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

[Bardamu]

Would you still do that even with the knowledge that 70% of the guys that would normally be fighting for top positions in Lombardia among with a lot of their most capable domestiques who could impose a higher pace during the race were absent because of the clash with Dauphine and TdF preparations?

Apparently the race pace was very high from the get-go.

 

[Blanco]

Looks like someone is hitting the form...

 

[SafeBet]

Looks like someone is hitting the form...

Just in time to be a serious contender for Tirreno - Adriatico

 

[yaco]

Was always going to be suited on that kind of short and technical circuit - Once he went they were never going to bring him back.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

still, according to his trainer data, 396w normalized power over the entire race. That is insane.

 

[Jspear]

Just in time to be a serious contender for Tirreno - Adriatico

Not soon enough for some big races that have passed.

 

[Blanco]

Not soon enough for some big races that have passed.

But in time for some big races that will come..

 

[Bonimenier]

But in time for some big races that will come..

Or too soon for the big races that will come.

 

[ppanther92]

So, after today he is going to race only T-A before the classic season this year?

 

[Ricco']

So, after today he is going to race only T-A before the classic season this year?

He will start in Druivenkoers - Overijse tomorrow.

 

[DaLong]

Appears tomorrow is VdP's first WT ITT, unless my 10 seconds of looking it up failed me. We'll see how he does, probably a bit gassed from today's effort but really it's a question mark for him at this point.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Appears tomorrow is VdP's first WT ITT, unless my 10 seconds of looking it up failed me. We'll see how he does, probably a bit gassed from today's effort but really it's a question mark for him at this point.

I'd predict somewhere between 5th & 10th place. It's a short ITT which should certainly favor him. But there are a few of the big boys present. Ganna, Dennis, Campenaerts, Thomas... and then some "quite decent" ITT'ers too like Kelderman, Bjerg, Teuns, Kängert, Dowsett, Van Emden, Craddock, Brändle...

 

[Rollthedice]

Confirmed to Gazzetta that he will not be at Imola, not suited for him. He'll concentrate on the classics.

 

[tobydawq]

Confirmed to Gazzetta that he will not be at Imola, not suited for him. He'll concentrate on the classics.

This places Red Rick in quite a conundrum. He likes the route for the worlds and now he can't complain that the Dutch will ride for MvdP. What to moan about now?

 

[Red Rick]

This places Red Rick in quite a conundrum. He likes the route for the worlds and now he can't complain that the Dutch will ride for MvdP. What to moan about now?

How Bauke Mollema 100% would have won

 

[Red Rick]

I'd predict somewhere between 5th & 10th place. It's a short ITT which should certainly favor him. But there are a few of the big boys present. Ganna, Dennis, Campenaerts, Thomas... and then some "quite decent" ITT'ers too like Kelderman, Bjerg, Teuns, Kängert, Dowsett, Van Emden, Craddock, Brändle...

Havent looked at the field but am not expecting top 10 tbh

 

[tobydawq]

How Bauke Mollema 100% would have won

Weak try.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Sensible decision. He's not a climber; he can pull off many miraculous things, but even he can't beat climbers.

A shame he's not doing any MTB races, he'd surely have a chance in the MTB Worlds, but the classics come first.

 

[Red Rick]

Weak try.

We'll see during/after the race, I'm just hoping Dumoulin rides the road race tbh.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Havent looked at the field but am not expecting top 10 tbh

It's a strong field but it's a short ITT, only 10k. If he can do a 10k sprint in Amstel, he can do it here as well
I think he can do top 10 if he tries.

 

[Red Rick]

It's a strong field but it's a short ITT, only 10k. If he can do a 10k sprint in Amstel, he can do it here as well
I think he can do top 10 if he tries.

I think the course is too straight forward and VdP doesn't put enough training into ITTs to get top 10 here.

 

[Red Rick]

Froome 1'30 down

 

[Bardamu]

How does Mathieu even look on a TT-bike?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

How does Mathieu even look on a TT-bike?

Something like this?

 

[Red Rick]

Okay he's cheating by flying through corners like kamikaze