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

[Red Rick]

He will be pain in *** for Pogi but aren't those spring duels of the two legends what we are waiting for? The first 3 monuments could be the highlight of the season.

I was convinced in 2016 the Djokovic-Murray final in the Australian Open was gonna be great this time.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I was convinced in 2016 the Djokovic-Murray final in the Australian Open was gonna be great this time.

Come on, last years MSR was more packed in action than usual. Roubaix was also tense until Pog started losing time 10 km after the fall (compare it to the situation where Pogacar isn't there: easier win by MVP). Flandres is also the place where MVP and Pog's powers align. It's better to have two alphas than one: Pog is sleepwalking through other big races and so would MVP in Flandres & Roubaix, isn't it true?

 

[Netserk]

He will be pain in *** for Pogi but aren't those spring duels of the two legends what we are waiting for? The first 3 monuments could be the highlight of the season.

yes i very much hope the two will be close in strength ( itd be even better if they raced more tactically against each other instead of taking turns slapping the other in the face until the strongest wins )

unfortunately , it is not close at all to third strongest rider , so the two better face off or stay home

Spoiler: this is what my dear classics are reduced to

 

[Red Rick]

Come on, last years MSR was more packed in action than usual. Roubaix was also tense until Pog started losing time 10 km after the fall (compare it to the situation where Pogacar isn't there: easier win by MVP). Flandres is also the place where MVP and Pog's powers align. It's better to have two alphas than one: Pog is sleepwalking through other big races and so would MVP in Flandres & Roubaix, isn't it true?

I just have matchup fatigue. Especially in regards to RVV and Roubaix. I'm also *** bored by Sinner/Alcaraz matches btw

Sanremo is whatever. It's not like it ever has many swings in momentum, and the critical point is basically who can follow the initial attack. But at least it has possibility for riders like Van Aert, Ganna to be in there.

 

[stonerider]

I just have matchup fatigue. Especially in regards to RVV and Roubaix. I'm also *** bored by Sinner/Alcaraz matches btw

Sanremo is whatever. It's not like it ever has many swings in momentum, and the critical point is basically who can follow the initial attack. But at least it has possibility for riders like Van Aert, Ganna to be in there.

I'm not sure about Van Aert...he sadly seems past his prime. I believe all the crashes and illnesses have robbed him of his best years.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm not sure about Van Aert...he sadly seems past his prime. I believe all the crashes and illnesses have robbed him of his best years.

It's Sanremo, I don't find it that strange to think that if Ganna and Van der Poel can follow on a 9 minute 4% climb that Van Aert, who is the one who actually has some legit climbing performances in his career, could follow as well.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I just have matchup fatigue. Especially in regards to RVV and Roubaix. I'm also *** bored by Sinner/Alcaraz matches btw

Sanremo is whatever. It's not like it ever has many swings in momentum, and the critical point is basically who can follow the initial attack. But at least it has possibility for riders like Van Aert, Ganna to be in there.

Last year's MSR to me was the best edition I remember. As for RVV and Roubaix: Pogacar showed an edge in the former while MVP is the favourite in the latter but both going toe to toe until the very end is possible in those races (and then magical things can happen when Pogi sprints against MVP!).

 

[Unchained]

This guy shows over and over, he is a brilliant bike racer, his win today was flawless. The guy has raced 2 road events and won both from a breakaway. Omloop was equally awesome.

 

[dazaau]

This guy shows over and over, he is a brilliant bike racer, his win today was flawless. The guy has raced 2 road events and won both from a breakaway. Omloop was equally awesome.

Omloop was domination, this was him scraping all his bike handling skills and racing brains together to get the edge on his rivals and get over the line first. Great to see it.

 

[canina82]

Great win, I was a little bit shocked to see him getting caught by Del Toro but still a strong performance and on his way to become a double digit monument winner.

 

[jmdirt]

MvdP!

 

[Berniece]

Great win, I was a little bit shocked to see him getting caught by Del Toro but still a strong performance and on his way to become a double digit monument winner.

Yeah weird he doesn’t hold a gap with percentages of average 6-7%. Wonder why he doesn’t just go for GC

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Yeah weird he doesn’t hold a gap with percentages of average 6-7%. Wonder why he doesn’t just go for GC

The section Del Toro caught MVP on was flattish.

 

[Berniece]

The section Del Toro caught MVP on was flattish.

