Agree, nothing to do with bike handling skill. Only listening skillsOf course it was on him, but it had nothing to do with skill.
The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Agree, nothing to do with bike handling skill. Only listening skillsOf course it was on him, but it had nothing to do with skill.
Has anyone else noticed that MvdP loses his front wheel more than other top racers. He loses it in road, CX and MTB races. I believe it's because he has his long arms locked straight at the elbows which causes a higher center of gravity. He needs to work on his body position and keep his elbows bent when entering turns to lower his center of gravity.
I know pro cyclists are machines, but I firmly believe his ability to do this is directly correlated with the minimal amount of racing, and target races, in his schedule. The ability to tap into that extra gear and burn every last match is not just a mental thing.“His ability to really hurt himself more than others; he just seems to be able to go into the red, then into the dark, then into the darkness and still come out and go again. He is just phenomenal.” Adam Blythe on MVDP after the World. Well said.
You're right, if they over-race him he will lose his special qualities.I know pro cyclists are machines, but I firmly believe his ability to do this is directly correlated with the minimal amount of racing, and target races, in his schedule. The ability to tap into that extra gear and burn every last match is not just a mental thing.
Let's ignore the insane amount of talent and just instead phrase it like "he just wants it more"“His ability to really hurt himself more than others; he just seems to be able to go into the red, then into the dark, then into the darkness and still come out and go again. He is just phenomenal.” Adam Blythe on MVDP after the World. Well said.
They did a nice job on the new bike...looks great with the World Champion stripes.
And here i was thinking that when WVA is present he has an extra gear.“His ability to really hurt himself more than others; he just seems to be able to go into the red, then into the dark, then into the darkness and still come out and go again. He is just phenomenal.” Adam Blythe on MVDP after the World. Well said.
Don't you think it's a little silly to claim that you know better than MVDP how to handle a bike? Clearly his technique works extremely well for him on thousands of corners. He probably wasn't going to win worlds MTB so when did losing his front wheel ever stop him from winning a major event? The worlds RR crash wasn't even the front wheel. Rear started slipping first, and neither he nor anyone else has an explanation for it (I for one watched it many times in slomo and was mystified). The Tokyo crash and Flanders 2019 were endos.Has anyone else noticed that MvdP loses his front wheel more than other top racers. He loses it in road, CX and MTB races. I believe it's because he has his long arms locked straight at the elbows which causes a higher center of gravity. He needs to work on his body position and keep his elbows bent when entering turns to lower his center of gravity.
I saw him lose a couple CX races recently due to losing his front wheel in easy corners. He's always landing on his knees which I hope doesn't cause injuries requiring more surgery. He's had a bunch of knee surgeries in his young life due to crashing on them.Don't you think it's a little silly to claim that you know better than MVDP how to handle a bike? Clearly his technique works extremely well for him on thousands of corners. He probably wasn't going to win worlds MTB so when did losing his front wheel ever stop him from winning a major event? The worlds RR crash wasn't even the front wheel. Rear started slipping first, and neither he nor anyone else has an explanation for it (I for one watched it many times in slomo and was mystified). The Tokyo crash and Flanders 2019 were endos.
The Tokyo crash and Flanders 2019 were endos.
He's had a bunch of knee surgeries? Hadn't known that.I saw him lose a couple CX races recently due to losing his front wheel in easy corners. He's always landing on his knees which I hope doesn't cause injuries requiring more surgery. He's had a bunch of knee surgeries in his young life due to crashing on them.
I don't know what point you think I'm making, but the fact is these crashes have nothing to do with how much he bent his elbows. If there's any "trend" you can extrapolate from two instances, it's that he's not always paying attention. But then who is paying attention every second of every race and/or conversation?They're completely different crashes, and reasons. Flanders was after he broke a front wheel and it collapsed. Tokyo was because he hadn't listened to everyone telling him there was no ramp in the race....and he tried to roll it....
those where when he was really young and they had nothing to do with crashes iircHe's had a bunch of knee surgeries? Hadn't known that.
I mean, he does crash now and again, but he's so damn quick that it's probably inevitable. He's lucky he hasn't had serious injuries.
The thing with Van der Poel is that he is generally going faster than most (everyone). both on road and on dirt Inevitably there will be crashes.I don't know what point you think I'm making, but the fact is these crashes have nothing to do with how much he bent his elbows. If there's any "trend" you can extrapolate from two instances, it's that he's not always paying attention. But then who is paying attention every second of every race and/or conversation?
In the GCN interview he said he wasn't going faster or taking more risks than in previous laps because he knew he had a large advantage. IMO this crash defies easy explanations. Even if there were a slick spot on the road, you'd expect others to have found it given its position in the middle of the racing line.Addressing the WC Road it was super slippery and he was not alone to loose grip, yet he was going faster than the chasers (WVA, Pog, Pedersen).
The problem (famously) is that there was a ramp during the recon, which he was later informed would be removed, but was too busy visualizing success (or something) to hear it.Cannot really get why they didn't recce the course better?
???Don't you think it's a little silly to claim that you know better than MVDP how to handle a bike? Clearly his technique works extremely well for him on thousands of corners. He probably wasn't going to win worlds MTB so when did losing his front wheel ever stop him from winning a major event? The worlds RR crash wasn't even the front wheel. Rear started slipping first, and neither he nor anyone else has an explanation for it (I for one watched it many times in slomo and was mystified). The Tokyo crash and Flanders 2019 were endos.