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

[KZD]

Once in a lifetime chance for Van der Poel to be one of the main protagonists of the Tour.

Up to 8 stages that suit him and a possible chance of taking the green jersey, I hope that he brings his A-game this time.

 

[dazaau]

Once in a lifetime chance for Van der Poel to be one of the main protagonists of the Tour.

Up to 8 stages that suit him and a possible chance of taking the green jersey, I hope that he brings his A-game this time.

He better, or the first long "week" will be fairly insufferable.

 

[Kedjan]

Looked quite good today. Rode strongly to make the split hold.
Maybe he went off a bit early in the leadout. Hope it's not a bad sign.

Tomorrow I want to see fireworks. It has been a couple of lackluster years in the tour for Mathieu.

Time for yellow again!

 

[hayneplane]

Looked quite good today. Rode strongly to make the split hold.
Maybe he went off a bit early in the leadout. Hope it's not a bad sign.

Tomorrow I want to see fireworks. It has been a couple of lackluster years in the tour for Mathieu.

Time for yellow again!

I thought he looked sharp today and could have further reduced the group had the situation required it. As it was Philipsen was clearly best sprinter in the front group so doing enough to keep a comfortable gap and have numbers at the end was the optimal strategy.

 

[jmdirt]

MvdP POWER!

 

[KZD]

Just like four years ago, won stage 2 and took yellow.

 

[Didinho]

Impressive win and tactical sprint. Back in yellow.

 

[Kedjan]

So good to see Mathieu deliver big in the tour again!

This could be the beginning of a great great tour.

And now we will see him going all in on stage 5?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Great win by MVDP, can definitely get 2-3 this year.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Superb win. He was suffering in the second last climb but was good enough to recover and destroy the sprint.

 

[P4rthen0n]

This guy is amazing. He's the only one that can take on Pogacar and actually beat him.
Superb.

 

[Red Rick]

Made a sub-10 man group on a climb that was done in 2'40.

Mur de Bretagne is only a minute longer and much, much less steep.

 

[dazaau]

The goat slayer delivers! Long drag race uphill with pogi in your wheel to the line and winning is no small feat.

 

[Berniece]

Made a sub-10 man group on a climb that was done in 2'40.

Mur de Bretagne is only a minute longer and much, much less steep.

Yeah he’s going to win that too, normally. Great start to the TDF

 

[fenns]

Great performance - looked cooked on the penultimate climb but came back. Good chance to win again on Tuesday - and in Paris.

 

[Red Rick]

Great performance - looked cooked on the penultimate climb but came back. Good chance to win again on Tuesday - and in Paris.

I don't think he ever looked cooked.

He said himself today he didn't have super legs, but to me it simply makes sense he's not getting dropped by a 10 man group when he gets himself in perfect position to start with on a sub 3 minute climb and then he wins the sprint cause he's just more explosive than Pogacar.


Meanwhile, I checked the other profiles of the first week, and I must say that while I think Mur de Bretagne really favors him, I'm less optimistic about stage 4 and 6.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don't think he ever looked cooked.

He said himself today he didn't have super legs, but to me it simply makes sense he's not getting dropped by a 10 man group when he gets himself in perfect position to start with on a sub 3 minute climb and then he wins the sprint cause he's just more explosive than Pogacar.


Meanwhile, I checked the other profiles of the first week, and I must say that while I think Mur de Bretagne really favors him, I'm less optimistic about stage 4 and 6.

Stage 6 is tailormade for Pogacar.

 

[fenns]

I don't think he ever looked cooked.

He said himself today he didn't have super legs, but to me it simply makes sense he's not getting dropped by a 10 man group when he gets himself in perfect position to start with on a sub 3 minute climb and then he wins the sprint cause he's just more explosive than Pogacar.


Meanwhile, I checked the other profiles of the first week, and I must say that while I think Mur de Bretagne really favors him, I'm less optimistic about stage 4 and 6.

I don't think they really pushed hard on the final 2 climbs - you can see that by the number in the final group. Jumbo Visma and UAE didn't really go for it today - and might continue not to until after the rest day - which is very much to MVDP's advantage because there are several opportunities for him

 

[Sciatic]

I don't think he ever looked cooked.

