De Ronde van Vlaanderen 2025: Who will win?

[Brullnux]

In most cases, when riders race from behind on the cobbles it's because they don't have the legs.
It sure is the case with Bettiol this year.

Yeah you can get caught out occasionally not due to bad legs, but if it happens every race and every climb it's because you're out of form.

 

[Netserk]

Maybe I saw it on X didn’t seem like a joke

Poor form to spread dubious rumours unsourced.

 

[Berniece]

Maybe I saw it on X didn’t seem like a joke

Still nothing in Belgian media so I expect it's nothing

 

[Rackham]

Maybe I saw it on X didn’t seem like a joke

The account I saw spreading it on X mentioned WvA hurting his "testikel".

Seemed like a really bad joke to me.

 

[RJH]

Pogacar is too strong normally - Pog will win the Ronde and Roubaix, vdP will become 2nd in both these races.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

It'll never not be strange to me that we just expect Pedersen to not hang on the steepest climbs here.

We tend to talk about him like he's 170 pounds when he's in the mid-150s.

The small steep climbs are no real deal to him. E.g. Paterberg (avg. 13.6% / max 20.3% / length 360m), especially after the new cobbles. Climbed it myself back in '97 and yet again in '22 and a world of difference (both climbs with dry cobbles, me in circa same shape).

The killer is the long cobble climbs. Here Oude Kwaremont (avg. 4.6% / max 9% / length 2200m) is a real killer for a sprinter type like Mads, whereas it's party time for Pogi, where his climbing skills really matters for a +3min climb.
Ofc. last passage of Paterberg is also about how much left you have in the tank, and IMO Pogi and MvDP is still a level above Mads here.

Edit: And then there's Koppenberg ((avg. 11.1% / max 23% / length 560m), which is also just a tad too long for Mads if MvDP and Pogi pulls the trigger from the buttom. The final section of Koppenberg is in fact a lot steeper than it looks from the TV.

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

The small steep climbs is no real deal to him. E.g. Paterberg avg. 13.6% / max 20.3%, especially after the new cobbles. Climbed it myself back in '97 and yet again in '22 and a world of difference (both climbs with dry cobbles, me in circa same shape).

The killer is the long cobble climbs. Here Oude Kwaremont is a real killer for a sprinter type like Mads, whereas it's party time for Pogi, where his climbing skills really matters for a +3min climb.
Ofc. last passage of Paterberg is also about how much left you have in the tank, and IMO Pogi and MvDP is still a level above Mads here.

I am trying to decide if it's impressive that you were in the same shape in '97 and '22 or depressing. In any case, hats off for your consistency!

 

[AmRacer]

A moto will decide the race.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I am trying to decide if it's impressive that you were in the same shape in '97 and '22 or depressing. In any case, hats off for your consistency!

Oh, consistence in lacking is my expertise

No, seriously, I was surprised by my form in '22, having just passed the 50-mark.
I hadn't been on my bike for over 2 months and wanted to just cruise around all the mythical Hellingen from the family's beautiful summer vacation resort at a converted mill.

But after a 10k cruise along the Schelde and up Oude Kwaremont, after the first passage I immediately felt for taking the main road down to Kluisbergen like the riders do on Sunday and then taking it with style. And then the adrenaline got to me and the devil took hold on me and in attack mode I slipped on to Paterberg and Koppenberg, which are so wonderfully close to each other like a string of pearls. But I have to say that at the top of the latter I was saved by some tourists who wanted to talk. I let them talk for several minutes before I got my breath back.
But yes, I somehow discovered a hidden diesel engine under the hood, before I continued my ride for further adventures that day.

And, yes the 10% Adriaen Breuwer Oaked from local Brouwerij Roman behaved me well that evening

 

[Unchained]

Poor form to spread dubious rumours unsourced.

Since X changed total platform objectives, not to check facts, not to remove obvious or later discovered false information, anything you see on X should be assumed to be false.. That would include Wout words or data..Van Rumors..

 

[Vesica]

Seven Michel Wuyts accounts detected.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The second guy in the poll has about 40% of votes. This is what you call a two-horse race!

 

[Peyroteo94]

The second guy in the poll has about 40% of votes. This is what you call a two-horse race!

Yup but I think there is a chance for guys like Pedersen or WVA if Pogi and MVP are together and start to softpedalling before the sprint.

 

[Froome]

MVP.

MSR, Flanders, and PR. All for MVP.

 

[Tim Cahill]

After all, who are we to doubt the veracity of a random twitter user claiming Van Aert hurt his 'testikel'.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

After all, who are we to doubt the veracity of a random twitter user claiming Van Aert hurt his 'testikel'.

It wasn't the sort of injury I had in mind when I posted this yesterday, but some dogs can be rather vicious.

With his current streak of luck in mind, he will probably hit a dog and break something

 

[gregrowlerson]

I am trying to decide if it's impressive that you were in the same shape in '97 and '22 or depressing. In any case, hats off for your consistency!

The similar LVL between the 90's and the current day has been discussed extensively elsewhere on the forum.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

The similar LVL between the 90's and the current day has been discussed extensively elsewhere on the forum.

You solved any mysteries and wandering here.
AFAIR I was on clean innocent waters in '97.
Whereas 25 years later I took heavy Belgische 10% Breuwerijes to keep up LVL

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I might have to change my vote to 'Other': I hear that Zoetemelk-fan has had an unexpected return to form.