106th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 3rd, 2022

[Valv.Piti]

WTF

What shitty news. Race wont be the same at all without Wout.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

What a bummer. I'm not a big Van Aert fan but I admire him, and the race needs him and his rivalry with Van der Poel.

 

[ciranda]

Really? Vlaanderen two years ago was the most boring race ever. Not sure it matters for Jumbo's chances anyway, Tiesj Benoot looked like the strongest in the world in yesterday's race.

And maybe they will call in Roglic to substitute.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Really? Vlaanderen two years ago was the most boring race ever. Not sure it matters for Jumbo's chances anyway, Tiesj Benoot looked like the strongest in the world in yesterday's race.

And maybe they will call in Roglic to substitute.

He's certainly in Spain and has Itzulia.

 

[Lequack]

Are you talking about Roglic, the cobbled classics specialist, man who said he would only the Tour because it has cobbles in it?

 

[ciranda]

He's certainly in Spain and has Itzulia.

Jumbo have that covered with Vingegaard.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Are you talking about Roglic, the cobbled classics specialist, man who said he would only the Tour because it has cobbles in it?

Instead of winning Itzulla 10 times Rogla should try Flandres to add more drama to the race.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Roglic doesnt have a chance in Flanders IMO

 

[ice&fire]

Instead of winning Itzulla 10 times Rogla should try Flandres to add more drama to the race.

Rogla doesn't like narrow roads

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Roglic doesnt have a chance in Flanders IMO

Why not, eh? He can have a shot (if he doesn't kill himself, that is)

 

[saunaking]

He's certainly in Spain and has Itzulia.

Never heard of it. Is it worse than COVID??

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Instead of winning Itzulla 10 times Rogla should try Flandres to add more drama to the race.

Exactly…

Imagine this: At 10:00 AM on the marketplace of Antwerp, next Sunday, Roglic gets on the stage of the teams presentation - ready to race.

Suddenly Lefevere, Peeters and Bakala get out of the DS team car of QS, and approach the stage. Patricks face gets deeply red, as he shouts, „You JV b*stards! We were prepared to race against Wout! Leave the stage, and travel to Basque Country immediately!“.

Roglic does not react, starts RVV, and 6.5 hrs later, beats Pogi in a sprint of two in Oudenaarde.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

We will see what tactics Pog will apply on sunday. In recent races he was trying to win by brute-force: it usually pays off but these races (among very few in his calendar when he's not #1 favourite) reduce his natural advantage over the field. He will have to be more alert in the first part of the peleton and preferably attack with a small group of very strong riders (and trying another one later if he feels good).

 

[saunaking]

We will see what tactics Pog will apply on sunday. In recent races he was trying to win by brute-force: it usually pays off but these races (among very few in his calendar when he's not #1 favourite) reduce his natural advantage over the field. He will have to be more alert in the first part of the peleton and preferably attack with a small group of very strong riders (and trying another one later if he feels good).

no reason he cant replicate alaphillipe's performance from two years ago up until the unfortunate crash

 

[Bolder]

What a bummer. I'm not a big Van Aert fan but I admire him, and the race needs him and his rivalry with Van der Poel.

Time for Alafpolak to step in and save QSs early classics season!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Time for Alafpolak to step in and save QSs early classics season!

Things aren't looking good when they rely on a guy who has a DNF and a 42nd place in his two participations in Flanders to save their season here

 

[tobydawq]

Things aren't looking good when they rely on a guy who has a DNF and a 42nd place in his two participations in Flanders to save their season here

I don't really think those two results do his performances justice...

 

[ice&fire]

no reason he cant replicate alaphillipe's performance from two years ago up until the unfortunate crash

He just needs to be free from traffic jams, which is no small feat

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I don't really think those two results do his performances justice...

Performances perhaps not. But results are what they are. And staying on your bike is part of cycling too. An essential one.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Things aren't looking good when they rely on a guy who has a DNF and a 42nd place in his two participations in Flanders to save their season here

Ala however, in the edition of RVV when he crashed out and broke his hand, probably would have achieved a podium rank… I think Ala would be capable to win Flanders.

Now that he is getting older, however, he will concentrate completely on LBL. I guess he fears, with some bad luck, he will have to finish his career one day without ever having won Liege - the race which possibly suits him best.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Ala however, in the edition of RVV when he crashed out and broke his hand, probably would have achieved a podium rank… I think Ala would be capable to win Flanders.

Now that he is getting older, however, he will concentrate completely on LBL. I guess he fears, with some bad luck, he will have to finish his career one day without ever having won Liege - the race which possibly suits him best.

Well, I think he could do well also. The team has the defending champion in it though, so I thought the comment about the need to summon Alaphilippe to save the season was a bit funny when comparing their results.

 

[Pantani_lives]

For the women's race, I suppose you'd be foolish to look past Van Vleuten. Because you'd always be foolish to look past Van Vleuten. Vos of course also can't be ignored.
Balsamo and Wiebes are obviously on fine form, but... is the race maybe a little too tough for them?

Don't forget Kopecky. She could become the second Belgian to win it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Performances perhaps not. But results are what they are. And staying on your bike is part of cycling too. An essential one.

Yes, but he was one of the 3 strongest riders in that race. Your logic doesnt make any sense - he might as well have crashed in any other race instead and then he would have a top-3. Alaphilippe in top form is one of the favourites in this race, well, almost in any classic he chooses to participate in.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes, but he was one of the 3 strongest riders in that race. Your logic doesnt make any sense - he might as well have crashed in any other race instead and then he would have a top-3. Alaphilippe in top form is one of the favourites in this race, well, almost in any classic he chooses to participate in.

Alaphilippe be a favorite here but it would not take a super hard route in a one day race to make Pog a bigger favorite

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yes, but he was one of the 3 strongest riders in that race. Your logic doesnt make any sense - he might as well have crashed in any other race instead and then he would have a top-3. Alaphilippe in top form is one of the favourites in this race, well, almost in any classic he chooses to participate in.

My logic that staying on your bike is an essential part of cycling doesn't make any sense?