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

[Berniece]

[deleted]

Is every crash the same?

 

[James M]

Dont think it is a huge leap.

Pog is so far trying one year, then fine tuning for next year. It is been the story for some of these races. They try and then assess. Go again.

Speculating, he is maybe one or two kgs heavier compared to last season for this time of the year. It makes some difference and that maybe he had more punch towards the end here, for the sprint. A bit more power.

They also "only" rode Cipressa 2 seconds faster afterall and Pidcock put up a great fight until the very end.

Yeah leap is probably not insane, but considering his level before any increase is detrimental to everyone else literally

Cipressa also lacks context considering the crash and chase to just get back in, where he started and so on. Its more impressive than it is on paper to me in a vaccum.

He undoubtedly looks heavier. As I speculated he will come prepared this year for Roubaix after his ‘student trip’ last year much like his 22 to 23 edition in Flanders.

 

[Salvarani]

No issue? Last year MVDP gave everything he had to stay on Pog's wheel. Everything.
This year Pogacar managed to climb the Cipressa in record time and cooked MVDP. When they got to the Poggio MVDP had nothing else in the tank.

I believe MVDP also said after the finish last season that "you almost had me" or something to that effect.

So that Pog would try again was given here.

Then a lot of things happen in the race.

Pidcock the one that provides the greatest challenge.

No shadow over MVDP imo though.

 

[jmdirt]

Get ready for the big stones MvdP!

 

[vappa]

Pogacar: causes crash that injures Van der Poel

Van der Poel: "You have my undying loyalty"

The Pogholm syndrome is real

I think MvdP was cooked on top of Cipressa and only worked because there were no other Alpecin riders in the chasing group. If Philipsen was there he would for sure not pull at all

 

[Red Rick]

I think MvdP was cooked on top of Cipressa and only worked because there were no other Alpecin riders in the chasing group. If Philipsen was there he would for sure not pull at all

There's no reason not to back yourself if it all comes together and you get to recover for a short while

 

[Salvarani]

There's no reason not to back yourself if it all comes together and you get to recover for a short while

MVDP winning a sprint of a reduced bunch with sprinters in it would be very slim.

The most logical is to go with the move you are in, when you are ahead. You still have a chance to win if continuing rather than letting oneself be caught.

Otherwise, it is a mistake to follow the move in the first place.

 

[vappa]

There's no reason not to back yourself if it all comes together and you get to recover for a short while

I think he knew he stands no chance against the peloton in a sprint because he was cooked at the top of Cipressa. So either you drop immediately and don't even try to follow and let the group catch it back while you suck wheels or you do what he did

 

[Red Rick]

I think he knew he stands no chance against the peloton in a sprint because he was cooked at the top of Cipressa. So either you drop immediately and don't even try to follow and let the group catch it back while you suck wheels or you do what he did

If you don't pull at all after the Cipressa, you're gonna be recovered by the time it's time to attack on the Poggio.

 

[TrekCyclist]

The most logical is to go with the move you are in, when you are ahead. You still have a chance to win if continuing rather than letting oneself be caught.

Otherwise, it is a mistake to follow the move in the first place.

There is a common tactic which is called "neutralizing an attack" as I remember

 

[Salvarani]

There is a common tactic which is called "neutralizing an attack" as I remember

Usually you are doing it for a teammate in that case. It doesnt make much sense to expand the energy or effort otherwise in this race.

 

[vappa]

If you don't pull at all after the Cipressa, you're gonna be recovered by the time it's time to attack on the Poggio.

If he doesn't pull after Cipressa they're getting caught

 

[Red Rick]

If he doesn't pull after Cipressa they're getting caught

After which you take a breather, and then just drop all the chumps on the Poggio as per usual.

 

[Red Rick]

Seriously, it's just annoying. They can go to the clinic and talk badly about Pogacar but no, they decide to taunt in every thread.

Not every negative opinion is doping related, and therefor not every negative comment belongs in the Clinic. It's not difficult.

