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

[Coffeeplanter]

He already beat him once there. Don't think he remotely thinks about doing races depending on the opposition.

He beat him on the old course. Van der Poel has about a 0.7% chance of beating him on the new course.

 

[Berniece]

He beat him on the old course. Van der Poel has about a 0.7% chance of beating him on the new course.

Already forgot they added ~600m of altitude. I agree that it would probably be too hard. Even more reason not to participate, just like he doesn't do Lombardia although that's much more.

 

[Barkintheeye]

On the new course he has no shot, which is why the new course is dumb. The original route had the perfect mix of 80 kg classics men (Van Aert, Van der Poel) against the lightweights (Alaphilippe, Pogacar, Bernal, Pidcock) and decided nah, we don't want that. Let's add a ton of vertical meters and make it entirely predictable instead.

Stupidest f-ing decision in recent history, all because they want some arbitrary monument status that only fools care about.

Yes, sometimes more is just... less

 

[tobydawq]

He already beat him once there. Don't think he remotely thinks about doing races depending on the opposition.

Yes, and Pogi anno 2021 was exactly the same proposition as he will be this year.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Van der Poel focuses on the biggest races which is probably why he skip strade. Better to peak for Sanremo, E3, Gent, Flanders, roubaix. Strade bianche is not a race in those levels. Only hipsters think otherwise

 

[Berniece]

Yes, and Pogi anno 2021 was exactly the same proposition as he will be this year.

Neither is MVDP. We still haven't see them race against each other both at their highest level, in such type of race.

 

[tobydawq]

Van der Poel focuses on the biggest races which is probably why he skip strade. Better to peak for Sanremo, E3, Gent, Flanders, roubaix. Strade bianche is not a race in those levels. Only hipsters think otherwise

I think it could be but as DNP said, it's just too hard now, and especially if it's a rainy edition, it's so tough that it compromises your spring.

There was no need to add to what they had.

 

[tobydawq]

Neither is MVDP. We still haven't see them race against each other both at their highest level, in such type of race.

What do you mean by that type of race?

We've seen them against each other plenty of times in hilly races.

 

[Berniece]

What do you mean by that type of race?

We've seen them against each other plenty of times in hilly races.

I mean that MVDP reached a new level at WC 2023 where he won by 2 minutes, and Pogi in general a new level in 2024. Since WC 2023 we have only see them race against each other in MSR, LBL, TDF and WC 2024.

TDF can be ignored, MSR is not hard enough for Pogi, LBL and WC were too difficult for MVDP. So we haven't had a proper race between them on a course that suits both of them. Like for example Ronde van Vlaanderen or old Strade Bianche route. Current route I'm not sure, some think it's too hard, I might still see him contend for victory, but that doesn't matter because he isn't riding it due to scheduling issues.

 

[tobydawq]

I mean that MVDP reached a new level at WC 2023 where he won by 2 minutes, and Pogi in general a new level in 2024. Since WC 2023 we have only see them race against each other in MSR, LBL, TDF and WC 2024.

TDF can be ignored, MSR is not hard enough for Pogi, LBL and WC were too difficult for MVDP. So we haven't had a proper race between them on a course that suits both of them. Like for example Ronde van Vlaanderen or old Strade Bianche route. Current route I'm not sure, some think it's too hard, I might still see him contend for victory, but that doesn't matter because he isn't riding it due to scheduling issues.

They should just do the Jaén classic on Monday and get it over with.

I don't think Strade is much easier than LBL nowadays.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I think it could be but as DNP said, it's just too hard now, and especially if it's a rainy edition, it's so tough that it compromises your spring.

There was no need to add to what they had.

They also reduced the gap to Tirreno from 3 days to 1 day which just makes it an even easier decision to skip strade if you've bigger goals coming up.

 

[Bolder]

I mean that MVDP reached a new level at WC 2023 where he won by 2 minutes, and Pogi in general a new level in 2024. Since WC 2023 we have only see them race against each other in MSR, LBL, TDF and WC 2024.

TDF can be ignored, MSR is not hard enough for Pogi, LBL and WC were too difficult for MVDP. So we haven't had a proper race between them on a course that suits both of them. Like for example Ronde van Vlaanderen or old Strade Bianche route. Current route I'm not sure, some think it's too hard, I might still see him contend for victory, but that doesn't matter because he isn't riding it due to scheduling issues.

It pains me to say this as a MvdP fan/stan, but I think that 2024 Pogi could beat any year MvdP at every race except maybe PR. And that's a big "maybe." (MSR is sort of an outlier fora lot of reasons)

I've never seen a rider dominate like that on multiple terrains. 2023 Pogi was, relatively, much worse.