He said himself today he didn't have super legs, but to me it simply makes sense he's not getting dropped by a 10 man group when he gets himself in perfect position to start with on a sub 3 minute climb and then he wins the sprint cause he's just more explosive than Pogacar.


Meanwhile, I checked the other profiles of the first week, and I must say that while I think Mur de Bretagne really favors him, I'm less optimistic about stage 4 and 6.

I think that the Mur is a 2 km-long climb favors Pog, Vingegaard, and other climbing GC guys

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A couple more wins for Alpecin early on in the tour and we have a similar situation as this year's giro. Many teams will be desperate. Could bode well for race action moving on.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't think he ever looked cooked.

He said himself today he didn't have super legs, but to me it simply makes sense he's not getting dropped by a 10 man group when he gets himself in perfect position to start with on a sub 3 minute climb and then he wins the sprint cause he's just more explosive than Pogacar.


Meanwhile, I checked the other profiles of the first week, and I must say that while I think Mur de Bretagne really favors him, I'm less optimistic about stage 4 and 6.

Stage 4 finale is very similar to stage 2 so he should be #1 favourite. Maybe Pogacar will try to put the hammer down on the last wall but MVP can still overcome a small gap moments later methinks.
Stage 6 has a steep finish, which favours Pogacar more.
Stage 7 could go both ways. If MVP survives Pog's likely acceleration in the steepest part then it will be easier for him at the end.

 

[Red Rick]

Stage 4 finale is very similar to stage 2 so he should be #1 favourite. Maybe Pogacar will try to put the hammer down on the last wall but MVP can still overcome a small gap moments later methinks.
Stage 6 has a steep finish, which favours Pogacar more.
Stage 7 could go both ways. If MVP survives Pog's likely acceleration in the steepest part then it will be easier for him at the end.

I think yesterday it was mainly too far from the finish for Pogacar to try solo, I'm not convinced Van Poel can hold on if Pogacar goes himself.

Stage 4 that final hill is basically about as hard as yesterday's toughest hill but it's closer to the finish. I don't think it'll be Jorgenson tempo this time. Think it's more likely Pog tries to go solo, and if Vingegaard can follow I expect he'll cooperate.

Stage 6 I agree, but it's also shorter, so in a way it should almost be more like a Giro Vicenza style uphill sprint where Van Aert and Pedersen deleted the GC contenders. I do think it's a little harder more technical though

Stage 7, Mur de Bretagne I think is just too easy for Pogacar to drop Van der Poel especially as I think it's unlikely Pogacar attacks from the steep section anyway because he will be more worried about not getting countered by Vingegaard.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think yesterday it was mainly too far from the finish for Pogacar to try solo, I'm not convinced Van Poel can hold on if Pogacar goes himself.

Stage 4 that final hill is basically about as hard as yesterday's toughest hill but it's closer to the finish. I don't think it'll be Jorgenson tempo this time. Think it's more likely Pog tries to go solo, and if Vingegaard can follow I expect he'll cooperate.

Stage 6 I agree, but it's also shorter, so in a way it should almost be more like a Giro Vicenza style uphill sprint where Van Aert and Pedersen deleted the GC contenders. I do think it's a little harder more technical though

Stage 7, Mur de Bretagne I think is just too easy for Pogacar to drop Van der Poel especially as I think it's unlikely Pogacar attacks from the steep section anyway because he will be more worried about not getting countered by Vingegaard.

I just disagree in one thing. Vingegaard will not cooperate if he goes with Pogacar IMHO.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I just disagree in one thing. Vingegaard will not cooperate if he goes with Pogacar IMHO.

This is interesting. Will Vingo decide to cooperate with Pogi? Maybe Grischa decides on this or maybe Vingo's wife?

 

[Red Rick]

I just disagree in one thing. Vingegaard will not cooperate if he goes with Pogacar IMHO.

My guess is he'll just take the 4 second loss rather than risk losing more in a bigger group, especially when he can build some more margin to the likes of Roglic and Evenepoel.