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

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Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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jaylew said:
I tend to agree with this. On the harder end, he'll almost certainly try to win Amstel again and probably Strade but I wouldn't be too surprised if he didn't go back to Liége. In addition to the stuff you mentioned maybe he'll try to get some of the cobbled races he hasn't won yet. I think at some point, he'll stop racing cross and race opening weekend, for example.
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its also just.. historically he's won one day races mostly up to 2500 altitude meters. With the exception of Amstel and Glasgow basically. 4000 altitude meters + is just too much. Think worlds is gonna be too much in the same way. But olympics is perfect
 
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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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I still claim that the last lap at Benidorm '23 are among the biggest minutes in MVDP's career. Literally seemed like his career was at a crossroads. Pulls off that insane pass on Wout and goes way deep for the win. All up since then. Unbelievable race to watch too, with stellar commentary, especially from Jeremy Powers.
 
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Kwaremonster

Apr 6, 2023
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senna6541 said:
I still claim that the last lap at Benidorm '23 are among the biggest minutes in MVDP's career. Literally seemed like his career was at a crossroads. Pulls off that insane pass on Wout and goes way deep for the win. All up since then. Unbelievable race to watch too, with stellar commentary, especially from Jeremy Powers.
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I'll see if I can rematch that one.
 
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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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Barkintheeye said:
A bit unclear but it seems like the 2021 version was 184 km with 3072 alt mtrs. This year’s SB was longer and with more am.
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Seems like MVDP gets a lot of his explosiveness on short climbs from his core and upper body strength. Watch his attack at the WC's and compare the visual vs. Pogi, Wout and Pedersen. Looks like he is using his whole body to generate an insane amount of torque, whereas it's all lower body with the other guys. Just stick to piling up RVV's, PR's, CX's WC's and get some more MTB World Cups wins and forget about the longer climb stuff.
 
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Bolder

Jun 25, 2015
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senna6541 said:
Seems like MVDP gets a lot of his explosiveness on short climbs from his core and upper body strength. Watch his attack at the WC's and compare the visual vs. Pogi, Wout and Pedersen. Looks like he is using his whole body to generate an insane amount of torque, whereas it's all lower body with the other guys. Just stick to piling up RVV's, PR's, CX's WC's and get some more MTB World Cups wins and forget about the longer climb stuff.
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And that's why his back injury was so worrisome. You can see, as you note, how he torques his whole upper body. It would be like Mauri Vansevenant getting a neck injury...

But he apparently is doing a lot of core work now, so long as he keeps it up, he should have few problems. (I have a bulging disc and have to do the same, tho I'm old and slow anyway...)
 
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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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Bolder said:
And that's why his back injury was so worrisome. You can see, as you note, how he torques his whole upper body. It would be like Mauri Vansevenant getting a neck injury...

But he apparently is doing a lot of core work now, so long as he keeps it up, he should have few problems. (I have a bulging disc and have to do the same, tho I'm old and slow anyway...)
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So true. It sucked watching him try to race when his back was bad. Seemed like he might be going down the same path as Tiger Woods when his back (and to a lesser extent his knees) started to go on him - at least partially because of how aggressive his swing was.
 
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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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A probable wise decision. He needed to commit more time to training and races to be competitive in the MTB races - and he can't do that. We know what happens if he just turns up for one race......

A shame he's done so little on the MTB in the last 4-5 years......Maybe in a few years he'll give it a proper go - and will still be competitive.
 
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KZD

KZD

Feb 21, 2019
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Its a tough but correct decision in my opinion.

Surely some mountain bike fans will become a bit disappointed but we have to be realistic, Van der Poel hasn't raced on the mountain bike for years, apart from the Worlds last year and that one didn't go well, and he is one of the best road riders in the world and with an road race route that suits his almost perfectly, its the logical choice as he said. On top of that he will have the chance to ride the Tour in the rainbow jersey an opportunity that he might never have again in his career.

Curious to see if, after the Olympics, he will decide to ride the Vuelta before the Worlds in Zürich or if he will do some smaller races to prepare for it like Benelux or the Canadian classics.
 
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Ricco'

Ricco'

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His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?

Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
 
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tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
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Ricco' said:
His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?

Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
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Well, not if he does the Vuelta.
 
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Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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Ricco' said:
His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?

Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
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his program after the olympics is not over. It's just not decided yet.

In general though. Mathieu always races quite a light schedule. But that is all the hype with training hard nowadays.
 
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Peyroteo94

Peyroteo94

Mar 20, 2022
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Berniece said:
I don’t see an issue with him not racing a lot. I rather have him at his best during the biggest races than good at every race
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I partially agree with you. Of course I want MVP to be at his best in monuments and worlds, etc However I'm still a old school guy and loved to see all cobbled specialists fighting in all cobbled classics. These days, Omloop is not what supposed to be, kuurne the same, even strade (I know that it isn't a cobbled classic) is missing big names fighting for the win. MVP no longer cares about Strade since his win. WVA only cares now about his Flanders or Roubaix win.
I want world class riders to fight each other way more!!! Bringa back the world cup and pay huge money for the winner!
 
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