106th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 3rd, 2022

[Mayomaniac]

Kristoff is impressive for a mere mortal.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Matthews has 'em exactly where he wants 'em

That fighting 6th place is in the bag

 

[ppanther92]

Would Woet match this ?

I guess he would be in the selection, yes.

 

[AlfaLum]

Seriously don’t understand why Madouas, van Baarle and Wright are pulling. Just let the two alphas do all the work…

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

If Madouas, Wright and Van Baarle work in this group I give up...

Pidcock really never races for his team, only himself.

If they don’t work VDP and Pogacar will just drop them in next climb. If they work a bit, VDP and Pogacar wants to bring them along.

the place to stop working is after Kruisberg. Then Madouas/Van Baarle/Wright can get 10 km of wheelsucking before Kwaremont.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Matthews has 'em exactly where he wants 'em

That fighting 6th place is in the bag

Tbf BikeExchange badly need the points to save the license. So Matthews is the perfect rider for them right now.

 

[KZD]

MVP will kill Pogacar on paterberg

I really doubt it but we never know, his best chance seems to be in a sprint although Pogačar and the others are no slouches

 

[Mayomaniac]

Everyone behind is just cooked and even if they manage to close the gap they'll get dropped on the next hard climb.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

If Madouas, Wright and Van Baarle work in this group I give up...

presses power button on laptop

 

[jaylew]

If Madouas, Wright and Van Baarle work in this group I give up...

Pidcock really never races for his team, only himself.

Of course they are going to pull unless the feel like they are on the limit

 

[Eclipse]

If they don’t work VDP and Pogacar will just drop them in next climb. If they work a bit, VDP and Pogacar wants to bring them along.

the place to stop working is after Kruisberg. Then Madouas/Van Baarle/Wright can get 10 km of wheelsucking before Kwaremont.

For real, as soon as they show that they're not going to offer anything Pogi and MVDP will just beat them into submission. Better to preserve the relationship as long as possible and hope you have enough in the tank once when it comes to crunch time to get back on during a cat and mouse than to just be pummelled into submission.

 

[Volderke]

Matthews with an itching elbow.

 

[postmanhat]

If Madouas, Wright and Van Baarle work in this group I give up...

Pidcock really never races for his team, only himself.

He can still get a top ten, and the best chance of that is shedding as many riders as possible on the climbs.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Everyone behind is just cooked and even if they manage to close the gap they'll get dropped on the next hard climb.

They are racing for anything between 3rd and 6th depending on who stays ahead and they know it.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

If anyone want to point fingers at stupid tactical moves, point the fingers at Aime De Gendt, joining attacks in group 2 instead of working for Kristoff.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

How bad are ag2r. Seriously you can put equipo kern pharma, euskaltel or Androni in this race and they would be better. And they don't have nasen or gva or Jungles.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm expecting Pog to drop MvdP on the Kwaremont.

 

[spalco]

For real, as soon as they show that they're not going to offer anything Pogi and MVDP will just beat them into submission. Better to preserve the relationship as long as possible and hope you have enough in the tank once when it comes to crunch time to get back on during a cat and mouse than to just be pummelled into submission.

They are all racing for 3rd place (at best) anyway.

In what scenario other than a freak crash does anyone other than MVdP and Pogacar have even a 1% chance of winning at this point?

 

[Volderke]

Ofcourse van Baarle, Madouas, Wright are working. It's a top 5 and possibly a podium in Flanders.
If they don't work, they have nothing.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

He can still get a top ten, and the best chance of that is shedding as many riders as possible on the climbs.

Correct, but Van Baarle is certain to get a better result provided that he has enough of a margin. So you ensure he has that margin and then unleash your attack on the final two hills.

 

[JosefK]

What a race. Love Flanders!! Pogacar is one of a kind. Seriously how can Roglic beat this dude in the tour?

Roglic may be hoping that Pogacar rides everything from here till the TDF . . . maybe even signs up for the Giro.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

I'm expecting Pog to drop MvdP on the Kwaremont.

I'm not sure if it's possible to drop a close to full strength VDP on any of these climbs, but I guess we'll find out.

 

[Salvarani]

I'm expecting Pog to drop MvdP on the Kwaremont.

Pog should go all out there. If MVDP can follow, he might not have enough to get rid of Pog on Paterberg. If has a super day then the strongest rider wins.

 

[Mayomaniac]

They blew it when nearly all the big teams had a rider in group 2 while Pogi only had Trentin behind and they didn't work.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Ofcourse van Baarle, Madouas, Wright are working. It's a top 5 and possibly a podium in Flanders.
If they don't work, they have nothing.

The group is still not going to be caught if they swallow some brain deworming pills and stop pulling. And Pog and VDP are still not going to let them hang around no matter how obligingly stupid they are