2021 World Championships in Flanders: Road Races

[T-Nielsen]

Belgium drilling behind when they had Remco in a nice group with other riders from the big nations was probably their biggest mistake.
Let the others organize the chase.

That was not a nice group for Belgium. Remco was never going to win in that company.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

“It was unreal out there,” Tom Pidcock said.

“We weren’t riding on roads, we were riding in a stadium. It was unbelievable. On the first lap, my ears were ringing. It was incredible.”

 

[Bonimenier]

That was not a nice group for Belgium. Remco was never going to win in that company.

Why is that?

 

[Escarabajo]

I need therapy! How did this happen?! Did I really watch Alaphillipe do exactly what he did last year and actually winning again? Or is this a weird parallel universe?!

On everyone's else defense, Ala could have won it if he had done the same with 2 kilometers to go. With that power no one would have been able to follow IMHO.

 

[Breezy1985]

Wow I only realized just now that no Slovenian was a major player in this race

 

[BlueRoads]

I also thought Belgium's tactics were weird, but not even the Evenepoel part... they so often seem to use up riders in the wrong parts of the races.

But anyway, I really think the French selection and tactics were absolutely spot on again. Without Alaphilippe being amazing it wouldn't have come to that much, but they had a clear plan, they took the race in their hands and didn't wait, control, gamble diffusely etc. Cosnefroy was very strong today and it might have backfired had Ala not been able to finish it off, but it looks like they knew very well the strengths of each rider, they used them to their best, didn't hesitate... and they still had Sénéchal fresh in the mix all the time.
The Danes and Italians had more bad luck and lost riders early... but it looked like the Italians especially weren't as clear with their tactics as yesterday. They were pretty passive even when they had almost all riders left... they said they wanted to get Colbrelli in a small group without van Aert, but I never saw them doing anything for that. Even when Colbrelli could go with Ala he didn't work.
So, basically, like I already said: you need to have the legs, but the French and especially Alaphilippe took their fate into their own hands and that's why I'm even more happy they/he won.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Why is that?

Because any group is bad for Remco

 

[limak_]

“It was unreal out there,” Tom Pidcock said.

“We weren’t riding on roads, we were riding in a stadium. It was unbelievable. On the first lap, my ears were ringing. It was incredible.”

Luckily it's got much more quiet on the last two laps so he hasn't damaged his hearing

 

[Bonimenier]

Because any group is bad for Remco

He won plenty of races that began with him being in a group. There was easily over an hour racing left. Time enough (to attempt) to drop others.

 

[jaylew]

At the very least he wasted his chances.

Likely true, but I think 2nd was the best Belgium could hope for today. Of course they couldn't have known that before the start. It will be interesting to see if they race for him in any future WCs. He's certainly not the ideal rider to race for in a one day race of this caliber with his lack of relative explosiveness and sprint to others. Obviously, some of that is just genetic but hopefully someone has him working on that.

Just curious, how would you have had the Belgian team race today knowing what we know now?

 

[DenisMenchov]

He won plenty of races that began with him being in a group. There was easily over an hour racing left. Time enough (to attempt) to drop others.

It's just the joke...

 

[Bonimenier]

It's just the joke...

I know, but for T Nielsen it apparently wasn't.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I know, but for T Nielsen it apparently wasn't.

No because I have no humour.

He was outnumbered in a group with plenty of other strong riders doing more then his fair share of work.

That is not how you win in a 280 km race.

 

[Jagartrott]

Likely true, but I think 2nd was the best Belgium could hope for today. Of course they couldn't have known that before the start. It will be interesting to see if they race for him in any future WCs. He's certainly not the ideal rider to race for in a one day race of this caliber with his lack of relative explosiveness and sprint to others. Obviously, some of that is just genetic but hopefully someone has him working on that.

Just curious, how would you have had the Belgian team race today knowing what we know now?

Agree. I think with this form, Alaphilippe would've won in most scenarios.
The only thing that could've stopped him, would've been making him work a lot in the pre-final. By letting him get away with only one or two guys around 60-70 km to go, and then let him dangle there at 30 seconds for 30-40 kms. But who would've expected that Alaphilippe would be the man to beat? After his stage 1 TdF victory, he never seemed to really have the explosiveness. I think almost no-one expected him to be this strong. Only a 100% WVA or MvdP could've matched him, but they weren't 100%.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

No because I have no humour.

He was outnumbered in a group with plenty of other strong riders doing more then his fair share of work.

That is not how you win in a 280 km race.

Did any of those riders win?

 

[postmanhat]

Likely true, but I think 2nd was the best Belgium could hope for today. Of course they couldn't have known that before the start. It will be interesting to see if they race for him in any future WCs. He's certainly not the ideal rider to race for in a one day race of this caliber with his lack of relative explosiveness and sprint to others. Obviously, some of that is just genetic but hopefully someone has him working on that.

Just curious, how would you have had the Belgian team race today knowing what we know now?

Indeed. Their tactics were based on the assumption that Van Aert would be competitive in the last 30k. How soon WVA realised he wasn't and communicated that to Stuyven is down to him, not really the team?

 

[Netserk]

Agree. I think with this form, Alaphilippe would've won in most scenarios.
The only thing that could've stopped him, would've been making him work a lot in the pre-final. By letting him get away with only one or two guys around 60-70 km to go, and then let him dangle there at 30 seconds for 30-40 kms. But who would've expected that Alaphilippe would be the man to beat? After his stage 1 TdF victory, he never seemed to really have the explosiveness. I think almost no-one expected him to be this strong. Only a 100% WVA or MvdP could've matched him, but they weren't 100%.

An easier race with a peloton (70+) entering Leuven would have made it difficult for him.

 

[noob]

Indeed. Their tactics were based on the assumption that Van Aert would be competitive in the last 30k. How soon WVA realised he wasn't and communicated that to Stuyven is down to him, not really the team?

Did that actually happen?? I mean did Wout actually communicate that?

 

[JRanton]

Wiggo and Adam Blyat can shove it!
Pidcock really strong, but he missed that move.
Not a good sports WE for the uk, Anthony Joshua also got outclassed by cossack slickness...

Pidcock performed above expectations though.

 

[gunara]

Seriously, it used to be Andersen instead of Hundahl, didn't it? I may live under a rock, but what is this about?

Anyway, what a race

 

[limak_]

Pidcock performed above expectations though.

Imho it's more like those expectations were surprisingly low, considering the type of the route.

 

[BlueRoads]

Imho it's more like those expectations were surprisingly low, considering the type of the route.

Think that's because he was really not impressing in the Vuelta and he never sounded like this race was very important for him this year?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Worst possible winner for this race again. On the other hand, 2021 has shown he's started his decline and he's not going to do much again without help.

I don't see much difference between 2020 and 2021 for Alaphilippe.

 

[Koronin]

I don't see much difference between 2020 and 2021 for Alaphilippe.

I never said the decline started in 2021, just that 2021 has shown he has started his decline.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Seriously, it used to be Andersen instead of Hundahl, didn't it? I may live under a rock, but what is this about?

He got married and took his wife's name.