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

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Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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Vermeersch is an awesome rider.

Although he is a decent cross rider, he isn't a regular top-5 material in the field, and I think he would be capable of pretty strong results if he focused solely on the road. So far he's done superb races, like Brabantse and GW.
 
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Der Effe

Sep 20, 2011
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Vermeersch is a bit similar to Merlier in that aspect, with Merlier being the fastest of the two of them. They're both decent CX-riders who have shown good results from time to time, but they're actually really good on the road. CX is really undervalued in my opinion, most these guys have the ability to be decent road riders at the very least - with van der Poel and van Aert being the obvious standouts.
 
Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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Not exactly MVP but related.

Just saw that Adam Toupalik is racing with Team Sauerland from Germany, after having signed in the beginning of April. Apparently, he was hoping to be considered for Corendon team but didn't receive a call. If true, it's a pity. Toupalik have shown some very good indications on the road and he could be a decent helper for hilly races and with a reasonable progression could also have some good results for himself. Always thought that he could be a guy to be present with the team, even more since he did the youth ranks with them and raced on the road with the team last summer.
 
M

Mavic

Feb 20, 2019
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What even... There aren't enough superlatives. He's the biggest talent I've ever seen. Imagine he was in a position to follow Bettiol in de Ronde and win the sprint. He certainly had the condition to do so. He'd have won the Ronde and Amstel in his maiden spring season. That's insane.
 
tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
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This guy is pretty good.

I said this before the spring classics but was shut down with "you can't extrapolate from cross to road" and "he is superior to Van Aert in cross only due to technique" arguments. Well...
 
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Oude Geuze

Apr 3, 2016
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What the hell did I just watch?? This must be one of the best moments in cycling I have ever witnessed. Unbelievable comeback, I couldn’t sit still, does this guy have a fan club?
 
M

Mavic

Feb 20, 2019
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I never want to hear another "van Aert has a bigger engine than van der Poel" argument again. Mind you I'm not saying Mathieu has the bigger engine per se, just that people have been using that specific attribute to separate the one from the other with Mathieu being the more explosive and technical one. He has one hell of an engine and has proved it time and again in the biggest races this spring season. So has Wout, especially in Roubaix. Both special talents, but like @logic said, Mathieu is a winner, he's a killer. At the end of the day that's what makes the headlines.
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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Re:

tobydawq said:
This guy is pretty good.

I said this before the spring classics but was shut down with "you can't extrapolate from cross to road" and "he is superior to Van Aert in cross only due to technique" arguments. Well...
Click to expand...
yeah. Clearly two classes above Van Aert even on the road. Absolutely insane
 
M

Mavic

Feb 20, 2019
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Re:

RedheadDane said:
His "holy ****, I can't believe it!" is probably one of the best victory celebrations ever.
Click to expand...

Well, it was quite fitting, but also more of a natural reaction than a planned one. He, and probably everyone else, thought he was done for when they were still 1 minute back at 5k to go. Mind-boggling.
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Moderator
Feb 20, 2012
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They had an interview on with Dumoulin before the broadcast who said VdP made him wonder if all roadies didn't do their training wrong. Pretty sure he was talking about the classics, but wtf did I just witness.
 
M

Mavic

Feb 20, 2019
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Re:

Red Rick said:
They had an interview on with Dumoulin before the broadcast who said VdP made him wonder if all roadies didn't do their training wrong. Pretty sure he was talking about the classics, but wtf did I just witness.
Click to expand...

Greatness.
 
jaylew

jaylew

Mar 19, 2009
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Re:

Mavic said:
I never want to hear another "van Aert has a bigger engine than van der Poel" argument again. Mind you I'm not saying Mathieu has the bigger engine per se, just that people have been using that specific attribute to separate the one from the other with Mathieu being the more explosive and technical one. He has one hell of an engine and has proved it time and again in the biggest races this spring season. So has Wout, especially in Roubaix. Both special talents, but like @logic said, Mathieu is a winner, he's a killer. At the end of the day that's what makes the headlines.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've always laughed at that bigger engine thing. Mathieu has always been the bigger talent. Wout is terrific but Mathieu is one of those once in a generation talents and it's unfair to Wout that he's always being compared to him.
 
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Keram

Oct 1, 2015
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That was something else today. He join Cancellara engine with Kristoff sprint in one single epic showdown. I never have been seen something like that in cycling. That wa pure epicness. I was blew out of water completely...
 
jaylew

jaylew

Mar 19, 2009
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His results this spring bode well for those looking for him to focus more on the road. The fact that the races he's done have been exciting and aggressive definitely helps. I'm guessing he'll do the mtb thing through the Olympics, then just focus on cross and road for a few years. He's certainly proven that he can easily combine a full cross season with a spring classics campaign so no team will make him go the Stybar/Boom route.

I know he's under contract with Correndon through 2022, but you've got to think a WT team will buy him out or maybe more likely, Correndon will gain sponsors and step up to WT at some point. Whatever happens, I don't see him still racing for a Pro Conti team in 2022.

A shame we won't see him at Worlds as it should be a good course for him.
 
Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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I think that Corendon will step up someday. And with Valverde retiring in 2021, I don't think Canyon will want to lose their biggest star soon.

Well, I'm really curious for Albstadt now. He seemed to be a level higher on cross this season and on the road he surely is top level. Let's see how he fares against Nino this season.
 
tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
20,996
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Re:

jaylew said:
His results this spring bode well for those looking for him to focus more on the road. The fact that the races he's done have been exciting and aggressive definitely helps. I'm guessing he'll do the mtb thing through the Olympics, then just focus on cross and road for a few years. He's certainly proven that he can easily combine a full cross season with a spring classics campaign so no team will make him go the Stybar/Boom route.

I know he's under contract with Correndon through 2022, but you've got to think a WT team will buy him out or maybe more likely, Correndon will gain sponsors and step up to WT at some point. Whatever happens, I don't see him still racing for a Pro Conti team in 2022.

A shame we won't see him at Worlds as it should be a good course for him.
Click to expand...

Why do we think we will not see him there?
 
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