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

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MVDP is a specialist in road cycling. I wasn't considering cross, because it's not in the same category. Most of the talk on this forum, the overwherming majority, concerns road cycling. And I'm not a Pogi fan, but I recognize he is the most gifted cyclist since Hinault. I also proritize winning grand tours, particularly the Tour, as the benchmark of Big in terms of the pecking order in cycling. When you can win GTs and monuments like Flanders, however, you are fuori classe period. MvDP doesn't belong in that league, however great a set of set skills he has. He is a giant at what he specializes in, particularly the cobbled monuments, but there is a lot more to cycling on the road that makes him far inferior to the Slovenian. Again, I'm not considering cross, because it's a separate discipline in which very few top road cyclists participate. Just like I'm not considering mountain bike or gravel, which are fine sports, but can't be brought into a discussion about "all-around" best when events like the monuments, Tour and WCRR come into the equation.
Fair enough. I prefer the the big one day races along with elite MTB and CX. Watch the GT's, but don't find the GC action particularly exciting. TT's are boring to watch and watching guys so skinny that they are borderline unhealthy go up mountains isn't much better. Certainly admire the physical and mental talent and toughness it takes to win a GT, but I'll take MVDP skillset on the bike (any kind of bike) any day over GG guys. Especially guys like VGG who literally look like skeletons out there. Love Pogi, especially since he's the one guy in the world who can match MVDP in terms of pure talent and racing style.
 
I just think it is funny when that lots of bike racing fans don't realize how good MVDP is and are surprised when Pogi gets beat by the other freak of nature in cycling today. Seems like lots of folks on this site only watch the watch the TDF or something.
It's not just fans - a lot of the media are the same. Yes Pogi is a generational talent - but so is MvdP - and while GTs are never going to be his thing, I think people forget he's the current (and 7 times) CX World champion, the current Gravel World champion, has been European XCO Champion. And is not without a chance of winning an XCC/XCO World title.....and still has the most XCC World Cup wins, despite not racing in one since May 2021.
 
Interesting that Pogi is dropping E3 and GW to go "all in" on RVV and PR. Funny that he's the one guy (not the fans, not the media) that truly understands what he is up against versus a 100% healthy, on-form MVDP. Let's hope they both make it to those races ready to go. Will be interesting to see if Wout can give MVDP a good battle this Friday. Would be good to see him back in the mix.
 
I used to love Boonen and Contador—both exceptionally talented, to the point of being very rare talents. They also rode with panache and were extremely aggressive in big races.

To me, MvdP is just Boonen on steroids. I'm looking forward to another stellar performance from this freak of nature. By his own words, he's better than ever, and that says something. This guy's peak performances are among the highest we've seen. Im expecting a show.
 
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I used to love Boonen and Contador—both exceptionally talented, to the point of being very rare talents. They also rode with panache and were extremely aggressive in big races.

To me, MvdP is just Boonen on steroids. I'm looking forward to another stellar performance from this freak of nature. By his own words, he's better than ever, and that says something. This guy's peak performances are among the highest we've seen. Im expecting a show.
Boonen wasn't remotely similar. He was much, much weaker on even short hills and he would be relegated to only competing for Roubaix in the modern day.
 
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Dominant!

Several teams tried to take advantage of an early race situation, and the phrase "F around and find out" comes to mind.

Strange that he won since according to some he can't win without TP in the race! :rolleyes:
Huh? He was literally the big favorite before the race. Some people only said it was gonna be somewhat more difficult without Pogi because the onus to chase attacks is gonna fall on Alpecin only and their team in the race was kinda meh. I didn't see anything about people saying that he isn't gonna win without Pogi in the race.
 
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Boonen wasn't remotely similar. He was much, much weaker on even short hills and he would be relegated to only competing for Roubaix in the modern day.
Neither was Contador to MvdP. I just generalized and highlighted that their talent was extraordinary, as well as how they rode and tackled big races, which made me a fan.

And obviously, I agree with you that Boonen was much, much weaker on shorter hills than MvdP—hence the steroid part. I agree with the other part about modern day too obviously. It's almost like I said before the season: for instance, if you put WVA in any other era, he would have won a cobble monument by now.
 
Another impressive solo done. Now he just needs to hang on on the Kwaremont and don't waste too much energy to hold of others. Just focus to be as fresh as possible on the last ascent. Form is good, hope he can win against Pogi mano a mano next week.
Exactly. Let Pogo do all the work as everyone is regarding him as the out and out favourite. I believe if Matthieu plays his cards well he can smoke teddy (at the latest in the sprint).
 
What a monster.

Unless he is got some bad luck, i think he will be unbeatable on PR and Flandres.
If by unbeatable you mean hanging on to pogacar for dear life on the Oude Kwaremont and hope for the best, than I agree with you.

His cards for PR (bad luck notwithstanding) seem very good tho although I still hope that we finally get to see the battle to the finishline with WVA that was promised to us in 2023. Wout needs to overcome his fears though..

also with Paris Roubaix there is Philipsen again who was riding good on cobbles earlier and there's is the risk that, unless MvdP attacks from far out, he becomes a victim of teamtactics like in MSR.
 
If by unbeatable you mean hanging on to pogacar for dear life on the Oude Kwaremont and hope for the best, than I agree with you.

His cards for PR (bad luck notwithstanding) seem very good tho although I still hope that we finally get to see the battle to the finishline with WVA that was promised to us in 2023. Wout needs to overcome his fears though..

also with Paris Roubaix there is Philipsen again who was riding good on cobbles earlier and there's is the risk that, unless MvdP attacks from far out, he becomes a victim of teamtactics like in MSR.
He will not get dropped by pogacar in Flandres if he doesn't spend unnecessary energy during the race.
 
Let me say like this, he's not unbeatable in RVV, but he's not going to be beaten.
Well that's an entirely different point of view, a valid one at least. Not that I agree: I still think Pog in his current form will beat him in RVV.
But I'm pretty convinced he won't be beat by Pog at PR. Ever, actually.*


*unless he also gets a lifetime contract an keeps racing untill he's 45
 

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