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

[Oldman]

Thanks; that's a lot more racing than I was expecting.

That's alot of winning, now. Tadej might be paying attention to this level of form from his best cobble buddy.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

That's alot of winning, now. Tadej might be paying attention to this level of form from his best cobble buddy.

I don't think he cares. If he's good enough he'll ein and if he isn't he won't. Regardless of what MvdP does

 

[Berniece]

I don't think he cares. If he's good enough he'll ein and if he isn't he won't. Regardless of what MvdP does

I think it’s the other way around. If MVDP is good enough, Pogi doesn’t win, if MVDP isn’t he will. At least that was the case last year.

 

[hayneplane]

I think it’s the other way around. If MVDP is good enough, Pogi doesn’t win, if MVDP isn’t he will. At least that was the case last year.

The last time that was true in RVV was 2022. Anything else is just copium.

 

[Berniece]

The last time that was true in RVV was 2022. Anything else is just copium.

RVV 2025, unless you think MVDP showed he was at a similar level as WVA and Pedersen during spring classics of course.

 

[AmRacer]

RVV 2025, unless you think MVDP showed he was at a similar level as WVA and Pedersen during spring classics of course.

Pogi won 2025

 

[vappaxbipmv]

I think it’s the other way around. If MVDP is good enough, Pogi doesn’t win, if MVDP isn’t he will. At least that was the case last year.

It's more like there are 3 monuments that only those 2 can win, and it depends on the other

And since you've mentioned RVV, Pogacar won because he was the best. MvdP was clearly a 2nd best but lost a sprint, it happens. In 2022 Pogacar was at least 2nd strongest and finished 4th

 

[Berniece]

MvdP was clearly a 2nd best but lost a sprint, it happens.

It happens when you get sick before the race and crash during it

 

[AmRacer]

It happens when you get sick before the race and crash during it

He wasn't sick, so Pogi lost PR because of his crash then.

 

[Wyndbrook]

VVDP's peak cobbled classics form was 2024.
In 2025 he was ill in the Flanders run up, and after Paris Roubaix said he struggled and it felt like he was hitting every cobble, compared to the previous year where he felt he was gliding accross them.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

He wasn't sick, so Pogi lost PR because of his crash then.

He lost the chance to remain in contention all the way to the velodrome because of his crash. Don't think anyone would challenge that. I don't think most would consider it being a done deal that Pogacar would win after that lap and a half.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He wasn't sick, so Pogi lost PR because of his crash then.

Not crashing is a part of cycling, even road cycling. He had 2 crashes due to not being as good technically as his opposition in Strade & Roubaix.

Road fans don't seem to understand this part of cycling.......

 

[AmRacer]

Not crashing is a part of cycling, even road cycling. He had 2 crashes due to not being as good technically as his opposition in Strade & Roubaix.

Road fans don't seem to understand this part of cycling.......

I do agree, it seems not all road fans do.

 

[Berniece]

He wasn't sick

Yes he was. Why are you rewriting history?

"Hij stuurde me toevallig op 1 april": Mathieu van der Poel werd ziek na de E3 en nam deze week antibioticakuur | sporza

Na de finish gaf Alpecin-Deceuninck een klein geheimpje prijs: Mathieu van der Poel is na de E3 Saxo Classic ziek geworden en zag zijn voorbereiding op de Ronde van Vlaanderen verstoord. "Niets aan te doen", haalde ploegleider Christoph Roodhooft zijn schouders op. "We hoopten op een superdag...

sporza.be

 

[Oldman]

He wasn't sick, so Pogi lost PR because of his crash then.

Pogi lost PR: first, because of his crash. Second, because MvP paced his gap until Pogi eased off. Third, because there was no need for a sprint.
Who would've won that sprint?

 

[Oldman]

I do agree, it seems not all road fans do.

The vast majority of fans have never ridden a bike until they crashed, except maybe as youngsters. Crashing at race speed has to be experienced to understand the effect, no?

 

[AmRacer]

Pogi lost PR: first, because of his crash. Second, because MvP paced his gap until Pogi eased off. Third, because there was no need for a sprint.
Who would've won that sprint?

Didn't Mathieu had a flat after Pogi's crash?

 

[Oldman]

Didn't Mathieu had a flat after Pogi's crash?

I just re watched an edited version of the coverage after the crash up to 20km or so and did not see a flat. He was adding on to the gap at that time so it's possible he had time for a quick change with his team car right there. I'll watch the rest to confirm for my own memory.

 

[jono]

I just re watched an edited version of the coverage after the crash up to 20km or so and did not see a flat. He was adding on to the gap at that time so it's possible he had time for a quick change with his team car right there. I'll watch the rest to confirm for my own memory.

MVDP had a flat on Carrefour de l'Arbre. He didn't know the gap and couldn't communicate with the team car (radio not working) but the bike change was relatively quick and the gap was already over a minute at that point and wasn't much affected. Pogi also had a bike change. These all came after the race had essentially been decided.