Career
Poels became a professional cyclist in 1985 for the Kwantum–Decosol–Yoko team He stayed with this team (that became Superconfex–Kwantum–Yoko–Colnago in 1987 and Buckler–Colnago–Decca in 1990) until he retired in 1992. He rode the Tour de France five times, finishing every time.
After his professional career, he became an estate agent.