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

[noob]

Are you citing yourself in the third person?
Or are noob and Noob separate concepts (like Reading and reading or Polish and polish)

Oh sorry. Citing noob in third person is on purpose but using capitals vs lower cases is a mistake only. I don't use pronouns here, so there will be a lot of third person quoting. Also autocorrect can change it on my phone. ❤️

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I don't use pronouns here, so there will be a lot of third person quoting... Also autocorrect can change it on my phone. ❤️

I see evidence to the contrary

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Who knew spit could be so divisive?

 

[noob]

Van Der Peol has mental health issues??? Which do you think? Can you explain a bit more??? Certainly like any top athlete he will have a unique mindset

Let noob be a boring person not understanding irony and hence answer.

Struggling with mental health is normal. Struggling with mental health as a top athlete is even more normal. Struggling with mental health as a world champion is a no brainer.

 

[EllaChimp]

Mathieu shouldn't have spat at them but I can totally understand why he did. From even the recon and all throughout the race those brain dead morons were not only booing him, not only hurling insults at him but we're doing crude hand gestures to him. You can clearly see, just before he spits on them, one guy has put his arm right out and is doing the wanking gesture with his hand right at him. Who do these thugs think they are to behave like this to anyone?

It's very likely he had urine and beer thrown over him, like people who were they said they saw happen. Mathieu himself retweeted that tweet mentioning the urine and beer. All this would try the patience of a saint! Having to endure this kind of harassment from scum like that I would want to tear their heads off and I bet Mathieu would have liked to also but he resorted to spitting instead, which is a shame because it just looks bad on him.

But I can thoroughly understand why he did it. You can only take so much abuse before you snap. It just seems to have emboldened the yobs though, who have apparently been posting pics and/or video of Mathieu's spit on one of their sleeves and they're all laughing and knocking back beer. They're clearly thrilled with themselves that they got a reaction out of Mathieu.

Surely there are people who will be able to recognise these yobs and report them? Then security can try and spot them at future races and keep an eye on them, should they behave like this again?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Van der Poel's reaction can't be condoned, but his anger in the heath of the moment can be understood. If someone did this in the Tour, they would probably send him home.

When there are spectators who misbehave, by booing, yelling offenses or throwing fluids, they should be removed. The organizers, security guards or the police should intervene by sending them away or letting them keep distance, to avoid things getting out of hand.

The majority of spectators is very respectful and supportive towards the riders, but a small minority of troublemakers can be enough to ruin the atmosphere.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What the hell is this thread?

idk people lost sight of reality, the reaction here of some people is so over the top lol.

Read the press and other riders, even WVA's, reaction on it and they are all on hand of MVDP. Yeah it shouldn't happen, but neither should fans throwing stuff and riders and throwing photographers into the water

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And?

Just my opinion but a world champion should not be indulged when he behaves badly. We can clearly see the mood amongst the fanbase is to absolve the man entirely of wrongdoing (they're having a meltdown on Wielerflits... over the mere fine he already received).

Bias is one hell of a drug.

it works two ways you know, bias. You are as biased as the ones defending him.

 

[Bolder]

Mathieu shouldn't have spat at them but I can totally understand why he did. From even the recon and all throughout the race those brain dead morons were not only booing him, not only hurling insults at him but we're doing crude hand gestures to him. You can clearly see, just before he spits on them, one guy has put his arm right out and is doing the wanking gesture with his hand right at him. Who do these thugs think they are to behave like this to anyone?

It's very likely he had urine and beer thrown over him, like people who were they said they saw happen. Mathieu himself retweeted that tweet mentioning the urine and beer. All this would try the patience of a saint! Having to endure this kind of harassment from scum like that I would want to tear their heads off and I bet Mathieu would have liked to also but he resorted to spitting instead, which is a shame because it just looks bad on him.

But I can thoroughly understand why he did it. You can only take so much abuse before you snap. It just seems to have emboldened the yobs though, who have apparently been posting pics and/or video of Mathieu's spit on one of their sleeves and they're all laughing and knocking back beer. They're clearly thrilled with themselves that they got a reaction out of Mathieu.

Surely there are people who will be able to recognise these yobs and report them? Then security can try and spot them at future races and keep an eye on them, should they behave like this again?

Seriously, what kind of person thinks this is the way to act?

"Mommy, where's daddy today?"

"He went to the cyclocross races to get drunk and throw beer at the greatest rider of his generation."

"Cool. I want to be just like him when I get older."

 

[Elos Anjos]

I'm on MVDP's team on this one.
And I'm annoyed by the pious moralism of some the forum users around here...banning MVDP for one day or one year would be a mistake and it gives the impression of a sadistic punishment.

 

[Rackham]

it works two ways you know, bias. You are as biased as the ones defending him.

Not exactly. I just don't like pro-cyclists who spit on spectators.

It's really, really that simple. I'm not here to excuse gross behavior, especially from rich sport stars.

There's no moralism involved, no piousness, nothing of the sort in my attitude here. Just box standard human etiquette.

