Mathieu Van Der Pol is hoping to make his Tour de France debut this year, and organizers have suggested that there could be an additional slot for two teams.

Van der Pol's Alpecin Phoenix failed to win one of the two wildcards given to second-division professional teams in addition to the automatic invitations to the 19 World Tour teams and the top professional teams.

This week, however, the Tour was postponed from August 29 to September 20. This was because it was prioritized as the most important race on the newly rescued 2020 calendar and deemed vital to the survival of several teams. Therefore, Van der Pol wants the 24 teams on the starting line to be granted special exemptions, and his team managers are already lobbying for this to happen.

"It is positive that we have received some targets that will haunt the riders," van der Pol said of the new calendar in an interview with the Belgian press.

"It is still too early to make definite plans, and a lot depends on whether the Tour de France will allow two additional teams to participate. A lot depends on whether the Tour de France will allow two additional teams to participate.

"Team manager Philippe Roudoft is already in contact with ASO. I want to ride the Tour. I don't really think about the other Grand Tours. I'm concentrating on the Tour and the classics."

The dates for the rescheduled spring classics have not yet been set, but the five monument races are expected to be held in October or November, following the Tour and the World Championships.

"It will be very special. What will the weather be like? Van der Pol wondered.

"If we can run, we have to, even if it's a different experience. It's not very pleasant to run in Oude Kwaremont or Paterberg without fans. That's the beauty of racing. But if you have to, you have to."

Van der Pol has been able to ride long and stay in condition in the Netherlands, where, unlike Spain and France, outdoor riding is allowed.

"I plan to keep up the good training. If the weather is good, I will do some long rides, maybe 200 kilometers. That will keep me busy for a while."

"It's more fun than riding rollers. I'd go crazy if I imagined living in Monaco where you can't exercise outside. I don't have a set training schedule. I ride my mountain bike once or twice a week for a change.

Van der Pol said he is coping well mentally with the social distancing measures made necessary by the pandemic, adding that the lack of racing has not depressed him, but rather relieved the psychological pressure.

"I must say that this period of mental rest is a good one. It's positive in this situation.

"For the first time in a long time I don't feel pressure.