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

[tobydawq]

Isn't Pogacar riding MSR? According to PCS he is.

Yes he is.

 

[Boes]

Oh I thought it wasn't confirmed.
Gonna be interesting to see if poggy can outpunch mvp this year.

 

[rallybanana]

If MVP is doing MSR and Wout and Poggy aren't there, there's no much that can stop him right? Perhaps a really strong Pedersen or wunderlegs of De Lie? Anyone else that can follow he should be able to deal with in a sprint.

De Lie only needs one wunderleg.

 

[Berniece]

Oh I thought it wasn't confirmed.
Gonna be interesting to see if poggy can outpunch mvp this year.

Doubt it, but he might be able to beat him in a sprint

 

[Keldergoat]

If MVP is doing MSR and Wout and Poggy aren't there, there's no much that can stop him right? Perhaps a really strong Pedersen or wunderlegs of De Lie? Anyone else that can follow he should be able to deal with in a sprint.

Strade is another matter. A lot of climbing, especially with the 3 new gravel climbs and 200k +. I don't think classic riders can win this one over pure climbers.

He won Strade once already, just as WvA. But I think seasonal planning doesn't allow you to be at your best at Strade if you've done the CX worlds less than a month before. In the 2021 season he didn't have to keep his form in spring until PR because PR was in October, but he was already complaining that he didn't have the greatest legs in RVV where he lost the sprint to Asgreen. Being top notch from 2nd of March until half of April seems too much of a stretch to me.

Regarding MSR I disagree with you btw, I think Pogi in a way was a perfect companion for MvdP, with his scorching tempo on the Poggio he dropped all the sprinters. Without Pogi, the explosiveness must come from him, although I thought it was on Pogacar's planning to ride MSR.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Doubt it, but he might be able to beat him in a sprint

not a chance

 

[Berniece]

not a chance

I think you underestimate how well Pogacar sprints after a hard race. WVA knows a thing or two about that. Then again, he won from Pogacar at the E3 last year.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I think you underestimate how well Pogacar sprints after a hard race. WVA knows a thing or two about that. Then again, he won from Pogacar at the E3 last year.

The last time I saw Pogacar try sprint against MVDP in a long race, he managed to come 4th in a 2 man sprint.

 

[Froome]

The last time I saw Pogacar try sprint against MVDP in a long race, he managed to come 4th in a 2 man sprint.

Pogi sprints in slow motion against van der poel.

 

[Sciatic]

If MVP is doing MSR and Wout and Poggy aren't there, there's no much that can stop him right? Perhaps a really strong Pedersen or wunderlegs of De Lie? Anyone else that can follow he should be able to deal with in a sprint.

Strade is another matter. A lot of climbing, especially with the 3 new gravel climbs and 200k +. I don't think classic riders can win this one over pure climbers.

Except that MSR is the least likely of the monuments where strongest = wins, even when a rider has all the tools to do so. Sagan being the prime example, but also Gilbert and others.

Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s likely to win MSR again, but it’s not like you can just check that off as a win just because (if) Van Aert and Pogacar aren’t there.

 

[Blanco]

I think you underestimate how well Pogacar sprints after a hard race. WVA knows a thing or two about that. Then again, he won from Pogacar at the E3 last year.

I can't remember Pogacar beating Van Aert in a sprint.

 

[DNP-Old]

I can't remember Pogacar beating Van Aert in a sprint.

 

[Blanco]

Yep. Forgot about that completely...

 

[Berniece]

I can't remember Pogacar beating Van Aert in a sprint.

Canada

 

[Boes]

I can't remember Pogacar beating Van Aert in a sprint.

If it's sprint for second place WVA will always win, even against prime cavendish. If it's a sprint for the win in a monument wva would probably end up losing against Froome.

It's a cycling law. Or an MVP law, not sure.

 

[SHAD0W93]

If it's sprint for second place WVA will always win, even against prime cavendish. If it's a sprint for the win in a monument wva would probably end up losing against Froome.

It's a cycling law. Or an MVP law, not sure.

WVA missed that memo unfortunately.

 

[tobydawq]

If it's sprint for second place WVA will always win, even against prime cavendish. If it's a sprint for the win in a monument wva would probably end up losing against Froome.

It's a cycling law. Or an MVP law, not sure.

He beat a peak Alaphilippe in a sprint to win MSR...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He beat a peak Alaphilippe in a sprint to win MSR...

And he lost the sprint for 2nd at the WCC'22 to Laporte and Matthews.

 

[tobydawq]

And he lost the sprint for 2nd at the WCC'22 to Laporte and Matthews.

And to Philipsen at Roubaix '23, Ganna at MSR '23, Hermans at LBL '22 and Ewan at MSR '21.

So it seems like quite a weak cycling law.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

And he lost the sprint for 2nd at the WCC'22 to Laporte and Matthews.

But Laporte is the GOAT, so normal cycling laws don't apply to him

 

[stonerider]

Wout was clearly riding on fumes by that time of the year. He's been overraced by Jumbo Vismo doing tons of domestique work in stage races for Primoz and Jonas for several years now. This year he seems to be calling the shots and backing off a little so hopefully he will be stronger for his goal races.

 

[kingjr]

Wout was clearly riding on fumes by that time of the year. He's been overraced by Jumbo Vismo doing tons of domestique work in stage races for Primoz and Jonas for several years now. This year he seems to be calling the shots and backing off a little so hopefully he will be stronger for his goal races.

Yeah, good thing that Pogacar was able to take it easy during the Tour.

 

[Sciatic]

He beat a peak Alaphilippe in a sprint to win MSR...

And though folks here will probably say that last year’s E3 was just a “warm-up” race for RvV, that was still an impressive sprint by Van Aert for the win against MVDP and Pogacar.

 

[Boes]

Guys, was just a joke.
I know wva can sprint.

First time I have to explain sarcasm on this forum

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Guys, was just a joke.
I know wva can sprint.

First time I have to explain sarcasm on this forum

We prefer to act as if you were not being sarcastic, but simply stupid. It makes it much more fun for us.