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

[senna6541]

If Wout hadn't caught Covid this spring, he would have wiped the floor with MvdP at RVV this year. Wout is a happy family man and trains smart...this has allowed him to pull ahead of MvdP.

And if MVDP didn't have the back issue he would've destroyed Wout in CX, and won SB, MSR, RVV, PR, etc...Sorry, but Wout has not shot against MVDP at RVV when both are 100%. That's pretty much been proven by the results. 2019, not even close. 2020, close. 2021 Wout dropped. 2022, my guess is Wout is dropped on the Paterberg and maybe comes 2nd or 3rd after MVDP/Pog let the followers back in the race in the finale. But no way in hell he outsprints MVDP.

 

[senna6541]

And "if ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas". Just want to see MVDP completely healthy and let it roll from there. His team/sponsors need to let him use the GT's as he sees fit for his main one day goals - win early stages and get out. For example, if they need him to do the TDF this year, win the first stage and yellow for a day or two and get out to be ready for the WC's.

 

[tobydawq]

And if MVDP didn't have the back issue he would've destroyed Wout in CX, and won SB, MSR, RVV, PR, etc...Sorry, but Wout has not shot against MVDP at RVV when both are 100%. That's pretty much been proven by the results. 2019, not even close. 2020, close. 2021 Wout dropped. 2022, my guess is Wout is dropped on the Paterberg and maybe comes 2nd or 3rd after MVDP/Pog let the followers back in the race in the finale. But no way in hell he outsprints MVDP.

Oh God...

 

[Berniece]

Oh God...

You don't agree? I also think that if both are 100% that Mathieu would always win.

 

[tobydawq]

You don't agree? I also think that if both are 100% that Mathieu would always win.

No, I don't agree...

If Wout had not fallen sick before De Ronde he would have been the odds-on favourite.

Of course that was with a Mathieu with suboptimal preparation.

 

[Lequack]

He's now blonde.

Mathieu van der Poel accidentally goes blond as cyclocross debut nears

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mathieu-van-der-poel-accidentally-goes-blond-as-cyclocross-debut-nears/

 

[RedheadDane]

"Accidentally"...

 

[senna6541]

39-1, 90-39. The Big "3"

 

[lemon cheese cake]

39-1, 90-39. The Big "3"

Is this wins of against first Pidcock and secondly van Aert?


He starts his cx campaign with the Hulst WC this weekend.

 

[Ricco']

Is this wins of against first Pidcock and secondly van Aert?


He starts his cx campaign with the Hulst WC this weekend.

Do you have a link? I just saw the KNWU selection for Hulst, but was thinking if he may add Kortrijk before it or not to get some racing in the legs before the World Cup.

(and because I'm not sure I can watch Hulst live)

 

[Ricco']

Just seen the official schedule:

27.11 - Hulst World Cup
03.12 - Boom Superprestige
04.12 - Antwerpen World Cup
17.12 - Val di Sole World Cup
23.12 - Mol Exact Cross
26.12 - Gavere World Cup
27.12 - Heusden-Zolder Superprestige
28.12 - Diegem Superprestige
30.12 - Loenhout Exact Cross
03.01 - Herentals X2O Trofee
05.01 - Koksijde X2O Trofee
08.01 - Zonhoven World Cup
22.01 - Benidorm World Cup
TBD 28.01/29.01 (Hamme/Besançon/Rest)
05.02 Hoogerheide WCH

Will face WVA in Antwerpen, Essen, Gavere, Heusden-Zolder, Diegem, Loenhout and probably in Herentals, Koksijde, Zonhoven, Benidorm and Hoogerheide.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Can he do the Val di Sole 'triple'? Has already won XCC & XCO World Cups there.

 

[senna6541]

Is this wins of against first Pidcock and secondly van Aert?


He starts his cx campaign with the Hulst WC this weekend.

Yes. Head to head vs. those two. Outside of the odd tractor pull, (WVA has the advantage there), MVDP is on a different level. They can't match his explosiveness or his ability to carry that speed in and out of corners and through technical sections. Hence the massive h2h advantage over a very large sample size. Obviously, Piddy is a lot younger, but no way he ever reaches MVDP's top level in CX.

 

[stonerider]

Obviously, Piddy is a lot younger, but no way he ever reaches MVDP's top level in CX.

I'm thinking MVDP's top level in CX was around 2017-2019. I'm waiting patiently for him to prove me wrong.

 

[stonerider]

I'm thinking MVDP's top level in CX was around 2017-2019. I'm waiting patiently for him to prove me wrong.

As they say, patience pays off in the end.

 

[senna6541]

A tad rusty (at least early) as expected, but still...Taking different lines, carrying more speed, etc. Just better than everyone else on a CX bike. 90-39 and 40-1.

 

[stonerider]

Per Strava, he went for a brisk 4 to 5 mile run after the race. I guess he was working the kinks out from his two crashes during the race.

 

[Gwbert]

A tad rusty (at least early) as expected, but still...Taking different lines, carrying more speed, etc. Just better than everyone else on a CX bike. 90-39 and 40-1.

He looked good, sure, but I’m gonna reserve judgement until wout gets back.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Per Strava, he went for a brisk 4 to 5 mile run after the race. I guess he was working the kinks out from his two crashes during the race.

And Pidcock rode his bike home.

 

[tobydawq]

And Pidcock rode his bike home.

To England?

 

[Wyndbrook]

He looked good, sure, but I’m gonna reserve judgement until wout gets back.

Awesome display, basically out muscled Pidcock on the steep climbs.
But this course is made for Van der Poel, five wins and it's only been around since 2017.
I think Pidcock will improve as season progresses and Woult will still take some beating on very muddy courses.
Can't wait.

 

[Wyndbrook]

To England?

His Belgian base ,About 60k I believe.

 

[senna6541]

He looked good, sure, but I’m gonna reserve judgement until wout gets back.

Unless Wout is on JV's special TDF program (which I highly doubt during the CX season other than maybe for Worlds), I don't see him doing much better against MVDP than he has in the past. He'll beat him when on days where MVDP has worse mech luck and at tractor pulls. Other than that, he just can't match MVDP's pace and bike control.

 

[tobydawq]

Unless Wout is on JV's special TDF program (which I highly doubt during the CX season other than maybe for Worlds), I don't see him doing much better against MVDP than he has in the past. He'll beat him when on days where MVDP has worse mech luck and at tractor pulls. Other than that, he just can't match MVDP's pace and bike control.

What is Jumbo's special TDF program, specifically?

 

[Berniece]

Unless Wout is on JV's special TDF program (which I highly doubt during the CX season other than maybe for Worlds), I don't see him doing much better against MVDP than he has in the past. He'll beat him when on days where MVDP has worse mech luck and at tractor pulls. Other than that, he just can't match MVDP's pace and bike control.

I'm not sure, if both are at 100%, MVDP always wins, but I wouldn't be surprised that WVA is already in a better form than MVDP. I didn't find MVDP that convincing on Sunday.