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

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Weak podium in the men's race. Women's race was so much better.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Okay, that's absurd...there's a GoPro on Mathieu's champagne bottle...marketing is just stupid now.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Did somebody say something? <trolls get blocked>

 

[Brullnux]

Oof, still really strong all things considered

Ardennes triple 🔜

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Top Visma is Benoot in 15th.
2 Americans in top 15, neither of which was Jorgenson.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Ardennes triple 🔜

He's racing Paris-Roubaix next.
The only Italian who has won both Roubaix and the RvV is Tafi, his long term girlfriend's father...

 

[zlev11]

Wout wins this if he wasn't in the hospital. He was clearly getting stronger, and Mathieu is clearly getting more and more tired. Next week is wide open.

lol

 

[jaylew]

Wout wins this if he wasn't in the hospital. He was clearly getting stronger, and Mathieu is clearly getting more and more tired. Next week is wide open.

You're saying he's getting tired after dominating the fastest RVV ever in bad conditions? I guess we'll see how he looks next week but I certainly didn't get that from what we saw today.

 

[senna6541]

Absolute masterclass. Tough to beat a guy when he is the strongest, best bike handler and smartest tactically. Measured his effort perfectly in the weather too.

 

[Froome]

Absolute masterclass. Tough to beat a guy when he is the strongest, best bike handler and smartest tactically. Measured his effort perfectly in the weather too.

That's something he didn’t last year, and may have cost him the victory, but he regained the race this year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wout wins this if he wasn't in the hospital. He was clearly getting stronger, and Mathieu is clearly getting more and more tired. Next week is wide open.

this *** again. You never ever give him credit lol. Even when MVDP showed time and time again he can drop and distance Van Aert any time.

 

[velaso montador]

That's something he didn’t last year, and may have cost him the victory, but he regained the race year.

I thought so too.

The attack before kwaremoont i wonder if he woulda had enough to follow pog if he didnt do that. It was no need but its the way he rides too tho wanne make it as hard as possible but he didnt need to help pogacar make it harder right before pogs only chance to drop him was coming up. Its one of those curious stuff what woulda happen if he didnt do that for me.

 

[velaso montador]

this *** again. You never ever give him credit lol. Even when MVDP showed time and time again he can drop and distance Van Aert any time.

Just bloock him its not only non logical things behind it at this point it has to be trolling. Mods should do something its tiresome to discucss something which is clearly not even a topic. Wva didnt even beat Pedersen last year thats how close he was then..

As soon as we knew Pogacar was not riding the flandern this year bearing any missfortunes this gap would always be the case.

 

[pastronef]

this years edition confirmed how the 2023 was one of the best Flanders EVER

 

[Cookster15]

Didn't see the race but happy to see the overwhelming pre race favorite delivered in style. Congrats to MVDP. He goes from to strength. An amazing rider.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

You're making zero sense. As usual. WVA's problem was never lack of strength, but ability to read the race or having the balls to attack. Likewise, MVDP is clearly more powerful than the bunch but that would be useless if he didn't know where to strike.

I genuinely believe that Wout would have been able to stay with Mathieu (he did look a bit weaker than I would have expected, as he did seem to lose a bit of steam in the last 20K), and may have learned what he did last E3, and forced Mathieu into a long sprint. If that makes 0 sense to you, that's your position, and I understand what you're saying, but I do believe that Wout would have featured in the final today.

 

[Froome]

This race proved again that the peloton is getting faster year after year.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

this *** again. You never ever give him credit lol. Even when MVDP showed time and time again he can drop and distance Van Aert any time.

I gave him credit the entire CX season. Like I posted to another person, I genuinely believe that Mathieu is not at his peak. That is frightening in some ways, but I do believe that. I also believe that Wout would have been on equal measure today. Jorgenson was almost able to keep contact when he attacked. To suggest Wout would not have been able to respond (particularly when Jorgenson faded so much), I think is not correct. From what I witnesses, I believe Wout would have been able to keep Mathieu's wheel today.

We will never actually know. What I am sure of is that if Pog were here, neither of them could handle his strength, right now.

 

[Didinho]

I’ve got a lot of Belgians (Wout fans) in friends and family saying to me he looked bad and on decline. Even today at my group ride.
After a 40km solo, 2 days later 2nd after doing the most work. With a week rest. He’s only halfway his classics schedule, it’s not like he’s got Pedersen number of races.

 

[staubsauger]

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.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

This race proved again that the peloton is getting faster year after year.

In wet, slippery conditions, with a lot of riders having to walk...it's the topic for another part of the forum IMO.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I’ve got a lot of Belgians (Wout fans) in friends and family saying to me he looked bad and on decline. Even today at my group ride.
After a 40km solo, 2 days later 2nd after doing the most work. With a week rest. He’s only halfway his classics schedule, it’s not like he’s got Pedersen number of races.

I just don't buy that. His numbers were supposedly better than they have ever been.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I gave him credit the entire CX season. Like I posted to another person, I genuinely believe that Mathieu is not at his peak. That is frightening in some ways, but I do believe that. I also believe that Wout would have been on equal measure today. Jorgenson was almost able to keep contact when he attacked. To suggest Wout would not have been able to respond (particularly when Jorgenson faded so much), I think is not correct. From what I witnesses, I believe Wout would have been able to keep Mathieu's wheel today.

We will never actually know. What I am sure of is that if Pog were here, neither of them could handle his strength, right now.

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

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

[content deleted]

Yes

 

[Didinho]

I just don't buy that. His numbers were supposedly better than they have ever been.

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.