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

[LookProGoSlow]

There are three possibilities. Either his crash is hindering him more than he's letting on, he's somehow screwed up his preparation, or this past week is the first sign of decline. And the latter would not be that strange even at 31, given how young he was when he hit the big time in CX.

Maybe, maybe, it’s all speculation at this point. The crash was the culprit I think. You don’t go from flying in Tirreno to ‘weak noodle’ in 2 weeks. Decline could be but a rapid onset we are seeing is making me doubt. I think it’s the crash.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

Just a reminder that we have never seen Pogačar solo from 60k+ out in Flanders terrain, harder terrain for sure it‘s a loss in the Pogačar competition to win like that, but it‘s just physics that you have a hard time solo against larger groups when the others aren‘t dead when you go solo

Stating the obvious but Matthieu is also not Pogacar. I never understood the comparison.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe, maybe, it’s all speculation at this point. The crash was the culprit I think. You don’t go from flying in Tirreno to ‘weak noodle’ in 2 weeks. Decline could be but a rapid onset we are seeing is making me doubt. I think it’s the crash.

San Remo crash? Then why did he go for such a long solo if he didn't feel well? Either a dumb decision or his legs simply weakened at some point.

 

[canina82]

Very underwhelming performance. I was expecting more tbh. But he is so good that a very poor MVP can still win this race

 

[canina82]

There are three possibilities. Either his crash is hindering him more than he's letting on, he's somehow screwed up his preparation, or this past week is the first sign of decline. And the latter would not be that strange even at 31, given how young he was when he hit the big time in CX.

If his crash is hindering, I think he would skip E3.

 

[Red Rick]

On a scale from Slovenian Stuntgranny to Washed van Aert, how Washed is he?

 

[Berniece]

Not sure about his performance. Wasn’t impressed. Seems his form is already on the decline, as if he peaked at Tirreno

 

[QueenStagiaire]

On a scale from Slovenian Stuntgranny to Washed van Aert, how Washed is he?

Which direction does that scale even go, I also think that‘s a pretty short scale.

 

[Monsi]

I really don't know what to say about his form. I don't know if or how a wounded hand would make MVDP more human. Did he really just wrongly peak for Tirreno? Is this just age-related decline in form? Still a good performance though but he was definitely pushed to the limit by the end of the race.

 

[Didinho]

Still think it was impressive though. Long time solo. Holding off that trio for 30km. He will be ready next week. Even if he can’t follow, he will be closer to Pogi than the others to him.

First time there was a cooperating G2 and someone coming back. Basically 3 against 1. Strong enough for me.

 

[jono]

I really don't know what to say about his form. I don't know if or how a wounded hand would make MVDP more human. Did he really just wrongly peak for Tirreno? Is this just age-related decline in form? Still a good performance though but he was definitely pushed to the limit by the end of the race.

Did anyone in the race do a more impressive performance than him? I'd say no. Is the bar really "orders of magnitude better than everyone else" or he's washed?

 

[Keldergoat]

To attack on the Boigneberg while having an extremely strong Planckaert with you (and a very strong Del Grosso just behind) is quite something. Now he had to pull the entire 20km before the Paterberg with full-on headwind, truly one of the stupidest moves I've seen in a while.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Did anyone in the race do a more impressive performance than him? I'd say no. Is the bar really "orders of magnitude better than everyone else" or he's washed?

The field was rather weak today compared to both previous years and other cobbled classics in general. No Pogacar, no Van Aert, a half-recovered Pedersen in the cobbled classic that has historically suited him the least, also nobody near the level that Ganna had last year, not a great second string with the likes of Wellens, Brennan, Benoot, Jorgenson and Küng all missing for various reasons. I think it's a pretty safe bet to say that 2023-2025 Van der Poel wins in similar fashion to 2024 today.

 

[Monsi]

Did anyone in the race do a more impressive performance than him? I'd say no. Is the bar really "orders of magnitude better than everyone else" or he's washed?

I don't think he's washed by any means. But I think it's quite safe to say thay he wasn't as strong today compared to his level at E3 for the past three years. Of course, he can still improve until Ronde and Roubaix but his form has some question marks right now.

 

[jono]

The field was rather weak today compared to both previous years and other cobbled classics in general. No Pogacar, no Van Aert, a half-recovered Pedersen in the cobbled classic that has historically suited him the least, also nobody near the level that Ganna had last year, not a great second string with the likes of Wellens, Brennan, Benoot, Jorgenson and Küng all missing for various reasons. I think it's a pretty safe bet to say that 2023-2025 Van der Poel wins in similar fashion to 2024 today.

If 2026 van der Poel made the same tactical moves he did in 2024, I expect the race would have played out in much the same way.

Basically every previous van der Poel solo win has come after the race has already been difficult for an hour or more, from a much reduced group. He attacked today, or followed van Dijke at least, out of a peloton of 100+ riders where nobody was under any real pressure.

With a mostly fresh peloton against a rider solo for 2 hours of headwind, the gaps progressed much as physics would dictate.

 

[Reemster]

He rode alone with (mostly) headwind for 60km. He said the part between the Boigneberg the Paterberg really broke him because of the headwind. The chasing group was also really strong. We musn't forget that this is a 200km race where the last 30km are flat.

Im not too worried about his shape, just about Pogacar

 

[LookProGoSlow]

He rode alone with (mostly) headwind for 60km. He said the part between the Boigneberg the Paterberg really broke him because of the headwind. The chasing group was also really strong. We musn't forget that this is a 200km race where the last 30km are flat.

Im not too worried about his shape, just about Pogacar

Yeah this is the best way to look at it. MVDP is a level above everyone else, except Pogacar, who is levels above him.

 

[James M]

I agree ofc with everyone saying this was underwhelming from Mvdp solely by his standards of course.

But he also went much further out this year with 60km ish to go or? which you think he wouldnt do if he wasnt feeling good, in some headwind for big parts, it matters still by his standards for sure not his most impressive win

 

[Gratemans]

He also stated himself after the race that the crash isn't particularly hindering him. His hand still hurts and that's annoying but it doesn't really influence how fast he can race.
He also mentioned that particularly the first half of his solo was very draining because of the strong wind. I just think he kinda underestimated that.

 

[fenns]

Not sure about his performance. Wasn’t impressed. Seems his form is already on the decline, as if he peaked at Tirreno

he's aging - so maybe unable to tolerate a cyclo-cross season followed by the classics as well as he used to

 

[jotafap]

I don’t think you can conclude his form his declining based on today. MVDP is no Pogacar, and still, that solo was a monstrous effort. And regarding MSR, a lot of things happened that could have completely changed the outcome. If he’s not able to put up a fight at RVV, then yes, that’s probably worrying for PR.

 

[jono]

he's aging - so maybe unable to tolerate a cyclo-cross season followed by the classics as well as he used to

He has attempted to win on 5 of his race days this year and has succeeded on 4 of those occasions. Even by his own standards, and not Pogi's, that is quite good.

 

[Berniece]

He has attempted to win on 5 of his race days this year and has succeeded on 4 of those occasions. Even by his own standards, and not Pogi's, that is quite good.

Pogacar only won 2 out of his first 5 one day races last year. This year he's 2 for 2 though

 

[Peyresourde]

For me not everything is about monuments. Van der Poel had comparatively more monuments than other classics in his palmares anyway, so catching up to rider like Boonen in that department is nice anyway.

Should he win on Sunday, then the comination of Omloop+E3+Gent is clearly superior to just MSR for me. His 2 stage wins in Tirreno were also nice.

 

[vappa]

Great win but that G2 syndrome at the end was so horrible it ruined my entire day