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

[Lequack]

Has he given up on European races?

 

[kingjr]

Evidently, Mathieu is in LA:

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S6PA5AHH64Y

He's been golfing with Michael Phelps afaik

 

[iBanesto]

Golfer MVdP.

 

[jono]

Has he given up on European races?

If you're asking is he done with European road races in 2025, I'm pretty certain the answer is yes.

 

[senna6541]

Bad TDF route and bad WC course make it easy for MVDP to finally focus on the MTB after the Spring Classics!

 

[jono]

Bad TDF route and bad WC course make it easy for MVDP to finally focus on the MTB after the Spring Classics!

I'm sure that's what he would prefer, but will his team (sponsors) allow it?

 

[Berniece]

Bad TDF route and bad WC course make it easy for MVDP to finally focus on the MTB after the Spring Classics!

He might still go for the Vuelta though. Get that red jersey and have wins in all 3 GT’s

 

[Red Rick]

WC course is not that bad for Van der Poel.

 

[Salvarani]

WC course is not that bad for Van der Poel.

Montreal?

The climb is just about too tough for him, I think.

Slim chance at a podium but could maybe sprint for a good placement in group 2-3.

 

[jono]

WC course is not that bad for Van der Poel.

I suppose in the same way that van der Poel can do well at Liege or Lombardia (he has top 10s in both) then the Montreal course is not "that bad", but he has no chance of winning if Pogacar decides to turn up, and a single digits percent chance otherwise.

Pursuing objectives in MTB would have a far greater chance of payoff.

 

[Red Rick]

I suppose in the same way that van der Poel can do well at Liege or Lombardia (he has top 10s in both) then the Montreal course is not "that bad", but he has no chance of winning if Pogacar decides to turn up, and a single digits percent chance otherwise.

Pursuing objectives in MTB would have a far greater chance of payoff.

Without Pogacar I don't think it's impossible at all.

It's really not harder than LBL.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Without Pogacar I don't think it's impossible at all.

It's really not harder than LBL.

Both Pogacar and Evenepoel should be clearly favoured vs MVP. Bronze is possible.

 

[red_flanders]

1.6 km at 7% with max of 9.2...looks like 12 times?

Why is that so different from an effort like the Ronde or Amstel even? I don't know the course, never watched the Montreal race, but on paper...seems like right in his wheelhouse?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

1.6 km at 7% with max of 9.2...looks like 12 times?

Why is that so different from an effort like the Ronde or Amstel even? I don't know the course, never watched the Montreal race, but on paper...seems like right in his wheelhouse?

The course, in terms of total elevation gain and climbs type, should actually be more similar to Liege. Neither Amstel or Ronde have such long sections of 7%ish avg. gradient (repeated so many times on top of that). MVP would be an underdog not only vs Pogacar but also vs Evenepoel (who was very dominant recently vs non-Pogacar guys). Bronze is possible the way he did it in Liege 2024 but still guys like Pidcock, Healy and Ciccone say "hi".

 

[red_flanders]

The course, in terms of total elevation gain and climbs type, should actually be more similar to Liege. Neither Amstel or Ronde have such long sections of 7%ish avg. gradient (repeated so many times on top of that). MVP would be an underdog not only vs Pogacar but also vs Evenepoel (who was very dominant recently vs non-Pogacar guys). Bronze is possible the way he did it in Liege 2024 but still guys like Pidcock, Healy and Ciccone say "hi".

Hmm. Well I hope he goes for it, he'd IMO add a lot to the tactics and the race. I have the lingering thought that he won't be easily dismissed on this course.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Hmm. Well I hope he goes for it, he'd IMO add a lot to the tactics and the race. I have the lingering thought that he won't be easily dismissed on this course.

I think that if Pogacar goes all in after 250km, MvdP can be happy if he's only 20s behind on that climb

 

[Red Rick]

1.6 km at 7% with max of 9.2...looks like 12 times?

Why is that so different from an effort like the Ronde or Amstel even? I don't know the course, never watched the Montreal race, but on paper...seems like right in his wheelhouse?

Also, most of the rest of the lap is false flat downhill, which makes it slightly easier than a straight descend and then flat inbetween. Similar reason why all the non men's elite races in Kigali were so extremely passive.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Without Pogacar I don't think it's impossible at all.

It's really not harder than LBL.

He is irrelevant in LBL. Got a third because of group 2 dynamics.

 

[Red Rick]

He is irrelevant in LBL. Got a third because of group 2 dynamics.

Over his peak for that part of the season. And La Redoute and RaF are much ahrder than the hill in Montreal.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Over his peak for that part of the season. And La Redoute and RaF are much ahrder than the hill in Montreal.

He can go, I don't think he has any chance against Remco, let alone Pogacar.

 

[Sciatic]

Hmm. Well I hope he goes for it, he'd IMO add a lot to the tactics and the race. I have the lingering thought that he won't be easily dismissed on this course.

And it’s great to see the great riders at championship events even if the course might be a stretch for their capabilities. Just from the
Perspective of my entertainment and excitement about the race.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He might still go for the Vuelta though. Get that red jersey and have wins in all 3 GT’s

MTB Worlds take place during the Vuelta.......and it's a course he's won at - albeit back in 2019; Val di Sole......

 

[jono]

MVDP posts his first activity on Strava in nearly 3 years: a sub-34 minute 10k run.

Is this my strava comeback? 🤔 | Strava

View Mathieu van der Poel's run on November 13, 2025 | Strava

www.strava.com

 

[Krzysztof_O]

MVDP posts his first activity on Strava in nearly 3 years: a sub-34 minute 10k run.

Is this my strava comeback? 🤔 | Strava

View Mathieu van der Poel's run on November 13, 2025 | Strava

www.strava.com

It's interesting. And MVP is quite a massive guy. We've seen Dumoulin doing 10 km in 32 minutes. Obviously it's not that surprising considering how awesome aerobic engines they have but I'm curious how fast Vingegaard could go for example (after some training of course), he's so light, like African long-distance runners. Is breaking 30 minutes possible for such an elite, lightweight climber?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It's interesting. And MVP is quite a massive guy. We've seen Dumoulin doing 10 km in 32 minutes. Obviously it's not that surprising considering how awesome aerobic engines they have but I'm curious how fast Vingegaard could go for example (after some training of course), he's so light, like African long-distance runners. Is breaking 30 minutes possible for such an elite, lightweight climber?

There are no race radios so that could be a problem for Vingegaard. He may also also need to have some teammates to pull for him.