After what?

 

[Extinction]

Great win, I was a little bit shocked to see him getting caught by Del Toro but still a strong performance and on his way to become a double digit monument winner.

Had Jorgensen not fallen in front of Del Toro, causing him to lose MvdP and the effort necessary to catch back up, Isaac would have won.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

After what?

After a climb, which was short and punchy (so still within MVP's capabilities). We all know that MVP can recover well from such efforts. It's also possible that MVP was saving himself to have energy for the last climb (he mentioned it) so slowing down and riding on Del Toro's wheel was good for him.

 

[Berniece]

After a climb, which was short and punchy (so still within MVP's capabilities). We all know that MVP can recover well from such efforts. It's also possible that MVP was saving himself to have energy for the last climb (he mentioned it) so slowing down and riding on Del Toro's wheel was good for him.

It’s just very obvious that some people try to discredit this performance as sort of copium for MSR. He was there with only Del Toro and Pellizzari, tells you enough about the difficulty of the climb

 

[canina82]

Yeah weird he doesn’t hold a gap with percentages of average 6-7%. Wonder why he doesn’t just go for GC

It was flat where he got caught.

 

[canina82]

After a climb, which was short and punchy (so still within MVP's capabilities). We all know that MVP can recover well from such efforts. It's also possible that MVP was saving himself to have energy for the last climb (he mentioned it) so slowing down and riding on Del Toro's wheel was good for him.

Exactly this. It's not like MVP can't climb these short hills.

 

[canina82]

It’s just very obvious that some people try to discredit this performance as sort of copium for MSR. He was there with only Del Toro and Pellizzari, tells you enough about the difficulty of the climb

This is exactly what you do with Del Toro and Pogacar.
Maybe you didn't read but I mentioned he is on his way to become a double digit monument winner so it's clear I am expecting him to win 2 monuments this season (and MSR is one of them).

 

[Berniece]

This is exactly what you do with Del Toro and Pogacar.

With Pogacar? I think it's been since before WC 2024 that I tried to discredit a Pogacar performance. Although I remember me saying that he wasn't as impressive during Strade 2025, which was probably due to the impact of his fall.

In case of Del Toro, I stand by everything I've said about him. He isn't the new Pogacar and will never reach those heights. I don't even think Del Toro will ever win a TDF for example. He just isn't good enough at long classics or at multi-mountain stages.

 

[canina82]

With Pogacar? I think it's been since before WC 2024 that I tried to discredit a Pogacar performance. Although I remember me saying that he wasn't as impressive during Strade 2025, which was probably due to the impact of his fall.

In case of Del Toro, I stand by everything I've said about him. He isn't the new Pogacar and will never reach those heights. I don't even think Del Toro will ever win a TDF for example. He just isn't good enough at long classics or at multi-mountain stages.

Who the hell thinks he is the new Pogacar? Yes, maybe he will never win a Tour because Pogacar still has many years left and Seixas looks like the new king in 2 or 3 years. But in the same way you are free to say Del Toro will never win the Tour, others are free to say Remco will never win the Tour, something you don't accept well despite being older than Del Toro and his GT career is really hampered by the presence of Pogacar.
Pogacar is the best rider in 40 years (at least), why are you thinking Del Toro is expected to be at his level? Who (here on the forum) actually said that?
BTW, I hope you are not one of those who discredit Pogacar's performance on Kigali because Remco got a mechanical.

 

[Berniece]

Who the hell thinks he is the new Pogacar?

The media

 

[Salvarani]

The media

I have seen no such comparisons, nor would they be accurate. That would be a lazy link and setting him up to fail, by people hoping he doesnt live up to such extreme expectations put on him. Del Toro isnt and wont be the next Pog.

Del Toro a different rider, with different strengths. He is young and still improving, but there are many great young riders on the rise atm.

I will say he looks likely to have a pretty good career and could win many races, but that doesnt make him the next Pog. I think that is not fair to put on anyone.

 

[canina82]

The media

So no one from the forum but you still come here like there are a lot of us (forum users) who believe Del Toro will be as good as Pogacar. You know the sensationalism is part of media, they want to sell and those articles or posts are obvious clickbait.
And they do the same with Seixas, with Remco, they want someone to threat Pogacar even deep inside we all know he stands alone way above his rivals both in stage races and hilly classics.