MONACO – The cycling world, and actually the entire planet, has been turned upside down.

In an unprecedented and emotional press conference in Monaco, Mathieu van der Poel (30) and Tadej Pogačar (27), the two biggest rivals and greatest talents in modern cycling, announced that they are jointly donating 11 million dollars (more than 10.4 million euros) to build 150 sustainable houses and 300 emergency beds for families who have lost everything due to wars, floods and earthquakes.

The project, called “HOME – Hope On Mountains Everywhere”, is being implemented directly in Ukraine, Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Mathieu van der Poel, with tears in his eyes, said: “In all my travels around the world I have seen how uncertainty can break a person. Success means nothing if people do not have a safe place to sleep.

Everyone deserves a home – a place where fear does not enter.”

Tadej Pogačar added: “We fight against each other on the bike, but off the race we fight together for something much bigger. This is no longer competition – this is humanity.”

But the most moving moment came when both riders signed a document that was shown live on screen. Everyone in the room burst into tears.

The document that made the world cry

On a simple A3 sheet, handwritten by both, it said:

“We, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, solemnly promise that as long as we cycle, at least 100 families will get a real home every year. No logos, no publicity, no tax benefits. Just the certainty that a child no longer has to be afraid at night.

Because a house is not a luxury.

A house is a right.”

Below the text were two signatures and a small drawing: a bicycle and a house with a heart as a roof.

The room – full of journalists, UNICEF representatives and ambassadors from the affected countries burst into applause and tears. A Ukrainian mother, whose home in Kharkov was bombed, walked forward and hugged both riders. “You saved my children,” she sobbed. Van der Poel could no longer say a word.

The figures behind the donation: $11 million made concrete $5.5 million from Mathieu van der Poel $5.5 million from Tadej Pogačar 150 sustainable, modular houses (average $36,000 per house) 300 emergency beds with heating and solar energy 5 construction teams starting from January 2026 in: – Ukraine (Kherson & Kharkiv) – Turkey (after the earthquake 2023) – Morocco (Atlas Mountains) – Pakistan (2024 floods) – Philippines (Typhoon Rai areas)

The money comes from their private assets – no sponsors, no tax deductions. Both sold part of their personal cycling collection (including Van der Poel’s rainbow jersey from Hoogerheide and Pogačar’s pink jersey from the 2024 Giro) via a silent auction at Sotheby’s.

Why now? The personal stories

Both explained why this project is so close to their hearts.

Mathieu van der Poel: “When I was in Ukraine for a training camp in 2023, I saw children sleeping in metro stations. That image never leaves me. I win races, but what good is it if children don’t have a roof over their heads?”

Tadej Pogačar: “My grandfather and grandmother lost everything in the Yugoslav war. They started again with nothing. I know how important a safe home is. This is my way of giving something back.”

The responses: from the cycling world to world leaders

Within hours the entire planet responded:

Volodymyr Zelensky: “From two cycling heroes to real heroes. Thank you, Mathieu and Tadej. 🇺🇦❤️” King Willem-Alexander: “Proud of Mathieu. This is what the Netherlands stands for.” King Philippe of Belgium: “Mathieu, thank you on behalf of all Belgians.” Pope Francis: “Two young men show what true charity is.

God bless them.” UNICEF: “This is the largest private housing donation in our history.”

Even rivals responded:

Wout van Aert: “Mathieu, you are bigger than the sport. Respect.” Jonas Vingegaard: “Tadej and Mathieu, you made my day. Beautiful.” Remco Evenepoel: “I will participate next year.” The emotional ending: the first house is already being built

The press conference ended with a live video link to Kharkov. A construction team symbolically started on the first house. The contractor held up a sign: “Welcome home, thanks to Mathieu & Tadej.”

Both riders looked at each other, put an arm around each other’s shoulders and said at the same time: “This is why we cycle.”

The room erupted in tears again.

A message that changes the world

At a time when cycling sometimes seems to be all about money and egos, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar remind us of the real power of sport: giving hope to those who have lost everything.

$11 million. 150 houses. 300 beds. Thousands of lives changed.

And one promise that remains: “As long as we cycle, a child will get a home every year.”

Mathieu and Tadej: not only the best riders in the world, but also the best people.

At a time when cycling sometimes seems to be all about money and egos, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar remind us of the real power of sport: giving hope to those who have lost everything.