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

[Spine Concept]

It was nuts! The guy came on and it was clear that he was a bit off from the beginning, but he wen't over the edge pretty quickly. He did a sockpuppet a couple of times, but they ended up IP banning him, if I remember correctly.

I understand where you're coming from, and will admit that most of my dislike is that I am a Wout fan. Maybe it's stupid not to like him, but I can't bring myself to like him.

Thank goodness they got rid of him, hopefully for good.

As far as your reason for not liking him being that you're a Wout fan, I can understand that as well. Been there, done that. God knows I've hated Ronaldo in the past as a Messi fan. It wasn't until much later in their careers that I started to have a true appreciation for Ronaldo as a professional and his sportive achievements.

I do like Wout and think it's a darn shame that his palmares doesn't include more monuments. I wouldn't be mad if he beats MvDP in a mano-a-mano this year in PR even if I would have liked to see him win a RVV as well.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Thank goodness they got rid of him, hopefully for good.

As far as your reason for not liking him being that you're a Wout fan, I can understand that as well. Been there, done that. God knows I've hated Ronaldo in the past as a Messi fan. It wasn't until much later in their careers that I started to have a true appreciation for Ronaldo as a professional and his sportive achievements.

I do like Wout and think it's a darn shame that his palmares doesn't include more monuments. I wouldn't be mad if he beats MvDP in a mano-a-mano this year in PR even if I would have liked to see him win a RVV as well.

You and my son would get along fantastically!

I hope Wout will win one, but Mathieu is on a different level for sure, and I don't think Wout has that level in him. It would take misfortune for Wout to win, I think, and even if I don't like Mathieu, I do not wish that on him or anyone...okay, maybe a flat at the wrong time to make up for P-R a couple fo years ago (Wout was not sure to win then anyway).

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Finally off to ride, CHEERS!

 

[Sciatic]

Probably so, plus I genuinely thought Pog could attack on the Cipressa and make the difference. I was wrong. I don't want him to win, so I look for things that give me hope he won't. He still won, and it really isn't affecting my day.

I could have just slinked away, and stayed off the forum until Pog won...but this is all kind of fun for me, but not really something that drives my life. It's a distraction from lots of things in my life that are stressful, not the least of which is waking up in my country every morning. Now I will go ride my bike and distract myself with something healthy. I hope the rest of your day is great for you.

Well said.

 

[Spine Concept]

You and my son would get along fantastically!

I hope Wout will win one, but Mathieu is on a different level for sure, and I don't think Wout has that level in him. It would take misfortune for Wout to win, I think, and even if I don't like Mathieu, I do not wish that on him or anyone...okay, maybe a flat at the wrong time to make up for P-R a couple fo years ago (Wout was not sure to win then anyway).

I honestly believe that to be the best you have to beat the best, so I was honestly disappointed in that Wout PR flat and what could have been... He looked at least just as strong as Mathieu that day. He was on the attack IIRC, Mathieu caught up to him largely in part to that. Let's hope for a similar battle this year without flats or mechanicals and a sprint a deux on the velodrome!

 

[Barkintheeye]

I think it's clear that MVDP is THE one day classic rider of his generation. Pog is surely more versatile but MVDP is the real stand out 1D rider.

 

[Froome]

He will not be dropped by pogacar in Flandres if he just wheelsucks.

If he does some work and spends some energy in unnecessary attacks, there will be some chance he gets dropped by pogacar.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I can't imagine MVDP wheelsucking anybody in any significant race. Today when it matter the most, right at the end of the climb up Poggio, MVDP attacked Pog with a force that simply broke Pog mentally and physically in this race. There was no way for Pog to come back after that in the sprint. So why should MVDP succumb to any wheelsucking in any race going forward? He should continue to race to win the big classics. All or nothing. Like what all big champions do.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think it's clear that MVDP is THE one day classic rider of his generation. Pog is surely more versatile but MVDP is the real stand out 1D rider.

What the hell? Both have 7 monuments, 1 WC. Pogacar is almost 4 years younger.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

What the hell? Both have 7 monuments, 1 WC. Pogacar is almost 4 years younger.

It's probably unfair but in my eyes the most important classics are RvV and Roubaix and for me at least they weigh more when talking about "the best classic rider".

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's probably unfair but in my eyes the most important classics are RvV and Roubaix and for me at least they weigh more when talking about "the best classic rider".

They are all monuments but I agree with you. Despite MSR being the least important monument to me, PR and RVV are the best monuments. However, Pogacar is clearly the best classics rider. He never did PR but we know he can win at least 4 monuments (and probably 5 when he starts PR). MVP can't do anything in LBL and GdL so for me it is not fair to say MVP is THE classics rider, specially when he is completely on the limit to win monuments more suited to him against Pogacar.

 

[senna6541]

Beast mode MVDP now fully healthy and in his prime. Pogi really had no chance today in a straight fight. Hope they both stay healthy for RVV and PR. Can't wait to see MVDP on the MTB this summer.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

They are all monuments but I agree with you. Despite MSR being the least important monument to me, PR and RVV are the best monuments. However, Pogacar is clearly the best classics rider. He never did PR but we know he can win at least 4 monuments (and probably 5 when he starts PR). MVP can't do anything in LBL and GdL so for me it is not fair to say MVP is THE classics rider, specially when he is completely on the limit to win monuments more suited to him against Pogacar.

