106th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 3rd, 2022

[Lequack]

2020 edition. MVDP vs Wout in a one to one sprint

https://twitter.com/x/status/1509669369168953348

View: https://twitter.com/iichika0409/status/1509669369168953348?s=20&t=tzn6QaSegR_NQhrv_KJi2Q

 

[The Hegelian]

I love that Pogacar is going into this as a serious contender. I suspect that he's already the best rider I've ever seen in three decades of following the sport. If he wins, this makes it an absolute truth.

Nonetheless, it's hard to look past MVP.

 

[VeloMaster]

Staying on your bike is important. Thats obvious to everyone.

Does he have a reputation for crashing a lot? Would you say the same in a thread made for Liege? He just so happened to crash in Flanders, and thats bad luck, but it doesnt make any sense to hold him accountable for that when talking about his chances in the race.

Long-time reader and occasional poster here, so perhaps I've missed something. but could someone please explain the general antipathy that seems to surround JA on these fora?

He's a 2-time world champ, he lights up almost every race he contests, he's got a solid list of victories that most pros would envy, he rides with real heart...the list goes on.

Oh yeah, he makes funny faces and tightens his shoes obsessively. Maybe that's it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Long-time reader and occasional poster here, so perhaps I've missed something. but could someone please explain the general antipathy that seems to surround JA on these fora?

He's a 2-time world champ, he lights up almost every race he contests, he's got a solid list of victories that most pros would envy, he rides with real heart...the list goes on.

Oh yeah, he makes funny faces and tightens his shoes obsessively. Maybe that's it.

I dno. To be honest, Im not a big fan of him either, but I have absolutely no antipathy towards him. I just like riders who contests the same races as he does better - Valverde, VDP, Van Aert etc. The stage he won in Massif Central in 2019 and his world last year in Belgium were absolutely amazing performances

 

[jaylew]

Long-time reader and occasional poster here, so perhaps I've missed something. but could someone please explain the general antipathy that seems to surround JA on these fora?

He's a 2-time world champ, he lights up almost every race he contests, he's got a solid list of victories that most pros would envy, he rides with real heart...the list goes on.

Oh yeah, he makes funny faces and tightens his shoes obsessively. Maybe that's it.

I honestly haven't noticed too much of that, certainly no general feeling like that but all top riders have their detractors. I think most appreciate him and his attacking nature.

 

[Sciatic]

Long-time reader and occasional poster here, so perhaps I've missed something. but could someone please explain the general antipathy that seems to surround JA on these fora?

He's a 2-time world champ, he lights up almost every race he contests, he's got a solid list of victories that most pros would envy, he rides with real heart...the list goes on.

Oh yeah, he makes funny faces and tightens his shoes obsessively. Maybe that's it.

Good observation. Maybe because he doesn’t fit the image of “riding his bike got him out of the coal mines and he’s forever grateful.” I enjoy watching him race and be goofy.

 

[tobydawq]

I dno. To be honest, Im not a big fan of him either, but I have absolutely no antipathy towards him. I just like riders who contests the same races as he does better - Valverde, VDP, Van Aert etc. The stage he won in Massif Central in 2019 and his world last year in Belgium were absolutely amazing performances

You should take a geography lesson or two if you think the Champagne vinyards are located in the Massif Central

 

[Wvv]

If Greg finally gets his much deserved win here, I'll be walking on sunshine for weeks. Imagine him doing this, and announcing his retirement during the post-race press conference ... that would be heroic.

He'll need miracle legs and amazing tactics though, I'm very much aware of that. But I'm sure he's gonna give it his all.

One can dream.

GVA will finally do it, outsprinting Campanaers in a 2 man sprint.

If you're right, I'll never complain about your Wout or Remco comments ever again.

 

[AlfaLum]

No, please not Greg. That would be horrendous.

 

[SHAD0W93]

The good thing for GVA is he isn’t the top favorite like before so doesn’t have to work like the favorite. With WVA out has a chance of attacking and staying away.

 

[Wvv]

No, please not Greg. That would be horrendous.

A guy that finished 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th and 10th in a particular race over the years, with two crashes that very likely took a victory away, deserves to come out as the winner one day. It will never be horrendous with that kind of history in mind, like him or not. If one thing, it would be wholesome.

 

[AlfaLum]

The good thing for GVA is he isn’t the top favorite like before so doesn’t have to work like the favorite. With WVA out has a chance of attacking and staying away.

As if Greg would work in any other given situation. Maybe he deserves it because of his bad luck here as a rider in this race. But his racing style has always been a disaster to me, so I really hope the gap in his palmares stays.

Hoping for attractive riders to win monuments. Pogacar, Van der Poel, van Aert, Asgreen, Mohoric etc. Guys who really race with there heart. Not the old school “I will finish your plate first, before I do a pull myself riders” of which Greg is almost the leader if Valverde wasn’t still active.

 

[tobydawq]

No, please not Greg. That would be horrendous.

It certainly would not.

 

[SHAD0W93]

As if Greg would work in any other given situation. Maybe he deserves it because of his bad luck here as a rider in this race. But his racing style has always been a disaster to me, so I really hope the gap in his palmares stays.

