E3 Saxo Classic 2023, one day classic, March 24

[jono]

Good for Wout beating MVDP in monster form straight up. He needed that, and it was good for the sport, too, to keep the rivalry in good form.

I don't think we have evidence to suggest Mathieu is in monster form.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

How am I gonna belittle van Aert for this one?

He should have taken his helmet off when he did the interview after the race

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, super dumb...

Yes, it was.

 

[KZD]

That's why you needed to bury him on Kwaremont.

Yes, but I think the longer distance in RVV and the fact that the climbs are closer to the finish will make things easier for Van der Poel and Pogačar there.

 

[RedheadDane]

Strange, i didn't see you.

Bolder is Van Hooydonck?!

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Yes, but I think the longer distance in RVV and the fact that the climbs are closer to the finish will make things easier for Van der Poel and Pogačar there.

Assuming Van Aert doesn't have better form then...which I suggest will be the case.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Wout purposely let MVDP win Sanremo so he could fake being in worse shape! What a tactic!

Before the season started they divided the wins amongst themselves. “You get MSR and then I get E3 and RVV so you can take P-R”

 

[Boes]

Belgians cheating WVa Should be disqualifies for his chain lube (against the rules) but also he was motorpaced back to the group after dropped.

? What is Belgian pozAto doing?

Belgian pozzato should be disqualified, taking chain lube from a moving vehicle is illegal

I'm enjoying this.

 

[Valv.Piti]

World class from Wout, amazing ride! I don't think they could drop him on Kwaremont, they tried with everything they had, but Wout was super strong. I thought he was done at that point, but he wasn't!

Turns out his sprint is still kinda good after a hard race, guys. Seems completely 50/50 to me in de Ronde in a sprint, maybe small advantage Wout now.

Pogacar still needs to just flatout drop everyone to win. Hard task with Wout and Mathieu firing on all cylinders.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah Pogacars sprint got a bit exposed here.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Belgians cheating WVa Should be disqualifies for his chain lube (against the rules) but also he was motorpaced back to the group after dropped.

Sounds like you're in need of some lube as well

Van Aert was of course lucky not to get dropped, but you don't always have to be the best on the climbs or the cobbles to win these races.

 

[Nick2413]

Yeah Pogacars sprint got a bit exposed here.

He needs the race to be on all the way to the finish for it to work. If there were a strong chasing group closing them down and everyone had to ride, and if the hills came closer to the finish, I still think he has something.

But at the very least he can’t let those 2 thugs force him into leading out the sprint, that will never end well.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I don't think we have evidence to suggest Mathieu is in monster form.

...yeah, he just won MSR by dropping the strongest rider in the world, and was the only one to be able to hold his wheel on the Kwaremont ...but yea, probably not monster form.

 

[Valv.Piti]

How was Van Aert lucky not to get dropped? He literally just dropped, but Pogacar and MVDP couldn't kill him entirely and he got back. No gifts what so ever, the two best riders in the world couldn't get completely rid of him when they had him in the ropes. You better believe they tried (because yes, they did).

Not the strongest on the climbs of course, but Mathieu wasn't last year either. It doesnt matter as long as you dont get dropped, and Wout didnt (well, he did, but not entirely..)

Now Mathieu would have to think he needs to actually drop him. That could form an deadly alliance with Pogacar, and Jumbo needs to play their cards just right. They have the team, but where was Benoot and Laporte today?

 

[jono]

...yeah, he just won MSR by dropping the strongest rider in the world, and was the only one to be able to hold his wheel on the Kwaremont ...but yea, probably not monster form.

A far-less-than-monster-form Mathieu could hold the wheel of Tadej in 2022 at RVV, no problem. At MSR Mathieu was the best tactical rider, didn't put his nose into the wind until his attack. Everything written about Mathieu prior to San Remo was about how poor he had been through the CX and early road seasons. I don't think one attack changes that.

I don't really think Tadej can win a cobbled classic with Mathieu and Wout in the start list if either is even in decent form.

 

[Lequack]

Now Mathieu would have to think he needs to actually drop him. That could form an deadly alliance with Pogacar, and Jumbo needs to play their cards just right. They have the team, but where was Benoot and Laporte today?

Pog: "Hey MVDP I'll help you drop Wout if you let me drop you in the sprint. Take it or leave it."

 

[Lequack]

A far-less-than-monster-form Mathieu could hold the wheel of Tadej in 2022 at RVV, no problem. At MSR Mathieu was the best tactical rider, didn't put his nose into the wind until his attack. Everything written about Mathieu prior to San Remo was about how poor he had been through the CX and early road seasons. I don't think one attack changes that.

I don't really think Tadej can win a cobbled classic with Mathieu and Wout in the start list if either is even in decent form.

The only question is, would Merckx at his best have beaten the likes of Wout and MVDP in these classics?

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

A far-less-than-monster-form Mathieu could hold the wheel of Tadej in 2022 at RVV, no problem. At MSR Mathieu was the best tactical rider, didn't put his nose into the wind until his attack. Everything written about Mathieu prior to San Remo was about how poor he had been through the CX and early road seasons. I don't think one attack changes that.

I don't really think Tadej can win a cobbled classic with Mathieu and Wout in the start list if either is even in decent form.

How about the fact that he shattered the record on the Poggio?

 

[jono]

How about the fact that he shattered the record on the Poggio?

So did everyone else in his group, with a massive tailwind.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Shaping up to be a great edition. I think we needed Asgreen and Alaf at their best as well, then we would have had everything, because QS at this point in time doesnt have a chance when their best rider is a 90-95% Asgreen who isn't capable of following these rapid accelerations at all. The rest of their riders are super whatever and look like juniors compared to the top riders.

They need to get out ahead, but even then, they are all just not that good atm. And that stuff doesnt change in just 9 days, I think it is what it is at this point and they would just have to pray for an Asgreen miracle, because thats all they have in Flanders.

 

[jono]

The only question is, would Merckx at his best have beaten the likes of Wout and MVDP in these classics?

Are you suggesting that Tadej is a legendary cobbled classics rider on the level of Merckx? He's never even won a race.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I'm enjoying this.

Fair enough Beos I'm glad I could entertain you. I think WVA was tiny bit lucky today , Pogacar and vander poel both did quite poor tactics which allowed him to stay with them and meant that his defensive tactics, which cost him big races in the past, worked.

It's still a big difference 200km today vs 260km on RVV or roubaix, and he did technically break a rule that warrant disqualification, but I can't fault him much otherwise , he deserve to win the race

 

[Valv.Piti]

Pog: "Hey MVDP I'll help you drop Wout if you let me drop you in the sprint. Take it or leave it."

They seems very friendly, I could see an alliance of death on the cards, because neither of them want to sprint against Wout after today and that whooping.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

E3: Any of the 3
winning would have been
worthy

 

[Lequack]

They seems very friendly, I could see an alliance of death on the cards, because neither of them want to sprint against Wout after today and that whooping.

Not to mention that MVDP actually lost against Asgreen our of Flanders 2021, also in the sprint. He should definitely try to work with Pog or someone else on the climbs.