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

[Berniece]

If I'm not mistaking MVP wasn't meant to do Gent Wevelgem.
But appearently he still might?

Maybe if E3 doesn’t go as he expects or wasn’t that hard that he rides GW for Philipsen

 

[Didinho]

Maybe if E3 doesn’t go as he expects or wasn’t that hard that he rides GW for Philipsen

You could see it as a training ride and leadout for Philipsen. He probably will do a training otherwise that day. Depends a lot on tomorrow, how he recovers from the bad weather.

 

[senna6541]

Senna is usually a very level headed poster.

Good one Logic. I don't even pretend to be level-headed. Strictly a fanboy! Honestly, I don't know why I even care about any of this sh_t. But it is kind've a "golden age" with the likes of MVDP, WVA, Pogi, EVP, etc., etc.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Good one Logic. I don't even pretend to be level-headed. Strictly a fanboy! Honestly, I don't know why I even care about any of this sh_t. But it is kind've a "golden age" with the likes of MVDP, WVA, Pogi, EVP, etc., etc.

Just poking some fun, but it has top be said, some new posters have outdone you.

 

[dazaau]

Still looking great. Wout was struggling in the climbs today, was rather surprised to see him take the sprint. It's going to be an epic classics season

 

[Didinho]

Still looking great. Wout was struggling in the climbs today, was rather surprised to see him take the sprint. It's going to be an epic classics season

They didn't see him struggling, otherwise they would've attacked another time on the next climb. Now they just rode easy after the Kwaremont. That's 37km to recover for a flat sprint, all in Wout's favor.

 

[dazaau]

They didn't see him struggling, otherwise they would've attacked another time on the next climb. Now they just rode easy after the Kwaremont. That's 37km to recover for a flat sprint, all in Wout's favor.

Indeed, no chance of that next weekend though

 

[senna6541]

Just poking some fun, but it has top be said, some new posters have outdone you.

Yeah, I caught the "makes Senna look like a scholar" stuff on Wout's page. Nice win for Wout today. I actually kind've felt good for him as he needed one against MVDP and Pogi. That said, one could argue there were a few cracks today - but even more credit to him for hanging in there and getting the job done. I assume his form will improve some between now and RVV though and he'll be right there. I'm interested to see what Chris Horner's story will be on Wout's win. According to Chris, Wout is always THE strongest and only loses because he gets marked too much or bad tactics, etc. Of course as a scrawny GC guy, he loves that fact that Wout is wasting his talent being a domestique for guys like him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, I caught the "makes Senna look like a scholar" stuff on Wout's page. Nice win for Wout today. I actually kind've felt good for him as he needed one against MVDP and Pogi. That said, one could argue there were a few cracks today - but even more credit to him for hanging in there and getting the job done. I assume his form will improve some between now and RVV though and he'll be right there. I'm interested to see what Chris Horner's story will be on Wout's win. According to Chris, Wout is always THE strongest and only loses because he gets marked too much or bad tactics, etc. Of course as a scrawny GC guy, he loves that fact that Wout is wasting his talent being a domestique for guys like him.

It was clear today he was the least of the 3. But maybe that makes it all the sweeter for him. He's lost a lot of races where he was the strongest (Olympic RR for instance) or on par. So now the shoe's on the other foot for once.

 

[RedheadDane]

VDP's results in Vlaanderen for the last few years:

2020: 1st
2021: 2nd
2022: 1st
2023: 2nd.

At which point does it become a pattern.

 

[Ricco']

I think he now equals Museeuw as the riders with most consecutive podiums with Museeuw run being a 1st-2nd-1st-3rd.

 

[KZD]

VDP's results in Vlaanderen for the last few years:

2020: 1st
2021: 2nd
2022: 1st
2023: 2nd.

At which point does it become a pattern.

He was also 4th in 2019 in his debut year after crashing. A worthy successor to Boonen and Cancellara and he would have tied their wins today if it wasn't the extraterrestrial Pogačar.

 

[dazaau]

I have to wonder how much that mechanical cost him in the end as he chased back on up the berg. If he had one more effort left on him to close that final pog attack he would have had a sprint. And we all know how that would have ended.

Pog was amazing and I was not surprised to see him win. He deserves it and was the strongest by a way. He is a legend of the sport. Mvdp should be in fine form for Roubaix, which we all know is his hearts desire.

 

[Red Rick]

I have to wonder how much that mechanical cost him in the end as he chased back on up the berg. If he had one more effort left on him to close that final pog attack he would have had a sprint. And we all know how that would have ended.

Pog was amazing and I was not surprised to see him win. He deserves it and was the strongest by a way. He is a legend of the sport. Mvdp should be in fine form for Roubaix, which we all know is his hearts desire.

Took a little bit, but I think less than the Kruisberg attack. Pogacar was following very easily at that point.

 

[Didinho]

VDP's results in Vlaanderen for the last few years:

2020: 1st
2021: 2nd
2022: 1st
2023: 2nd.

At which point does it become a pattern.

2019: If he didn't crash.
2021: If he didn't worked to hard with Asgreen and before.
2023: If Pogi was a normal climber.

Could've won 5 in a row But this is really impressive, looking forward to Roubaix in this shape. Should be on his palmares.

 

[RedheadDane]

Could've won 5 in a row But this is really impressive, looking forward to Roubaix in this shape. Should be on his palmares.

Lots of things could have happened.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Took a little bit, but I think less than the Kruisberg attack. Pogacar was following very easily at that point.

Yeah, those 2 and the chase at the start of the race probably took a bit more out of him.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think being gapped early in the race cost him anything. But it killed his team.

I have to rewatch Molenberg, as I wonder why he dropped back after it.

 

[Monte Serra]

A worthy successor to Boonen and Cancellara and he would have tied their wins today if it wasn't the extraterrestrial Pogačar.

Boonen would have had the record, if it wasn't for an extraterrestrial (?) Devolder.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Boonen is so underrated. Sometimes, I feel I'm too old because half of this forum didn't see Boonen in his prime

 

[Red Rick]

Boonen is so underrated. Sometimes, I feel I'm too old because half of this forum didn't see Boonen in his prime

I remember him being in great form before parking the bus on de Muur van Geraardsbergen in his only real H2H with Cancellara in Vlaanderen.

 

[Netserk]

I remember him being in great form before parking the bus on de Muur van Geraardsbergen in his only real H2H with Cancellara in Vlaanderen.

2006?

 

[Red Rick]

2006?

Don't really know how the race went. They went away quite early, no good chase behind them and Hoste never wins that sprint in a million years?

I don't really know what to think of the older Ronde van Vlaanderens in terms of fields. I do know Cancellara was weirdly bad at it before 2010.

 

[Netserk]

Don't really know how the race went. They went away quite early, no good chase behind them and Hoste never wins that sprint in a million years?

I don't really know what to think of the older Ronde van Vlaanderens in terms of fields. I do know Cancellara was weirdly bad at it before 2010.

Cancellara was 6th that year. Boonen was the strongest on Koppenberg and forced the selection of the winning group.

But obviously Cancellara wasn't the beast on the hills then as he was since Beijing.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think peak Boonen would have looked the same as Wout did today against those two monsters