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

[senna6541]

I must admit, considering it's been his main aim since 2017, they're not giving him the best preparation. Almost trying to be too clever; I get the theory, but why has nobody else has done it?
And I've said it before, only doing 2 World Cups (his first for 18 months) leaves him short in MTB race prep. Yes, the Tour is a big deal, but it might be that his road campaign (and COvid) wrecks his MTB goal. Which is something I hoped wouldn't happen
We'll know in less than 12 hours.

Covid is to blame. He had his career schedule dialed in nicely with the Olympic MTB in 2020 - not many options in 2021. That said, as much as I love mountain biking, it was a helluva a lot of fun watching him in the tour - stage 2, the leadouts, railing the final corners like a madman in the TT... I pretty much tuned out once he left. Covid screwed with everyones' schedule, but even more so for a guy trying to be the best in the absolute best in the world in 3 disciplines. Hoping things go his way - unfortunately I won't get to see it until I know the results because the peacock streaming schedule is weak - didn't show the men's road replay until a full day after it was done.

 

[TMP402]

Chute! And not looking good.

 

[Jan the Man]

Tough fall

 

[benzwire]

There's no coming back from that one...I think

 

[KZD]

Abandoning the Tour for this, not worth it.

 

[glassmoon]

What a stupid mistake... no medal I'm afraid.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Better to focus on the road and give up MTB until next Olympics

 

[BlueRoads]

The German ES commentary was a disgrace until his fall, it was all about van der Poel, like the others didn't play a role in mtb.

That being said I feel very sorry for him, when this race was so important for him.

 

[Bolder]

Abandoning the Tour for this, not worth it.

That's not totally fair. Crashes and mechanicals are always a factor in XC racing.

of course he did not plan on crashing.

and he likes to ride xc and is one of the best in the world. why abandon the discipline because of one fall?

you guys are a tough crew!

 

[limak_]

Abandoning the Tour for this, not worth it.

Come on. It was just one stupid mistake on the first lap, probably because of not knowing the track enough (late coming to Tokyo - yes this was apparently a huge mistake) and loosing his concentration for a second. He could have easily fought for the medal today.

And tbf, he probably wouldn't have done anything more on the Tour anyway, other than just finishing it.

edit: That looks interesting:

"The section Van der Poel crashed on included a ramp during training but that ramp was removed for the race. Some have suggested that Van der Poel may have forgotten about the ramp’s removal."

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[glassmoon]

Come on. It was just one stupid mistake on the first lap, probably because of not knowing the track enough (late coming to Tokyo - yes this was apparently a huge mistake) and loosing his concentration for a second. He could have easily fought for the medal today.

And tbf, he probably wouldn't have done anything more on the Tour anyway, other than just finishing it.

edit: That looks interesting:

"The section Van der Poel crashed on included a ramp during training but that ramp was removed for the race. Some have suggested that Van der Poel may have forgotten about the ramp’s removal."

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I don't believe it. He must've known. Just a mistake imho... maybe dropper post would help. Majority of the riders had one...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

they took a very strange approach to his big goal of the past 5 years. So I'm a bit afraid it will end in a dumpster fire. But we'll see tomorrow how it'll play out.
It can go hit or miss

Nostradamus.

 

[Ricco']

I don't believe it. He must've known. Just a mistake imho... maybe dropper post would help. Majority of the riders had one...

He confirmed on twitter (replying to Thijs Zonneveld) that he didn't know.

 

[gerundium]

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He wasn't aware. thought the ramp would be there.

 

[glassmoon]

Nostradamus.

well... hard to be wrong if the prophecy is a hit or miss

 

[glassmoon]

He confirmed on twitter (replying to Thijs Zonneveld) that he didn't know.

Then someone *** up pretty badly... could be another national level of RaboFail such as in yesterday's women road race

 

[glassmoon]

"I was not aware, that plank was there during the reconnaissance. Only learned that it was removed at the test event."

National coach Gerben de Knegt did not see the fall happen, but thought the same. "Looks like he thought the board was still there. Why he thought that? I don't know. He's explored more laps than ever in the past few days. Ten or twelve. He was really fresh too."

not sure if weird translation or what but it says he didn't know the plank was there in training ???

 

[Ricco']

"I was not aware, that plank was there during the reconnaissance. Only learned that it was removed at the test event."

National coach Gerben de Knegt did not see the fall happen, but thought the same. "Looks like he thought the board was still there. Why he thought that? I don't know. He's explored more laps than ever in the past few days. Ten or twelve. He was really fresh too."

not sure if weird translation or what but it says he didn't know the plank was there in training ???

From what I understand (dutch not my speciality either), he knew that in 2019 they removed it for the test event. During practice I think (from the videos that I saw) that initially it wasn't there and after a day or two of practice they put it there.

Blanka Kata Vas's instagram story (which was shared by VDP) said they took out the ramp after the last practice session and implied he didn't know. The portuguese female rider posted a video yesterday where she took the drop with the plank there.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

According to Milan Vader, the other Dutch rider, they had discussed it before. With Vader saying it would not be there during the race. Apparently MVDP knew better.

 

[King Boonen]

Seems like they should maybe have spent a couple of minutes asking a Commissaire..?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

they took a very strange approach to his big goal of the past 5 years. So I'm a bit afraid it will end in a dumpster fire. But we'll see tomorrow how it'll play out.
It can go hit or miss

dumpster fire it was... but even more stupid than i imagined.

A plank that everybody knew was not going to be there, but he thought it was going to be there. OH DEAR!

 

[Lequack]

I was hoping for an exciting battle with Pidcock, shame about the fall.

 

[Red Rick]

I feel sorry for ending his Olympic dream this way, but it's really his own fault. Vader knew about it, everyone else involved seemed to have known about it. There is no excuse for this mistake.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He must be gutted - a breakdown in communication and/or an error.......One hopes he's okay and can get back on the bike quickly. I hope he could ride the MTB Worlds in Val di Sole in a month; a course he's won at, and they'll have the XCC as a new race - his speciality. A rainbow MTB jersey would be some consolation.

However, I fear, that's it for the MTB this season......promised much....and crashed, literally.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

The second day in a row, a terribly amateurish dutch team. With two coaches who are totally incompetent. But also with the responsibility of the Dutch female riders yesterday and Vdp today. Typical Dutch arrogance and knowlegde.