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

[Coffeeplanter]

I don't think so. First time up was too soon and even if he had dropped Van Aert, he'd have been caught again. He needed a strong ally, and I think his best bet was to lean on and cooperate with Belgium to control the race with a defensive posture on the first laps, marking Evenepoel's attacks. Then drop the hammer on the last ascent or when the moment is right on the lap until it. It's not like he'd risk Van Aert countering such an attack by Evenepoel.

He had several allies the first time around, and that group probably goes all the way to the line if Pedersen had not punctured a few minutes earlier, causing him to miss the split and forcing Skjelmose to close to gap.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter. The point was that he had the form and legs to win (according to himself), and his preperation was not half-assed.

 

[ppanther92]

What makes you believe his prep was half assed?

His results. Or actually even more his showings. Ofc in the Olympics if he got super lucky, he might have sprinted for a medal but his attack that WvA countered and his total inability to close any gap and being dropped by Laporte, Alaphilippe and others that were with him in the final round, was certainly one of his weaker performances in targeted races.

 

[ppanther92]

Anyway, it doesn't really matter. The point was that he had the form and legs to win (according to himself), and his preperation was not half-assed.

So why didn't he win Bronze?

Bronze went to the peloton. He was dropped though.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

So why didn't he win Bronze?

Bronze went to the peloton. He was dropped though.

Go ahead, provide me with evidence he was dropped. I'll wait.

 

[ppanther92]

Go ahead, provide me with evidence he was dropped. I'll wait.

So he didn't want to ride with the riders for Bronze. Ok, cool story.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

So he didn't want to ride with the riders for Bronze. Ok, cool story.

I'm waiting mate.

 

[ppanther92]

I'm waiting mate.

So whats your theory why he wasn't with Laporte, Valter, Skujins, Jorgenson, Alaphilippe when he was with them at the beginning of the last round. Apparently they rode the last round faster than him. One of them got rewarded with Bronze. Thats kind of the definition of being dropped.

 

[dazaau]

Good ride last night on a course doomed for a sprint. Looks in really good form but I can't see worlds, it's the year of Pogacar IMHO.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

So whats your theory why he wasn't with Laporte, Valter, Skujins, Jorgenson, Alaphilippe when he was with them at the beginning of the last round. Apparently they rode the last round faster than him. One of them got rewarded with Bronze. Thats kind of the definition of being dropped.

You are typing a lot without providing what is asked. Why is that? Come on, show me the likes of Laporte dropping Van der Poel.

 

[proffate]

How about he loses significant weight and aims for new challenges in road cycling like one week races, one day races like il lombardia, liege and san sebastian or even see like wiggins how it goes in GTs? If doesn't work, he can do the same old thing.

He already won everything he had to win in the usual one day races he does, so, he could aim for new challenges.

Ving has already won the tour so I guess you think he should gain some kilos and target the cobbled classics?

 

[Bolder]

A few years ago we were talking about 'burn out'; his constant racing across the year in 3 disciplines and not managing his season; now he's doing that. He just needs to return to XC MTB and but I'll believe that when I see it.

I agrée. I also think his back injury was a bit of a reality check.

Ving has already won the tour so I guess you think he should gain some kilos and target the cobbled classics?

Actually...

I would love to see Jonas target LBL, at least. He's a little guy but he has a big engine, You never know till you try. I have zero doubt he could Top 10 Flanders with a decent team around him. Add 5kg for warmth and who knows?

 

[Berniece]

I would love to see Jonas target LBL, at least. He's a little guy but he has a big engine, You never know till you try. I have zero doubt he could Top 10 Flanders with a decent team around him. Add 5kg for warmth and who knows?

They tried Lombardia, it didn't go well

 

[Froome]

Ving has already won the tour so I guess you think he should gain some kilos and target the cobbled classics?

Yes, it's time for him to target LBL, fleche wallone, san sebastian and il lombardia in a serious way, and still doing the Tour as the main target.

 

[dazaau]

Yes, it's time for him to target LBL, fleche wallone, san sebastian and il lombardia in a serious way, and still doing the Tour as the main target.

It's odd, if you go look at his palmares it's rarely anything outside a stage race. Any one day win at all would be a start before jumping straight into monuments.

 

[proffate]

Yes, it's time for him to target LBL, fleche wallone, san sebastian and il lombardia in a serious way, and still doing the Tour as the main target.

Since when are those the cobbled classics?

 

[Froome]

Since when are those the cobbled classics?

I was talking about one day races. I confused your post with another.

I was just talking about maybe Van der poel have something in his mind about those goals. He can want to diversify his palmares, if doesn't have motivation for the usual goals.

 

[KZD]

I am a bit disappointed that Van der Poel doesn't ride Lombardia this year given that he will finish the road season with only 40 race days and without Civiglio while being supposedly leaner than ever, he could have had a remote chance of winning.

For the next year, I think that he will keep focusing on Flanders and Roubaix, if he wins the former again he will be the first rider winning the race 4 times.

Can't see him start targetting mountainous stage races though.

 

[Barkintheeye]

It looks a little too hard for him. His chance is probably that Remco and Pog take each other out. If they attack each other and shuts down other breakaways it might open up a small window for someone else, MVDP, Pedersen, Jorgensen etc but Pogacar remains the massive favorite and with Remco just behind.

Race	Length	Alt mtrs
WC 2024	273,9	4470
WC 2023	271,1	3570
Lombardia	238,0	4646
Liege-Bastogne-Liege	254,5	4270

 

[scribers]

I think it’s a bad idea for mvp to fool around with weight loss. He’s built for certain racing and he does those well. Not worth the risk

 

[Berniece]

I think it’s a bad idea for mvp to fool around with weight loss. He’s built for certain racing and he does those well. Not worth the risk

This is the test for him. He knew there's nothing really important coming up at the moment for which he needs a different build. LBL he couldn't get too lean because he needed his power for Flanders and Roubaix. TDF he couldn't get too lean because he needed his power for Olympics.

There was nothing holding him back now to see how he would perform when he lost some weight in a race with more altitude meters. I have no clue if it will go well, and how much weight he actually lost.

 

[scribers]

Cyclocross season is coming on

 

[Salvarani]

Cyclocross season is coming on

He wont do every race and likely wont race the earlier ones. He will have enough time after Worlds.

 

[scribers]

We are talking a different build. Not just fat which is easy to replace. Muscle is a different story and a very risky proposition

 

[Oldermanish]

As a MVdP fan, I'm disappointed in how rarely he races, and how pedestrian his performances are outside the Spring Classics (and Worlds last year). Not criticizing his palmares, of course, just speaking as a fan.

You're hitting on the schedule that makes his results so variable. He can't do cyclocross off form or he wouldn't be in the picture, period. He trains for that up to this point in time. That also puts him in prime shape for early season races. Performing well at the Fall season can be done if he's into his cyclocross program early and logging the miles. Hard to do that all season for anyone. His results are spectacular if it is important to him. Last year's WCRR was an incredible tactical and physical performance. One of the best I've seen, anyway.

 

[jono]

You're hitting on the schedule that makes his results so variable. He can't do cyclocross off form or he wouldn't be in the picture, period. He trains for that up to this point in time. That also puts him in prime shape for early season races. Performing well at the Fall season can be done if he's into his cyclocross program early and logging the miles. Hard to do that all season for anyone. His results are spectacular if it is important to him. Last year's WCRR was an incredible tactical and physical performance. One of the best I've seen, anyway.

I'm not sure if I am reading your post correctly. Are you suggesting he peaks for cyclocross season?