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

[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.

 

[velaso montador]

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.

Will be a interessting stage, a motivated MvdP i wouldnt put it past him tho. I agree its hard one. It is however explosive and its no secret what he can do there but you might be right its gonne be to hard, depends also on how its raced to some degree imo.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

What's the point of the photo?

Did they forget that he is World Champion, and therefore will never wear this in the race?

 

[Netserk]

We also saw Laporte in Visma-LAB's Tour jersey. Both he and MvdP will wear the team jersey in the ITTs.

The point is obvious.

 

[Unchained]

What's the point of the photo?

Did they forget that he is World Champion, and therefore will never wear this in the race?

Do they wear Carerra Jean when they get something to eat?

 

[stonerider]

I guess he is just using the Tour as a base camp to peak for the Olympic road race. He really enjoyed his mid-season break.