Gent-Wevelgem (men’s) 2024 (Sunday, March 24)

[KZD]

Pedersen and Lidl played it perfectly today, chapeau from a Van der Poel fan.

 

[skippo12]

Not if Pedersen is smart enough to go for a long sprint. If you leave it late and let it come down to the initial acceleration you play Van der Poel's game.

+1 for calling it.

 

[Netserk]

Very nice sprint to watch.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Pedersen cracked the code!

Code was cracked over 10 years ago, but people chose to ignore it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How far was that? ~250m?

Almost exactly, yes. Basically did what Van Aert didn't dare in Ronde 2020.

 

[Volderke]

How many people on here said Pederson was over rated ?

He just beat MVDP ...not many people can say that

I said he was overrated; I have to take that back.
Still, it was a team effort to crack MvdP -> Trek played it very very well and Milan played a key role.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Pedersen immediately figuring out how to battle Van der Poel in a sprint: make his insane explosiveness worth nothing by making it a long sprint.

Wout is still trying to find a way.

Seems every cobbles rider but van Aert has figured that one out by now...

 

[Salvarani]

Think they get caught if Trek, EF and one Intermarché rider dont block the road before Kemmel.

Pedersen very strong today, but I think Trek used their numbers incorrectly but won anyway.

 

[repre]

Great race by Lidl. 3rd Meeus. Best Bora classics result since Sagan winning Roubaix?

Pollitt was good at Roubaix once too

 

[Mayomaniac]

Code was cracked over 10 years ago, but people chose to ignore it.

Mainly van Aert chooses to ignore it...

 

[JosefK]

Pedersen immediately figuring out how to battle Van der Poel in a sprint: make his insane explosiveness worth nothing by making it a long sprint.

Wout is still trying to find a way.

Seems it was the only option for Mads. Great race, today.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Breakaway buddies!

 

[Netserk]

 

[DNP-Old]

The most important thing of today is hopefully Visma taking notes and just taking the battle to Van der Poel. His team is pathetic. Make him work.

 

[Barkintheeye]

How many people on here said Pederson was over rated ?

He just beat MVDP ...not many people can say that

Yes I think someone called Pedersen second rate not even close to Van Aert. Maybe he cannot win at RVV or on similar courses but MP is anything but a tier 2 rider.

 

[Volderke]

Code was cracked over 10 years ago, but people chose to ignore it.

that's the difference between theory and practice, and while I don't mind MvdP winning a race he deserved to win, I'm happy he didn't win and the theory was brought into practice and well-executed.

 

[repre]

How far was that? ~250m?

300

 

[Mayomaniac]

I said he was overrated; I have to take that back.
Still, it was a team effort to crack MvdP -> Trek played it very very well and Milan played a key role.

Milan raced like Lotto Greipel when they brought him to the cobbled classics.

 

[Brullnux]

Milan raced like Lotto Greipel when they brought him to the cobbled classics.

Milan beat Kooij after doing 30km off the front solo

 

[Volderke]

Yes I think someone called Pedersen second rate not even close to Van Aert. Maybe he cannot win at RVV or on similar courses but MP is anything but a tier 2 rider.

MP is still not close to WvA. If you had WvA in the situation Pedersen was in (in a seat, drafting MvdP), he would have pulled this off as well (or no: he would have messed up the sprint).

 

[Unchained]

What place did Cavendish get? Didn't see

 

[Mayomaniac]

Milan still 5th (3rd in the bunch sprint) after that attack. He seems to like short, steep climbs more than Poggio or Cipressa style efforts, just like Greipel back in the day.

 

[Red Rick]

Almost exactly, yes. Basically did what Van Aert didn't dare in Ronde 2020.

Well Van Aert has lost or almost lost a few sprints going from too far himself.

I think the narrative that it's about 'sprint after a hard race' is a bit misplaced here. The feature that matters is recovery time after the last super hard effort, and that one has been 30 minutes. Pedersen gets torched every time after the Poggio, and at the WC they also had a hill 2km before the finish and he got beaten by Pog there too after going from too far.

 

[Didinho]

Mathieu should try the attacking game in a 1 vs 1. But Pedersen looked even stronger after Milan was dropped. Mathieu did a lot of work and Pedersen was impressive.

 

[Penninepeddler]

Embarrassing from Intermarche...

had so many guys in the group still and not one of them helped with the chase.
blocking the road at points.
then not even doing a proper lead-out for Girmay...

like, what is that?

When they had four guys yet Soundal and Visma were doing the work to bring them back.

Basically both cowardly and tactic-less at the same time.

Now, Girmay likely does not win anyway, but I just cant for the life of me see what they were doing unless their whole plan was to come 3rd and the guys just switched off and did not get in position quick enough with around 2km to go.