 

[Salvarani]

After which you take a breather, and then just drop all the chumps on the Poggio as per usual.

Where does that makes sense?

After you have already given a lot just to follow an attack and high pace on Cipressa. You are 25-30 seconds ahead of a small and disorganized remnants of a bunch. It is not given such an attack would be successful later or that you have the energy left for that, after burning matches.

It is like being 2-0 up in the 80th minute. Only to lose concentration and let two goals in to make it 2-2 by the 87th. Hoping you still score the winner in the 89th. Having made all your subs, before time runs out.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Many were writing up MVDP for MSR but his wins at TIrreno looked nothing like Tadej’s win at Strade. It’s going to be hard to win P-R but not impossible. Vlandern is near impossible so this is not looking good. Not for MVDP but equally not for anyone else either apart from Pog.

 

[vappa]

After which you take a breather, and then just drop all the chumps on the Poggio as per usual.

Not after cooking yourself on Cipressa, he isn't dropping anyone important

 

[Revelation]

After which you take a breather, and then just drop all the chumps on the Poggio as per usual.

The most tactically sound plan you've ever given, I finally see why you've entitled yourself to mock and ridicule literally every action every rider and team does for eternity.

 

[HashRouge]

After which you take a breather, and then just drop all the chumps on the Poggio as per usual.

Hasn't he only actually done that once though?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Many were writing up MVDP for MSR but his wins at TIrreno looked nothing like Tadej’s win at Strade. It’s going to be hard to win P-R but not impossible. Vlandern is near impossible so this is not looking good. Not for MVDP but equally not for anyone else either apart from Pog.

MVP is #1 favourite for Roubaix. Flat cobbles is a totally different racing. Those Tirreno hills weren't easy at all: likely near the border of his striking zone but he did well.

 

[HashRouge]

MVP is #1 favourite for Roubaix. Flat cobbles is a totally different racing. Those Tirreno hills weren't easy at all: likely near the border of his striking zone but he did well.

I think he'll be flying at Roubaix. So will van Aert and Pederson from the looks of things - it could be very, very exciting!

 

[kingjr]

He was only about 2–3 seconds off last year's pace on the Poggio, riding most of it alone.

 

[Jan the Man]

Many were writing up MVDP for MSR but his wins at TIrreno looked nothing like Tadej’s win at Strade. It’s going to be hard to win P-R but not impossible. Vlandern is near impossible so this is not looking good. Not for MVDP but equally not for anyone else either apart from Pog.

Disagree re Roubaix - he is clearly still the outstanding favourite for Roubaix.

 

[dobrien]

No. You are underrating Pidcock.

Agree. Not to mention no one else was able to go with them…Pidcock seems to have hit another level with Q36.5 and was a poorly executed sprint away from taking this one; regardless of race circumstances to be in the final alone with Pog is obviously top class. Yes, Pog did go down, but this is also the second coming of Merckx we are talking about here. At no time did I note Pidcock having much, if any, difficulty following Tadej’s attacks, and that says a lot, to me at least.

 

[dobrien]

MVDP has had no issue following any Pog attack for 4 years at MSR. Today he gets ridden out of the wheel while Pidcock follows easily. Either MVDP was poor today for whatever reason or Tadej has made an immense leap. No other possibility remains.

No other possibility remains?! What? Mathieu is 31 years old now; you think it’s impossible that a 31 year old cyclist whose principle weapon is/was explosive power (one of the first things to decline with age) could possibly have lost 1% at 31? And that if that happens against the best rider the world has ever seen (who seems even better this year) it’s going to be a problem? Certainly the crash makes it very difficult to judge the performances “apples to apples” but to say no other possibility remains just seems incorrect to me.

At the moment, I don’t care what anyone else does, barring illness or disaster Flanders seems a done deal; I think Pog delivers a crushing blow there. I’m crossing my fingers that Mads, Wout, MVDP, and Pog all get to the start of PR healthy and ready to engage in the cycling equivalent of a bareknuckle cage match. My money is on Tadej at PR tbh; he feels like an unstoppable force at the moment.