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

[RunningRouleur]

I think he'll be okay with the Giro/Tour double if he takes a rest in late summer before sole focus on Worlds. I don't believe he'll finish both GTs.

 

[Red Rick]

Also if he's good who the hell is gonna challenge him on stage 1 of the Giro?

 

[Ricco']

Also if he's good who the hell is gonna challenge him on stage 1 of the Giro?

In normal conditions, from the names who are on PCS startlist, I only see Bagioli, Pidcock or Covi with a chance. And their teams need to do the climb at full gas from the beginning.

And Valverde, but he's probably too young for that.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

In normal conditions, from the names who are on PCS startlist, I only see Bagioli, Pidcock or Covi with a chance. And their teams need to do the climb at full gas from the beginning.

And Valverde, but he's probably too young for that.

Girmay?

 

[Ricco']

Girmay?

His name didn't catch my attention when I checked through the startlist but yeah, he can also be close. But I don't think he has the kick to go past a typical VDP acceleration on a shallow climb and I don't see him hang out in the group if VDP is dropped.

Don't know why but I had the impression the climb was harder at the bottom and shallower at the end, but it's the opposite. From the street view pics I looked at it looks very shallow and in wide roads, so I don't see much potential to be anything other than a fast drag to the finish. It reminds me of the Montecassino stage from 2014 but with a climb half as long in the end.*

*was trying to read how that stage was run in the finish to see if my memory was right and Cyclingnews really also puts a paywall on stage articles from 8 years ago? Ridiculous...

 

[senna6541]

Well, I'll be tuning in to the Giro every day. Haven't done that since 2004. I'd gotten back into cycling around that time (largely thanks to LA as much as I hate to admit it given what a dirtbag he was to LeMond. Recall the "little prince" winning that year.

 

[tobydawq]

Well, I'll be tuning in to the Giro every day. Haven't done that since 2004. I'd gotten back into cycling around that time (largely thanks to LA as much as I hate to admit it given what a dirtbag he was to LeMond. Recall the "little prince" winning that year.

Why wouldn't you do that every year?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Could be, but I don't buy into GTs being that much of a growth thing that much.

I do hope he just picks his stages and doesn't go balls to the wall every stage. Try to win a stage in both.

I'd love to see the scientific proof of this; I get the impression it's another cycling 'old wives tale' that is never challenged, and is just accepted as fact.
He should pick a stage or two, and treat the rest as a training camp, to build up a base.

 

[SafeBet]

I'd love to see the scientific proof of this; I get the impression it's another cycling 'old wives tale' that is never challenged, and is just accepted as fact.
He should pick a stage or two, and treat the rest as a training camp, to build up a base.

Pidcock mentioned his resting heart rate dropping considerably after last year's Vuelta. Not sure if true.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

from what i understand he is going for a stagewin and possibly pink jersey in the opening stage. All the rest is bonus. He'll probably have plenty of "rest" days in the mountains

 

[Bushman]

I'd love to see the scientific proof of this; I get the impression it's another cycling 'old wives tale' that is never challenged, and is just accepted as fact.
He should pick a stage or two, and treat the rest as a training camp, to build up a base.

I think the “grand tour effect” is mostly applicable to young riders coming onto the professional scene. For seasoned pros like Van der Poel and Van Aert, who have been riding intense schedules of CX and spring classics for years before entering their first GT, I think the effect is minimal if anything.

 

[stonerider]

I think MvdP is looking for anything to help him get back to his dominate self...the 2019 edition. He looks around and suddenly he's not the dominant rider he once was compared to Wout and Pog. He has stagnated in strength while others have increased. I doubt he's got anymore power than he had in 2019, but at age 27 now he should be stronger. He's hoping riding a grand tour or two will give him another percentage of growth.

 

[OlavEH]

I think MvdP is looking for anything to help him get back to his dominate self...the 2019 edition. He looks around and suddenly he's not the dominant rider he once was compared to Wout and Pog. He has stagnated in strength while others have increased. I doubt he's got anymore power than he had in 2019, but at age 27 now he should be stronger. He's hoping riding a grand tour or two will give him another percentage of growth.

Has he ever been stronger than last years Strade Bianche?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Has he ever been stronger than last years Strade Bianche?

RVV 2022 was on par with SB 2021. Only difference is Pogacar in SB 2021 wasn't as strong as Pogacar was in RVV 2022

Aside from that I don't think he got much reason to complain. His numbers were far better than 2019.
On the basis of a 1,5 month preparation he got 3rd in MSR, won RVV and Dwars, got 4th in Amstel and 9th in Roubaix. Hardly something to sneeze at.

I'd still like to see a properly prepared VDP for the spring classics without CX or a hampered prep though.

 

[Ricco']

I'd still like to see a properly prepared VDP for the spring classics without CX or a hampered prep though.

Will it be next year? I have my doubts as CX Worlds will be not only in his country but in his dad's race.

 

[OlavEH]

Will it be next year? I have my doubts as CX Worlds will be not only in his country but in his dad's race.

Would still help if he skipped MTB racing and did only part of the CX season and not 4 months of CX racing.

 

[Netserk]

His numbers were far better than 2019.

Same for his competitors. The peloton is faster now than it was then.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Will it be next year? I have my doubts as CX Worlds will be not only in his country but in his dad's race.

there is no chance he'll miss the worlds no. But I do hope he keeps it to 10 crosses or something

 

[stonerider]

there is no chance he'll miss the worlds no. But I do hope he keeps it to 10 crosses or something

I agree...he should do like Wout and just pick a few CX races while ensuring he gets in plenty of base building rides this winter and also does his core work.

 

[senna6541]

RVV 2022 was on par with SB 2021. Only difference is Pogacar in SB 2021 wasn't as strong as Pogacar was in RVV 2022

Aside from that I don't think he got much reason to complain. His numbers were far better than 2019.
On the basis of a 1,5 month preparation he got 3rd in MSR, won RVV and Dwars, got 4th in Amstel and 9th in Roubaix. Hardly something to sneeze at.

I'd still like to see a properly prepared VDP for the spring classics without CX or a hampered prep though.

I agree...he should do like Wout and just pick a few CX races while ensuring he gets in plenty of base building rides this winter and also does his core work.

Good Lord Stonerider, let go of the core work thing with MVDP. Did you watch the guy get back on Pogi's wheel on the Paterberg? Think he could have done that with a weak core? A strong core also comes in handy in CX and MTB. You do know his H2H record vs. Wout in CX is something like 110-50, right? He's also won a handful of Elite UCI MTB races, no?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Is he riding Liege? I assume no, but why not?

 

[tobydawq]

Is he riding Liege? I assume no, but why not?

Probably because he will ride the Giro.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Probably because he will ride the Giro.

Yes, but that doesn't rule out riding Liege.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes, but that doesn't rule out riding Liege.

I don't think combining RVV+AGR+RB+LBL before the Giro is wise

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I don't think combining RVV+AGR+RB+LBL before the Giro is wise

Maybe MVDP will leave the Giro after seven or ten days, so he could have a few days off the bike afterwards, and then start his TdF preparation…