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De Ronde van Vlaanderen 2025: Who will win?
- Thread starter Netserk
- Start date
- Jul 7, 2013
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Teddy vs Mathieu in Flandres, chapter #3. One of the greatest classics riders ever vs one of the greatest of all time. Besides the Tour, it's the most anticipated duel this year. Hopefully no crashes will spoil the party. Let the carnage begin!
- Mar 20, 2022
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You don't include MVP as one of the greatest of all times?
- Jul 7, 2013
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One of the greatest classics riders of all time, that's exactly what I wrote.
- Mar 20, 2022
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I would just like to know what it means to you one of the greatest of all times.
- Jul 7, 2013
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As far as road cycling is concerned I mean all round monsters who excelled in both GTs and classics. Merckx, Hinault and Coppi are first names that come to my mind. Nowadays it's Pogacar.
This is the cycling version of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. 2 unbeatable aliens.
Voted Pogacar. Hoping for a fun race.
Voted Pogacar. Hoping for a fun race.
- Sep 20, 2017
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I think the big question here is whether you consider De Vlaeminck and Kelly, unquestionably the two greatest non-climbers of all time, among your overall GOAT list. If Van der Poel can eclipse the former's total of 11 monuments + WCs, there is a very good argument for putting him up there, but at this point in his career his palmares is basically that of Boonen and nobody would put Boonen anywhere near their GOAT list.
- Jul 7, 2013
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Kelly won a GT and zillion stage races. All-round champion.
- Aug 6, 2010
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- Jun 6, 2017
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And what if he eclipse Kelly's total of 9? Is he near then?
If he passes De Vleminck's 11, then only Merckx has more...
And Boonen, no matter how you rate it, is among 10 best classics racers of all-time.
- Jul 7, 2013
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Classics yes but not even close to all-races top10. It depends on your cut-off though (what one of the greatest means). To me it's top5, max top10 (then Kelly is there and de Vleminck is close).
- Dec 22, 2019
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Same applies to Roger: 6 Tirreno's and 1 Switzerland. Even 4th in the Giro (and 22 stages).
- Mar 23, 2024
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I think rivalries are what make athletes great and memorable. Novak Djokovic now winning another grand slam won't really change his standing, what matters are his wins (and losses) against titans like Nadal and Federer. Everybody remembers classic 5 set thrillers like wimbledon 2008 and Australian open 2012.
Mvdp winning Flanders and Roubaix last year is impressive, but the races you will remember are Strade Bianchi 21 against Alaphilipe, RVV 20 against Wout, RVV 22 and 23 against Pog, WC Glasgow against Wout, Pog and Mads and hopefully the race on sunday. What speaks for Mathieu in terms of greatness in my opinion is that he has in a super strong era won in classic duels against all of his main rivals.
Mvdp winning Flanders and Roubaix last year is impressive, but the races you will remember are Strade Bianchi 21 against Alaphilipe, RVV 20 against Wout, RVV 22 and 23 against Pog, WC Glasgow against Wout, Pog and Mads and hopefully the race on sunday. What speaks for Mathieu in terms of greatness in my opinion is that he has in a super strong era won in classic duels against all of his main rivals.
- Jun 11, 2021
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Why is my man Alberto Bettiol not an option? Pretty disrespectful towards the former winner of you ask me!
- May 6, 2021
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Van Aert simply because it's the funniest outcome.
- Apr 13, 2021
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After his masterfull performance in the kemelberg and his impressive 6th at gent wvelegem, my prediction is that classics superstar Davide Ballerine will win this tour of Flanders
If Wout is strong and is able to ride with the leaders for most or all of the race, how does that affect the balance of probabilities between the other favorites?
- Sep 12, 2022
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If he's able to follow all of the race so we get a sprint with 3, then he has the best odds to win.
- Sep 26, 2020
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That's almost like asking who the best Van Aert is.
- May 6, 2021
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If the three came together after the Paterberg, however unlikely at this point, it could benefit Pogacar, as the only chance of him beating VDP on a flat run-in would be a tactical use of other riders.
He doesn't have it in him to sit on though, would just ego-pull equally with the others, like in MSR, perhaps a last few k attack, though the other two would most likely just chase immediately. Van Aert has been poor in bunch sprints but perhaps he would find some confidence in a smaller group, VDP still favourite in the scenario but he'd much rather Wout not be there.
I think if Pogacar puts VDP on 5-10 seconds over a hill it's over and will go out to a minute, if he can't drop him then it's also over, just with another final outcome.
- May 3, 2010
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Let's look at this from a scientific point of view with the following syllogism:
- Thesis: Neither Pogacar, nor Van der Poel can win this. They have won the previous five monuments. Even Merckx and De Vlaeminck haven't won more than five in a row among the two of them, so it's scientifically impossible. It's like trying to win your sixth Tour. It's challenging the gods.
- Antithesis: UAE and Alpecin have won the previous eight monuments, so they can't be beaten by the other teams.
- Synthesis: Somebody else from UAE or Alpecin will win. So I'm putting all my money on Vermeersch: one half on Florian and the other half on Gianni. With this scientific approach you can't go wrong.
He hasn't shown that form in a very long time. That was a great win though.
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