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

[scribers]

Remember when he took the yellow jersey.

Wout has a lot of those moments. Yet we consistently rate mvp above Wout for a reason.

 

[scribers]

There are several reasons why riding a GT makes sense for Van der Poel, especially this season

As @Ilmaestro99 pointed out its pretty good preparation for Olympics and WC. For instance this year, I think he can only revalidate his WCRR title if he rides the Vuelta due to the hard course in Zürich.

Its also good for a marketing point of view to have the team's biggest rider, riding a Grand Tour, especially while wearing the rainbow jersey.

Finally, if he wins a Vuelta stage, he would wins stages in all three Grand Tours, always a nice achievement to have even for a rider like MVDP.

Are these worth building a season around when he can focus appropriately for his one day palmares as an option. There are dangers to consider riding in a GT that aren’t present in training.

 

[jono]

I don't think MVDP has any particular reason to ride GTs other than the training effect, but I do imagine that the sponsors that pay a good chunk of Mathieu's hefty salary have an opinion on whether he rides a GT, especiall TDF, or not, and can make that clear during sponsorship negotiations.

 

[scribers]

In terms of sponsors, they make bank when he’s winning monuments and world championships

 

[KZD]

Are these worth building a season around when he can focus appropriately for his one day palmares as an option. There are dangers to consider riding in a GT that aren’t present in training.

But the thing is that Van der Poel will not build his season around GT's even if he rides two of them.

His season will be built around one day races just like he did last year. Spring monuments, Olympics, WCRR, these will be his goals this year unless there is some unexpected change.

Obviously riding GT's present some risks like crashing but they also give the rider such a condition that is quite dificult to replicate in training and besides keeping the sponsors happy, they also offer opportunities to go for a win or two which would make his palmares even better.

 

[ManicJack]

Obviously riding GT's present some risks like crashing but they also give the rider such a condition that is quite difficult to replicate in training

Nearer impossible.

 

[saunaking]

I don't think MVDP has any particular reason to ride GTs other than the training effect, but I do imagine that the sponsors that pay a good chunk of Mathieu's hefty salary have an opinion on whether he rides a GT, especiall TDF, or not, and can make that clear during sponsorship negotiations.

True.
MVDP can also tell them to STFU, and he can go to UAE and stop *** around in stage races that have no relvance to him
I'm sure that will be great for canyon and the shampoo

 

[EllaChimp]

Im feeling happy that MVDP is likely to do one of the Italian races next month, purely for selfish reasons, because I'm attending some of them and really want to see him, lol! 😁

 

[Boes]

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.

 

[Berniece]

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.

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

 

[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.

 

[Red Rick]

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.

Well, one problem is that Sanremo simply isn't actually a very hard race.

 

[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