106th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 3rd, 2022

[Extinction]

As MVdP put it here :
"He was maybe strongest in the race, and he rode offensively. I would've applauded him if he had won or finished on the podium. Maybe he (Rog) just needs to sprint here a few more times to get it right."

I cracked a wry smile when I read MVDP's comment "maybe he was the strongest of the race...". No, sir, he was the strongest. It's like Cancellara put it: "I was impressed with Tadej for 270 ks, while I was impressed with MVDP for 300 meters,"...during which he made a "badass" move to "school" Pogacar in the end.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Pidcock still waiting for an interview and a chance to say if i would be right there, at the finish line, i would give Pogi some classy lessons.

 

[Escarabajo]

MMQ. Here is the take from Horner.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpw34Jsq8wg


This time I agree with Horner 100%. Pogacar lost the race before they got to the sprint. He played to win and that's why he waited too long that finally knocked him out of the podium. But he was in one of those situations that Damn if you do and Damn if you don't. He wasn't playing for second.

I thought he was way over confident and spilling too much power over too many of the climbs. Next time he will know better to focus on just the last few. Nobody would have been able to keep up with him. IMHO. But again it is easy to say all this on a Monday morning.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

As MVdP put it here :
"He was maybe strongest in the race, and he rode offensively. I would've applauded him if he had won or finished on the podium. Maybe he (Rog) just needs to sprint here a few more times to get it right."

I've been thinking of a clever yet gentle way of saying ''you ment Pog (not Rog)'' but after 3 minutes i came up empty. So there you have it.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I've been thinking of a clever yet gentle way of saying ''you ment Pog (not Rog)'' but after 3 minutes i came up empty. So there you have it.

I appreciate your clemency!

 

[Extinction]

MMQ. Here is the take from Horner.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpw34Jsq8wg


This time I agree with Horner 100%. Pogacar lost the race before they got to the sprint. He played to win and that's why he waited too long that finally knocked him out of the podium. But he was in one of those situations that Damn if you do and Damn if you don't. He wasn't playing for second.

I thought he was way over confident and spilling too much power over too many of the climbs. Next time he will know better to focus on just the last few. Nobody would have been able to keep up with him. IMHO. But again it is easy to say all this on a Monday morning.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I cracked a wry smile when I read MVDP's comment "maybe he was the strongest of the race...". No, sir, he was the strongest. It's like Cancellara put it: "I was impressed with Tadej for 270 ks, while I was impressed with MVDP for 300 meters,"...during which he made a "badass" move to "school" Pogacar in the end.

although it's quite funny people ripping into VDP when previous years he was always ripped into for riding "dumb" and too attacking for a guy with his sprint.

 

[Extinction]

Totally disagree with Horner's opinion of Tadej's sprint. Not only does Robbie McEwen think otherwise, but so too Alessandro Bellan and just about every other pundit. Pogacar to have given himself any chance, needed to drive ahead and take MVDP on agressivelly and not play the fatal waiting game he chose.

Funny how it's called the Knucklehead Award, because Horner is often the most worthy recipient when, after having gotten so much right, always puts forth something that's just glaringly ridiculous.

 

[Extinction]

although it's quite funny people ripping into VDP when previous years he was always ripped into for riding "dumb" and too attacking for a guy with his sprint.

Yea but I don't think you can hang that on Tadej here, except for the final sprint. MVDP can go to the line with just about anyone, even WVA, and know he has a reasonable, often stellar, chance of winning that kind of a sprint. By contrast, Tadej to put himself in the best position to win had to try and drop MVDP and not arrive with him in the sprint. He thus had to ride aggressively from the Kwaremount out, although, as Bellan said, he should have made MVDP work more on the Paterberg (yet here he had him on the ropes). Anyway, he'll learn from this.

Still in the future, it will always be a case of riding to not be with MVDP and WVA in the end. For this reason, while RVV is within his reach, it will surely always be one of the hardest races for Pogacar to win.

 

[gunara]

On what might went wrong for Pogi. First thing is van Aert was missing

By not winning without Van Aert he failed to be an asterisked Merckx

 

[greyclouds]

Totally disagree with Horner's opinion of Tadej's sprint. Not only does Robbie McEwen have think otherwise, but so too Alessandro Belan and just about every take other pundit. Pogacar to have given himself any chance, needed to drive on and take MVDP on agressivelly and not play the fatal waiting game he chose.

Funny how it's called the Knucklehead Award, because Horner is often the most worthy recipient when, after having gotten so much right, always puts forth something that's just glaringly ridiculous.

I actually agree with both (or all). UAE/Pogacar spent too much energy earlier on when Tadej could have saved himself in one or two climbs, possibly just following attacks from other riders; and waiting for MvdP was also not the best tactic, IMHO. If he would have launched a long sprint he could have had a chance of neutralizing MvdP punch, and possibly taking him by surprise.

