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

[Berniece]

He must be happy man after Pogi decided to skip OG. Nightmares of Flandres and Liege..gone now

I don't think he has nightmares.

 

[velaso montador]

I don't think he has nightmares.

Stud like Mvdp never has nigthmare. On the bike he is a personified alpha.
Arguably one of the best one the classic riders of all time when you take into account what he has won in what timespan and tries.

 

[Berflamand]

I'm not sure he's happy about Pog skipping the Olympics. In fact, I think it actually makes it more difficult for him.

One top favourite less to control and react to the rolling attacks of the Belgian team and other strong riders/nations.

Last year at Glasgow, Pog was really useful for him to keep responding to attacks, particularly from Remco.

 

[James M]

9 days. I wonder if we will see another total all time high performance from him as was the case in Glasgow.

My money would be on that, earlier this year on his goals he hasn't exactly showed any sign he is worse this year. PR was crazy.

 

[Keldergoat]

Glasgow's route fitted him like a glove: loads of 90 degrees corners, short, sharp inclines, technical descents. Paris is way less of that. Although MvdP's track record on one day races is second to none, I think people are a bit overestimating his chances. Don't forget that prior to Glasgow, he also had WC's on routes that fitted him on paper where he couldn't make the difference (Leuven 2021 fi).

 

[James M]

Glasgow's route fitted him like a glove: loads of 90 degrees corners, short, sharp inclines, technical descents. Paris is way less of that. Although MvdP's track record on one day races is second to none, I think people are a bit overestimating his chances. Don't forget that prior to Glasgow, he also had WC's on routes that fitted him on paper where he couldn't make the difference (Leuven 2021 fi).

I agree on the part of the Gasgow route it was tailormade, also super super tough. But its still city course here aswell? Not that perfect but still should be good to him on paper at least like you say.

The way he powered away in E3 and PR looked to be another level even from him this year so its also valid to expect he will good.

 

[Red Rick]

Gilbert variety is the single most overrated thing in cycling

 

[Valv.Piti]

Without looking at the route in full details, this looks to be another route absolutely tailermade for MVDP. Can't ask for anything more than this without it getting too extreme like Glasgow in a hilly and technical crit race type course with corners everywhere lol

 

[KZD]

Glasgow's route fitted him like a glove: loads of 90 degrees corners, short, sharp inclines, technical descents. Paris is way less of that. Although MvdP's track record on one day races is second to none, I think people are a bit overestimating his chances. Don't forget that prior to Glasgow, he also had WC's on routes that fitted him on paper where he couldn't make the difference (Leuven 2021 fi).

I agree that this Olympic route is not as good for Van der Poel as 2023 WCRR route however I still think that it suits him pretty well, some similarities with RVV and he is my favourite for it.

Back in Leuven 2021 he still had that lingering back injury from the Olympic MTB race which affected his performance (I think without it he would have been fighting for gold with Alaphilippe).

 

[Bolder]

I agree on the part of the Gasgow route it was tailormade, also super super tough. But its still city course here aswell? Not that perfect but still should be good to him on paper at least like you say.

The way he powered away in E3 and PR looked to be another level even from him this year so its also valid to expect he will good.

The hardest thing for him is he will be overwhelming favorite, and will have few allies to cover attacks.

 

[James M]

The hardest thing for him is he will be overwhelming favorite, and will have few allies to cover attacks.

I agree I doubt the belgiums and others will wanne wait untill he attacks and rather deploy rider after rider before at least they should imo.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

I agree I doubt the belgiums and others will wanne wait untill he attacks and rather deploy rider after rider before at least they should imo.

Just that rider after rider, there only Remco+1 left, they have max 4 riders per team, counting down to one starter nations.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I'm not sure he's happy about Pog skipping the Olympics. In fact, I think it actually makes it more difficult for him.

One top favourite less to control and react to the rolling attacks of the Belgian team and other strong riders/nations.

Last year at Glasgow, Pog was really useful for him to keep responding to attacks, particularly from Remco.

I don't recall any real attacks from Remco at last year's WC? Did Pogacar close those attacks?

 

[Blanco]

I don't recall any real attacks from Remco at last year's WC? Did Pogacar close those attacks?

