79th Dwars door Vlaanderen - A travers la Flandre ME (1.UWT) April 2nd 2025

[jaylew]

As for taking the responsibility for going for the sprint, I dunno. It sounds like the car made that call and Wout went along with it, rather than Wout asking for it.

It was probably the other way around. Didn't he say it was his call? Wout probably told the car he wanted to go for the sprint and they then told Matteo and Tiesj that was the plan.

 

[scribers]

EF tactics masterclass. Never in doubt.

Chess vs checkers

 

[Gratemans]

I don’t either, it’s like he’s become the family dog to kick around

I've got absolutely nothing against Wout, or the team even (Although I do think Plugge is a first class douchebag).
So, at least for me, it's nothing personal. It's just that the situation and how it played out was pretty damn hilarious.

 

[scribers]

Hats off to Wout though. He exploded the race like very few can. Make it a very enjoyable watch

 

[red_flanders]

This is where the DS should simply overrule van Aert though. He is not blameless.

Totally fair. I'm not saying it's right, more that I buy that it was his call.

I've been surprised at how much the DS's defer to him in questionable situations in the Tour in those behind the scenes shows. Really interesting dynamics, even when the Tour is on the line with Vingo.

 

[Sciatic]

A couple of my riding buddies, rode with his wife and mom last year, at his Fondo in Auburn. They said they were some of the nicest people they've ever met. I've never ridden with him when he's in town, but everyone I know who has, says he is also a truly nice guy.

That’s a great thing to know as fans—and anything that helps improve the country’s image in Europe is also helpful.

 

[Rackham]

I mean of course there was some risk, but if your team leader, a guy who usually has a massive sprint, says he's good and wants to sprint for the win, you support him.

Er no you don't? I mean I'll repeat myself like a parrot here but the race win was 100% guaranteed. No doubt. None whatsoever. Powless can't fight three riders from the same team. You attack Powless. Anywhere in the final 10km's.

If you replace Powless with Pog today, then a Visma rider wins. Like even the mighty Pog wouldn't be able to do a single thing against three riders of the same team playing tag with him.

That's how bad this screw-up is.

 

[E_F_]

1. Wout thought he would win a sprint
2. The car believed him
3. Wout decided to go for the sprint
4. The car let him

I count 4 mistakes here; two each for Wout and the car respectively.

 

[Sciatic]

I've got absolutely nothing against Wout, or the team even (Although I do think Plugge is a first class douchebag).
So, at least for me, it's nothing personal. It's just that the situation and how it played out was pretty damn hilarious.

I didn’t mean just this race though, it’s been a noticeable theme. But perhaps that happens when a top rider starts to struggle?

 

[red_flanders]

Er no you don't? I mean I'll repeat myself like a parrot here but the race win was 100% guaranteed. No doubt. None whatsoever. Powless can't fight three riders from the same team. You attack Powless. Anywhere in the final 10km's.

If you replace Powless with Pog today, then a Visma rider wins. Like even the mighty Pog wouldn't be able to do a single thing against three riders of the same team playing tag with him.

That's how bad this screw-up is.

If Pog was there, no way they wait for the sprint. I'm not saying it wasn't a screw up, I'm saying Wout carries a lot of weight in the team. I can see why they did it.

 

[Gratemans]

I didn’t mean just this race though, it’s been a noticeable theme. But perhaps that happens when a top rider starts to struggle?

Yeah, I guess. I also feel a lot of people dislike the team, not Wout per se.
(Except Ilmaestro of course 😄)

 

[Rackham]

If Pog was there, no way they wait for the sprint. I'm not saying it wasn't a screw up, I'm saying Wout carries a lot of weight in the team. I can see why they did it.

The sprint wasn't Van Aert's only path to victory though. It was one of two choices. There's also a scenario where the three Visma riders wear down Powless with attacks in the final 8km's and Van Aert is the last attacker and solos to the line.

The chase peloton behind was never coming back at that point. The car knew the gaps as well.

 

[scribers]

Wout explodes the race, tells me he can win the sprint, I’m letting him do just that. I do make Benoit and Jorgensen put in an attack or two within the final 5 k tho.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Ah, the “never work at the front” gripe from the armchair bros.

Unfortunately, I've never managed to get my siblings into this sport.
Unless you mean me and @AnotherArmChair

 

[Sciatic]

Typical. I have been talking about this for 4 years now. Belgian pozzato

And it’s been entertaining at times—but you should think twice about continuing to kick someone when they’re down.

 

[E_F_]

Imagine being MvdP and Pogi sitting on the couch watching WvA die inside and Mads P. slaughter himself at Dwars for some reason.

 

[jono]

It's clear the decision-makers in the team, whoever that might include, thought that engineering a Wout win was more important than a Visma win. They're probably not even wrong about that.

The problem was some grave miscalculations about downside risk.

 

[red_flanders]

The sprint wasn't Van Aert's only path to victory though. It was one of two choices. There's also a scenario where the three Visma riders wear down Powless with attacks in the final 8km's and Van Aert is the last attacker and solos to the line.

The chase peloton behind was never coming back at that point. The car knew the gaps as well.

We all understand that.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah, I guess. I also feel a lot of people dislike the team, not Wout per se.
(Except Ilmaestro of course 😄)

You’re right, that’s definitely part of it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Unfortunately, I've never managed to get my siblings into this sport.
Unless you mean me and @AnotherArmChair

Don't forget @armchairclimber!

 

[KenFiamingo]

I would have loved to see WVA win this one after everything he went through. But on the other side i'm also happy I won't need to suffer through the Belgian press trying to find arguments to put Van Aert close to MVDP & Pog for Flanders.

 

[red_flanders]

Powless' comment about this being the biggest win of his life was interesting, given his San Sebastian win. Goes to show the importance to classics riders of this time of the year.

 

[tobydawq]

And it’s been entertaining at times—but you should think twice about continuing to kick someone when they’re down.

It was never entertaining.

Ilmaestro has a lot of fun posts but his Wout bashing is not part of those.

 

[skippo12]

It's clear the decision-makers in the team, whoever that might include, thought that engineering a Wout win was more important than a Visma win. They're probably not even wrong about that.

The problem was some grave miscalculations about downside risk.

Should have thought about it earlier in the race when WVA was doing all the work to create the split with Benoot, Jorgenson and Van Baarle in his wheel.
Honestly thought that WVA was in a domestique role and just doing a leadout for Jorgenson.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Don't forget @armchairclimber!

But who would win in a sprint between them and whoever started the Powless being nice thing on here?