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

[scribers]

Do 2022 Liegi and Vuelta+WCRR count?

Compelling

 

[scribers]

After he destroyed everyone.. Again.. No spitting, no urine or anything and he slapped hands w fans at the finish, so let's call all the other stuff a one off..Wout got third but he looked worked over!!

Wout is doing this the right way. Riding into spring form slowly. He just so happens to be ridiculously talented he makes podiums look like work

 

[Blanco]

Wout is doing this the right way. Riding into spring form slowly. He just so happens to be ridiculously talented he makes podiums look like work

Wout is doing this cause he doesn't score big wins. He hopes that change in the approach will bring the results.

 

[Lequack]

He is peaking too early.

 

[scribers]

Think about it. MvP looked like dogshit after worlds. He has been down almost 5 months and is coming back into astonishing form. Can he hold this for almost 5 months and do it again in late July?

 

[jono]

He is peaking too early.

Here's a selection of MVDP's results from this season: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

Wait, or is that from the 2014-15 season? Or 2017-18? Or 2019-20? In fact, other than the lost season in 2021-22 and his injury-hampered 2022-2023 campaign, Mathieu has won 5 races in a row every season. Most years multiple such streaks, and streaks much longer than 5.

This is his normal level. Or at least closer to his normal level than last year, for example.

 

[dazaau]

He is peaking too early.

On the one hand last cx season wout had the better of mvdp right until it really mattered, and we know who had the better season so you*might* be right.

On the other hand mvdp seems to be getting a good idea of what he can get out of himself, and this could be an epic year. Only time will tell, baring injury or illness.

My money is on he knows what he is doing

 

[AmRacer]

Think about it. MvP looked like dogshit after worlds. He has been down almost 5 months and is coming back into astonishing form. Can he hold this for almost 5 months and do it again in late July?

Should this be posted in the Clinic thread?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Here's a selection of MVDP's results from this season: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

Wait, or is that from the 2014-15 season? Or 2017-18? Or 2019-20? In fact, other than the lost season in 2021-22 and his injury-hampered 2022-2023 campaign, Mathieu has won 5 races in a row every season. Most years multiple such streaks, and streaks much longer than 5.

This is his normal level. Or at least closer to his normal level than last year, for example.

And not forgetting 2018-19.....

Won CX Worlds, then went into his first Classics campaign, and blazed a trail in a memorable way. And was still racing into mid May on the MTB bike, winning his first XCO World Cup.....

I think he'll be fine, and isn't peaking too early. I think he, and his team have worked out what he needs to do to hit certain targets.

 

[scribers]

Should this be posted in the Clinic thread?

I WANT TO BELIEVE!

 

[Unchained]

Wout is doing this cause he doesn't score big wins. He hopes that change in the approach will bring the results.

Agreed, and two or more things can be true at once.. Because of the race coverage and limited cameras on anyone other than the leaders, which have been so far MVP and Wout I see their styles as very similar w absolutely crushing the gear, and both men are over the top exciting at the start. You don't know who will get the hole shot but both go completely ballistic getting to the first corner.
For me living in North America and not willing to pay a mountain of money on live cyclocross coverage, there is no such thing as a spoiler for me. I enjoy watching the races even when I know who is going to win..MVP is something special.. and I am glad I am getting to see it.

 

[senna6541]

MVDP is the best he has ever been in CX (in absolute terms) because he is at his physical peak as an athlete (probably only has another 2 years) and he is healthy, but dominating in CX like this is nothing new for him. MVDP is intrinsically a level above Wout in CX and at least 2 levels above Piddy. Just because those lesser CX talents have issues with mixing CX and the road doesn't mean MVDP can't do it. He always has. I think this forum has too many folks that have only really watched cycling since Covid or something. Saw Wout do all his stuff at the TDF and saw MVDP struggle coming out of Covid and then struggle with the back for 21-22 and 22-23 CX. Unless he doesn't stay healthy (which is easier said than done in pro cycling), last year was pretty much what you can expect from MVDP over the next couple of years. Only I would argue that Pogi would have no shot at beating him at RVV like he did last year - when MVDP still had a pretty shallow base due to the back.

 

[jono]

Just because those lesser CX talents have issues with mixing CX and the road doesn't mean MVDP can't do it.

