De Ronde van Vlaanderen (270.8 km), 2024 March 31 (Sunday)

[Froome]

Don't care what you say but I'm not really impressed with MVP's win today. Still think Pogacar would beat him today, he was really crascking in the last 15 km.

He wasn't cracking, the victory was in the bag. No need to go more deep. Nobody would had beat today van der poel, fastest ronde ever in horrible conditions.

 

[MJR]

I understand the Matthews DSQ, but damn, that's gonna sting for awhile.

 

[dazaau]

Matthews relegation it looks like

Not in Australia. SBS read the results with his podium and cut to the women's before the judges had time to get their glasses it was never even noted as a possibility ha ha

Nothing to see but victory!

 

[jono]

Most of the contenders just rode up the Koppenberg in the women's race.

The world champion did not. Many did not.

 

[RedheadDane]

Not just a relegation?

But so happy for Pollit that he get's a monument podium!

I suspect he might be happier with his P-R podium.

 

[dazaau]

I understand the Matthews DSQ, but damn, that's gonna sting for awhile.

I totally agree, but, like, what was he doing?!

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

I suspect he might be happier with his P-R podium.

You are absolutely right, I totally forgot about that.

 

[Screecher]

And people suggested Matthews should've done the same in MSR. Good thing he didn't.

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1774447755085095108

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1774447755085095108

 

[Spine Concept]

He wasn't cracking, the victory was in the bag. No need to go more deep. Nobody would had beat today van der poel, fastest ronde ever in horrible conditions.

Indeed. Ridiculous assumption based on nothing more than fanboyism. SMH.

Anyway. Chapeau MvDP. Best one-day rider on the planet bar none IMO. Can't beat who doesn't show up to play, so no excuses. Legendary performance, in a world champion jersey no less. Stuff of dreams.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

If you had bet on these five to make up the top five how much would you have won?

 

[Volderke]

We will never know. But it would have played out very different. No 40k solo for mvdp I don't think. Who knows how Pog would handle the slippery cobbles, he doesn't weigh much.

With Wva / pog and if they could follow over Koppenberg, mvdp wouldn’t have solo’d this far out. Mvdp also talked in the radio after Koppenberg and asked if it was better to wait, as it was still far and chance of bonking in this weather is big. But he pushed on and in these circumstances his solo is simply very impressive. It also took its toll on him, if you saw him in the interview after the finish.

 

[ppanther92]

I totally agree, but, like, what was he doing?!

Probably also totally at the limit but yeah, relegation seems fair (it can’t be a DSQ, right?)

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

No, thanks.

It's a far better race than the men's, but you do you. Most of the favorites ride the Koppenberg in the women's race.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I suspect he might be happier with his P-R podium.

Nah, here he won a podium spot, in P-R he actually lost the race to Gilbert.

 

[movingtarget]

I totally agree, but, like, what was he doing?!

Maybe the legs just gave out completely but he still should have held a better line.

 

[Mayomaniac]

If that's DQ-worthy Philipsen might just end his career right now...

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Very hard on Matthews

If you look he was doing nearly all the chasing in last 20k

 

[RedheadDane]

Nah, here he won a podium spot, in P-R he actually lost the race to Gilbert.

In P-R he rode to a podium spot.
Here, he got it because another rider got DSQed

 

[Stasat]

We will never know. But it would have played out very different. No 40k solo for mvdp I don't think. Who knows how Pog would handle the slippery cobbles, he doesn't weigh much.

Exactly. His descending/bike handling is not great either, even if he'd of got away VDP would have have caught and dropped him. Watching him descend the Poggio in MSR was painful

 

[Gigs_98]

I don’t know, but it’s just clear the Koppenberg changed the race in a way it’s not about cycling anymore.

This is simply how it has always been on this climb. You go into this climb too far back, you might be f*cked. It was more extreme this time than usually but nothing unfair happened.

And aside, your entire point was that Vermeersch blocked "everyone" so don't pretend like that part isn't important. You made a wrong accuaation so owe up to it.

 

[Froome]

Indeed. Ridiculous assumption based on nothing more than fanboyism. SMH.

Anyway. Chapeau MvDP. Best one-day rider on the planet bar none IMO. Can't beat who doesn't show up to play, so no excuses. Legendary performance, in a world champion jersey no less.

The propaganda about pogacar has been very strong lately on this forum.

Van der poel looks even more stronger than last year.

 

[MJR]

Finishing line shenanigans aside, congrats and kudos to van der Poel. Fantastic win!

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

The world champion did not. Many did not.

3 did in the men's race.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

In P-R he rode to a podium spot.
Here, he got it because another rider got DSQed

To be fair, he would've overtaken Matthews if Matthews doesn't try to bend space-time.