Teams & Riders The "MVP" Mathieu Van der Poel Road Discussion Thread

[vappa]

He doesn't need to relay 50-50, 1/3 should be enough and Pogacar would be satisfied just to not having to pull solo and to keep the group moving

 

[dazaau]

If he doesn't win either of RVV or Roubaix his season is a colossal misfire.

I am a big mvdp fan. I would love for him to win RVV. I think mvdp would rather another RVV than PR (and I would like to see Pog get his 5).

I hope he wins RVV, but no one expects him to against this Pogacar surely. So I guess that's a lot of pressure for Roubaix given anything can and does happen there.

 

[Lequack]

Maybe they made a deal with Pog, Sanremo for RVV.

 

[jotafap]

Maybe they made a deal with Pog, Sanremo for RVV.

A shame MVDP can’t climb, otherwise it would complete the perfect trade-off with PR for LBL.

 

[Rule #9 apostle]

Did anyone in the race do a more impressive performance than him? I'd say no. Is the bar really "orders of magnitude better than everyone else" or he's washed?

On his standards, yes.

 

[Jan the Man]

Not sure about his performance. Wasn’t impressed. Seems his form is already on the decline, as if he peaked at Tirreno

He was solo for a long time against a cooperative chase, until the last km. It’s possible to misjudge. Pog went early in Amstel against admittedly better opponrnts but still.

The form is good- with Pog in the shape he is in current parcour favours him over MvP in flanders. MvP is still the strong favourite over everyone including Pog in Roubaix

 

[Reemster]

He was solo for a long time against a cooperative chase, until the last km. It’s possible to misjudge. Pog went early in Amstel against admittedly better opponrnts but still.

The form is good- with Pog in the shape he is in current parcour favours him over MvP in flanders. MvP is still the strong favourite over everyone including Pog in Roubaix

Tbh I don't think you can easily find a stronger trio than Vermeersch, Hagenees and Abrahamsen on the flat. They are 80kg powerhouses

 

[Tonton]

When Poupou said that Mathieu was better than him, I thought that it was guided by love but not real: Poulidor is a legend. I'm starting to think that the old man was right. MDVP is a throw back rider, tough as nails...what a rider. He is what cycling is all about: a warrior on the road. He's the only one between Pog and total domination. Bravo Mathieu! What a win! Bravo!

 

[senna6541]

As good as he is, folks can have the 140lb Pogi on his clown bike and clown bars. There's nobody like MVDP. The style, the handle, the sheer athleticism and strength is unmatched in bike racing. It's never boring with MVDP.

 

[senna6541]

He was chased down by 4 strong guys that were working together on a flat headwind. Also, I don't think it's a stretch to chalk up MSR to the crash actually benefitting Pogacar. MVDP doesn't get dropped when Pidcock makes it. Finally, MVDP went into RVV last year sick and crashed too - so we'll see what happens next week. And he drops Pogi this year at PR.

 

[Pippo_San]

As if I wasn't a fan enough of him...such a victory just makes him one of the best and honestly coolest pro riders I've ever had the pleasure to watch.
This was way over everything, a masterclass in tactics and true grit. So cunning and such a hard rock tempo in his legs.
Just beautiful.

Vermeersch reaction was priceless.
This is cycling at its finest.

 

[jmdirt]

GREAT race today MvdP!

Its crazy when a racer wins E3 solo (after 70K/43K) and the talk is about him being "washed, having a bad performance...". REDICULOUS!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If he doesn't win either of RVV or Roubaix his season is a colossal misfire.

Yes, winning at least one of his three favourite monuments is a must. He still has two chances left.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

If he doesn't win either of RVV or Roubaix his season is a colossal misfire.

Very high expectation. Without Pogacar I totally agree. With this Pogacar? I totally see him empty handed when the spring is over. Every race outside of the classics he can win, is now a bonus.

 

[Red Rick]

Very high expectation. Without Pogacar I totally agree. With this Pogacar? I totally see him empty handed when the spring is over. Every race outside of the classics he can win, is now a bonus.

You can't have only 1 rival, lose every big event, and then claim success because you beat a few pub riders.

 

[HashRouge]

Anyone worrying about MdvP's form should remember the overreactions last year when Remco and Skjelmose caught Pogacar at Amstel, and then Pogacar went on to absolutely stomp everyone at Flèche and Liege. I think MdvP will be on top form at Flanders and Roubaix. Whether that means he beats Pogacar at Flanders, I don't know. But I'm sure he'll be in good shape.

 

[Didinho]

According to his insta story he did a 90’ best power of 446W. At the end of the race. Pretty insane.

 

[Red Rick]

According to his insta story he did a 90’ best power of 446W. At the end of the race. Pretty insane.

Well it's the first time he's done a 90 minute flat effort at the end of a non monument.

 

[Didinho]

Well it's the first time he's done a 90 minute flat effort at the end of a non monument.

Yeah you’re right.
Was mostly referring to the watts part. Isn’t that close to 6W/kg if he’s around 75kg? Felt like some crazy number for me for 90’.

 

[jotafap]

He was chased down by 4 strong guys that were working together on a flat headwind. Also, I don't think it's a stretch to chalk up MSR to the crash actually benefitting Pogacar. MVDP doesn't get dropped when Pidcock makes it. Finally, MVDP went into RVV last year sick and crashed too - so we'll see what happens next week. And he drops Pogi this year at PR.

I share the same doubts as you, but just one remark, i don't think this version of Pidcock is inferior to prime MVDP over "climbs" of 4/5K, so there's that. But anyway, i also really doubt MVDP wouldn't make it as well if the crash didn't happen, i am pretty confident it would have been a 3 man sprint.