Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026, April 1

[Berflamand]

Much, much, much more popular. Evenepoel already wasn't well liked before WC 2021, but after a post-race interview where he said he could've won, he had a lot of people against him. And they never let it go.

If for some weird reason Evenepoel and WVA sprint for victory in De Ronde, and Evenepoel wins, most people will be dissapointed.

I agree that Wout is more popular but I don't think the difference is that big.

I think it's more that there's not really anybody who 'hates' Wout. Even more neutral fans don't mind Wout winning/having success, especially after all his bad luck the last few years.

While with Remco it seems more like a 'love him or hate him' situation where he has a lot of fans but also a big group that simply seem to detest him and look forward to him 'failing'.

I mean, not that different from the situation on this forum actually.

But yeah, if Evenepoel wins de Ronde in a sprint against Wout, most people will be disappointed indeed, not only because he's more popular, but because Wout has been targeting this race for a long time and then Remco comes along and 'steals' it from under his nose. A bit like the Roglic-Pogacar situation after Pog's first TDF win I suppose.

 

[theyoungest]

Belgian fans:
Remco is the best belgian rider but WVA is really your people's champion, right? I never saw this type of behaviours with Remco but with Wout racing, belgian fans go crazy (even booing and spitting on MVP).
Is Wout so much popular than Remco?

The fact that cycling is the people's sport in Belgium also means that there's quite a bit of drunk hooliganism going on, unfortunately. And the Belgian media feeds into this by raising expectations way too high (Van Aert's buddy Bakelants being an especially ridiculous example) and then constantly playing the blame game when Woutje inevitably comes up short.

If Van Aert doesn't win it's always someone else's fault. They've blamed Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard, the entirety of team Visma, and I'm sure after Wednesday, Laporte has had plenty of threats in his inbox as well for not disturbing the chase enough. The only difference is that now another Belgian is in their crosshairs, so the Belgian media are a bit more aware of it.

 

[awavey]

Much, much, much more popular. Evenepoel already wasn't well liked before WC 2021, but after a post-race interview where he said he could've won, he had a lot of people against him. And they never let it go.

If for some weird reason Evenepoel and WVA sprint for victory in De Ronde, and Evenepoel wins, most people will be dissapointed.

Wout just seems a nice all around guy, sort of has that awareness that comes with maturity later in life, and just seems a friendly person.

Im sure in private Remco is nice too, its just in public he seems completely up his own posterior alot of the time and doesnt come across as anything but arrogant alot of the time.

Wout is the kind of guy youd happily share a beer with, Remco would be the one complaining the glass isnt washed properly, or the beer isnt at the right temperature for him.

like Remcos histrionics with Vingegaard recently about not contributing, can you ever imagine Wout doing that in a race ? can you imagine him then bringing it up multiple times later in interviews. I dont think so. Or when he had to quit the TdF and got the hump with the moto camera, even though thats their job and showing you on screen is why you get paid the money you do again dont think Wout would react like that, whereas thats Remcos personality to a tee, so he can be the most successful rider in Belgium but he'll never be as popular as Wout.

 

[jono]

like Remcos histrionics with Vingegaard recently about not contributing, can you ever imagine Wout doing that in a race ?

He would have a different way of saying it, but he's made comments to this effect before. Just this week, in fact, he was bemoaning the fact that MVDP did not fully commit to their break to Wevelgem.

 

[RedheadDane]

If Van Aert doesn't win it's always someone else's fault. They've blamed Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard, the entirety of team Visma, and I'm sure after Wednesday, Laporte has had plenty of threats in his inbox as well for not disturbing the chase enough. The only difference is that now another Belgian is in their crosshairs, so the Belgian media are a bit more aware of it.

Who got blamed when he gifted Laporte the win in 2023?

 

[Brullnux]

He would have a different way of saying it, but he's made comments to this effect before. Just this week, in fact, he was bemoaning the fact that MVDP did not fully commit to their break to Wevelgem.

'The collaboration with Mathieu was good, but he had the luxury of Philipsen still being behind him, which allowed him to race a bit more defensively at the end.'

Feels very different.

 

[Red Rick]

Belgian fans:
Remco is the best belgian rider but WVA is really your people's champion, right? I never saw this type of behaviours with Remco but with Wout racing, belgian fans go crazy (even booing and spitting on MVP).
Is Wout so much popular than Remco?

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The solution as simple as disabling DMs and disabling replies but gotta cry big crocodile tears over something you chose to expose yourself to for big sympathy points.

It'll never cease to be *** boring.

 

[Red Rick]

If for some weird reason Evenepoel and WVA sprint for victory in De Ronde, and Evenepoel wins, most people will be dissapointed.

Rightfully so.

Today I feel Belgian

 

[RedheadDane]

The solution as simple as disabling DMs and disabling replies but gotta cry big crocodile tears over something you chose to expose yourself to for big sympathy points.

Nobody chooses to expose themselves to online threats.

Contrary, lots of people chose to make online threats over a bike race.

 

[Red Rick]

Nobody chooses to expose themselves to online threats.

Contrary, lots of people chose to make online threats over a bike race.

It's not his fault he receives them, but how he responds to it - whining - is 100% his responsibility

 

[awavey]

He would have a different way of saying it, but he's made comments to this effect before. Just this week, in fact, he was bemoaning the fact that MVDP did not fully commit to their break to Wevelgem.

Yes and Ok im not saying he wouldnt respond to it or mention it at all, just his reaction wouldnt come across as petulant as Remcos did/does

You always know if something upsets Remco, its very publicly displayed with full flourish. With Wout, he might feel the same way, but will grit his teeth in the moment, chose what he says about it later.

And its not that Remco doesn't have a point when he outbursts about things, its just dont be a grade a ***hole about it. That doesn't win you popularity.

Its like Remco is Maximus from Gladiator, Are you not entertained ? Win the crowd

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Much, much, much more popular. Evenepoel already wasn't well liked before WC 2021, but after a post-race interview where he said he could've won, he had a lot of people against him. And they never let it go.

If for some weird reason Evenepoel and WVA sprint for victory in De Ronde, and Evenepoel wins, most people will be dissapointed.

Even as a Wout fan, Remco was right about the 2021 WC's. They wasted all their effort on Wout that day, and I said then that if I were Remco, i'd never ride for Wout again, in the WC's.

 

[Sciatic]

He would have a different way of saying it, but he's made comments to this effect before. Just this week, in fact, he was bemoaning the fact that MVDP did not fully commit to their break to Wevelgem.

Every rider since they invented the bicycle has bemoaned any instance when one of the riders in a 2-rider break doesn’t contribute as much.