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

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Can’t recall him ever making so many rides public on strava… is it for the fans or sponsors? He’s never struck me as bothered about public opinion. Anyway, not complaining, just glad to see him active again and he looks content with that 6hr shift.

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Why is it "impossible" that his back is completely healed?

Because of what the team management and his father have recently stated.
The back was still a bit stiff and sensitive. Although he could cycle with it without any problems.

So, he is/was cycling, not training. But cycling at VDP is something more than what a cycling tourist (even a pro) understands by it. Unwise, I think. Even if he can train pain-free for the next few weeks, he still risks that the injury will return in full force with heavy strain. But I certainly hope not. because we can definitely use a spectacular VDP in the coming months
 
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Can’t recall him ever making so many rides public on strava… is it for the fans or sponsors? He’s never struck me as bothered about public opinion. Anyway, not complaining, just glad to see him active again and he looks content with that 6hr shift.

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[/QUOTE

Probably posting because he's bored and has a sh__load of pent up energy. He hasn't really raced since PR (couple of false starts in CX) - and you're talking about a guy who is pretty much used to racing at the highest level literally year-round.
 
Roodhooft: ,,What Mathieu is doing now is what others have done in December and January. Mainly training and resting. Progress has been made with his injury. Although it is still not optimal. But he can ride, does some training and that is positive. He's in the hotel where we always sit with the men's and women's teams. It is 23 degrees there, there is good fitness and there is guidance from the team. That also contributes to the recovery. He's fine there now. I estimate he will stay there for another two weeks. In Belgium, all colleagues are already busy with competitions.''

----

So basically, same message we heard in September and December: "Progress has been made with his injury. Although it is still not optimal."

i.e. matter of time before excessive strain (crash, hard racing, mtb, cx) makes things worse again.
 
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They talked through that matter in the German podcast Besenwagen a few weeks ago, can‘t remember which episode, I think the one with Jörg Ludewig, who‘s responsible for the sports marketing department at Alpecin now.
What I remember though is that MVDP already had these back issues for a much longer time than than just since his Crash at the Olympics.
They apparently didn‘t take it too serious back then in terms of a reduction of his race days and participations in CX, MTB and Road events.
Apparently MVDP won‘t fully recover, which means he will have to deal with these back issues his entire career.
They said it was nothing that would prevent him from racing and winning in general, but it could of course have its influence, especially if MVDP would continue not giving his body any rests.

Ludewig then said something like he guesses that MVDP will reduce his CX season to a minimum in the future, but he said as well he thinks MVDP plans going for the 2024 Olympics in MTB, before then finally just focusing on Road.

Ludewig said it was just his own guess and feeling. I think it‘s quite realistic though.
 
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Apparently MVDP won‘t fully recover, which means he will have to deal with these back issues his entire career.

They said it was nothing that would prevent him from racing and winning in general, but it could of course have its influence, especially if MVDP would continue not giving his body any rests.

Interesting. And exactly what we've been saying here. He likely won't ever be fully healed: it will always stay a weak spot that he has to manage for the remainder of his career.

He'll have to rest and recover way more than he used to, and keep avoiding triggers, which could include everything from MTB and CX to jumpy stunts for instagram and riding 3 week Grand Tours.
 
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Interesting. And exactly what we've been saying here. He likely won't ever be fully healed: it will always stay a weak spot that he has to manage for the remainder of his career.

He'll have to rest and recover way more than he used to, and keep avoiding triggers, which could include everything from MTB and CX to jumpy stunts for instagram and riding 3 week Grand Tours.
Yeah he needs to quit the "jumpy stunts" for instagram for sure. That's probably how he crashed on the knee that required surgery this last time. He said it himself...just a stupid crash. He's a man now...time to grow up and take care of his body. The older he gets the longer it will take to recover from "stupid" crashes. I speak from experience. Lol!
 
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What I wrote again and again.... and was denied by some "experts" on this forum. Back problems have been an issue for some time.... and became worse and chronic from practicing too many disciplines in succession (even alternating during the same season). With insufficient rest.
What Roodhooft also declared : "It is clear where the pain symptoms come from and what triggers them. Rest and treatments have now resulted in a clear decrease in pain. It is not gone, but significantly less.”
So that means that VDP is still not pain free and can't really train, as I wrote before.
And what the team also declared : "Apparently MVDP won‘t fully recover, which means he will have to deal with these back issues his entire career. They said it was nothing that would prevent him from racing and winning in general, but it could of course have its influence, especially if MVDP would continue not giving his body any rests".

That's very disturbing, and could mean he won't be able to have the top career we hoped for.
 
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Not sure if it's posted here already.
José De Cauwer said he heard MVP is aiming to return for Amstel and Roubaix.
 
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I think this is indeed a feasible and responsible timing.

Yeah, pretty much like Port Epic back in September 2021 :kissingsmiling:

But yeah, I can actually see him racing in Ronde and Roubaix, but no way near last year‘s level by then
He should skip April I guess, but yeah, we actually do know nothing tbh, so let‘s see
 
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Racing in RVV or Roubaix without any prep races is though. I know MVP is something special, but still.
Why not skip the cobbles and start in Amstel, Brabantse Pijl, Fleche Walloon and LBL? Even with Roubaix's new timing, I'd skip it to save his back, aim for the hilly classics.

It would give him an extra couple of weeks to get fully fit and he could just end up winning (some of) these classics.
 
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Apparently Il Giro could be an option for MVDP according to La Gazzetta.
It could actually make sense in a way, especially if he skips the classics.
 
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They talked through that matter in the German podcast Besenwagen a few weeks ago, can‘t remember which episode, I think the one with Jörg Ludewig, who‘s responsible for the sports marketing department at Alpecin now.
What I remember though is that MVDP already had these back issues for a much longer time than than just since his Crash at the Olympics.
They apparently didn‘t take it too serious back then in terms of a reduction of his race days and participations in CX, MTB and Road events.
Apparently MVDP won‘t fully recover, which means he will have to deal with these back issues his entire career.
They said it was nothing that would prevent him from racing and winning in general, but it could of course have its influence, especially if MVDP would continue not giving his body any rests.

Ludewig then said something like he guesses that MVDP will reduce his CX season to a minimum in the future, but he said as well he thinks MVDP plans going for the 2024 Olympics in MTB, before then finally just focusing on Road.

Ludewig said it was just his own guess and feeling. I think it‘s quite realistic though.
that makes sense, David van der Poel has had back issues his entire career as well. And he has it more in CX than road.
Eventually MVDP will have to drop the other disciplines as they are simply harder on his back
 
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Apparently Il Giro could be an option for MVDP according to La Gazzetta.
It could actually make sense in a way, especially if he skips the classics.

So no tour de france or 2 grand tours in one season? That should be good for his back :)
 
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I've said it before, MvdP should just concentrate on the big 1 day classics and skip the full 3 week Grand Tours. If he does go to the grand tours it should just be to target specific days and finish in the gruppeto the rest of the days for recovery. He doesn't have the structural integrity to go full gas for 3 weeks.
 
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I've said it before, MvdP should just concentrate on the big 1 day classics and skip the full 3 week Grand Tours. If he does go to the grand tours it should just be to target specific days and finish in the gruppeto the rest of the days for recovery. He doesn't have the structural integrity to go full gas for 3 weeks.
It's just because his full gas is like most peoples 125% gas.
 
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