This is old news from UAE, see Catalunya this year or even Hirschi at the GPMI this weekend. They are possible too used to relying on pure watts and power to win, and between the riders (all mostly young, inc Tadej himself) and the DSs they haven't come up with the right strategies for when you really need tactics to win.

 

[Red Rick]

then again, that's probably why he went at the bottom of each climb. Make it a long effort so there's no top end explosivity to it. If he waits until 2/3rd of the Kwaremont for VDP to go he's probably shooting himself in the foot

Theres little left in any case on the final Pater. Its the 15th repetition or something and they do it like 30% slower than the fastest times in there

I think endurance and recovery from repetitions is Pogacars beat quality by far.

 

[Extinction]

I actually agree with both (or all). UAE/Pogacar spent too much energy earlier on when Tadej could have saved himself in one or two climbs, possibly just following attacks from other riders; and waiting for MvdP was also not the best tactic, IMHO. If he would have launched a long sprint he could have had a chance of neutralizing MvdP punch, and possibly taking him by surprise.

This is old news from UAE, see Catalunya this year or even Hirschi at the GPMI this weekend. They are possible too used to relying on pure watts and power to win, and between the riders (all mostly young, inc Tadej himself) and the DSs they haven't come up with the right strategies for when you really need tactics to win.

I completely agree. I think UAE, knowing they have an ace in their pocket, need to use Tadej better in the monuments. Although, to be fair, this is a first go and he and the team will have learned so much for the future. It is a pitty, and here I agree with Horner and Ballan, because had Pogacar saved more for a decisive attack on the Patenberg, by making MVDP and the others work to drive the race ahead, he may well have gone clear to solo for the win. As it was,, he just gave MVDP his train ticket for victory. But again, he should not have slowed down so much before the sprint, which totally put him at a disadvantage with MVDPs superior one-day racing explosivity. Sorry Horner, can't agree with you here.

 

[F_Cance]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgceBBiG_MI

spoiled little child.

 

[thiscocks]

I hope he's since apologised to Dylan

 

[kingjr]

My three favourite moments from the race (four, technically, but three is a better number)

1.) Pogacar's attack on the Oude Kwaremont. My eyes were as big as saucers when I saw him pass the leading group. And he looked so smooth on the Koppenberg, a marvel to behold.

2.) Van der Poel relaunching himself after he nearly lost balance on the Paterberg. I got goosebumps and (almost) cramps in my legs watching that.

3.) The final kilometre, for obvious reasons. I checked my heart rate just after the finish; it peaked at 153, and I didn't even get out of my chair during the sprint.

Pogacar decided to play chicken and lost. Trying to goad van der Poel into going from too far out was perhaps his only chance to win, albeit a small one. It didn't work out though, and in the end, simply opening up the sprint himself and taking an easy 2nd place would have been the better choice. It is what it is; he'll be back, and I wanted van der Poel to win anyway, so I'm not complaining.

Regarding Pogacar's frustration with van Baarle afterwards, I find it totally insignificant. But he's now at that stage where people are looking for chinks in his armour and for reasons to dislike him that feel less lame than "he wins too much". Happens to every star in every sport, I hope he'll handle it well.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

In the overhead images you can clearly see it was Pogacar's own fault. But the ease with which Madouas and Van Baarle overtake him is especially baffling:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1510875742799904772

View: https://twitter.com/procycletrumps/status/1510875742799904772

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Congratulations to Mathieu van der Poel for taking the win. And Pogi for panache.

It was a nice Sunday race to watch and i enjoyed it. Pogi had one job to do and that is to resolve the race before the sprint. He did a beautiful job in that regards. He didn't win the race but when you race like that you earn fans. Regardless if you win or not.

On what might went wrong for Pogi. First thing is van Aert was missing and the whole race had no structure. The peloton looked like a bunch of amateurs. That likely lead to Pogi needing to fire a bullet or two too soon. After that he basically become superdom for van der Poel. And van der Poel for sure did let him know that at the finish of the race. Here another small mistake was made by Pogi. He should just need to push on the pedals a bit more. Not necessarily to overpass van der Poel. Just to push him so much that they wouldn't be caught. As in the end and after such race it's ridiculous he finished fourth. And final small mistake he made is he should first go and congratulate to van der Poel and after to steam off in the bus. UAE has a lot of money and repairing a cabinet or two is a non issue.

P.S. You know the race was special when you realize that you only been able to see a man wearing a shirt saying "climate justice now" in slow motion repeat of the finale. And there was one man with a cardboard stop Putin. Fans were great the only remark i would make is that one running with the flag. That was a bit over the top.

What is your obsessions with Van Aert not being in the race. It made no difference

 

[Oldermanish]

Totally disagree with Horner's opinion of Tadej's sprint. Not only does Robbie McEwen think otherwise, but so too Alessandro Bellan and just about every other pundit. Pogacar to have given himself any chance, needed to drive ahead and take MVDP on agressivelly and not play the fatal waiting game he chose.

