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

[jono]

Do you know why Merlier left Alpecin?

I suspect he realized he'd never get another shot at the Tour with Alpecin because Philipsen is a much better sprinter.

 

[jono]

Van der Peol won 2 from 11 participation

Van Aert won 1 from 13 participation

Further to this.

Average monument finish position:
Wout 7.4
Mathieu 5.2
(6.2 and 4.4 if you remove the worst result for each rider)

Finishes outside top 10
Wout 3
Mathieu 1

Podiums
Wout 5
Mathieu 5

Either way you slice it, both have been very good in Monuments, but I think both would hope to have more wins by now. Before I looked I would have expected the numbers to be in favor of Wout, aside from wins.

By results only, you'd have to say, though, that Pogacar is likely to be the true monuments rider of this generation.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I suspect he realized he'd never get another shot at the Tour with Alpecin because Philipsen is a much better sprinter.

But isn't that the same case at QS with Jakobsen?

 

[Berniece]

Many times the margin between first and second has been razor thin. It’s both a little harsh and also a wrong assumption that “Wout hasn’t won more races”. He is one of the most successful riders of the last couple of years. A bit like saying MVDP isn’t winning CX anymore (had he won in Zolder and Louenhout nobody would even think that).

But in 10 years we look at someones palmares, and then Wout's is not as good as MVDP's. At the moment.

 

[Barkintheeye]

But in 10 years we look at someones palmares, and then Wout's is not as good as MVDP's. At the moment.

I really root for Van der Poel and believe him to be one of the absolute (if not THE) best of his generation, yet the difference between him and WVA is really small. In CX Van der Poel has decisively had the upper hand until this season. On the road also but Van Aert seems to be catching up. Let’s review after the spring classics.

 

[jono]

I really root for Van der Poel and believe him to be one of the absolute (if not THE) best of his generation, yet the difference between him and WVA is really small. In CX Van der Poel has decisively had the upper hand until this season. On the road also but Van Aert seems to be catching up. Let’s review after the spring classics.

This is only true if one ignores the Tour.

 

[stonerider]

I really root for Van der Poel and believe him to be one of the absolute (if not THE) best of his generation, yet the difference between him and WVA is really small. In CX Van der Poel has decisively had the upper hand until this season. On the road also but Van Aert seems to be catching up. Let’s review after the spring classics.

I think Wout had a better CX season in 2021 also...he won 9 out of 10 races in 2021 and only lost that one due to mechanical. Wout is the man!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I suspect he realized he'd never get another shot at the Tour with Alpecin because Philipsen is a much better sprinter.

If it was about the Tour, he wouldn’t have signed for Soudal-Quickstep, because he’s also not riding the Tour there barring injuries to the number one sprinter.

 

[Billie]

I suspect he realized he'd never get another shot at the Tour with Alpecin because Philipsen is a much better sprinter.

Merlier signed for Quick Step long before Philipsen ever was considered a top class sprinter.

 

[Blanco]

This is only true if one ignores the Tour.

It is true only in terms of one-day racing. In all other aspects Van Aert has the upper hand (TT-ing, sprinting, climbing...)
But then again, they're primarily a one-day riders, and their careers at the end would mostly be defined by success in those races.

 

[senna6541]

Hopefully MVDP is just not posting his stuff right now. His usual training partners (Gianni V. for example) are posting rides. Maybe just taking a bit more rest and then do one hard block prior to the WC's. I could see him scrapping Benidorm and instead simulate the effort in training sessions that are predictable on the back. He's obviously a quick responder, so maybe he just comes into Hoogerheide completely rested and catches lightening in a bottle. He'll be jacked up to the hilt - especially with the crowd on his side for once. My money is on MVDP to win #5.

 

[jono]

Hopefully MVDP is just not posting his stuff right now. His usual training partners (Gianni V. for example) are posting rides.

MVDP is pictured in a bunch of the recent posts from the training camp on the Alpecin instagram page. Maybe more of a photo shoot but he's kitted up and on a bike in at least one of them so I imagine he's been riding.

 

[Panda Claws]

Van der Poel should ride MSR, RVV and PR imo.

 

[tobydawq]

Van der Poel should ride MSR, RVV and PR imo.

Exclusively?

 

[Salvarani]

Van der Poel should ride MSR, RVV and PR imo.

I guess it depends on how badly his back is hurting.

Maybe he could start earlier than last season with SB and T-A this time, as he listed to do at the moment.

He will probably do G-W or E3 and Dwaars, if his back is okay, before the Ronde.

 

[stonerider]

Exclusively?

He should skip the Tirreno Stage race...unless he's developed some mental strength to restrain himself from blowing himself up.

 

[tobydawq]

He should skip the Tirreno Stage race...unless he's developed some mental strength to restrain himself from blowing himself up.

No.

 

[Panda Claws]

Exclusively?

No

 

[tobydawq]

No

Then why write it? There's no doubt that he will ride those three races...

 

[Salvarani]

Then why write it? There's no doubt that he will ride those three races...

Dont understand the reason for trying to police anyone what they should write either.

 

[tobydawq]

Dont understand the reason for trying to police anyone what they should write either.

If the things you write are too obviously pointless, the readers of your posts are left confused.

 

[Salvarani]

If the things you write are too obviously pointless, the readers of your posts are left confused.

I think it is better to explain why it may be obvious, than telling people what they should and shouldnt write.

If people get told off they are likely to stop posting or dont want to take part in discussions. Is that really what we want?

 

[Panda Claws]

Was just trolling there to be honest

 

[tobydawq]

I think it is better to explain why it may be obvious, than telling people what they should and shouldnt write.

If people get told off they are likely to stop posting or dont want to take part in discussions. Is that really what we want?

It's hard to criticise people for policing without doing some policing yourself

But in the end, it turns out that I should just acquaint myself a bit to the world of sarcasm.

 

[Bonimenier]

I think it is better to explain why it may be obvious, than telling people what they should and shouldnt write.

If people get told off they are likely to stop posting or dont want to take part in discussions. Is that really what we want?

In a lot of cases I wouldn't mind that.