One can say that there are a very small overlap in races they both actually can win. Van der Poel has one 24 one day races and Pogacar has won 22 one day races. The only races they both have won are Ronde, Strade and Amstel.

I am a big fan of Pogacar, but I dont think it's realistic that Pogacar can win races like Roubaix, E3, Dwaars if the best guys (VDP and WVA) are there. One could almost add San Remo. I dont see a scenario really where Pogacar beats Van der Poel here if they are both on good form. It is of course the same for VDP in the hilly races Pogacar wins easy, but that is well communicated. And I thin its undercommunicated that Pogacar isnt close to being VDPs equal in the flat races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What the hell? Both have 7 monuments, 1 WC. Pogacar is almost 4 years younger.

VDP started his road career at the same year as Pogacar though. 2019 first year full time road racer.

Age is a bad comparison because of the cx background. In terms of road career years they are even, so he did as well as Pogacar in monuments.

Also..more versatile on the road ofcourse. Counter point VDP still has 7x world titles, 1x gravel world title, 1 EC MTB title, 1x 3rd world ch MTB, 3 world cups MTB...

 

[Peyroteo94]

VDP started his road career at the same year asq Pogacar though. 2019 first year full time road racer.

Age is a bad comparison because of the cx background. In terms of road career years they are even, so he did as well as Pogacar in monuments.

Also..more versatile on the road ofcourse. Counter point VDP still has 7x world titles, 1x gravel world title, 1 EC MTB title, 1x 3rd world ch MTB, 3 world cups MTB...

I was talking about road racing. And Pogacar was a "kid" in 2019, MVP could very well win RVV in 2019.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

but he had 0 experience with 260km classics. CX and road race are still very different sports. Even though some exceptional talents make it look otherwise.

 

[Peyroteo94]

but he had 0 experience with 260km classics. CX and road race are still very different sports. Even though some exceptional talents make it look otherwise.

I'm not taking anything away from MVP. I just think Pogi is better in classics. We agree to disagree.

 

[senna6541]

What the hell? Both have 7 monuments, 1 WC. Pogacar is almost 4 years younger.

That's only because MVDP didn't even start racing even remotely full-time on the road until he was 25 in 2020. He didn't even do his first Monument (RVV and that was the only one he did that year) until 24 (too busy dominating cyclocross and overtaking Nino on the MTB) and he was clearly the strongest guy in that race. Obviously Pogi is the better rider in the hillier classics and GC, but MVDP is the better all-around bike racer and who knows how many Monuments he would have if he started racing on the road earlier like Pogi, EVP. Based on his hit rate he would most likely have the record for most RVV's and PR's in history by

 

[SHAD0W93]

A great win by MVP who’s in amazing shape. I thought Pogacar had him on the ropes, especially when Pog got the gap going into one of hairpins but Pog had to brake to not crash into the moto “allowing” MVP to catch back up. That shifted once MVP attacked at the top and I thought he was most likely going to win. Draws it even at 7-7 while continuing to hinder Pog again in MSR. The cobbled classics and especially RVV should be a great race between the two.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

VDP started his road career at the same year as Pogacar though. 2019 first year full time road racer.

Age is a bad comparison because of the cx background. In terms of road career years they are even, so he did as well as Pogacar in monuments.

Also..more versatile on the road ofcourse. Counter point VDP still has 7x world titles, 1x gravel world title, 1 EC MTB title, 1x 3rd world ch MTB, 3 world cups MTB...

Yeah, I will admit his versatility is unmatched...get the guy on a BMX bike or the track now and complete the circle.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

A great win by MVP who’s in amazing shape. I thought Pogacar had him on the ropes, especially when Pog got the gap going into one of hairpins but Pog had to brake to not crash into the moto “allowing” MVP to catch back up. That shifted once MVP attacked at the top and I thought he was most likely going to win. Draws it even at 7-7 while continuing to hinder Pog again in MSR. The cobbled classics and especially RVV should be a great race between the two.

Yeah, that surprised Pog, me, and a lot of people. At one point, it looked like Pog might break him, and then he almost breaks Pog. I think everyone watching then, knew it was over, even when Pog caught him.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

True story: On this very forum, I had a guy threaten to find out who I was, come to my house and tie me up while he r*ped my wife, so she could see what a real man was like. <of course he was banned>That one actually did frighten me a bit. Some people took that Armstrong stuff pretty seriously.

Oh my God. What a psychopath. You should not have had to endure that.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I understand where you're coming from, and will admit that most of my dislike is that I am a Wout fan. Maybe it's stupid not to like him, but I can't bring myself to like him.

I've been a MvdP fan since his early 'cross days, but I must admit, Wout has grown on me. I'm also disappointed that MvdP basically disappears after the classics season, only to re-emerge for Worlds.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Oh my God. What a psychopath. You should not have had to endure that.

It really was so far over the top, that I almost couldn't take it seriously, except the guy really seemed to mean it, especially when he created a couple of sock puppets to come back and justify it in one post.

 

[MJR]

I've been a MvdP fan since his early 'cross days, but I must admit, Wout has grown on me. I'm also disappointed that MvdP basically disappears after the classics season, only to re-emerge for Worlds.

Honestly, I find his indifference to the Tour quite refreshing.

It's good to see one of the best riders in the world not fall for that tourist trap. I can't help but wonder how different Wout's palmares would be if he didn't have to peak every year for the Tour to be top domestique.