73rd Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: 28 February, 2021

[Bonimenier]

What was Kung even riding for?

Probably for Demare, who easily won the sprint (although not the right one).

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Meeh, race won by a guy who sat in the wheels the whole day. Smart ride obviously.

WCC 2019 all over again!!!

 

[Fernandez]

MVDP wasnt blocked, he just was bad positioned

 

[Netserk]

At least we had one real race this weekend.

 

[Spine Concept]

MVDP wasnt blocked, he just was bad positioned

Point is he couldn’t sprint properly because of it. Not saying he would have won, just stating a fact.

 

[kingjr]

MVDP wasnt blocked, he just was bad positioned

He was a spent force, mainly.

 

[Fernandez]

Do you really think that Van der Poel cares much about this race?

I guess that you don't really like cycling if your first reaction is to criticise him after what he did today.

What I think is nobody rides an important race just to make kms

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[BlueRoads]

Hm, as I like Pedersen and don't like van der Poel much I should be happy. But somehow this feels like an unsatisfying end. Well, at least a much more interesting race than yesterday.

 

[Bonimenier]

What I think is nobody rides an important race just to make kms

And you think KBK is an important race for him? A 1 day pro.race? He wasn't even going to ride it initially. He went to UAE to just make kms.

 

[Spine Concept]

What I think is nobody rides an important race just to make kms

No offense but the importance of KBK is severely overstated in this case.

Mathieu is clearly in preperation for Strade and would have been racing UAE tour in preparation but then you know what happened.

So they had to pick some other prep races which include this one.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I knew that Pidcock was fast, but this fast? Super impressive.
MVDP and a few guys who tried to go on the left got boxed in because of the road getting more narrow because of the barriers.

 

[kingjr]

What I think is nobody rides an important race just to make kms

And I said secondary, not irrelevant.

 

[Fernandez]

Point is he couldn’t sprint properly because of it. Not saying he would have won, just stating a fact.

He was spent, thats why he was bad positioned. If he had waited kms before for the group behind he could have won the race.

 

[memyselfandI]

Dang Pidcock!

 

[BlueRoads]

I think there's a difference between "not caring about the result" and "not having this race as a priority". Just like yesterday with Alaphilippe I think van der Poel would have liked the win very much, but he could do something a bit crazy and gamble, because it wasn't extremely important for him to win the race and he had a colleage behind.

 

[Bonimenier]

He was spent, thats why he was bad positioned. If he had waited kms before for the group behind he could have won the race.

I'm not arguing that. That's clear as day. If anyone, it's you who are arguing with that.

 

[Spine Concept]

He was spent, thats why he was bad positioned. If he had waited kms before for the group behind he could have won the race.

Spent or not, the point is for x reason he was unable to sprint properly. That’s it, nothing more nothing less.

Don’t know why you’re getting your undies in a bunch.

 

[Spine Concept]

I think there's a difference between "not caring about the result" and "not having this race as a priority". Just like yesterday with Alaphilippe I think van der Poel would have liked the win very much, but he could do something a bit crazy and gamble, because it wasn't extremely important for him to win the race and he had a colleage behind.

Of course he would have liked to win, he’s a winner. However, let’s not get carried away. Mathieu’s eyes are set on Strade.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Turgis has really become a legit contender in the cobbled races over the last year or so.

 

[KZD]

What I think is nobody rides an important race just to make kms

His main goal was to attack in order to tire other teams and give Merlier a chance in the sprint, of course that when he found himself in a good position in the final kms he wouldn't drop back to the bunch as he wasn't the favourite there anyway, so no he wasn't just riding to get kms in his legs but for someone whose main objectives are RVV, PR, the Olympic MTB race and WC in Flanders, KBK is of little importance.

 

[Fernandez]

Ok, not wanting to argue here. Just saying the guy could have won the race and make a good training if he had riden more cleverly. But still, he rode a very good race, made his bet and could have been a winner bet.
Just analising the race.

 

[Oliver]

Nice race, better then yesterday

 

[Spine Concept]

Ok, not wanting to argue here. Just saying the guy could have won the race and make a good training if he had riden more cleverly. But still, he rode a very good race, made his bet and could have been a winner bet.
Just analising the race.

Woulda, shoulda, coulda, didn’t.

Mathieu’s racing style isn’t for everyone. It’s part of his character. Other than that you’re getting worked up about what is for all intents and purposes a prep race.

So maybe race tactics wasn’t the first thing on his mind today. Even so, if Merlier would have made the second group it would have been an ideal situation for Alpecin.

That’s also an analysis.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Ok, not wanting to argue here. Just saying the guy could have won the race and make a good training if he had riden more cleverly. But still, he rode a very good race, made his bet and could have been a winner bet.
Just analising the race.

That's true. But he wanted to have some fun (said so as well in the post race interview).