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

[RedheadDane]

Pogacar got stolen indeed

Pretty sure if you "steal" a person, it's called kidnapping.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I’m chewing on my hat. And it will take quite a while to fully consume it. It tastes terrible.

I’ve questioned mvp all the way since his supreme condition in cross season. And was wrong. He’s hit his main objectives on the season short of Olympics. Nothing can stop him. Except for pogi

Hahaha i remember that. I knew he wasn't close to his best. Glasgow was another level. And in cross his 17/18 (or was it 18/19?) season was much better

 

[Sciatic]

Should this be reiterated? I'll oblige: Best one-day racer on the planet bar NONE. Ask any cyclist what his wildest dream would consist of in terms of one-day races and winning the double Flanders/Roubaix as a world champion in solo fashion for a combined 110km would be right up there.

Legendary racer for the ages. And he's still "only" 29.

Definitely the most dominating (physically and mentally) and impressive Spring season I’ve ever seen.

But just to be slightly annoying, his palmares this Spring don’t (yet) top Cancellara’s from 2013:
3rd San Remo
1st E3
1st RvV
1st Roubaix

But I know MVDP could have easily podiumed MSR except he rode for a teammate instead, which is even more impressive. And of course there’s still more to come,

 

[Spine Concept]

Definitely the most dominating (physically and mentally) and impressive Spring season I’ve ever seen.

But just to be slightly annoying, his palmares this Spring don’t (yet) top Cancellara’s from 2013:
3rd San Remo
1st E3
1st RvV
1st Roubaix

But I know he could have easily podiumed MSR except he rode for a teammate instead, which is even more impressive. And of course there’s still more to come,

You basically answered your own point. I agree that Mathieu could have probably at the very least podiumed at MSR had he just raced for himself (which I think he should have done). Moreover, I don't think Cancellara won those races in an equally dominating fashion (as you mentioned) nor did he do it as a World Champ (I realize it's not in the same cycling season, but it adds to the legend).

And yes, to top it off the season isn't over yet for Mathieu...

 

[Sciatic]

You basically answered your own point. I agree that Mathieu could have probably at the very least podiumed at MSR had he just raced for himself (which I think he should have done). Moreover, I don't think Cancellara won those races in an equally dominating fashion (as you mentioned) nor did he do it as a World Champ (I realize it's not in the same cycling season, but it adds to the legend).

And yes, to top it off the season isn't over yet for Mathieu...

Oh I agree with you: just reflecting on how palmares alone are a great achievement but don’t always reflect how strong or dominant a rider is.

 

[rallybanana]

You know you've hit the big time when a random (evidently non-Dutch) woman in the crowd is so enraged by your dominance, she tries to jam your spokes with a hat.

Does anyone know what type of hat it was? It looked light those flimsy blue and white cycling caps with the Het Nieuwsblad logo that they give out for free at Belgian races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Oh I agree with you: just reflecting on how palmares alone are a great achievement but don’t always reflect how strong or dominant a rider is.

yup..
I mean Boonen won GW + E3 + RVV + PR I think in one season.. And still I found that less impressive than this years VDP

Boonen E3 = mass sprint 50 men
Boonen GW = Group sprint 15 men
RVV = 3 men sprint
PR = 53k solo

Not the same as 3 big solo's + helping your teammate win MSR

 

[Purito1991]

If he wins LBL against Pogacar, the velodor is safe in my opinion. Pogacar has to win at least giro and tour double to beat this.

 

[Froome]

If he wins LBL against Pogacar, the velodor is safe in my opinion. Pogacar has to win at least giro and tour double to beat this.

Or maybe in the end of the season, not even Pogacar or Van der poel will win the velon d'or.

I hope Van der poel wins this year the velon d'or, big fan of him.

 

[Winnen]

If he wins LBL against Pogacar, the velodor is safe in my opinion. Pogacar has to win at least giro and tour double to beat this.

That is a big if. MvdP is in great shape; that is clear. However, Pogi's 80k solo was also pretty impressive, and LBL is very close to Pogi's natural skills. I am hoping for a great battle, but at this time, I am giving Pogi the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Or maybe in the end of the season, not even Pogacar or Van der poel will win the velon d'or.

I hope Van der poel wins this year the velon d'or, big fan of him.

Nah... if we exclude crashes it is between Pogi and MVP. The only rider at their level is Vingegaard but he would need a Tour-Vuelta double and I don't see it due to his condition.

 

[Pantani_lives]

That was the longest successful solo in a monument this century. Gilbert did 55 km in the Tour of Flanders. 120 km before the finish I got the impression that he had to hold back because it was to early to go solo. Alpecin had the whole race in a stranglehold.

 

[Froome]

Nah... if we exclude crashes it is between Pogi and MVP. The only rider at their level is Vingegaard but he would need a Tour-Vuelta double and I don't see it due to his condition.

Who said i was even talking just about Vingegaard?

Why Roglic or Remco can't also win the Velon d'or?

 

[Valv.Piti]

All time great rider, no doubt, but what an absolute shame that the only rider and team who REALLY can put him in trouble is completely MIA. Not that it diminishes his effort today, it really doesn't in the way he won it, but we got robbed collectively.

When he's on, he's got the anerobic efforts of prime Gilbert and aerobic efforts of prime Cancellara. Then you add the technique and understanding of the race yeah, this competition is just left without anything to do. He made them look foolish today, and it makes you wonder how a prime Wout and Visma would have done, because it was simply too easy

 

[awavey]

Does anyone know what type of hat it was? It looked light those flimsy blue and white cycling caps with the Het Nieuwsblad logo that they give out for free at Belgian races.

It was a casquette absolutely and no doubt one of the ones a pr wagon dumped on the roadside spectators there

 

[jmdirt]

WOW!

Congrats MvdP!
-very impressive from Team Hair Booster just blowing the race to smithereens!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Absolutely legendary performance from Mathieu today, possibly his strongest ever together with the Worlds last year.

What is scary is that despite winning the WCRR and two monuments last year he is on track to do even better this season as he looks even stronger.

He's entering his peak years, it seems (it probably started last year).

 

[Red Rick]

Amstel is kinda interesting.

I think it's definitely hillier than is ideal for MvdP, and it's not that suited to long solos either. So he may actually get done by getting Sagan treatment at least. In 2022 I thought he was pretty underwhelming in Amstel

Still I don't see how he loses considering neither Pogacar nor Evenepoel are racing it.

 

[scribers]

That’s a two way street

And only Pogi can ride on the same street

Last year is not this year 😉

Pogi finished ahead of MVP in their only head to head in a monument this year.

 

[tobydawq]

Fine, Mathieu, you wrote your history. Be a little less OP next year, thank you (or invite your friend Pog).

 

[BigCoward]

Where does he end up? Tied for joint 3rd on 9 monuments? I don't see him overtaking RdV on 11.

 

[Spine Concept]

And only Pogi can ride on the same street

Pogi finished ahead of MVP in their only head to head in a monument this year.

Pogi was lucky that it wasn’t his first race of the year and that he didn’t have to work his butt off for another teammate.

 

[Blanco]

We saw that last year

At the Worlds?

 

[Salvarani]

At the Worlds?

Was thinking Flanders.

 

[Blanco]

Was thinking Flanders.

Go watch the year before