"Is Wout finished?" thread.

[matticus]

MVDP will be favourite for the Green this year if he goes for it. The points given to various stages which suit his capabilities seem to suggest ASO are encouraging him to go for it

I think he's got the ability (and I'll take your word for the Tour profile, as I really haven't looked!); the obvious fly in the ointment is his teammate kaden Groves, who - assuming he's selected - will surely steal a ton of points off Matty-boy.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

He's literally just tied for the Green Jersey in the Dauphine, only losing out to Pog on stage wins. I think it's a pretty bold statement to denounce MVDP and quoting de Lie as an alternative. As takes go, that's a pretty hot one

I wasn't suggesting De Lie was a green jersey contender, just that he's one of the riders that will be competing for stage wins of the sort that MvdP would need to be targeting. And a race where the points jersey is taken by a GC rider isn't really a good predictor for the green jersey at the Tour, especially when the stage win countback includes getting outsprinted by both Pog and Vingegaard from a small bunch on stage 1.

 

[M.R.M]

I think MvdP could win green, but he won't, because he doesn't really seem to care about it. I expect he will lead out Philipsen, try to win 1-2 stages and otherwise just be training at the Tour like he has done in the past.

 

[Dorset Boy]

The tour is where MvdP repays some of his debts

 

[M.R.M]

I don't really think it's like that. I think he is just a very loyal person and good teammate. He has been in the same relationship basically forever, been in the same team from the beginning, signed with long term bike manufacturer Canyon for life. Becoming famous or successful hasn't seemed to have changed MvdP at all.

When Philipsen radio'ed him once MvdP had closed down Pogacar on the Poggio that he had good legs and he should please wait, MvdP did not hesitate to work for him for a second. He was away with Pogacar (small gap only) and would have won the two up sprint had they stayed away (likely). Nonetheless, he immediately rode defensively and shut down all attacks after the Poggio descent for Philipsen. Philipsen won the race.

A Monument like that isn't the type of race you give up typically give up to repay a favour. He did it nonetheless.

Also, has Philipsen ever actually been a meaningful help to MvdP? Even in Roubaix, the chasers never stopped chasing just because Philipsen was there, or did they? I can't recall any case. In his Monument or classics solo wins, he just solo'd away without anyone being able to catch up despite trying. Philipsen wasn't the one causing group 2 dynamics as far as I can remember.