I do think this is true, but throwing MTB into the mix as well pushes Mathieu to the edge of what's possible, and has resulted in him messing up a good chunk of two seasons of his racing prime (Tokyo crash and subsequent back issues).

 

[scribers]

MVDP is the best he has ever been in CX (in absolute terms) because he is at his physical peak as an athlete (probably only has another 2 years) and he is healthy, but dominating in CX like this is nothing new for him. MVDP is intrinsically a level above Wout in CX and at least 2 levels above Piddy. Just because those lesser CX talents have issues with mixing CX and the road doesn't mean MVDP can't do it. He always has. I think this forum has too many folks that have only really watched cycling since Covid or something. Saw Wout do all his stuff at the TDF and saw MVDP struggle coming out of Covid and then struggle with the back for 21-22 and 22-23 CX. Unless he doesn't stay healthy (which is easier said than done in pro cycling), last year was pretty much what you can expect from MVDP over the next couple of years. Only I would argue that Pogi would have no shot at beating him at RVV like he did last year - when MVDP still had a pretty shallow base due to the back.

pog beats mvp 10/10 at Flanders. And will be back next year to try for more wins

 

[dazaau]

pog beats mvp 10/10 at Flanders. And will be back next year to try for more wins

10/10? How is that possible if the actual stat is 1/2?

 

[Oldermanish]

He straight up could not pull away from at least a half a dozen riders. Which you would never be able to say about him when he's won something at 100%

After nearly 150km of taking the wrong line in what was a crit I'm surprised he could stay on the wheel of a half dozen riders.

 

[Oldermanish]

I think you would be pressed to name cyclists hitting 100% more than once a season. First you have to accept what their talent level is in the peloton. Then you have to compare results from race to race to accept they are running at the same level.

MVP runs at a very high level because he is heads above the rest, as it Pog. But right now he looks too hot too soon. My assertion stands, that I will be astounded if he does this twice more across the season.

The astounded you may be. A peak doesn't necessarily mean you win a race....you are at your best relative performance level for the training. MVP and others seem to have it figured. No need to worry.

 

[proffate]

10/10? How is that possible if the actual stat is 1/2?

maybe he meant it as even odds, like 50:50

 

[Ripper]

Remco looked terrible at Worlds RR. You can make the argument his condition suited only the ITT

I believe the tt was his focus

 

[Berniece]

Think about it. MvP looked like dogshit after worlds. He has been down almost 5 months and is coming back into astonishing form. Can he hold this for almost 5 months and do it again in late July?

Yes he can. Because he’s better.

pog beats mvp 10/10 at Flanders. And will be back next year to try for more wins

Now I know you just don’t like MVDP. What a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[scribers]

No sir. Love to see him race and love to see him win. But pog has the winning race formula for Flanders and can keep winning it

 

[scribers]

10/10? How is that possible if the actual stat is 1/2?

Shirley you guys spend more time on the internet than this

 

[Berniece]

No sir. Love to see him race and love to see him win. But pog has the winning race formula for Flanders and can keep winning it

I don’t think he would’ve won against MVDP in WC 2023 form

 

[scribers]

Can’t stay with pog on the climbs. Can’t close the gap on the flats.

Bruyneel had said pog hadn’t done altitude training at all that spring (whatever that means exactly these days): suggesting a pathway to a higher form than he was running on.

 

[Blanco]

MVDP is the best he has ever been in CX (in absolute terms) because he is at his physical peak as an athlete (probably only has another 2 years) and he is healthy, but dominating in CX like this is nothing new for him. MVDP is intrinsically a level above Wout in CX and at least 2 levels above Piddy. Just because those lesser CX talents have issues with mixing CX and the road doesn't mean MVDP can't do it. He always has. I think this forum has too many folks that have only really watched cycling since Covid or something. Saw Wout do all his stuff at the TDF and saw MVDP struggle coming out of Covid and then struggle with the back for 21-22 and 22-23 CX. Unless he doesn't stay healthy (which is easier said than done in pro cycling), last year was pretty much what you can expect from MVDP over the next couple of years. Only I would argue that Pogi would have no shot at beating him at RVV like he did last year - when MVDP still had a pretty shallow base due to the back.

I agree on this partly... Only shot Pogi have would be in the sprint, which basically means very weak shot.
As for last year, I think his highest peak was in the Worlds. There we could see how much he's ahead of closest competition on a course that suits him.