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

[velaso montador]

Indeed i also guess hes tired after digging deep lately its only natural. From E3 to Robauix.

 

[Sciatic]

I don’t know—sandbagging a bit once he felt less than 100%?

 

[Gigs_98]

It's nothing new tbh. The cobbles guys are always super overrated going into the Ardennes. Guys like him will struggle to follow the best climbers on the hardest climbs here on their best day but he has the cobbles season in his legs on top of it. This is simply a very hard race to win for him. Not impossible, he has already won it after all, but he can't just ride away here.

 

[velaso montador]

I don’t know—sandbagging a bit once he felt less than 100%?

Idont know but its sure hes not 100% a bit tired is only natural too for me atleast. E3 to Robauix with those performances too its only natural.

Also maby like you say he said okei if you wanne win you guys have to do something about it too - BUT he wouldnt have done that if he wasnt tired is my belief.

He needs to rest imo its almost 1 months since E3 hes also properly on the way down which again shouldnt be a surprised to anyone as insane as he is hes not above physical laws.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don’t know—sandbagging a bit once he felt less than 100%?

he didnt get into trouble anywhere. Just didn't respond to attack on the inbetween part. Then had no teammates left.

Obviously he didn't feel super. And also didn't want to close for everyone else. I think we haven't seen the last of him for Liege tho. He said he will go training in Spain and really looks forward to Liege.

I think you're all a bit quick to conclude in a mostly tactical race where he simply did nothing, but didn't really get dropped anywhere on the climbs either.

 

[Red Rick]

"He didn't get in trouble, he just never tried" is next level copium

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Why? It's literally what happened. If he was dropped hard on a climb fair enough. Now he just sat in the peloton and did nothing and a tactical move decided the race.

Fair enough he didn't have the legs to try and close it himself on the Keutenberg.

 

[Froome]

It was a good training today. Now he is going to spain this week, doing a last good preparation to Liege, and then on sunday he will wheelsuck Pogacar like Roglic does to his opponents until the finish line, and win the race in the sprint.

Trust the process.

 

[AmRacer]

It was a good training today. Now he is going to spain this week, doing a last good preparation to Liege, and then on sunday he will wheelsuck Pogacar like Roglic does to his opponents until the finish line, and win the race in the sprint.

Trust the process.

Pog has been at altitude camp and is in top shape.

 

[AmRacer]

[content deleted]

Of course @Froome envy GC contenders.

 

[Froome]

Of course @Froome envy GC contenders.

Only Vingegaard.

 

[Netserk]

Washed. The Aliens are supposed to win easily when not facing one another.

 

[Red Rick]

He was 2nd of all riders who did Roubaix last Sunday. After Pidcock.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Over under of MVDP DNS/DNF LBL? He has no chance unless he focuses and prepares for it like the cobbled classics.

 

[KZD]

Washed. The Aliens are supposed to win easily when not facing one another.

Yeah, Van der Poel really looked washed during the cobbled classics...

 

[DNP-Old]

Yeah, Van der Poel really looked washed during the cobbled classics...

...?

 

[Peyroteo94]

...?

Sarcasm mate.

 

[DNP-Old]

Sarcasm mate.

Yes, exactly. That is precisely the thing. The sarcasm is drooping off Netserk's post.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It was a good training today. Now he is going to spain this week, doing a last good preparation to Liege, and then on sunday he will wheelsuck Pogacar like Roglic does to his opponents until the finish line, and win the race in the sprint.

Trust the process.

Lol, after Flandres-Roubaix double MVP didn't need hard miles unlike your idol Froomey. He just didn't have the legs to respond but possibly the Spanish sun next week will make him stronger! (he's going there again) May be enough for the podium in Liege but not to beat Teddy Merckx!

 

[Froome]

Lol, after Flandres-Roubaix double MVP didn't need hard miles unlike your idol Froomey. He just didn't have the legs to respond but possibly the Spanish sun next week will make him stronger! (he's going there again) May be enough for the podium in Liege but not to beat Teddy Merckx!

Yes, Pogacar is the favourite, but i expect a better perfomance by Van der poel on sunday comparing with the perfomance he did today.

P.s- i was being ironic and sarcastic with the "good training today" and "not even trying today".

 

[Rackham]

Maybe he's cooked... or maybe he was just spinning his legs & riding Amstel like a preparation race for Liège next weekend.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a much stronger VdP versus Pog.

 

[topcat]

Maybe he's cooked... or maybe he was just spinning his legs & riding Amstel like a preparation race for Liège next weekend.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a much stronger VdP versus Pog.

Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if mvdp wins Liege.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe he's cooked... or maybe he was just spinning his legs & riding Amstel like a preparation race for Liège next weekend.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a much stronger VdP versus Pog.

It's possible that MVP, after judging that he didn't have his best legs, decided not to kill himself for a small victory chance and save something for Liege, which is a monument after all. He will give all he has in Liege, that's for sure. I definitely see a possibility of him being strong enough to stay somewhat close to top3 candidates group and sprint for a podium spot at the finish. I don't see him matching Pogacar though.

 

[Red Rick]

Haven't got any sample but seems Roubaix-Amstel is a horrendous combination, even though there were some good results when they were the other way around in 2022.

 

[Nick2413]

We know he’s a perennial top 5 rider in Amstel and nothing we’ve seen this year would indicate that has suddenly changed. I don’t buy that PR was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He either took it easy or shut it down once he realized he missed the winning move. LBL will be telling.