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

[Oldman]

I wouldn’t call your mother in law dying “bad luck”

You know his mother in law that well?

 

[jono]

Earlier this month or last there was speculation that MVDP might ride Omloop. Has anyone heard anything further on this?

 

[Berniece]

Earlier this month or last there was speculation that MVDP might ride Omloop. Has anyone heard anything further on this?

They still don’t know yet

 

[Wyndbrook]

Earlier this month or last there was speculation that MVDP might ride Omloop. Has anyone heard anything further on this?

Will all depend on how is training is progressing, and more importantly is he getting bored.

 

[Oldman]

Half of those focusing Roubaix every year cause they're too washed to focus anything else. And cobbles are a self fullfilling prophecy in that regard because the competition is thin and there's 2 monuments in 8 days that 2 great riders just win 592 monuments by focusing on a single week every year while doing *** all the rest of the year.

It works like that in every sport when you have an even that's very different from the rest, the field is gonna be weaker on average becuase the traits aren't that well selected for.

There is also the reality that larger power-domestiques can gain serious UCI points by merely finishing. Their teams appreciate the points and contracts may have requirements incentives to do it. Likewise, the strong but lighter riders that regularly are in the mix see no need to screw up a month of training. Add the risk of crash injuries; you are destined to get this top-heavy contender scenario. The cobbles make it worth their while at the same time punishing all others. About points.

 

[jono]

Spotted training on his TT rig today. But why?

 

[Berniece]

Tirreno?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Tirreno?

He needs some race to get ready for fun with Pogi in Milan-San Remo.

 

[Berniece]

He needs some race to get ready for fun with Pogi in Milan-San Remo.

Yeah but maybe he wants to go for a GC result in the first 3 days.

 

[MJR]

Confirmed for Omloop. Hell yes.

 

[Keldergoat]

Curious to see in what shape he'll arrive. From 2022 to 2024 his first race was always quite meh, but knowing MvdP, he won't be there merely gain fitness and sees himself with a chance to win.

 

[jono]

Curious to see in what shape he'll arrive. From 2022 to 2024 his first race was always quite meh, but knowing MvdP, he won't be there merely gain fitness and sees himself with a chance to win.

I get what you mean, but he was third in MSR in 2022 in his first race, and basically won the race for Philipsen in 2024. 2023 he was definitely pretty anonymous at Strade Bianche and Tirreno.

I guess his standard is just that high.

 

[Tanakka]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2027023286526247375

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/2027023286526247375

 

[KZD]

Another one ticked off the list, best cobbled rider of all time.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

was he breathing? I only saw mouth closed.

 

[AmRacer]

was he breathing? I only saw mouth closed.

When you race amateurs

 

[Didinho]

Impressive power control on the wet cobbles. Hope he skips tomorrow, just to do a leadout maybe. Seen enough crashes for this weekend.

 

[jmdirt]

Curious to see in what shape he'll arrive. From 2022 to 2024 his first race was always quite meh, but knowing MvdP, he won't be there merely gain fitness and sees himself with a chance to win.

Not meh today huh?

 

[jmdirt]

MvdP! Dust off the CX dirt and hit the road!

EDIT: He used his CX skills a bit today to avoid guys who can't ride a bike.

 

[Purito91]

Is MVDP already the best cobble classic rider of all time or will he be only after this season?

 

[kingjr]

So the key for van der Poel to beating Pogacar at the Ronde will be rain, probably.

 

[jmdirt]

Impressive power control on the wet cobbles. Hope he skips tomorrow, just to do a leadout maybe. Seen enough crashes for this weekend.

Shwoogh! That was a lot of crashes!

 

[James M]

He came he saw, he conquered. Champ is on track and very impressive on the wet cobbles as usual.

 

[Didinho]

So the key for van der Poel to beating Pogacar at the Ronde will be rain, probably.

Just not get sick or injured and it will be closer again.