippe Rudhoft, wants the team to participate in as many races as possible if and when the competition resumes He said.

"We, like all teams, want to participate in as many races as possible from the moment the new cycling calendar becomes official," Rudhoft told HLN.be on Thursday. The question, of course, is whether that calendar can be implemented effectively. But it is clear that we are definitely interested in participating in the Tour de France, and we have informed (race organizer) ASO of that."

Van der Pol, a 25-year-old Dutchman, initially had his sights set on a mountain bike cross-country race at this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo, with the possibility of making his first Tour de France appearance in 2021. However, with the competition cancelled until next summer, the three-time cyclocross world champion is eagerly awaiting his Tour debut in 2020.

"I have told all the organizers, including ASO, that I am interested in taking part [in the race]," Roodhooft said. The sport's professional team, known until this season as the Pro Continental Team, is eager to start at every race held this year, as are the World Tour teams. 'We felt it was necessary and beneficial to do so, but for the time being we are leaving it as it is. It is not something we invite or speak for."

The UCI was scheduled to announce the dates of the revised 2020 calendar on Wednesday, but that announcement has been postponed to May 5. In addition, the UCI will announce "team participation rules" and "rules regarding the number of riders per team at the start of a race" next week, which could allow more professional teams to participate in major races by reducing the number of teams.

However, sources told Cycling News on Thursday that while smaller team sizes may be considered for one-day races, the Grand Tour team size will remain eight riders. The postponed 2020 Tour is expected to take place again this year (tentative dates are August 29-September 20), but Van der Pol's Alpecin Phoenix failed to secure one of the three non-World Tour slots.

Van der Pol's entry is inextricably linked to the Tour, as his maternal grandfather was Raymond Pridor, who passed away last November and is fondly known as the "eternal second place." He has finished second three times and third five times, but has never worn the maillot jaune and has participated in the Tour every year since 2001 as an ambassador for Crédit Lyonnais, the sponsor of the yellow jersey. On the hope that there may still be a way for Van der Pol and his Alpecin Phoenix team to participate in the Tour, Rudhoft explained: "We have no other information, official or unofficial. All we know is the UCI communiqué issued yesterday (Wednesday). According to it, the conditions of participation and the number of participants per team will be known on May 5.

"But if there is room and we are asked to participate, we will of course say yes.