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

[Lequack]

Interview. Says he's getting old

https://twitter.com/x/status/1505231858166075396

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1505231858166075396?s=20&t=ZwXX6Cqt1h0xb60ALcrD8A

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This. I kept expecting him to go after Mohoric, but he clearly did not want to be the guy who launched someone else to victory. But I think he could have at least gotten a clean second instead of Turgis.

Dont forget he launched the sprint (for p2) last time and then got overturned by others and finished 5th.

At some point you have to gamble.

 

[senna6541]

Great race with a deserving winner. MVDP's reaction to third is what makes him great (along with the freakish talent). If he stays healthy and can get to his true top level, everybody else is racing for second at RVV and PR.

 

[Red Rick]

it doesn't suprise me a bit. The minute he said he was gonna ride I knew he was gonna be up there.

Uts Sanremo so the bar for being uo there on intrinsic ability is far lower than the other monuments

 

[jmdirt]

Interview. Says he's getting old

https://twitter.com/x/status/1505231858166075396

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1505231858166075396?s=20&t=ZwXX6Cqt1h0xb60ALcrD8A

If he's getting old, I'm a fossil!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If he's getting old, I'm a fossil!

Imagine Valverde

 

[jaylew]

Uts Sanremo so the bar for being uo there on intrinsic ability is far lower than the other monuments

I agree with this 100% which is why I figured he be in the mix. That said it was a hard raced edition from the Cipressa on and plenty other strong guys didn't make the cut.

 

[senna6541]

I agree with this 100% which is why I figured he be in the mix. That said it was a hard raced edition from the Cipressa on and plenty other strong guys didn't make the cut.

I would agree. I certainly didn't expect him to be dropped before the Poggio, but given how hard they raced up the Cipressa I didn't expect him to look as strong as he did throughout the finale. It does kind've suck though to see him doing these big races at less than 100% - the WC's and PR were both tailor made for him. MSR it a bit of crap shoot (and a lesser race IMO) anyway, so not as big a deal.

 

[Ricco']

Now the plan continues to be Settimana Coppi e Bartali or is he switching that one for the classics of the next weekend since he added MSR to the program?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Now the plan continues to be Settimana Coppi e Bartali or is he switching that one for the classics of the next weekend since he added MSR to the program?

no, he sticks to settimana.

Settimana
Dwars
RVV
AGR
PR

that's the plan now

 

[Red Rick]

I honestly also think he looked clearly weaker than last year in Sanremo. I dont think a 100% MVDP cant snap close SKA after riding a more efficient Poggio than Van Aert and Pog

 

[KZD]

no, he sticks to settimana.

Settimana
Dwars
RVV
AGR
PR

that's the plan now

Is the Giro still on cards?

I would prefer him going to LBL especially if he fails to win RVV or Roubaix. I hope that he will take it easy on Amstel this time as Roubaix is obviously more important and he never won there.

 

[stonerider]

I think he should skip the stage race...chasing stage wins will weaken him for Flanders and Paris Roubaix. You can see that he doesn't need to stage race to show up and be at top level...all he needs is the perfect mix of training and recovery.

 

[Blanco]

Is the Giro still on cards?

I would prefer him going to LBL especially if he fails to win RVV or Roubaix. I hope that he will take it easy on Amstel this time as Roubaix is obviously more important and he never won there.

Both him and Van Aert have a chance at Liege, and it would be a waste not to ride it, especially this year when it's so close to Roubaix.

 

[Panda Claws]

Can you even recover from Paris-Roubaix in time though? That race is a killer.

 

[Netserk]

Can you even recover from Paris-Roubaix in time though? That race is a killer.

Sagan in 2018

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I honestly also think he looked clearly weaker than last year in Sanremo. I dont think a 100% MVDP cant snap close SKA after riding a more efficient Poggio than Van Aert and Pog

I think he looked stronger than any edition of MSR so far actually

 

[Red Rick]

I think he looked stronger than any edition of MSR so far actually

Last year he was closing huge gaps pn the Poggio after starting it 60th position

 

[hfer07]

I love his honesty and integrity towards racing - he understands clearly the implications of missing out on MSR's victory, well knowing the window of opportunity to win it narrows with every passing year....

 

[limak_]

Interview. Says he's getting old

https://twitter.com/x/status/1505231858166075396

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1505231858166075396?s=20&t=ZwXX6Cqt1h0xb60ALcrD8A

Somehow Mathieu manages to pronounce Mohorič's name properly while mispronouncing Pogačar's (probably watched to many races with Sean Kelly's commentary). (0:35)
Someone has to tell him that "č" sounds the same in both these names.

 

[jaylew]

I honestly also think he looked clearly weaker than last year in Sanremo. I dont think a 100% MVDP cant snap close SKA after riding a more efficient Poggio than Van Aert and Pog

He went around another rider to Wout's wheel and then smartly let him try to close the gap until he stalled a bit and then went around him and finished sewing up the gap himself. And why would he be 100%? It's his first race of the season. Still, I think he looked at least as good as last year if not better, especially given the circumstances of a much harder raced MSR. He never looked like he couldn't close a gap except maybe Mohoric's insane descent.

Also, that SKA attack was super, super strong, harder than any of Pog's attacks. Did you see the expressions on everyone's faces?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Last year he was closing huge gaps pn the Poggio after starting it 60th position

he was positioned better this year and he smartly closed gaps. He knew from previous editions any huge effort is gonna cost you in the sprint. It's clear he gambled on that and preferred to do the minimal amount. Everytime he needed to close a gap, he did, and he didn't look in any trouble everytime he did.

 

[Red Rick]

he was positioned better this year and he smartly closed gaps. He knew from previous editions any huge effort is gonna cost you in the sprint. It's clear he gambled on that and preferred to do the minimal amount. Everytime he needed to close a gap, he did, and he didn't look in any trouble everytime he did.

I still think VdPs best bet is to launch his own move on the final km of the Poggio. Hes the most explosive rider in the world with Alaphilippe, I think he can make a gap there

 

[Bushman]

Probably even more explosive than Alaphillippe. However, he often seems to pay for those efforts where he goes 100%. I’m not sure he could maintain a gap. With the descent he might just recover enough to keep up the power in the last two kilometres though

 

[senna6541]

I have Flobikes, Peacock and GCN, but none showing Coppi Bartali. Any hope for finding it somehow?