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

Page 121 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Aug 3, 2015
22,743
10,688
28,180
Again, I trust they know what they're doing.

And considering how I thought the announcement had been something like his back bothering him again, forcing him to miss all the Spring Classics, the intention of riding - and finishing - two GTs isn't really that much of an issue to me.
Trusting that cycling teams know what they are doing?...
Yeah.......
 
Jan 18, 2020
624
867
7,180
He's extremely willful and clearly a maverick. I think that's why he's so popular with cycling fans (the few that exist) here in the US. BTW, it's funny how folks on Wielerflits are always bagging on his old man and his analysis. MVDP clearly doesn't listen to him, but he clearly knows what he's talking about and he's still putting in 14 hours a week and could kick most reader's a__ even at his advanced age.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Sandisfan
May 29, 2011
3,549
1,651
16,680
A very interesting piece on MvdP's training since January. Talk about being a responder, the rate of improvement is stellar.


Tldr: Long rides with intense stuff thrown in ftw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SafeBet
Jan 18, 2020
624
867
7,180
And it could have been so easy this spring for Wout and JV this year - looked that way up until a couple or three weeks ago when the data started suggesting beast mode might be coming back. Now they have both massive pressure to perform and deliver a win against their worst nightmare.
 
Aug 13, 2011
7,883
12,040
23,180
Imagine the stories we could have of AF vs Quickstep of; MVDP, Merlier, and Philipsen vs WVA, Jakobsen, and Cav/second sprinter.
 
May 29, 2011
3,549
1,651
16,680
yeah read that a week ago. Completely crazy.
The only doubt in my mind is whether he has a broad enough base to sustain top form for the entire classic season. Will be lucky to have banked 200hrs by mid-april.

But probably it will do, as standard training rules of thumb seem to be out of the window with him anyway.
 
Mar 13, 2009
29,413
3,482
28,180
The only doubt in my mind is whether he has a broad enough base to sustain top form for the entire classic season. Will be lucky to have banked 200hrs by mid-april.

But probably it will do, as standard training rules of thumb seem to be out of the window with him anyway.
actually, he's got more of a shot of holding form now than he did when he did CX until the worlds.

Remember, he used to do CX season. 1 week break. 1 or 2 weeks build up, and then start racing road. By the time there was RVV he was usually past his best. The fact that the only RVV that he won was the one held in the autumn instead of the spring speaks volumes.

This time he actually trained for 4 straight weeks after a long rest period. It's a bit short yes, but still a better base than he's ever had for the road reason.
 
May 29, 2011
3,549
1,651
16,680
actually, he's got more of a shot of holding form now than he did when he did CX until the worlds.

Remember, he used to do CX season. 1 week break. 1 or 2 weeks build up, and then start racing road. By the time there was RVV he was usually past his best. The fact that the only RVV that he won was the one held in the autumn instead of the spring speaks volumes.

This time he actually trained for 4 straight weeks after a long rest period. It's a bit short yes, but still a better base than he's ever had for the road reason.
Yeah, but the one month of complete rest alleged by the article before the training block cannot be optimal either.
 
MvdP at Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali 2022
Good move on his part to take part in a 'low key' hilly stage race with plenty of big efforts, setting him up nicely for the major classics races. Simple breakdown from his strava.

Stage 1
102.73mi, 9,846ft elevation @24.0mi/h av.speed
334W av.power (weighted)

Stage 2
105.20mi, 9,259ft elevation @24.0mi/h av.speed
345W av.power (weighted)

Stage 3
93.11mi, 12,752ft elevation @20.1mi/h av.speed
323W av.power (weighted)

Stage 4 (win)
96.63mi, 7,917ft elevation @24.2mi/h av.speed
336W av.power (weighted)

Stage 5
100.93mi, 6,588ft elevation @24.5mi/h av.speed
312W av.power (weighted)