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

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He attacked, closed a gap on Ganna, and then was clearly blocked by Ben Healy. This isn't any spin, he was in decent form and if you think he won't be good this spring you are in for a big surprise.

Also since you clearly didn't watch the race, here's the recap.

I watched the race, he got smoked. Ganna beat him. Pidcock beat him. Rick Pluimers beat him. He may be good this spring, but in any race where he is up against Pogacar, he will get smoked. Being "good" this spring won't be enough. This isn't a field of guys who only race cyclocross, or are coming off 2 major injuries last year. I think training with Zwift kids isn't the best training or something. He has been MIA so far this week, other than chasing down Ganna...which gained him what? 20th place. His TT was laughable.

He stated that he came to Tirreno to win stages...he ain't done that yet...

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

MVP has nothing to prove. He already won RVV and PR multiple times. On the other hand, WVA has nothing to show.

I mean...except:

Top results​

• 9x
  stage Tour de France ('22, '21, '20, '19)
• 2x
  E3 Saxo Bank Classic ('23, '22)
• 
  Milano-Sanremo ('20)
• 
  Amstel Gold Race ('21)
• 
  Strade Bianche ('20)
• 
  Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France ('22)
• 
  Gent-Wevelgem ('21)
• 
  Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ME ('22)
• 2x
  GC Tour of Britain ('23, '21)
• 3x
  stage Vuelta a España ('24)
• 5x
  stage Critérium du Dauphiné ('22, '20, '19)
• 
  Points GC Tour de France ('22)

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just KILLING it, he is:

140

VAN DER POEL Mathieu

Alpecin - Deceuninck

1.46,60

49.019

 

[Berniece]

I watched the race, he got smoked. Ganna beat him. Pidcock beat him. Rick Pluimers beat him. He may be good this spring, but in any race where he is up against Pogacar, he will get smoked. Being "good" this spring won't be enough. This isn't a field of guys who only race cyclocross, or are coming off 2 major injuries last year. I think training with Zwift kids isn't the best training or something. He has been MIA so far this week, other than chasing down Ganna...which gained him what? 20th place. His TT was laughable.

He stated that he came to Tirreno to win stages...he ain't done that yet...

So we had 3 stages. A ITT which he didn't care about, a sprint stage and today where he was boxed in. But sure if you think he isn't in form at the moment, and won't win anything this spring, fine. The way I saw him racing in Samyn and here I have the feeling he'll just win MSR.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

So we had 3 stages. A ITT which he didn't care about, a sprint stage and today where he was boxed in. But sure if you think he isn't in form at the moment, and won't win anything this spring, fine. The way I saw him racing in Samyn and here I have the feeling he'll just win MSR.

Problems with reading comprehension, or intentional avoidance of what I actually wrote? Pick one.

He's stage hunting, but he doesn't appear to have a fully loaded rifle. It's funny how any mild criticism is just pounced upon and distorted.

He.Got.Smoked.Today. #cope

 

[Berniece]

Problems with reading comprehension, or intentional avoidance of what I actually wrote? Pick one.

He's stage hunting, but he doesn't appear to have a fully loaded rifle. It's funny how any mild criticism is just pounced upon and distorted.

He.Got.Smoked.Today. #cope

He was boxed in. Look at the footage

 

[jono]

MVDP had a pretty decent spring last year. How did he do at Tirreno then?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I watched the race, he got smoked. Ganna beat him. Pidcock beat him. Rick Pluimers beat him.

Just got sligthly more smoked than Pogacar got in UAE tour stage 1. Even Aaron Gate and Lionel Taminiaux smoked Pogi. Very similar level of smokedness.

 

[Blanco]

I mean...except:

Top results​

• 9x
  stage Tour de France ('22, '21, '20, '19)
• 2x
  E3 Saxo Bank Classic ('23, '22)
• 
  Milano-Sanremo ('20)
• 
  Amstel Gold Race ('21)
• 
  Strade Bianche ('20)
• 
  Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France ('22)
• 
  Gent-Wevelgem ('21)
• 
  Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ME ('22)
• 2x
  GC Tour of Britain ('23, '21)
• 3x
  stage Vuelta a España ('24)
• 5x
  stage Critérium du Dauphiné ('22, '20, '19)
• 
  Points GC Tour de France ('22)

And now compare all this with 6 monuments + worlds. Can you see the difference?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He was boxed in. Look at the footage

On the last bit he had a clear path to the left. Look at the footage.

Also note: If he'd been strong enouth, he would have been in a better position. Just look at what Pidcock did.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just got sligthly more smoked than Pogacar got in UAE tour stage 1. Even Aaron Gate and Lionel Taminiaux smoked Pogi. Very similar level of smokedness.

Pogacar wasn't supposed to win that stage...all they talked about during the coverage was how Mathieu was favored on today's stage. I guess they meant favored to get 20th place.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

And now compare all this with 6 monuments + worlds. Can you see the difference?

Now compare Wout with 99% of the rest of the peloton. Can you see the difference?

 

[saunaking]

He was boxed in. Look at the footage

nah, blew his load chasing down Ganna, didn't have it the last 300m