The Dutch rider was a one-day specialist who stood on the podium of the World Championship Road Race, stood on the podium of the Paris-Roubaix Classic, won two of the five monuments in cycling, and won numerous other one-day races.

Adri Van Der Poel was 2nd in the 1983 World Championship Road Race behind Greg Lemond of the USA.

Van Der Poel was also 3rd in the 1986 Paris-Roubaix Classic behind Sean Kelly of Ireland and Rudy Dhaenens of Belgian.

Van Der Poel won the Tour of Flanders Classic in 1986 and the the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Classic in 1988.

He also won the the Paris-Tours Classic in 1987 and the Championship of Zurich in 1982.

In addition, he won the Amstel Gold Race in 1990, and the San Sebastian Classic in 1985.