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Seems like MVDP gets a lot of his explosiveness on short climbs from his core and upper body strength. Watch his attack at the WC's and compare the visual vs. Pogi, Wout and Pedersen. Looks like he is using his whole body to generate an insane amount of torque, whereas it's all lower body with the other guys. Just stick to piling up RVV's, PR's, CX's WC's and get some more MTB World Cups wins and forget about the longer climb stuff.A bit unclear but it seems like the 2021 version was 184 km with 3072 alt mtrs. This year’s SB was longer and with more am.
And that's why his back injury was so worrisome. You can see, as you note, how he torques his whole upper body. It would be like Mauri Vansevenant getting a neck injury...Seems like MVDP gets a lot of his explosiveness on short climbs from his core and upper body strength. Watch his attack at the WC's and compare the visual vs. Pogi, Wout and Pedersen. Looks like he is using his whole body to generate an insane amount of torque, whereas it's all lower body with the other guys. Just stick to piling up RVV's, PR's, CX's WC's and get some more MTB World Cups wins and forget about the longer climb stuff.
So true. It sucked watching him try to race when his back was bad. Seemed like he might be going down the same path as Tiger Woods when his back (and to a lesser extent his knees) started to go on him - at least partially because of how aggressive his swing was.And that's why his back injury was so worrisome. You can see, as you note, how he torques his whole upper body. It would be like Mauri Vansevenant getting a neck injury...
But he apparently is doing a lot of core work now, so long as he keeps it up, he should have few problems. (I have a bulging disc and have to do the same, tho I'm old and slow anyway...)
He said he might go for it in LA in 2028, since he'll be somewhere different with his road career.A wise decision, surely. Don't know if this will put an end to his MTB career, but it would be a shame if he concluded his career with only an EC and some World cup races
His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?
Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
his program after the olympics is not over. It's just not decided yet.His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?
Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
I partially agree with you. Of course I want MVP to be at his best in monuments and worlds, etc However I'm still a old school guy and loved to see all cobbled specialists fighting in all cobbled classics. These days, Omloop is not what supposed to be, kuurne the same, even strade (I know that it isn't a cobbled classic) is missing big names fighting for the win. MVP no longer cares about Strade since his win. WVA only cares now about his Flanders or Roubaix win.I don’t see an issue with him not racing a lot. I rather have him at his best during the biggest races than good at every race
As much as I was looking forward to his clash with Pidders, Nino and others, this seems like a wise and logical decision... but I'm afraid it's the beginning of the end of his MTB racing...A probable wise decision. He needed to commit more time to training and races to be competitive in the MTB races - and he can't do that. We know what happens if he just turns up for one race......
A shame he's done so little on the MTB in the last 4-5 years......Maybe in a few years he'll give it a proper go - and will still be competitive.
Did you forget to add his CX races during the winter? I'd say he races more of a year round schedule than any former Road World Champions. He's doing a perfect schedule to stay fresh for his biggest targets.His 2024 program might be one of the lightest ever for a reigning road world champion, no?
Even Mads Pedersen, the Covid World Champion, raced more than 50 race days wearing the rainbow jersey. Depending on his post-Tour program (and assuming he finishes the race), MVDP will have little more than 30 race days with the rainbow jersey.
He doesn't race CX in his WCRR jersey.Did you forget to add his CX races during the winter? I'd say he races more of a year round schedule than any former Road World Champions. He's doing a perfect schedule to stay fresh for his biggest targets.