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

[Gratemans]

The perils of AI ar great, and are already slowly seeping into the coverage of our beloved sport it seems

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

The MVDP excuse machine is chugging along. Credit to Mathieu to not being the one using it. He said he just wasn't good enough, and that is correct.

 

[jono]

The MVDP excuse machine is chugging along. Credit to Mathieu to not being the one using it. He said he just wasn't good enough, and that is correct.

Nobody will ever be good enough against a full strength Pog on this course. A lot of people are looking for reasons for MVDP finishing with a guy like Jasper Stuyven. Clearly not at his best, only normal to theorize about why.

 

[Gratemans]

The MVDP excuse machine is chugging along. Credit to Mathieu to not being the one using it. He said he just wasn't good enough, and that is correct.

Your hate for certain cyclists, though incomprehensible to me, is definitely entertaining

 

[Lorzenz08]

Nobody will ever be good enough against a full strength Pog on this course. A lot of people are looking for reasons for MVDP finishing with a guy like Jasper Stuyven. Clearly not at his best, only normal to theorize about why.

He was better than the rest but he finished with them because he didnt go full gas once he saw he couldnt match Pogi, if he did he would have blown up.

So he decided to ride with the others, and try his luck at the sprint.

 

[jono]

He was better than the rest but he finished with them because he didnt go full gas once he saw he couldnt match Pogi, if he did he would have blown up.

So he decided to ride with the others, and try his luck at the sprint.

I think that is a generous view of his level today.

 

[James M]

The MVDP excuse machine is chugging along. Credit to Mathieu to not being the one using it. He said he just wasn't good enough, and that is correct.

MvdP is a true champion and among the pantheon of cobble cyclists ever. The one with excuses are not, hilarious how that works, right?

He just followed one too many KOM times(relentless many) one too many times and ultimately paid the price, its honestly nothing bizzare about it. If anything, chapeau to him for being able to do that so many times and for having the guts to go for the win! Same people with the excuses would complain if he didnt try to follow too.

 

[Kwaremonster]

As a Mvdp fan I still feel a sense of mourning, hours later. It surprises me a bit because throughout his career there were a few really big disappointments. Losing out on a race that he has won 3 times already to somebody that was clearly better should not rank among them. Especially since he already won a monument this year. And yet. I guess Its the hope that's kills you. I don't think that he will break the record now. That goes to Pogacar.

Fortunately there is always the next race and next week Paris Roubaix will be interesting. Last year he was crazy good, but ofcourse Wout van Aert wasn't there. If mvdp doesn't win I can live with him or Pedersen winning. I just don't hope Mathieu gets trapped in teamtactics and that he has to play the Philipsen card. That never again please.

 

[JoãoRamos]

I think that is a generous view of his level today.

It was his fastest Ronde ever.

He just cracked after multiple Pog bombs.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Your hate for certain cyclists, though incomprehensible to me, is definitely entertaining

It's totally the Lambo.

 

[jono]

It was his fastest Ronde ever.

He just cracked after multiple Pog bombs.

Ultimately meaningless. Nothing happened for 3 quarters of the race, but that's where the average speed comes from.

Pog cracked him, but if he is finishing in the company of Pedersen, Stuyven and van Aert in this race he had an off day.

 

[JoãoRamos]

Ultimately meaningless. Nothing happened for 3 quarters of the race, but that's where the average speed comes from.

Pog cracked him, but if he is finishing in the company of Pedersen, Stuyven and van Aert in this race he had an off day.

Wasn't he in his best form ever, according to you?

And we have to agree to disagree, it is not meaningless, he tried to follow the sun for a long time and he cracked. Simple as that. His level was phenomenal, not just as good as Pogacar.

 

[Lorzenz08]

Ultimately meaningless. Nothing happened for 3 quarters of the race, but that's where the average speed comes from.

Pog cracked him, but if he is finishing in the company of Pedersen, Stuyven and van Aert in this race he had an off day.

IMO he didnt have an off day, its just he knew he would have blown up trying to follow Pogi, and it would be dangerous to have Van Aert and Pedersen working together behind him.

So he just decided to ride with them and try his luck at the sprint

 

[jono]

Wasn't he in his best form ever, according to you?

And we have to agree to disagree, it is not meaningless, he tried to follow the sun for a long time and he cracked. Simple as that. His level was phenomenal, not just as good as Pogacar.

I said his best period ever was worlds '23 thru spring '24, and that today would tell if his form this year is at the same level. It would appear not, though even within form peaks and valleys there are good days and off days.

Not a single person is saying he was as good as Pogacar, but to be as bad as the other top 5 finishers in a race like this is a low we haven't seen from him in a big race in two years.

 

[Oldman]

The moment in question he was literally on the wheel of Pogacar about 15 seconds previous.

And on a cobbled hill there is no legitimate wheelsucking vibes that suggest you "may" be weakening. It was a seriously strong tell and Pogacar getting any info on the gap would just add gas to his fire.

 

[Oldman]

It's totally the Lambo.

What should he drive? A Volvo?

 

[jono]

And on a cobbled hill there is no legitimate wheelsucking vibes that suggest you "may" be weakening. It was a seriously strong tell and Pogacar getting any info on the gap would just add gas to his fire.

He lost those positions from getting boxed off the road. Positioning error to be sure

 

[Oldman]

The MVDP excuse machine is chugging along. Credit to Mathieu to not being the one using it. He said he just wasn't good enough, and that is correct.

...and the efforts to close gaps after minor crashes and out-of-position bridging adds up. If Tadej only laid down the law when he felt good the other will always have a problem.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

What should he drive? A Volvo?

GT3 RS

 

[Berniece]

Wasn't he in his best form ever?

It wasn’t known that he was sick and had to take antibiotics. Obviously he wasn’t in best form anymore.

 

[JoãoRamos]

It wasn’t known that he was sick and had to take antibiotics. Obviously he wasn’t in best form anymore.

Yes, it seems some people always love to find excuses, instead of saying VDP was beaten fair and square.
Even he was saying 2 days ago about his superior level.

Did he forget his sickness and now, all of sudden when he got stomped, he remembered? Very selective memory, I would say.

 

[Berniece]

Yes, it seems some people always love to find excuses, instead of saying VDP was beaten fair and square.
Even he was saying 2 days ago about his superior level.

Did he forget his sickness and now, all of sudden when he got stomped, he remembered? Very selective memory, I would say.

Yeah he’s really going to disclose that information. [content deleted]

 

[JoãoRamos]

Yeah he’s really going to disclose that information. [deleted content]

Sometimes, the wisest move is simply choosing silence — especially when the point being made rests on an assumed superiority that reality itself contradicted.

For someone supposedly on a superior level, losing the sprint to Mads — who was considered a tier below — makes that hierarchy look a bit less certain.

 

[Berniece]

Sometimes, the wisest move is simply choosing silence — especially when the point being made rests on an assumed superiority that reality itself contradicted.

For someone supposedly on a superior level, losing the sprint to Mads — who was considered a tier below — makes that hierarchy look a bit less certain.

There is so much wrong with this. Pedersen was always the fastest in normal circumstances. And again, MVDP wasn’t at his best, he was sick the week before. Does that not compute for you?

 

[Salvarani]

Sometimes, the wisest move is simply choosing silence — especially when the point being made rests on an assumed superiority that reality itself contradicted.

For someone supposedly on a superior level, losing the sprint to Mads — who was considered a tier below — makes that hierarchy look a bit less certain.

Yes. He himself wanted to mention or highlight that he had been sick, therefore it seems more like an excuse. Agreed. He didnt have to say anything about it after the race.