 

[saunaking]

this thread is out of control

By the way, booing an athlete at a race isn't the same as a random person coming off the street to heckle you in your office.

But if a few thousand people want to crowd into my office for $10 each and a few tell me my code is *** and I should go back to programming a "Hello World!" application, I guess I brought it on myself. wink.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not exactly. I just don't like pro-cyclists who spit on spectators.

It's really, really that simple. I'm not here to excuse gross behavior, especially from rich sport stars.

There's no moralism involved, no piousness, nothing of the sort in my attitude here. Just box standard human etiquette.

ok, and I don't like drunk fans who jeer and throw beer/other stuff at riders. Nor do I like people taking the moral high ground all the time then claim not to

 

[Volderke]

Most people also don't get 30k to start a race that lasts about an hour.

I didn’t know abuse was more justified if you earned more money. As I said before, riders are no apes in a zoo and even those are better protected.

Fellow riders would probably literally be the most biased opinions out there though.

I would call that the expert opinion. No one has more experience that those riders.

Like if you say criticsm of spitting on someone is unwarranted, then what the hell are we doing?

I don’t think anyone on here said criticism of spitting is unwarranted. Some of the suggested penalties were discussed as being unwarranted. Small difference. So we’re doing fine.

You can just react to someone by doing that? Why?

Reactions proportional to actions are still no good example and always look bad, but they are justifiable. This seems to be the case here, or at least the general consensus.

 

[dominikk85]

this thread is out of control

By the way, booing an athlete at a race isn't the same as a random person coming off the street to heckle you in your office.

But if a few thousand people want to crowd into my office for $10 each and a few tell me my code is *** and I should go back to programming a "Hello World!" application, I guess I brought it on myself. wink.

He said that Belgian fans where not only booing him but throwing cups of beer and even urine at him. Not sure if that was true though.

 

[Volderke]

He said that Belgian fans where not only booing him but throwing cups of beer and even urine at him. Not sure if that was true though.

A small remark, as it doesn't seem to have been mentioned here:
Dutch beer is sometimes hard to separate from urine.

 

[Didinho]

As a big Mathieu fan I immediatly said he shouldn't have spat but it was in the heat of the moment after several occasions. In his defense, I would've Zidane'd these "supporters" out of the country.

Jokes aside. I was just thinking, what if you're at work and some drunk people booing you and throwing beer/urine at you every 6-7min for 55min. I think no one could keep his calm.

It happens occasionally (to much). Search these people and ban them for live. The media making this like a crime as usual, hope they can figure something out to prevent it in the future.

 

[Netserk]

When there are spectators who misbehave, by booing, yelling offenses or throwing fluids, they should be removed.

No. Only for the last of the three offences you list.

 

[Oldermanish]

Mathieu shouldn't have spat at them but I can totally understand why he did. From even the recon and all throughout the race those brain dead morons were not only booing him, not only hurling insults at him but we're doing crude hand gestures to him. You can clearly see, just before he spits on them, one guy has put his arm right out and is doing the wanking gesture with his hand right at him. Who do these thugs think they are to behave like this to anyone?

It's very likely he had urine and beer thrown over him, like people who were they said they saw happen. Mathieu himself retweeted that tweet mentioning the urine and beer. All this would try the patience of a saint! Having to endure this kind of harassment from scum like that I would want to tear their heads off and I bet Mathieu would have liked to also but he resorted to spitting instead, which is a shame because it just looks bad on him.

But I can thoroughly understand why he did it. You can only take so much abuse before you snap. It just seems to have emboldened the yobs though, who have apparently been posting pics and/or video of Mathieu's spit on one of their sleeves and they're all laughing and knocking back beer. They're clearly thrilled with themselves that they got a reaction out of Mathieu.

Surely there are people who will be able to recognise these yobs and report them? Then security can try and spot them at future races and keep an eye on them, should they behave like this again?

The guy with MVP's spit on his sleeve probably has that garment on Ebay right now.

 

[jono]

A small remark, as it doesn't seem to have been mentioned here:
Dutch beer is sometimes hard to separate from urine.

When every beer I see from my screen with a label on it is a Jupiler, we're in real glass houses territory.

 

[jono]

No. Only for the last of the three offences you list.

I think a small subset of "yelling offenses" could extend into areas that warrant removal.

 

[Oldermanish]

No. Only for the last of the three offences you list.

Keeping a lid on fans is difficult. Philadelphia plays in a stadium with it's own jail and has endured multiple assaults and deaths among the drunken idiots.
Here's an idea: any fan getting a beer must don a shock collar and leave a hefty deposit that is refunded at the race end assuming it wasn't activated. Denote the no-traffic zone inside the race control line and install an "invisible fence" like those used to keep dogs on property. Some of those drunks won't be able to help themselves but the riders will enjoy it.

 

[proffate]

Just sayin'.

 

[ice&fire]

I'd guess the spectator was lucky he wasn't dealing with MAL.

 

[dominikk85]

A small remark, as it doesn't seem to have been mentioned here:
Dutch beer is sometimes hard to separate from urine.

I think that joke exists in every country. Where I'm from in Germany we say that about beer in cologne.