"At the Tour de France, sometimes he couldn't even get into the leading group" - Matteo Jorgenson doesn't see Mathieu van der Poel as favourite for Olympic Gold
CyclingWednesday, 31 July 2024 at 22:13
This Saturday, August 3rd, the men's peloton will take to the roads of Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games in the battle for gold in the men's elite road race. Heading into the race, one of those considered the main favourites is world champion Mathieu van der Poel.
Van der Poel will hold the hopes of the Dutch, but according to American hopeful Matteo Jorgenson, the world champion isn't the man to watch, especially after a somewhat lacklustre Tour de France by the Alpecin-Deceuninck superstar earlier this summer.
"I was surprised last year in Glasgow after I saw him riding in the Tour de France. And also how I saw him this year. It's not like he was training. Sometimes he couldn't even get into the leading group," the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star says of Van der Poel in conversation with the CyclingMole podcast. "That day that Campenaerts won, he just didn't make it. I don't know, I can't predict it, but it's impressive to be able to improve so much in such a short time."
Instead, rather than Van der Poel, Jorgenson sees the Belgian team as the biggest obstacle he must overcome to claim Olympic gold. "With the team they have, they can gamble. I think a soloist will win. In his position, he has the luxury of being able to attack without hesitation, because he has teammates behind him. That's how I see it," Jorgenson assesses of the team that include the star duo of Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert. "Belgium is the strongest team. Stuyven was also so strong under the radar at the end of the Tour de France and I have inside information that he did two more training sessions behind a motorbike in Monaco. He is also a card to play with. It is almost like if they don't win it is embarrassing."
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- Eclipsed in results, sure; they are on opposite sides of the street, one going up, the other down. Yet, by your own admission, or knowledge of said press, people are still interested in reading the press he gets, and after all, it's entertainment.itsent21-05-2025
- The Roglic superpower: never question the past, always look forward. And always use adversity to aim higher. Who else loses the Tour on a time trial, then gets Olympic gold and wins the Giro on a time trial? The man is both reflective and totally immune to the past, it seems.RidesHills21-05-2025
- Its a wonder that Froome still gets press. Watched his drop from TDF winner to bottom feeder and his delusinal progression of his statements from Fifth TDF win to TDF podium to TDF Stage win to GT stage win to TDF participation to finally collapsing to Vuelta Participation. In the meantime Pogi has completely eclipsed him.abstractengineer21-05-2025
- A senior Tour de France would arguably be just as exciting as the WT TdF. Not all retirees become instant slouches, and they're the same age as many of the most ardent pro cycling fans, so the audience would certainly be there. Who wouldn't want to see a Contador-Froome rematch?itsent21-05-2025
- No gifts! Time for the senior tour!frieders321-05-2025
- Not very likely. No nostalgia tour.mobk21-05-2025
- Once a rider starts to crash, he becomes a crash magnet.abstractengineer21-05-2025
- So, is it solved???Mistermaumau20-05-2025
- Or some health issue. I’d make sure he’s never far from an ambulance with competent crew.Mistermaumau20-05-2025
- I hate to agree. If it was a lesser name that had won in that way, they would have been called a "wheelsucker". Still a win is a win and it goes down in the record books as that, no matter how it is gained.Cyclingsbestfan20-05-2025
Matteo likely to be eating those words when he sees the backside of MvdP disappearing into the distance.
I don't have inside information but I think Matthieu was following team orders at the TDF and saving his legs to lead out Jasper.
He knew everything and still he did it.
I think in a single day event without having to deal with the fatigue of the Tour day after day he will be better. I think this course is really suited to his attributes but there is no doubt that it's also suited to Remco for a completely different set of reasons. I think either guy could win. It will be a great race.
Sorry Matteo but I think that MVdP is much more experienced rider and he knows when to push hard and when not.
TdF was at best training camp for MVdP and the last thing he wanted is to be in "leading group".
It's called "trash talking," and Matteo knows exactly what he is doing. It won't likely have an effect on MVDP, but needling your opponents is a natural part of sports.
it won’t help and likely hurt him. thinking of the big balls comment here
Pick your battles the tour for van de poel was a trg ride with few efforts . He will take a medal.