Recent content by vappaxbipmv

One more thing that you didn't mention. In 2023, even though he got injured in LBL and had a bad preparation for the Tour, which seems to be the go to and only race to judge someone's level, he was already good enough to drop Jonas multiple times. If we take Jonas as a standard, 2022 Pogacar...

Jonas in early season is notoriously not that same Jonas as in July. But we know he'll be great when he has to be

One thing's for certain, he will be in better shape than last year, hopefully

I mean, if you're battling against TGH (all due respect) at any point during the year, you're not a good climber. And your improved climbing is definitely not there yet. But I agree, early season races don't tell us much about who will be good in July

Watch the race again, Yates attacked with cca 3km to go, the gap was made almost instantly and even though the end of the climb is flatter (more than 2,km), Remco couldn't bring anything back even though we all know he's more aero and stronger on flatter sections than Yates

Everyone you mentioned apart from Almeida and maybe Landa, if he's very good, shouldn't present any problem whatsoever for Remco

He did, which only confirms my hypothesis. February Remco isn't a great climber but his TT is always elite (and he didn't lose time in crosswinds)

It was steep enough for Yates to convincingly drop Remco there a few years ago. I didn't say Del Toro will easily beat Remco but that he's not without chances. Obviously Remco is the favourite but it wouldn't be shocking it he doesn't win

Exactly, it's not like February Remco is some mythical climber that can't be beaten

Almeida is doing Algarve and Pogacar has bigger fish to fry so Del Toro is the best man available. But let's not pretend that he doesn't have a chance there

That's right, he never made an unimaginable junp, he belongs in the clinic section, that's a confirmed fact

How much brain power is needed in these examples? He was the favourite, the won those sprints. MSR, he could've won from any of the 3 positions, he was clearly the strongest in that sprint. RVV, same, clearly the fastest

I mean it's logical, why would a better sprinter try to force a solo if he can just win in the sprint if it comes down to that

UAE doesn't want to win MSR with whoever. They want to win it specifically with Pogacar, which is a lot more difficult

For his big wins (monuments, WC) the only time he won against a maybe better sprinter was against Wout in Flanders and that's debatable. Others were solos or he won against weaker sprinters, as expected. In fact, he even lost to Asgreen and Vermeersch also beat him in 2021 P-R that Colbrelli won...