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

[senna6541]

Frustrating race to say the least. The competition needed him to have that bad of luck to keep him from winning (whether in a spring or even dropping Wout and Pogi on the cobbles). Tough breaks at both spring monuments but that's the way it goes and in cycling if you come out in one piece and move on to the next one, consider yourself lucky. With this form you wonder if maybe he jumps in Amstel or maybe take a week to rest from PR go for a result in LBL. Personally, I would love to see him call it a road season and go all in on the MTB from here on.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Personally, I would love to see him call it a road season and go all in on the MTB from here on.

Considering it's his final big goal, him (or his team) aren't really pulling out the stops to achieve it........
He could have a short rest, and then do Swiss/ French Cup races before the second MTB World Cup in Nove Mesto in late May. We keep saying it, but he needs time on the MTB to get the skills back......

 

[senna6541]

Considering it's his final big goal, him (or his team) aren't really pulling out the stops to achieve it........
He could have a short rest, and then do Swiss/ French Cup races before the second MTB World Cup in Nove Mesto in late May. We keep saying it, but he needs time on the MTB to get the skills back......

Yeah, was interesting to see how much he still thinks about the MTB in the short film that just came out. Between the fact that MTB riding/ racing is just more fun than the road, and the fact that it remains a massive personal challenge for him when everything else comes so "easy", the guy is clearly serious about the MTB. Now he just needs his team and sponsors to let him do it. It would unbelievable to see him shred and overpower World Cup courses with the right amount of saddle time. Think about how much bigger his engine and just overall body strength is now vs. when he was racing in 2017-19 with an iffy back and lesser core.

 

[senna6541]

And the only other worthwhile goal is road WC's but seems too hard - at least if a decent Pogi is defending?

 

[HashRouge]

And the only other worthwhile goal is road WC's but seems too hard - at least if a decent Pogi is defending?

How hard is it compared to Zurich? Because MdvP was extremely competitive there, and lots of people said it was way too hard for him beforehand.

 

[canina82]

How hard is it compared to Zurich? Because MdvP was extremely competitive there, and lots of people said it was way too hard for him beforehand.

It’s harder. Elevation is like 3500m (zurich was 4500m) but they will have a flat section of 100 km before hitting the circuit. 3500m in 170km is a lot.
The main climb is 1.7 km at 7.7%. Zurich circuit didn't have a climb like this one.