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

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May 1, 2021
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Pneumonia? Or an early start on his MTB training?

(I know, this is cope).
So Pidcock isn't racing MTB worlds (at vuelta), surely that is the focus now for mvdp? There is nothing to do on the road worth talking about this year.
 
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Oct 4, 2020
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So Pidcock isn't racing MTB worlds (at vuelta), surely that is the focus now for mvdp? There is nothing to do on the road worth talking about this year.
Your use of focus is the key word, add preparation and so far they are what's has been missing from his offroad racing excursions of late. Just rocking up and expecting to win is no longer good enough.
 
Jan 7, 2017
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Your use of focus is the key word, add preparation and so far they are what's has been missing from his offroad racing excursions of late. Just rocking up and expecting to win is no longer good enough.

He may well be training on the MTB, but most of his socials are on his road bike. With the Worlds in approx a month away, it's not looking like he's left enough time to prepare & race on the MTB before Crans-Montana. We know Puck will be at Les Gets in a weeks time; maybe we'll see him there also????

And I did laugh about the 'showdown' with Pidcock not taking place......they've never raced together at the business end of a XCO race....
 
Sep 5, 2016
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MvdP says " MY STAGE"!
Special group.. Wellens was absolutely baked..he didn't even try to respond..
DeLie drag race specialist was beaten by Mathieu who just doesn't give up!!
Might be guys stronger, faster, but nobody digs deeper than van der Poel!!!
Always a pleasure to watch the guy race..
 
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Mar 4, 2011
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Special group.. Wellens was absolutely baked..he didn't even try to respond..
DeLie drag race specialist was beaten by Mathieu who just doesn't give up!!
Might be guys stronger, faster, but nobody digs deeper than van der Poel!!!
Always a pleasure to watch the guy race..
Great point—and we could see it clearly in how physically obliterated he was after crossing the line.
 
Mar 4, 2011
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Granted, Shimano do not do golf shoes, but given that Adidas do make cycling shoes, his footwear sponsors might not be too happy with that.


Also, who starts a round of golf at 8pm in late August?
As too the 2nd question, we always did as teenagers at our town course. The clubhouse/office closed around 8pm, so we could play for free from then until it was too dark to see. We used to run to our ball between shots so we could in as many holes as possible.
 

KZD

Feb 21, 2019
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6th at the Mountain bike race in Les Gets. Made a great recovery in the first laps before fading away in the last lap when the attacks started up front.

Its an encouraging result but what impressed me the most was how much better technically some of his rivals were, so I wouldn't expect a medal in the Worlds, two weeks from now.
 
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Jan 7, 2017
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6th at the Mountain bike race in Les Gets. Made a great recovery in the first laps before fading away in the last lap when the attacks started up front.

Its an encouraging result but what impressed me the most was how much better technically some of his rivals were, so I wouldn't expect a medal in the Worlds, two weeks from now.
That isn't really a surprise; they train, and race all the time on the MTB - they should be better. He lost so much time on the technical parts - both from lack of much MTB riding time, and not wanting to take any risks - he had to finish the race. Job done. He did get better as the race went on. I think the Worlds are going to come too soon for him. He could do with more time training & racing.

He improved immeasureably from 2016-2019 when he raced regularly on the MTB.