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

[senna6541]

Well, I guess pile up the road palmares the next 3 years and then go for Gold on the MTB in LA. Given the topography of LA (surf and ski the same day), the road course could be anything from pure climber to sprinter. Funny how MVDP has gone from "reckless" kid to hyper-focused professional - the constant being that he wins at an insane rate. He still has plenty of time to get a MTB WC too.

 

[yaco]

The Vuelta parcours is really suitable for MVP so it will be hard to resist. And if he dials back his cyclocross then the Vuleta will fit into his schedule.

 

[glassmoon]

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.

As much as I was looking forward to his clash with Pidders, Nino and others, this seems like a wise and logical decision... but I'm afraid it's the beginning of the end of his MTB racing...

 

[stonerider]

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.

Did you forget to add his CX races during the winter? I'd say he races more of a year round schedule than any former Road World Champions. He's doing a perfect schedule to stay fresh for his biggest targets.

 

[Netserk]

Did you forget to add his CX races during the winter? I'd say he races more of a year round schedule than any former Road World Champions. He's doing a perfect schedule to stay fresh for his biggest targets.

He doesn't race CX in his WCRR jersey.

 

[Ricco']

Did you forget to add his CX races during the winter? I'd say he races more of a year round schedule than any former Road World Champions. He's doing a perfect schedule to stay fresh for his biggest targets.

I was just talking about the road.

Not doing any critique per se, just pointing that, factoring out multidisciplines, this should be the year where we will see fewer days the reigning world champion racing with his jersey.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

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!

its not that MVDP doesnt care about strade. It's too soon after the CX worlds. It's too little build up to have a proper spring season.

I foresee he'll skip CX some day and then he can go to races like Strade, Omloop, Kuurne etc.

Dont forget the year he won Strade and 2 Tirreno stages he was gassed by the time the cobbled monuments started and lost RVV to Asgreen as a result.

 

[Berniece]

I foresee he'll skip CX some day and then he can go to races like Strade, Omloop, Kuurne etc.

First go for the record, then stop with CX

 

[stonerider]

He doesn't race CX in his WCRR jersey.

I can't tell the difference between the CX and the RR World Champions jerseys. They look pretty close to the same to me.

 

[velaso montador]

Stage 2 in the tour looks like Mvdp show if he bother/suits his tdf training approach to the olympics.

 

[Rob5091]

Stage 2 in the tour looks like Mvdp show if he bother/suits his tdf training approach to the olympics.

Stage 2 in Bologna up the San Luca twice? I think it's a bit too hard for him - Pogacar has lost to Mas and Roglic on that climb so that says how tough it is. There's plenty of other stages though where MvdP could win.

 

[velaso montador]

Stage 2 in Bologna up the San Luca twice? I think it's a bit too hard for him - Pogacar has lost to Mas and Roglic on that climb so that says how tough it is. There's plenty of other stages though where MvdP could win.

You might be right, its very explosive tho but you might be right i wouldnt put it past him tho.

 

[Rob5091]

MvdP will be saving his fire power for a lead out on the next day (stage 3).

 

[Extinction]

Stage 2 in Bologna up the San Luca twice? I think it's a bit too hard for him - Pogacar has lost to Mas and Roglic on that climb so that says how tough it is. There's plenty of other stages though where MvdP could win.

Pogacar will smoke this.

 

[jono]

Is MVDP expected to race at all before the Tour?

 

[Rob5091]

Is MVDP expected to race at all before the Tour?

Straight from "altitude camp" is my guess. The Tour is just training for the Olympics & Worlds anyway.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Straight from "altitude camp" is my guess. The Tour is just training for the Olympics & Worlds anyway.

Only stage 9 is suited to him. A pity to be honest

 

[dazaau]

Only stage 9 is suited to him. A pity to be honest

You get the feeling he is taking the same approach as last year, so may not even have a crack at a stage.

 

[velaso montador]

You get the feeling he is taking the same approach as last year, so may not even have a crack at a stage.

think hes even said so publicly so yeah wouldnt expect much else. He has not hold back what his ambitions are.

 

[Blanco]

Pogacar will smoke this.

Like last year in Bologna?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

think hes even said so publicly so yeah wouldnt expect much else. He has not hold back what his ambitions are.

nah he actually said he really wants to win a stage.

He also said he wanted to win a stage last year, but by the time "his" stages came around he was battling a minor illness so he wasn't 100%

 

[velaso montador]

nah he actually said he really wants to win a stage.

He also said he wanted to win a stage last year, but by the time "his" stages came around he was battling a minor illness so he wasn't 100%

Yeah im sure he does and he said that he will target 2-3-4 stages? But i do believe hes also been clear about what the tour is for him aswell as he wanne win a stage but what his true ambitions are is no secret.

 

[Extinction]

Like last year in Bologna?

Totally different context.

 

[Blanco]

Totally different context.

How?

 

[Rob5091]

The difference between the two races -
Giro dell'Emilia (204km) last year Septemeber 30 when Roglic beat Pogacar

Stage 2 of the Tour this year - (199 km)

Not so many times up to San Luca and the finish is not at the top but after the descent back into Bologna.