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

[ChewbaccaDefense]

If if if. If my aunt had a p*nis she'd be my uncle. If you're not here, you're beaten.

Look, I get it. You don't like my commentary. I have no problem with that. Like I said (explicitly), we will never know. I think this was a weak win by Mathieu, because Wout was not there. If that bothers you, it bothers you. Your opposition to that does not bother me.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just from seeing Wevelgem on Sunday I mean. Exactly what you were saying I think.

That’s just these people I know they just doesn’t want Mathieu to win and make some conclusions themselves.

And I'm certainly not close enough to Wout to know anything of substance. I am just pontificating.

 

[KZD]

Great edition, a wet Ronde is something that was missing in the last few years.

Van der Poel enters the history books by getting his third win and what a win it was, it reminded me a bit of his World Championships win last year even though he suffered a little bit at the end maybe because the final kilometers are very much in a straight line which meant he could use the corners to rest and take a few more seconds on his rivals. Has to be the favourite for Roubaix, even though that's a more tactical race.

The second and third favourites, Pedersen and Jorgenson ended up with disappointing results, the Dane burned his match too soon and probably still felt the effects of his crash four dags ago and the American cracked badly after trying to follow Mathieu in the Koppenberg. Lazkano also cracked pretty badly.

Teuns and Bettiol did really well, a shame that were caught so close to the finish. Mozzato though, chapeau to him, I never thought he would have been to finish this race on the podium and I am glad Matthews was relegated but not DSQ.

Finally a word on UAE. Until 2022, their cobbled classics team was virtually non-existent and two years later they put 4 riders in the second group without their last year's winner taking part, which is a massive step forward and specially Morgado finishing in he top5 of a monument at 20 years of age is an incredible result and shows that he is one of the biggest young talents in cycling. If Pogačar returns to the Ronde with this sort of team, he will be thought to beat even for Van der Poel.

 

[Gigs_98]

Without Lazkano literally killing himself to close the gap Van der Poel already goes clear on the Kwaremont!

Also I don't see much difference whether Mathieu finishes the competition on Koppenberg already or on Taaienberg roughly 15 kilometers later.

I do think that if Jorgenson had caught MvdP after the Koppenberg the two would have sat up and others could have rejoined and potentially attacked. I think Van der Poel probably wins anyway but that section until the final Kwaremont could have been very tricky for him. But then I'm talking scenarios where VdP cannot drop everyone at will which is clearly already a false premise.

 

[red_flanders]

Almost twice the length of Pogi's solo last year.

Sub 40 km solos are so last year.

 

[staubsauger]

I do think that if Jorgenson had caught MvdP after the Koppenberg the two would have sat up and others could have rejoined and potentially attacked. I think Van der Poel probably wins anyway but that section until the final Kwaremont could have been very tricky for him. But then I'm talking scenarios where VdP cannot drop everyone at will which is clearly already a false premise.

True. My response was rather to the people that claimed Koppenberg ruined the whole race.

Whether Van der Poel jumps on Koppenberg or Taaienberg doesn't make much difference. What you lined out only adds up on it, because Jörgensen nearly closed the gap!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I do think that if Jorgenson had caught MvdP after the Koppenberg the two would have sat up and others could have rejoined and potentially attacked. I think Van der Poel probably wins anyway but that section until the final Kwaremont could have been very tricky for him. But then I'm talking scenarios where VdP cannot drop everyone at will which is clearly already a false premise.

Van der Poel said himself that he thought about waiting for Jorgenson, but he wasn't sure if Jorgenson would ride with him and he didn't want everyone else to return because of that either. So they decided to go on

 

[Winnen]

I think people are somehow underestimating VdP performance today. The fastest Ronde ever, in shitty weather, 45k solo. That would be jaw-dropping a few years ago. But somehow, people are underwhelmed by it. Remember, VdP is a rider who normally wins by his explosiveness; his solos have always been this way.

Claiming Wout would have won this seems like a fantasy to me. His performance in 200k+ races is just a bit less than that of MvdP and Pogi. So I have missed Pogacar more than Wout during this Ronde, that would have been a nice spectacle again. The last two editions with them battling it out were among the best races I have seen.

 

[Lequack]

a weak win, man did a 44km solo in one of the toughest editions of RVV. Almost twice the length of Pogi's solo last year.

You speak of trolls but you're one of the biggest yourself @ChewbaccaDefense

Yeah but people will say he only won because Wout and Pog were not there.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sub 40 km solos are so last year.

its insane though. I think I only remember Gilbert doing a longer solo in RVV recently. Something like 50km? In the Sagan caught in raincoat edition

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think people are somehow underestimating VdP performance today. The fastest Ronde ever, in shitty weather, 45k solo. That would be jaw-dropping a few years ago. But somehow, people are underwhelmed by it. Remember, VdP is a rider who normally wins by his explosiveness; his solos have always been this way.