Yeah, there were few, and I think Pogacar was always first to react.

 

[James M]

Just that rider after rider, there only Remco+1 left, they have max 4 riders per team, counting down to one starter nations.

Yes it makes it different, also dutch team is proper on paper. I guess the dynamics will be somewhat weird duo to the small field overall. But just extra fun to see that dynamic if it will and how much it will effect.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't think he has nightmares.

In the first pic Pogi clearly celebrated his victory but it's organizers fault that the finish line was too far.

 

[Sciatic]

.

I don't think he has nightmares.

Oh he has nightmares alright—of teenage girls pounding on his door!

 

[Barkintheeye]

Yeah, there were few, and I think Pogacar was always first to react.

Coming into the lap course in Glasgow the Peloton is compact with a breakaway group some 4 minutes in advance. Immediately from there on the Danish team is drilling it hard to split the Peloton (+140K left).

At around 120K left Bettiol attacks and Pedersen follows which drives the whole Peloton and causes several splits. Pogacar is high up and closes the gap with help from some Belgians but not Remco that has been peeled off from the front group.

With 100K left Laporte has a material and is distanced despite help from Alaphilippe. Denmark is again up and drilling. The break has a one minute advantage. All the major favorites are in the top chase group.

Small attack from Remco at 98K left closed by Danes, Swiss and Italy immediately. Group back again with some 40 riders. At around 95-90K left Italy is trying to split the group but just setting up MVDP for an attack. Remco distanced. Then at 86K left Pog attacks and Trentin crashes. Attack is shut down by WVA and MVDP. Remco back in the tail. Group down less than 30 riders.

74K left Pedersen attacks hard, WVA, MVDP and Pog follows, and then MVDP counter attacks. WVA, Pedersen, Bettiol, Pog follows. Split becomes more than 15 secs. Cosnefroy - not remaining Belgians - make the group come back together once again.

62K left the hill, massive attack by Pog. Group stretched out with small gaps all over. Remco attacking with Pedersen on the wheel. Pog quickly closing the gap and then WVA counter attacking but is shut by MVDP. With 58K second attack from Remco but Pedersen, Powless et al follows. Group down to less than 20 riders. Punches delivered again and again. Third attack by Remco an only Pog follows closely but group back again.

55K Bettiol on real break. Rain has started. Less than 50K distance to Bettiol +25 secs, Benoot in lead of chasing group. 43K remaining Narvaez goes down in a corner and the group splits with Remco in the back. WVA drilling in the front. Split is clear, 34 sec up to Bettiol. Remco not contributing to chase. Pedersen, WVA, MVDP and Pog chasing Bettiol. Less than 30K Remco out in the back not being able to follow chasers.

22K brutal attack by MVDP, Bettiol caught. No one able to follow. WVA strongest among the chasers. History. MVDP win!

I'd say Remco had very little impact on last year's WC. Rather Pedersen, WVA, Bettiol and some other riders made the bigger impact.

 

[proffate]

Glasgow was the closest thing to a cx course that we may ever see. Teamwork and drafting are minimal compared to brute force and technical skill.

I don't think the Paris course is quite the same. And it's not just that the teams are small, but the overall field size is just 90. And that's not even the best 90 riders due to the allotment between different countries. The difference in level between the top 10 and the median rider is going to be immense. And the course is the longest it's ever been, shorter only than MSR this year (and same length as WCRR). It's going to be an oddball race, like junior racing. I can't wait. Who remembers how insane Remco was in the juniors?

 

[Berflamand]

Coming into the lap course in Glasgow the Peloton is compact with a breakaway group some 4 minutes in advance. Immediately from there on the Danish team is drilling it hard to split the Peloton (+140K left).

At around 120K left Bettiol attacks and Pedersen follows which drives the whole Peloton and causes several splits. Pogacar is high up and closes the gap with help from some Belgians but not Remco that has been peeled off from the front group.

With 100K left Laporte has a material and is distanced despite help from Alaphilippe. Denmark is again up and drilling. The break has a one minute advantage. All the major favorites are in the top chase group.

