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

[Cycling111]

How about Pogi's "little" progression since 2024?

Pogacar already defeated MVDP in 2023 in De Ronde.
In De Ronde they can't even use the season as an excuse; he was superior in 2023.

Ask Remco if Liège is different with or without Pogacar . RVV is a race where the pressure has to be more noticeable than in Liège.

 

[Oldman]

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.

Thanks. I checked the balance of the coverage and Pogi's came at 20+km to go. Both had instant service from team cars with only Pogacar risking getting caught by the 3 ....2 chasers. Vermeersch seemed to annoy Wout by not pulling. VanAert must've been seriously bent to waste energy trying to convince him to chase MvP.

Realistically this race demands that you never let up to manage flats and crashes. Mathieu didn't relax until the last 5km. All of these guys were very close to the same strength and a 5 up velodrome finish would've have been interesting, too.

 

[Oldman]

The one thing I still find hard to believe is the absolute abuse Mathieu is exposed to. The a*shole that threw a full water bottle into his face....what fan base is that aggressive? Cyclocross fans are usually local drunks and upset the local lads are getting schooled. It does seem like it happens in Belgian races when he gets fluids thrown on him. But Paris Roubaix? Every fan has to appreciate the pain to endure that many hours of painful work. Just don't get it.

 

[Cycling111]

The one thing I still find hard to believe is the absolute abuse Mathieu is exposed to. The a*shole that threw a full water bottle into his face....what fan base is that aggressive? Cyclocross fans are usually local drunks and upset the local lads are getting schooled. It does seem like it happens in Belgian races when he gets fluids thrown on him. But Paris Roubaix? Every fan has to appreciate the pain to endure that many hours of painful work. Just don't get it.

During the Tour de France, they´ve ever thrown urine to the riders.