E3 Harelbeke March 26, 2021

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Without Deceuninck, the action doesn't start with 80k to go but probably towards the Paterberg instead, and then the VDP attack is probably inevitable...

That's not what he means. He means he has no problem with van der Poel making a solo attack somewhere in the final 50k to ride into the sunset, he only has an issue with that when it's one (or possibly more) other rider(s).

 

[Black Betsy]

Man, I have 2 cents to spend and thus kudos for some proper racing ! Will spin some Danish metal/hard rock/aor later tonite!

 

[Vroome.exe]

The DQS deadlock tactics are so boring. It's legit and good for them, but just boring for the race unless you are a fanboy.

Nope, it's only boring to you, a hater.

 

[Billie]

What an idiot that decided the podium ceremony was to be held inside lol

 

[tobydawq]

Lol at the podium robot! I had read about it before. I wonder what its gender is.

 

[Luthor]

most surprising moment was definitely none of the AG2R duo reacting to Asgreen.

MvdP I can understand, he did so much work already.

All 3 of them worked hard to drop WVA. MVDP the most but he was also the strongest there. If WVA wouldn't have cracked, Asgreen's chances would be lower. AG2R &MVDP worked great for DQS

 

[Sciatic]

Wow, crazy race and crazy victory!!! Maybe he is the real number three for these races behind Wout and Mathieu?

Also, nice that Wout let Haller have his amazing top 10.

I noticed that

 

[sir fly]

I will set up a zoom meeting tonight with MvdP, AG2R and WvA to discuss "tactics for dummies against a pack of wolves" for next week.

Don't be harsh.
WvA spent plenty of energy after the wheel change. Could've been less at the front before the explosion, though.
GVA rode an excellent race imo. Reacted when it mattered. Naesen played correctly, too.
MVdP made just one mistake... let Asgreen go for the second time.
It's just the Steppers.

Different race in 9 days.
There will be Alaphilippe too.

 

[Alexandre B.]

most surprising moment was definitely none of the AG2R duo reacting to Asgreen.

MvdP I can understand, he did so much work already.

They both tried. Didn't have the legs to close the gap MvdP initially made when Asgreen attacked.

 

[Volderke]

Educate us also

I can send you an invitation if you race next week

Seriously:

1. MvdP accelerating at the moment when WvA was back in the front group, NOT going to chase Asgreen but only trying to fatigue WvA with DQS in his wheel. At the moment, they needed eachother to chase Asgreen.
2. AG2R and MvdP riding very very hard after Tiegem to definitely drop WvA and chase Asgreen, totally forgetting that Stybar and Senechal are in their wheel coasting.

A much better solution was to keep Asgreen around 10 seconds but not pull him back to soon, which would allow WvA to come back (but he would be empty anyway), and ride this way until the last 5K. As long as Asgreen is in the front but chaseable, DQS won't accelerate, and WvA would actually have been an asset to chase back DQS riders in the end.

It was clear DQS were very, very strong. I haven't seen Stybar and Senechal following with such ease, and we all know what Asgreen can do solo. They (the other riders) were too quickly trying to get rid of eachother without acknowledging that they brought all DQS riders fresh into the finale. Ofcourse, with a rider like Asgreen it's much more easy to control matters (but fact is they controlled, I have seen Stybar and Senechal drop when they now were sticking like glue).

I wouldn't blame anyone in the end not chasing Asgreen: both VdP and the AG2R riders were clearly spend, and even if they chased it back, Senechal / Stybar were more than ready to counterattack.

 

[Berflamand]

The DQS deadlock tactics are so boring. It's legit and good for them, but just boring for the race unless you are a fanboy.

I am most definitely a fanboy so I am not at all objective but I thought they made the race highly entertaining from 80km out and showed a tactical masterclass of how to beat the top favourites with strength in numbers (and ofcourse a very very impressive Asgreen). Seems like most posters enjoyed the race as well and I highly doubt this forum consists of only DQS fanboys.

 

[Mayomaniac]

What the hell was the plan anyway?

Van der Poel was insane for just letting the gap go out when the attack wasn't that explosive and he only had 5 meters. But the rest should aim to be on that move ASAP. You know Asgreen is gonna go again.

You'd think that one of them would try to cover the inevitable Quickstep attack, but nope...

 

[Bonimenier]

F_Cance rather sees the favourites win everytime. That's obviously way less boring.

 

[Sciatic]

Exactly. We all knew he was going to go and about when he was going to do it. He'd been sitting on after being caught and the only other use he could be to the team at that point was to attack in the finale. QS hardly put a foot wrong in that race. Wout, Mathieu, and AG2R are going to have to figure something out for RVV.

I rarely root for DQS but I have to question anyone who claims to be a cycling fan and thinks that race was boring.

Except I wonder whether DQ will be willing to create the same kind of chaos like they did today from 90Ks out when they have Alaphilippe to look after and also the pressure of a bigger race ?

 

[Netserk]

male cow.

Lol.

Do you also call a hen a female cöck?

 

[Danskebjerge]

That was one unpredictable race. Has something like that ever happened before in a classic?

 

[Vroome.exe]

Except I wonder whether DQ will be willing to create the same kind of chaos like they did today from 90Ks out when they have Alaphilippe to look after and also the pressure of a bigger race ?

I think they may have better chances without Alaphilippe.

 

[tobydawq]

Lol.

Do you also call a hen a female cöck?

Hmmm, we don't have a gender-neutral word, do we?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

F_Cance rather sees the favourites win everytime. That's obviously way less boring.

Not true, just "certain" favorites

 

[tobydawq]

That was one unpredictable race. Has something like that ever happened before in a classic?

No, they're known for their predictability.

 

[Volderke]

If you watch this as a neutral fan, DQS were frightening, and the way they raced was simply superb. They have Alaphilippe next week as well.

 

[jmdirt]

I am most definitely a fanboy so I am not at all objective but I thought they made the race highly entertaining from 80km out and showed a tactical masterclass of how to beat the top favourites with strength in numbers (and ofcourse a very very impressive Asgreen). Seems like most posters enjoyed the race as well and I highly doubt this forum consists of only DQS fanboys.

I really don't have a favorite team so maybe that makes it easier for me to just enjoy good racing. I dislike Patti LeFevere so if anything I want to see the wolf pack go hungry, but certainly enjoyed what they did today!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Aert said his tyre was losing air very slowly and he had to ride with it for a while because there was no ideal moment to change wheels/bikes. He felt good in the final and didn't feel his bonk coming, but maybe he had wasted too much energy by then. Says DQT deserves the victory this way, obviously he's a fanboy.

 

[Netserk]

Hmmm, we don't have a gender-neutral word, do we?

Cattle (kreatur in Danish).

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I am most definitely a fanboy so I am not at all objective but I thought they made the race highly entertaining from 80km out and showed a tactical masterclass of how to beat the top favourites with strength in numbers (and ofcourse a very very impressive Asgreen). Seems like most posters enjoyed the race as well and I highly doubt this forum consists of only DQS fanboys.

Couldn’t agree more. That was great. It was great because DQS went berserk early and then put on a tactical exhibition.