Official Merci Poupou 2026 cycling shirt, signed by Edward Planckaert. This jersey was worn by the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider during the coffee ride on the second rest day of the Tour de France 2026. More about the foundation: In 2021, Mathieu van der Poel embarked on his first Tour de France, fully stepping into the footsteps of his grandfather, Poulidor. Unfortunately, Poulidor, who participated in the Tour a remarkable 50 times (14 times as a rider, 36 times as part of the Tour de France caravan), had passed away and could not witness his grandson's debut. To honour this symbolic moment and the legacy of the iconic Poulidor, the Merci Poupou project was established. In 2021, Mathieu van der Poel and his teammates showed up on the starting podium wearing purple and yellow Alpecin-Fenix jerseys inspired by 'Mercier,' the team Poulidor raced for. These special edition jerseys were sold, with the proceeds going to various organisations and charities. Merci Poupou has since become the charitable arm of Alpecin-Deceuninck, making annual contributions to various causes through different initiatives. Merci Poupou symbolises how sport unites people across generations, how grandparents pass on their love for sport to their grandchildren, and how lifelong memories are created. Merci Poupou aims to inspire the next generation to embrace cycling and sports in general, encouraging them to stay active. Through Merci Poupou, funds are carefully donated each year to various organizations that aim to give children and young adults the opportunity to participate in sports in the broadest sense. This support is not limited to sports activities but also includes initiatives that help them recover from injuries and accidents. Additionally, donations are made to charities such as Kom op tegen Kanker. In this way, Alpecin-Premier Tech contributes to the well-being and health of the youth and supports valuable social projects. Over the past five years, the initiative has successfully raised more than €500,000 in support of various charitable causes. 
 Go to www.mercipoupou.com and find out more about the charity initiatives.