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

[HelloDolly]

Evidently you don't follow MvdP on Strava. He DID NOT have total rest leading up to the TdF.

No I dont follow him on Strava but he had rest from racing which is what I meant

Strava performance is just rest for MVDP

 

[postmanhat]

MvdP was working today for Philipsen

Also I htink he is still riding in to form after a hard Giro and total rest

That's probably true, but in to form for what? Are there a many stages that favour him after the next couple of days?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Come on VdP, show the other Van who's best tomorrow!

He already showed that the past 4 stages?

 

[Bonimenier]

MvdP was working today for Philipsen

Also I htink he is still riding in to form after a hard Giro and total rest

I would like to believe he is still riding in form, but him stating on the rest day that he still wants to go for yellow on tomorrow's stage, somewhat indicates that he thinks he's already in good form.

 

[spalco]

He already showed that the past 4 stages?

We will see.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

We will see.

We have been seeing.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

We have been seeing.

View: https://youtu.be/mI-KVDK9lrg

 

[Samu Cuenca]

View: https://youtu.be/mI-KVDK9lrg

I thought you were going to say he was a Dutch "insert random rider name here".

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Maybe he really is just riding for the team; and might be allowed off the leash on a few stages - like tomorrow.

 

[Bonimenier]

I thought you were going to say he was a Dutch "insert random rider name here".

I wanted to say the Dutch Ballan, but he needs to become WC first to get to that level.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I wanted to say the Dutch Ballan, but he needs to become WC first to get to that level.

And the fact that he's won a monument disqualifies guys like Haussler and Štybar.

 

[Red Rick]

He's like the 2nd coming of Adrie van der Poel.

 

[Bonimenier]

He's like the 2nd coming of Adrie van der Poel.

Aha that's it! He's the Dutch van der Poel!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

To be honest I don't really know who to compare VanderPol to. He is a quality rider

Anyway if Van Aert keeps winning like that he can exceed his status as a Belgian pozzato, just as remco became more than a Belgian spilak.

If wout attack more in big races he can win 2 of flanders, roubaix and world championships and have a palmare like Ballan or Alaphilippe

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He already showed that the past 4 stages?

lmao, cmon man. VDP worked for Philipsen the previous day and even today that was the plan. I personally think it's a mistake and he should have gone for it himself today and start the climb in the front not behind... but that's another question.

Or are you dry eyed claiming VDP could have never followed today?

 

[Didinho]

Tomorrow will be a better indication of his form. Hope he can pull it off.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

lmao, cmon man. VDP worked for Philipsen the previous day and even today that was the plan. I personally think it's a mistake and he should have gone for it himself today and start the climb in the front not behind... but that's another question.

Or are you dry eyed claiming VDP could have never followed today?

I'm giving you a one-eyed death stare while saying it.

Jeezes. I was kidding. I was trying to hook Senna, who was making all sorts of claims how Van Aert was going to be calling for his mommy, facing MvdP in the TDF.

That said, i do think Van Aert currently is a level above, yep. But i also think we will not be seeing the best Van der Poel this year. Winning RVV was quite a feat, but i think his winter prep was simply not good enough of a base for the rest of the season.

 

[stonerider]

Maybe he really is just riding for the team; and might be allowed off the leash on a few stages - like tomorrow.

Nobody but his legs has MvdP on a leash. He has complete freedom to ride as he feels.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Nobody but his legs has MvdP on a leash. He has complete freedom to ride as he feels.

I think that is a likely scenario. He might be working for Philipsen because he isn't feeling good enough right now. Not the other way around. I think it's likely if he would have been able to go with Van Aert, that he would have. If not to for his own chances, then art least to shut down Van Aert specifically to help Philipsen.

 

[dazaau]

That was an unexpected finish, I doubt MvdP was anywhere close to in position as he wasn't aiming for the stage in any case. MvdP never pulled to bring wout back for his team, that to me says he is saving himself. I imagine he is going all in tomorrow, and wout may be a little tired after that effort today.

MvdP has decided to be more measured lately, I look forward to today's stage!

 

[CyclistAbi]

He will go for it on stage 5. That is why van Aert wanted to win stage 4. As he will need to babysit on stage 5. And he needed some additional seconds to keep van der Poel out of reach for yellow.

 

[senna6541]

I'm giving you a one-eyed death stare while saying it.

Jeezes. I was kidding. I was trying to hook Senna, who was making all sorts of claims how Van Aert was going to be calling for his mommy, facing MvdP in the TDF.

That said, i do think Van Aert currently is a level above, yep. But i also think we will not be seeing the best Van der Poel this year. Winning RVV was quite a feat, but i think his winter prep was simply not good enough of a base for the rest of the season.

We'll see Logic. MVDP races on emotion, and I'm guessing he will line up tomorrow looking to put things right. I like seeing the very best being put to the test like this. Who knows where his form is right now. It's been a bit of a strange last 6 months for him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him win 5 and 6. He wasn't that far off on the opening TT. He was clearly riding in support of Philipsen today - for whatever reason. Bad move if AD is trying to do their part to get Americans to watch cycling - could have been a classic head to head battle today.

 

[dutchdescent]

Startinterview had him saying ‘he doesn’t have the legs and is waiting for something to turn around’ ‘he did not see that coming but it’s nothing he can do about now’. Guess we won’t see him today and have to wait until he finds better form.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

That's basically what i've been saying.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Startinterview had him saying ‘he doesn’t have the legs and is waiting for something to turn around’ ‘he did not see that coming but it’s nothing he can do about now’. Guess we won’t see him today and have to wait until he finds better form.

Yeah, he's been saying that from the start. Doubt that form will come anytime soon.

Did entirely too much at the Giro, considering his less than stellar winter.