Hoping for attractive riders to win monuments. Pogacar, Van der Poel, van Aert, Asgreen, Mohoric etc. Guys who really race with there heart. Not the old school “I will finish your plate first, before I do a pull myself riders” of which Greg is almost the leader if Valverde wasn’t still active.

Then he is attacking and has Ian Stannard beat him in a sprint.

 

[tobydawq]

As if Greg would work in any other given situation. Maybe he deserves it because of his bad luck here as a rider in this race. But his racing style has always been a disaster to me, so I really hope the gap in his palmares stays.

Hoping for attractive riders to win monuments. Pogacar, Van der Poel, van Aert, Asgreen, Mohoric etc. Guys who really race with there heart. Not the old school “I will finish your plate first, before I do a pull myself riders” of which Greg is almost the leader if Valverde wasn’t still active.

This is the most unfair assessment of a rider's riding style I have ever read, are you freaking kidding me?

 

[AlfaLum]

This is the most unfair assessment of a rider's riding style I have ever read, are you freaking kidding me?

Nope. In my opinion the Greg who started winning races was that kind of rider. Not the Greg before that who never won races. That was a guy who raced.

Anyway, never liked Greg, will never like him. And really hope he does not win a monument again.

 

[Wvv]

To me, people declaring that Greg hasn't been an offensive, animating rider that cooperates with others:

1. don't know anything about cycling
2. are narrowmindedly looking through different glasses
3. think Sagan is some kind of god who didn't deserve a decent rival

Kind regards, a sincere cycling fan.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

BOMBSHELL! I've just read that Primoz will take part in RVV! He wants to test his cobbles skills again and make the team (weakened by WVA sickness) strong again. He's gunning for a rare RVV & Basque double!

"Flandres? Why not, eh? Wout is sick and timing is not a problem because planes exist, right? Hopefully I will stay on my bike this time and make a show." - Primoz said

 

[AlfaLum]

To me, people declaring that Greg hasn't been an offensive, animating rider that cooperates with others:

1. don't know anything about cycling
2. are narrowmindedly looking through different glasses

Kind regards, a sincere cycling fan.

Maybe I am narrowminded when it comes to Greg. Could be, because I never liked him.

Still in my memory he was always the one doing less work during the years where he had his success. For me the best riders in this new era are way more attractive than the best riders of the previous era. With the exception of Sagan and Nibali.

 

[Wvv]

Maybe I am narrowminded when it comes to Greg. Could be, because I never liked him.

Still in my memory he was always the one doing less work during the years where he had his success. For me the best riders in this new era are way more attractive than the best riders of the previous era. With the exception of Sagan and Nibali.

Well at least that's honest and I respect this nuance. I tend to have the same opinions about riders I disliked, certainly when I was younger, but you have to dare to look objectively at things too.
Also, I know Greg in real life, and he is a really genuine and down to earth guy. So it kind of 'hurts' me when people say they dislike him. He doesn't deserve that.

 

[Volderke]

BOMBSHELL! I've just read that Primoz will take part in RVV! He wants to test his cobbles skills again and make the team (weakened by WVA sickness) strong again. He's gunning for a rare RVV & Basque double!

"Flandres? Why not, eh? Wout is sick and timing is not a problem because planes exist, right? Hopefully I will stay on my bike this time and make a show." - Primoz said

You almost got me there! Thank goodness I checked the calendar.
Some snow here at the moment. If this was Sunday, it would be massive chaos!

 

[AlfaLum]

Well at least that's honest and I respect this nuance. I tend to have the same opinions about riders I disliked, certainly when I was younger, but you have to dare to look objectively at things too.
Also, I know Greg in real life, and he is a really genuine and down to earth guy. So it kind of 'hurts' me when people say they dislike him. He doesn't deserve that.

I have read that before about him, being a rider who is really nice, even makes a small talk to cycling tourists when he is training.

But as with most opinions on something, once you have them it is very hard to turn it around. I have seen some races where he was in front and he pulled less than the other riders, even though he was already a successful champion at the time.

Probably it stuck with me more than with other riders because I already did not really like him from his interviews. Never really understood why I did not like him in those interviews to be fair, he didn’t do much wrong. But still did not like him haha.

But maybe he is not like Matthews, Gerrans etc. Other riders that I do not like. Or to a lesser extent Valverde, who I admire, but from a racing perspective also do/did not like. But somehow Greg is somewhere up there in that list for me, although perhaps not as bad as Matthews and Gerrans. But I did not remember how much I disliked them when I made my first post.

Anyway, out of curiosity WVV, did you use to play a game called Wielerklassiekers?

 

[Wvv]

Just heared on the radio: Isreal forfaits because they don't have enough healthy riders.
Not really the kind of broadcast that I would expect to do April fools' ...

Edit: article on Sporza.be

 

[SHAD0W93]

Just heared on the radio: Isreal forfaits because they don't have enough healthy riders.
Not really the kind of broadcast that I would expect to do April fools' ...

Edit: article on Sporza.be

Should have sent Froome.

 

[Wvv]

Anyway, out of curiosity WVV, did you use to play a game called Wielerklassiekers?

Guilty haha, but let's take that to a private conversation.