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

[canina82]

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.

If someone is expecting to become the next Pogacar, of course he is overrated but as far I have been reading on this forum, he is perfectly rated.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

That's probably enough about Pogacar, Del Toro and Evenepoel for now on the Van Der Poel thread, thank you.

 

[tobydawq]

Wasn't it a bit hypocritical of Mathieu to not ride with Del Toro when he apparently put Tim van Dijke on his mortal enemies list for daring to not take pulls during Omloop? I don't care particularly if a rider takes turns or not but this behaviour seems almost comical.

 

[Berniece]

Wasn't it a bit hypocritical of Mathieu to not ride with Del Toro when he apparently put Tim van Dijke on his mortal enemies list for daring to not take pulls during Omloop? I don't care particularly if a rider takes turns or not but this behaviour seems almost comical.

I agree, maybe he was just knackered? Then again, this isn't the first time MVDP being hypocritical. He also has the tendency to close gaps to WVA and then not ride anymore

 

[tobydawq]

I agree, maybe he was just knackered? Then again, this isn't the first time MVDP being hypocritical. He also has the tendency to close gaps to WVA and then not ride anymore

Yeah, sure, but Van Dijke was probably knackered as well.

 

[Berniece]

Yeah, sure, but Van Dijke was probably knackered as well.

Bit different of course, Van Dijke went with MVDP at 40km from the finish? There were a lot of flat sections, so time to recover. Yesterday MVDP said he was at the limit when he lost Del Toro's wheel due that slip. There just was no time to recover.

In the end I still agree that MVDP eventually could've taken a turn.

 

[tobydawq]

Bit different of course, Van Dijke went with MVDP at 40km from the finish? There were a lot of flat sections, so time to recover. Yesterday MVDP said he was at the limit when he lost Del Toro's wheel due that slip. There just was no time to recover.

In the end I still agree that MVDP eventually could've taken a turn.

That's not my point. I don't think he should have taken a turn if he thought it would be detrimental to his chances of winning. But I do think he should not have thought negatively of Van Dijke for not taking turns.

 

[Red Rick]

Afaik Van Dijke and VdP often train together so he may just be talking *** about one of his buddies

 

[Gratemans]

Afaik Van Dijke and VdP often train together so he may just be talking *** about one of his buddies

They actually trained together after Omloop, so people are just creating drama.

 

[yaco]

MVDP did not need to ride because Del toro was chasing GC.

 

[jono]

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

The initial part of the gravel climb was 1.1km at 9%. A 3+ minute effort. With mostly a climbing finish to follow.

He can climb these short hills, and he did yesterday. But on that sort of profile against two of the better climbers in the world, he does not hold the upper hand.

 

[jono]

That's not my point. I don't think he should have taken a turn if he thought it would be detrimental to his chances of winning. But I do think he should not have thought negatively of Van Dijke for not taking turns.

What evidence do we have for this? That he congratulated Vermeersch in the finish corral after Omloop but not van Dijke?

 

[tobydawq]

What evidence do we have for this? That he congratulated Vermeersch in the finish corral after Omloop but not van Dijke?

Yeah, I also think I saw a quote from afterwards where he said he had no respect of riding in that way. But if they really are training buddies and have been training together since, I should probably not put too much stock in those comments (especially if they're false, lol).

I might have read quotes from this article posted somewhere else without realising they were not actual quotes from Mathieu but I do agree with Zonneveld's take on the aftermath of the race:

“Mathieu van der Poel is showing Van Dijke: ‘Today you don’t get my respect’” – Analyst spots icy podium snub after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The decisive split of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 did not just happen on the Molenberg. It also revealed two different philosophies of racing. When Mathieu van der Poel surged clear alongside Florian V...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[rallybanana]

There's a horse called Vanderpoel going in the next race at Cheltenham

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

There's a horse called Vanderpoel going in the next race at Cheltenham

Finished 7th

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Finished 7th

Did too much in front, then couldn't stay with the leaders round the home turn........

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Did too much in front, then couldn't stay with the leaders round the home turn........

Jockey's foot didn't come out of the stirrup as one of its opponents began to open a gap?

 

[fenns]

Finished 7th

too many gradients - would be better at a flat track like Sandown

 

[jono]

MVDP is a knucklehead for not doing donkey duty for Philipsen in this one:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys2JENkP4tg&t

 

[Krzysztof_O]

This was a statement win. He was among the strongest on 1.7km at 9.2% climb and crushed the rest in the sprint. Confirming big favorite status for the MSR.

 

[Balthazar]

MVDP is a knucklehead for not doing donkey duty for Philipsen in this one:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys2JENkP4tg&t

Horner himself is a bit of knucklehead. I got a 100 on him calling everybody in the front today knuckleheads for not all racing against Mathieu where in reality it would have made absolutely no difference. He could have won it ten different ways.

 

[Didinho]

Explosive win. His kick is insane when he’s also one of the strongest on that short climb. The moment he went around Wout you just knew he had more to give.

He’s ready. Just stay healthy.

 

[fenns]

He looks in the form of his life. Hard to see anyone beating him at MSR or PR.

Ironically Pog actually helps him in these races - burning off anyone who might be a threat in a sprint.

 

[Berniece]

He looks in the form of his life. Hard to see anyone beating him at MSR or PR.

A lot of time between today and PR. Hope he isn't in form too soon, or if he's unlucky like last year at Flanders where he gets ill beforehand.

 

[Balthazar]

A lot of time between today and PR. Hope he isn't in form too soon, or if he's unlucky like last year at Flanders where he gets ill beforehand.

This a load week for him, it's esssentially training. He will de load a bit towards MSR and then increase the load again afterwards, continuing to train through races like E3 and GW (depending on schedule) and then peak specifically for Flander and Roubaix. He's been doing this for some time now and one might say it seems to be working.