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

[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.

 

[staubsauger]

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.

It's probably too much off a difference in kind of intensity, kind of asked skillset. With Roubaix being rough and so physically demanding as well. Then you go to Amstel and there's all this short steep hills. No cobbles. Completely different strain.

 

[Valv.Piti]

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.

Thats not crazy, because today he looked like a somewhat mediocre rider. Chances are he will do better in Liege, but chances of winning are even more slim now. Top-5 is prolly max

 

[Bolder]

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.

I think it was both : he wasn’t in top shape and shut it down when the move went. That said he also didn’t have a useful team today. But hard to say, he sometimes plays his cards close to his vest.

 

[DNP-Old]

The race will be vastly different to the one where he finished 5th(?) in the covid year. Things will have blown up long before Roche aux Faucons. And in all likelihood will have been decided on La Redoute.

Very intrigued, but also very pessimistic.

 

[tobydawq]

The race will be vastly different to the one where he finished 5th(?) in the covid year. Things will have blown up long before Roche aux Faucons. And in all likelihood will have been decided on La Redoute.

Very intrigued, but also very pessimistic.

He will probably have had an easier day out the day before than was the case in 2020, though.

But yeah, I don't expect much, either. If the peloton would ride like in 2014, sure, he would have a chance but that isn't happening.

And he has to hope that Pogacar breaks his wrist if he is to beat him but a podium would still be impressive.