Funny how it's called the Knucklehead Award, because Horner is often the most worthy recipient when, after having gotten so much right, always puts forth something that's just glaringly ridiculous.

Watching Hillbilly requires a certain acceptance of his language skills, too. I think he implied that sitting around in the last Km meant Tadej could never get better than second, anyway in this straightup flat sprint against Matheu. He needed to go at 250 and hope that MVP had a little less. Tadej had overdone his efforts several times; even to the point that he had little sprint left which is why he couldn't fight out of the rookie box/trap. I don't think MVP took any pointless hero pulls on his way to the line so he was aware of his jump and finish; Tajej not so much. Some focus should be made on the fact that MVP did pretty much everything RIGHT.

 

[Oldermanish]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgceBBiG_MI

spoiled little child.

Frustrated stronger rider that made his own mistakes. He doesn't make many and he'll chastise himself on lost chances and hopefully apologize to Dylan.

 

[Extinction]

Watching Hillbilly requires a certain acceptance of his language skills, too. I think he implied that sitting around in the last Km meant Tadej could never get better than second, anyway in this straightup flat sprint against Matheu. He needed to go at 250 and hope that MVP had a little less. Tadej had overdone his efforts several times; even to the point that he had little sprint left which is why he couldn't fight out of the rookie box/trap. I don't think MVP took any pointless hero pulls on his way to the line so he was aware of his jump and finish; Tajej not so much. Some focus should be made on the fact that MVP did pretty much everything RIGHT.

I agree with your analysis and have made similar comments above. Yet since he said McEwen basically argued what you (and I) are saying, I don't think it was his language skills. It really seems to me he thought Tadej was right to sit on MVDP's wheel and then try to pass him in the end. Totally disagree with that one, though.

 

[Oldermanish]

I agree with your analysis and have made similar comments above. Yet since he said McEwen basically argued what you (and I) are saying, I don't think it was his language skills. It really seems to me he thought Tadej was right to sit on MVDP's wheel and then try to pass him in the end. Totally disagree with that one, though.

Me, too, except Tadej probably knew at this point he had almost nothing left; hence his mistakes at getting boxed in and his childish frustration post-race.
This is where Horner's ego can infiltrate his analysis: that's how he played sprints. He was not good at tying his earlier comment about the 1 km rope-a-dope and its' risks with the final analysis. Either way; Horner believes everyone should race like he did.

 

[Extinction]

Me, too, except Tadej probably knew at this point he had almost nothing left; hence his mistakes at getting boxed in and his childish frustration post-race.
This is where Horner's ego can infiltrate his analysis: that's how he played sprints. He was not good at tying his earlier comment about the 1 km rope-a-dope and its' risks with the final analysis. Either way; Horner believes everyone should race like he did.

Well, I'm willing to concede Tadej a little temper tantrum at the end of the race. For he made the race and only ended up with a smacked face in the end. After he came back to his senses, however, he showed the class and sportsmanship he has always otherwise.

 

[Nick2413]

Tadej should never have left MVDP dictate how the sprint was going to open up, from practically a standstill in addition. This completely favored into MVDP's one-day race explosivity and top end power. The only shot Pogacar had against MVDP (and given the strength he showed during the race, not an impossibility - difficult, yes, impossible, no) was to have pushed on to start the sprint at rolling speed, which, as you say, would have led to a grinder. And this would have at least played into Tadej's massive depth in resistance. My two cents. At any rate, he shows that he can win RVV in the future.

It would have been really interesting with a couple extra guys in the group to change the dynamic. He won LBL and other races against decently explosive guys that way. I think he was too scared and if it had been anyone other than MVDP he would’ve went earlier and had a better shot.

 

[Salvarani]

My three favourite moments from the race (four, technically, but three is a better number)

1.) Pogacar's attack on the Oude Kwaremont. My eyes were as big as saucers when I saw him pass the leading group. And he looked so smooth on the Koppenberg, a marvel to behold.

2.) Van der Poel relaunching himself after he nearly lost balance on the Paterberg. I got goosebumps and (almost) cramps in my legs watching that.

3.) The final kilometre, for obvious reasons. I checked my heart rate just after the finish; it peaked at 153, and I didn't even get out of my chair during the sprint.

Pogacar decided to play chicken and lost. Trying to goad van der Poel into going from too far out was perhaps his only chance to win, albeit a small one. It didn't work out though, and in the end, simply opening up the sprint himself and taking an easy 2nd place would have been the better choice. It is what it is; he'll be back, and I wanted van der Poel to win anyway, so I'm not complaining.

Regarding Pogacar's frustration with van Baarle afterwards, I find it totally insignificant. But he's now at that stage where people are looking for chinks in his armour and for reasons to dislike him that feel less lame than "he wins too much". Happens to every star in every sport, I hope he'll handle it well.

I agree with your assessment.