Claiming Wout would have won this seems like a fantasy to me. His performance in 200k+ races is just a bit less than that of MvdP and Pogi. So I have missed Pogacar more than Wout during this Ronde, that would have been a nice spectacle again. The last two editions with them battling it out were among the best races I have seen.

People always overrate Wout when he isn't there and are constantly surprised he is dropped by MVDP when he is there. It's one of the great mysteries in public opinion about cycling

 

[velaso montador]

People always overrate Wout when he isn't there and are constantly surprised he is dropped by MVDP when he is there. It's one of the great mysteries in public opinion about cycling

this is spot on.

Tho its not many people who think that anymore after what weve seen time and time again everytime the last years, its only fanatics fans or trolls who do and you can count en on two hands properly.

Wva is in fact way closer to likes of Bettiol and Pedersen than he is to Vdp level weve seen that countless of times over and over the last years.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

[deleted content]

Okay

I've been respectful to you. There is no need for you to be so aggressive. Reported.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And the whole WvA vs Van der Poel is weird anyway. On the road they are, in my opinion, completely different riders.

As much as WvA loves classics I think Van der Poel is generally much more geared towards them in his abilities.
Wout is just an allround nutcase who can do anything. And therefore a very effective at GT stages. The rivalry is only really there in Paris Roubaix in my opinion.

 

[Netserk]

its insane though. I think I only remember Gilbert doing a longer solo in RVV recently. Something like 50km? In the Sagan caught in raincoat edition

Yes, second last Kwaremont.

 

[velaso montador]

And the whole WvA vs Van der Poel is weird anyway. On the road they are, in my opinion, completely different riders.

As much as WvA loves classics I think Van der Poel is generally much more geared towards them in his abilities.
Wout is just an allround nutcase who can do anything. And therefore a very effective at GT stages. The rivalry is only really there in Paris Roubaix in my opinion.

Spot on as i said the suspense would change only if pogacar entered flandern thats not the case in Robauix. Wva in robauix is a challenge for vdp and their more equal atleast there,100%.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

And the whole WvA vs Van der Poel is weird anyway. On the road they are, in my opinion, completely different riders.

As much as WvA loves classics I think Van der Poel is generally much more geared towards them in his abilities.
Wout is just an allround nutcase who can do anything. And therefore a very effective at GT stages. The rivalry is only really there in Paris Roubaix in my opinion.

I can certainly see what you're saying, and agree in some part. I still think Mathieu would not have dropped him today. Like I said, we will never know.

 

[Didinho]

They’re gonna sanction the beer throwers. Looking at videos and try to identify them.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

People always overrate Wout when he isn't there and are constantly surprised he is dropped by MVDP when he is there. It's one of the great mysteries in public opinion about cycling

I guess it depends on the race, but as far as we are talking about Flanders, there is a reason they were 4-0 in favour of MvdP

 

[LookProGoSlow]

They’re gonna sanction the beer throwers. Looking at videos and try to identify them.

That is very good. It was disgusting to see on live TV.

 

[proffate]

Easily Bjerg's most notable result in a mass start race of his career.

 

[staubsauger]

There were like 5 guys that tried to make the race hard once it was on from 100 kilometers out at the Molenberg.

Van der Poel, Pedersen, Pithie, Lazkano, even if we exclude Van Baarle since his move might have been a TV attack like Alaphilippe then Jörgensen still was around before.

Everyone's oven went out. Only Van der Poel was able to sustain his effort. Even Theuns eventually exploded.

Van der Poel was just by far the strongest rider today. Not just physical strength. Also tactical strength and technical strength.

It's not a coincidence that Van Der Poel was one of the few riders that didn't slip on the Koppenberg. Once it started raining he had an advantage. Because Van der Poel tackles the cobbles nearly as strong seated as he does when he kicks it dancing on the pedals.


The crucial moment was how he used DSM to perfectly position himself into the Molenberg. Shortly before Kragh Andersen & Dillier have that misunderstanding with the bike change. Which makes both of them dissappear. Van der Poel handles that situation just perfect by attentiveness. Opting for DSM instead.

From there on Van der Poel just took every decision correctly. Closing little gaps. Using his returning 2 teammates perfectly. Thinning out the competition on Oude Kwaremont already before someone tries to undercut his attack instead.

The weather conditions then increased his advantages on the rest of the peloton due to his technical skills. Van der Poel rode a perfect race however and handled the burden of the whole race successfully!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I guess it depends on the race, but as far as we are talking about Flanders, there is a reason they were 4-0 in favour of MvdP

im mainly talking about RVV and similarly punchy races. PR is indeed a completely different story.

And in a mountain stage in the Tour we only see VDP in a grupetto while Van Aert is leading the front. Like I said , different skillsets

 

[will-10]

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.

logged onto the thread and found an asterisk within 15 seconds. i told you guys

 

[Netserk]

logged onto the thread and found an asterisk within 15 seconds. i told you guys

Pogi has ruined the spring by needing to hedge with the Giro against Vingegaard.