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

[Ricco']

Nice!

To be honest, as my interest for road cycling fades away, my interest in seeing MVP in the road disappears too. I don't think his way of racing fits well with how the big races are done presently. Thinking about myself, I'd be more than happy if he can establish himself as a top XCO rider, staying on cross in the process. But if he is to be remembered as an all-time great (and I'm sure he has the potential to be one of them), I think he will have to switch to road some time. 2021 seems fine to me.

 

[jmdirt]

I'm glad to hear it for so many reasons!

 

[Echoes]

Switching to the road at age 25 is too late to build up a palmares, in my opinion. Certainly with the talent that he has. Anyway I feel the same way as Ricco'. Though I guess there's a little bit of sadness in that Mathieu doesn't really have the patience to keep racing long in the peloton for a 250 long race, he only wants to race aggressively. At least he's drawing the right conclusion. If you don't like road, just don't do it. Not like Sagan, actually.

But at least he can still race some of the 1.1 races I like best: Dwars door Het Hageland, Schaal Sels (hope he will next year) and the Eleven Town Tour (Elfstedenronde).

 

[telencefalus]

don't go on the road please have fun in other way

 

[DNP-Old]

Two guys he used to mop the floor with on the regular. One finishing on the podium at 22 and the other impressing in his first ever monument. One can only wonder with what kind of thoughts he has been watching de Ronde.

 

[RedheadDane]

Van der Poel and Pedersen have been racing against each other frequently?

 

[JoeD1997]

Re:

Van der Poel and Pedersen have been racing against each other frequently?

Yep, VdP won Worlds Junior RR, Mads was 2nd in 2013, same result GP Ruebliland. In Peace Race, Mads won, VdP 3rd

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He's made his choice - nobody forced him, quite the opposite. He enjoys off road, and can use his technical skills, something he can't really do racing the road.

But, you do wonder; he has raced with and beaten both Pedersen & van Aert on the road. But we have to wait until after 2020 Olympics to find out how good he can be on the road.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not exactly, he'll probably ride some road races along the way.
Last season he won in Tour of Belgium vs Gilbert and Van Aert in a group sprint and in some other small races against Van Aert and Vd Hoorn and in some french races as well.

We'll see him pop up from time to time.
As for 25yo being too late for road.. LOL. No. If you have the talent (he has) and the dedication, it's definitely not too late

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yes, stage 2 of the Belgium Tour, beating Gilbert & Van Aert, then rocks up at Albstadt for a MTB XC World Cup race and finishes 2nd behind Schurter!!
Incredible talent.....I can't think of anybody else who could do that.

 

[Ricco']

Not road I know, be I think it's still relevant to his thread...

Broken scaphoid? Well, that's nothing for Van der Poel, who wins his first MTB World Cup race with the Albstadt short track, holding off Sam Gaze and Mathias Flueckiger in a very impressive fashion, according to reports (unfortunately, no TV coverage).

 

[glassmoon]

Was wondering what will that new format/race added to 2018 season... also looks like the race is mandatory? for the XCO riders and the startline seeding for the XCO race will be based on the XCC (xc short-track) results?

https://inthebunch.co.za/2018/02/short-track-xcc-format-officially-added-to-uci-mtb-world-cup/

EDIT: recap:
https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1VH4GRT591W11/race-recap-xcc-albstadt?playlist=AP-1SV3K1FJW2111:extras

 

[classicomano]

Fell hard on his wrist again, cant MTB for 2 weeks but will defend his title on the road in Boucles de la Mayenne in 2 days and after that will ride the Dutch national road championships.

No idea if he has any other plans on the road this season.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Will be interesting to see in the Dutch champs. Although that one will probably end in a mass sprint won by Groenewegen or Jakobsen

 

[Der Effe]

Re:

Fell hard on his wrist again, cant MTB for 2 weeks but will defend his title on the road in Boucles de la Mayenne in 2 days and after that will ride the Dutch national road championships.

No idea if he has any other plans on the road this season.

I don't think so. He also said this year his only goal in Boucles de la Mayenne is to work on his form.

 

[glassmoon]

Re: Re:

Fell hard on his wrist again, cant MTB for 2 weeks but will defend his title on the road in Boucles de la Mayenne in 2 days and after that will ride the Dutch national road championships.

No idea if he has any other plans on the road this season.

I don't think so. He also said this year his only goal in Boucles de la Mayenne is to work on his form.

He should get his wrist in order imho. Hope he/docs know what they're doing though.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Fell hard on his wrist again, cant MTB for 2 weeks but will defend his title on the road in Boucles de la Mayenne in 2 days and after that will ride the Dutch national road championships.

No idea if he has any other plans on the road this season.

Dwars door het Hageland (15-06)
Elfstedenronde (17-06)
Halle-Ingooigem (19-06)

 

[classicomano]

Re: Re:

Fell hard on his wrist again, cant MTB for 2 weeks but will defend his title on the road in Boucles de la Mayenne in 2 days and after that will ride the Dutch national road championships.

No idea if he has any other plans on the road this season.

Dwars door het Hageland (15-06)
Elfstedenronde (17-06)
Halle-Ingooigem (19-06)

Oh thats more than I expected. Thanks.

 

[classicomano]

He came in 2nd in the Boucles prologue. Not bad for just warming the legs.

 

[Der Effe]

It's hardly a surprise Mathieu doesn't need top form in such a field but I would've expected his injury to have more of an impact.

 

[JoeD1997]

Early reports indicate he has won today's stage, no timings yet but it was a sprint

 

[classicomano]

Easy win.

But to be fair, looking at the top 10, he barely has any competition here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sarreau isn't that bad tho

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Not bad for a MTB-er....

 

[Cordi333]

Max Kanter is a good prospect. No surprise if next year is at WT with Sunweb. Touze is also a good young sprinter.