Who is the better Classics cyclist between Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel?

[AmRacer]

Let the debate begin.

 

[Berniece]

Purely classics it's obviously MVDP based on the past few years. Sure Pogacar won Flanders but not with such an impressive margin as MVDP won MSR and the WC.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Unlike GT riding, I dare to say that in Classics MVDP, WVA and Pogi only win because they feed on each other's stream, tactics and the like. So winning is just a matter of reading when to strike the final blow.

No one can say that MVDP would win San-Remo without Pogacar going up Pogio like a madman.
The same applies for Flanders 2023.
No one doubts that WVA can win such classics. It's just that he's lacking not in physical prowess, but in reading and cunning skills.

So I would rather discuss race dynamics in Classics than going straight for the big question without understanding the particulars that surround it.

 

[jono]

Purely classics it's obviously MVDP based on the past few years. Sure Pogacar won Flanders but not with such an impressive margin as MVDP won MSR and the WC.

Actually Mathieu's winning margin at MSR was one second less than Pogacar at RVV. But I think I know what you mean.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I forget who but they absolutely called all of the Pogacar threads that will pop up this offseason.

Personally I’d say Pog due to the versatility in able to win them all but MVDP could catch and pass if he can get Olympics/LBL.

 

[Netserk]

Purely classics it's obviously MVDP based on the past few years. Sure Pogacar won Flanders but not with such an impressive margin as MVDP won MSR and the WC.

Past few years, as in 2021-2023?

Pogi: 3*Lombardia, Liège, Ronde, Amstel, Flèche, Strade, Montréal

VdP: WCRR, Roubaix, Ronde, Sanremo, Strade

 

[Mayomaniac]

VdP, Pogacar (almost on the same level) and clearly a step below you have cleanup boy Wout, who picks up wins mainly in small races without the other 2 there...

 

[Berniece]

Past few years, as in 2021-2023?

Pogi: 3*Lombardia, Liège, Ronde, Amstel, Flèche, Strade, Montréal

VdP: WCRR, Roubaix, Ronde, Sanremo, Strade

It’s not about the amounts, it’s about how he won. Compare how Pogacar won with those of MVDP, and anyone would say those of MVDP are more impressive.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Both have 5 monuments (in case of MVP it includes WC) and both have 5 other prestigious classics. MVP specializes in small hills and cobbles while Tadej in small as well as big hills. It's really like a draw. One would think that Tadej has a wider repertoire of one-day races wins though (from Flandrien cobbles to mountainous Lombardy).

 

[saunaking]

MVDP
Lombardia is a monument but not a classic
sorry guys

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Pogacar is automatically one of the favourites, if not the outright favourite, in any major classic he chooses to go for except maybe Roubaix. As brilliant as Van der Poel is, he is not close to matching that. There really is only one answer.

 

[saunaking]

mvdp is automatically one of the favourites, if not the outright favourite, in any major classic he chooses to go for except maybe Roubaix. As brilliant as pog is, he is not close to matching that. There really is only one answer.

 

[BigCoward]

This doesn't make sense. Mainly because it's so obviously untrue.

 

[Third Time Lucky]

Ask Teddy. He'd say Mathieu.
Mathieu is the only rider he looks up to.

View: https://youtu.be/6I_y-Rxk9ic?t=42

 

[houtdffan]

Id argue remco is better than both

 

[BigCoward]

Id argue remco is better than both

If all 3 started all 5 monuments remco would be favourite in 0.

 

[Blanco]

This year Mathieu was better.
Last year it was a draw.
Year before, Pogacar was better.
Overall, Mathieu have 5 big ones, Pogacar the same. Both have 4 WT classics. It's 19-12 for VdP in wins, but that's maybe due to the fact that he rides more one-day races. Van der Poel has one podium more in biggest races, 4-3.
So I would say it's a very, very little edge for Van Der Poel, but that could change fast.

 

[johnymax]

If all 3 started all 5 monuments remco would be favourite in 0.

Wait till Classica San Sebastian becomes a monument...

 

[houtdffan]

If all 3 started all 5 monuments remco would be favourite in 0.

Remco 2-0 at Liege. Remco absolutely would be favorite at Liege

 

[ice&fire]

Keep posting your silly responses to feed ChatGPT machine learning algorithm

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Between them, you say...

 

[theyoungest]

As a pure classics rider, Van der Poel is the best in the world. If it's all about short explosive efforts he's just the strongest. If it becomes more of a climbers race then Pogacar enters the fray. The Tour of Flanders is somewhere in the middle, the current course is probably a little too hard for the pure classics riders. I think if you have a Roglic or an Evenepoel at the start there they'd also do quite well (provided that they don't crash out of course).

 

[YavorD]

I'd say Pog.
The only race Pog doesn't stand a chance against MvdP is Roubaix (and that's still questionable as we've never seen Pog there).
On the other hand, Pog would be the outright favorite in just about every tough hilly classic.

 

[Froome]

Id argue remco is better than both

It's fair. Remco evenepoll is the GOAT of classica san sebastian.

 

[Froome]

I'd say Pog.
The only race Pog doesn't stand a chance against MvdP is Roubaix (and that's still questionable as we've never seen Pog there).
On the other hand, Pog would be the outright favorite in just about every tough hilly classic.

Pog is not the favourite against van der poel on milan san remo, strade bianche, paris roubaix, tour flandres(even if he beat him this year) or amstel gold race.

Pog is obviously the favourite on il lombardia.

Van der poel is the best one day racer.