Small attack from Remco at 98K left closed by Danes, Swiss and Italy immediately. Group back again with some 40 riders. At around 95-90K left Italy is trying to split the group but just setting up MVDP for an attack. Remco distanced. Then at 86K left Pog attacks and Trentin crashes. Attack is shut down by WVA and MVDP. Remco back in the tail. Group down less than 30 riders.

74K left Pedersen attacks hard, WVA, MVDP and Pog follows, and then MVDP counter attacks. WVA, Pedersen, Bettiol, Pog follows. Split becomes more than 15 secs. Cosnefroy - not remaining Belgians - make the group come back together once again.

62K left the hill, massive attack by Pog. Group stretched out with small gaps all over. Remco attacking with Pedersen on the wheel. Pog quickly closing the gap and then WVA counter attacking but is shut by MVDP. With 58K second attack from Remco but Pedersen, Powless et al follows. Group down to less than 20 riders. Punches delivered again and again. Third attack by Remco an only Pog follows closely but group back again.

55K Bettiol on real break. Rain has started. Less than 50K distance to Bettiol +25 secs, Benoot in lead of chasing group. 43K remaining Narvaez goes down in a corner and the group splits with Remco in the back. WVA drilling in the front. Split is clear, 34 sec up to Bettiol. Remco not contributing to chase. Pedersen, WVA, MVDP and Pog chasing Bettiol. Less than 30K Remco out in the back not being able to follow chasers.

22K brutal attack by MVDP, Bettiol caught. No one able to follow. WVA strongest among the chasers. History. MVDP win!

I'd say Remco had very little impact on last year's WC. Rather Pedersen, WVA, Bettiol and some other riders made the bigger impact.

I never said Remco had a big impact on last year's WC. It became clear quite early in the race that he wouldn't fight for the win but he still tried a few times.

Anyway, maybe I should have never even mentioned him because my point simply was that I think the race might be harder for Mathieu to control without Pog as a second top favourite because everybody will look at him and attack him and he (probably) can't react to everything.

I merely used last year's WC as an example where it was useful for him that Pogacar reacted to many attacks, some of them from Remco.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I never said Remco had a big impact on last year's WC. It became clear quite early in the race that he wouldn't fight for the win but he still tried a few times.

Anyway, maybe I should have never even mentioned him because my point simply was that I think the race might be harder for Mathieu to control without Pog as a second top favourite because everybody will look at him and attack him and he (probably) can't react to everything.

I merely used last year's WC as an example where it was useful for him that Pogacar reacted to many attacks, some of them from Remco.

It was worth a rewatch and interesting to see that so many riders and nations helped to keep speed up and close gaps. In Glasgow MVDP never suffered from not having a strong Dutch team supporting him. For that same reason Pog neither was at a disadvantage being all alone. If it plays out in a similar way in Paris team tactics will have little impact on the race outcome.

 

[tobydawq]

Gilbert variety is the single most overrated thing in cycling

Context?

 

[Ricco']

I agree I doubt the belgiums and others will wanne wait untill he attacks and rather deploy rider after rider before at least they should imo.

Well, to be fair, before every major competition the talk is all about the belgian team using their numbers to make the race and event after event we get them looking into each other to see who will be the first the put their face into the wind.

Maybe this time it will be different.

 

[James M]

Well, to be fair, before every major competition the talk is all about the belgian team using their numbers to make the race and event after event we get them looking into each other to see who will be the first the put their face into the wind.

Maybe this time it will be different.

Yes its like England in football. But lets see nevertheless I think that's the way to do it, lets see if this time its different. And I get its easier said than done too don't get me wrong but lets see they have a strong team.

 

[senna6541]

Glasgow's route fitted him like a glove: loads of 90 degrees corners, short, sharp inclines, technical descents. Paris is way less of that. Although MvdP's track record on one day races is second to none, I think people are a bit overestimating his chances. Don't forget that prior to Glasgow, he also had WC's on routes that fitted him on paper where he couldn't make the difference (Leuven 2021 fi).

He was nowhere near 100% at the 2021 WC's. Back was still a major problem. That said, it wouldn't have been easy winning there at 100% and it won't be easy in Paris either - although I would imagine he's the betting favorite.