 

[stonerider]

It's a shame not to see the current Gravel World Champion and CX World Champion race Strade. Since it has dirt sections, could he race in his Gravel World Champion rainbow jersey. That would he hilarious to see both he and Pog show up with World Champion jerseys. What is the clarification from the UCI for what is considered a gravel versus road race?

 

[tobydawq]

It's a shame not to see the current Gravel World Champion and CX World Champion race Strade. Since it has dirt sections, could he race in his Gravel World Champion rainbow jersey. That would he hilarious to see both he and Pog show up with World Champion jerseys. What is the clarification from the UCI for what is considered a gravel versus road race?

This is definitely not a gravel race.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It's a shame not to see the current Gravel World Champion and CX World Champion race Strade. Since it has dirt sections, could he race in his Gravel World Champion rainbow jersey. That would he hilarious to see both he and Pog show up with World Champion jerseys. What is the clarification from the UCI for what is considered a gravel versus road race?

With the UCI's definition of what gravel is in mind, you'd probably be able to convince them that Paris-Roubaix is actually a track race, but there would still only be allowed one rainbow jersey in the race, and riders wouldn't be forced to share it with other riders depending on which surfaces they're riding on.

 

[jono]

Our three lettered Pog insider friend is busy on X saying that the Rwanda worlds course is "perfect" for Mathieu and that he is a "pussy" for dodging Pogi by choosing MTB worlds instead.

 

[Berniece]

Our three lettered Pog insider friend is busy on X saying that the Rwanda worlds course is "perfect" for Mathieu and that he is a "pussy" for dodging Pogi by choosing MTB worlds instead.

Lol, he really doesn't know anything about cycling. Just because a section has cobbles doesn't mean it's good for MVDP. Pedersen will also not ride top 10 there.

 

[yaco]

Groves is riding the TDF, so is it possible for MVDP to miss the TDF to focus on Mountain biking?

 

[Berniece]

Groves is riding the TDF, so is it possible for MVDP to miss the TDF to focus on Mountain biking?

No, he said he will be riding TDF

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yeah but doesnt change I would like to see him there more so than Liege personally. Im sure it dont matter as much to him either as other races but if Pogacar wasnt there even with the changes of vertical meters I think he could win in peak shape but its more a thing of it dont align with the season for him indeed, he would had to first peak to early for his main spring goals and which ultimately from a historically standpoint is bigger races. Strade is beautiful though.



Agree MvdP is peaking or was peaking (hope he still is but remains to be seen) but he definetily has gotten a new gear since 2023 its no doubt.

No he couldn't. Despite being 3rd in LBL, there were 15 riders better than him in LBL.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Agree MvdP is peaking or was peaking (hope he still is but remains to be seen) but he definetily has gotten a new gear since 2023 its no doubt.

Yup, Pog has reached a new level since 2023 but MVP should also be stronger in Flandres this year than then. Hopefully Flandres and MSR will deliver. As for Strade MVP was a monster there in 2021 but a longer route with more vertical meters favours Pog more now.

 

[Berniece]

Exactly. Strade is still 3600 vertical and Liege almost 4300. Liege is still harder and my whole point about why I would like to see him to go to Strade over Liege for that reason alone. (the clumsy sheduled calender aside thing)

I think he can still win Liege but he needs to lose some weight for it. And obviously Pogacar and Evenepoel shouldn’t be riding it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think he can still win Liege but he needs to lose some weight for it. And obviously Pogacar and Evenepoel shouldn’t be riding it.

If there is no rider good enough to distance the rest of contenders (like Pogi or Remco) then MVP has a good chance of winning the sprint OFC, even at his normal weight. Still, it's maybe too much to ask, even without top dogs there could still be someone on a good climbing day.

 

[James M]

What im personally is most curious about MvdP this year, is to see if he has gained a new level, remained the same or gotten worse.

He was entering is prime undoubtably from 2023 onwards and gotten better, the trajectory from there is what im most intrigued to watch from him this year, he is in that age nothing last forever but not to old we cant rule out he has abselutely peaked either.

If the case is he is still improving, then im intrigued all im gonne say.

 

[jono]

What im personally is most curious about MvdP this year, is to see if he has gained a new level, remained the same or gotten worse.

He was entering is prime undoubtably from 2023 onwards and gotten better, the trajectory from there is what im most intrigued to watch from him this year, he is in that age nothing last forever but not to old we cant rule out he has abselutely peaked either.

If the case is he is still improving, then im intrigued all im gonne say.

His career arc is interesting. I personally think he had an amazing and still underrated year in 2019, winning numerous classics and winning in MTB when he lined up, then due to a combination of pandemic, injury, poor decisions (Giro-Tour double, Australia worlds debacle, etc.), didn't reach that level again until the stretch from Worlds 2023 thru the classics season in 2024. If he resumes that level, he should still be decent competition for Pogi at MSR and Flanders.