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

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Sep 12, 2022
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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.
 
Jul 16, 2024
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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
 
Oct 4, 2020
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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.
 
Sep 12, 2022
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He wasn't sick
Yes he was. Why are you rewriting history?

 
Jun 19, 2009
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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.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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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.
 
Jun 17, 2024
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I love MvdP huge fan. Impossible not to like him, for me. Hes as close to perfection as it gets in RVV type races imo. That being said, even he has almost next to no chance vs. Pogacar in RVV now.

I would argue that people who watch the WC in the fashion it unfolds, etc, dont quite understand what they’re watching if they still dont get it. Its a simple matter of aerobic respiration and fatigue resistance.
 
Jun 17, 2024
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That said, it might still be the singular race im looking forward to the most, because historically its as peak as it can be with those two battling there. MvdP should swallow his pride and change his tactics, though.

As for MSR and PR, hes rightfully the favourite (tho I expect he’ll need to be better than ever this time around in PR to win, Pogi will come better prepared throughout after his student trip last year, much like his RVV 22 to 23) and I expect MvdP to win all the other cobbled races in the fashion we’ve grown used to.
 
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Apr 13, 2025
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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.
Pogacar wasn't there in 2024.
Obviously, it's easier to ride without anyone pushing you.

In 2023, Pogacar was superior RVV. In 2024, VDP was racing "alone" , so it's normal to ride more comfortably.

In 2023 he wasn't sick. Pogacar is superior in De Ronde.
 
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