E3 Saxo Classic 2024, one day classic, March 22

[Lequack]

Is Jorgensonn the new Wout? Or maybe the new Pog, since he is also a GC rider. Maybe the new Remco.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Jezus, the hate on WVA these past few days on the forum is growing. You wonder why. Perhaps everyone is just bitter that they wouldn't even be able to touch the heels of a Caja Rural-rider if they were to haul their fat ass on a race bike...

There are big guys who can wheelsuck remco on his training rides. I'm 64kg and surely could hold the wheel of jaume guardeño for 45 minutes!!

 

[tobydawq]

Honestly comparing Wout and Tadej to Pozzato is a compliment for Pozzato

It's tiresome, that's what it is. And neither of the comparisons have any sense whatsoever.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771202626962485248

View: https://twitter.com/TadejPogacarTr/status/1771202626962485248?s=20

 

[Volderke]

I think that's unfair, this is possibly Van der Poel's most dominant ever classics win other than Glasgow. He's always been a bit better than the rest, this was a LOT better than the rest.

It was impressive, but WvA's unfortunate crash somehow diminished MvdP's solo: MvdP would have won anyway but the duel could have gone just a bit further.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

There are big guys who can wheelsuck remco on his training riders. I'm 64kg and surely could hold the wheel of jaume guardeño for 45 minutes!!

Yeah when he's training, not in an actual race. Either you're seriously overestimating your own capabilities or you're underestimating the level of pro-cyclists.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

It's tiresome, that's what it is. And neither of the comparisons have any sense whatsoever.

True, Wout, Tadej, Mathieu, Remco, Primoz and Jonas are all unique.

 

[tobydawq]

The state of cycling is absolutely alarming

Why?

Because races are getting too predictable and the best riders are untouchable? Or some other point that we're supposed to be able to get without context?

 

[tobydawq]

Wind and Visma-LAB's path to victory.

For someone who can predict the exact Cipressa time combined with Philipsen winning MSR, this was rather poor

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Indeed a great result considering he has virtually no experience in cobble classics (possibly only ridden Denain in 2017 before today).

Denain only started using the cobbles in 2018. So it was his first cobbled one-day race full stop (although he did do the cobbles stage of the final Driedaagse edition of Koksijde). Shades of Colbrelli in 2017.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Brussinskiy is actually showing up in the full results. Good work, race timekeepers.

 

[Brullnux]

The state of cycling is absolutely alarming

True, past few cobbled classics seasons have been really dull.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Denain only started using the cobbles in 2018. So it was his first cobbled one-day race full stop (although he did do the cobbles stage of the final Driedaagse edition of Koksijde). Shades of Colbrelli in 2017.

Sadly, just an image of Italian cycling. No fully Italian WT-mean which means guys like Albanese and Colbrelli in the past had to waste years on the PCT-lvl before getting a WT-opportunity. Imagine the classic rider he would be if he'd started them 2 years ago?
Guys like Zoccorato are currently in the same pickle, he's riding Catalunya whilst he should be gobbling cobbles.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Sadly, just an image of Italian cycling. No fully Italian WT-mean which means guys like Albanese and Colbrelli in the past had to waste years on the PCT-lvl before getting a WT-opportunity. Imagine the classic rider he would be if he'd started them 2 years ago?
Guys like Zoccorato are currently in the same pickle, he's riding Catalunya whilst he should be gobbling cobbles.

Tbf Lampre were replaced by UAE the same winter Colbrelli went to Bahrain. But yes, Italy desperately needs a PCT good enough to get invited to these races at bare minimum.

 

[Lequack]

Big beer

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771207880215044525

View: https://twitter.com/Eurosport_ES/status/1771207880215044525?s=20

 

[staubsauger]

Big beer

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771207880215044525

View: https://twitter.com/Eurosport_ES/status/1771207880215044525?s=20

Belgian beer!

Maybe I should get one too, aptly to the race day.

 

[proffate]

What I want to know is which genius MBA at Red Bull decided WVA was a more extreme and marketable athlete than MVDP?

Not that I'm complaining --- it would be a crime to ever combine the redbull helmet with the rainbow stripes.

 

[Nick2413]

Gotta feel bad for Wout after this.

 

[tobydawq]

On another note; it is so annoying to be a Dane and always have to hear about how THIS TIME, certainly MADS P will win everything in the spring because he is stronger than ever and has gotten a NUTRITION EXPERT, so now NOBODY can beat him. And then he can't follow Stuyven and Skujins.

Updated: Or Kirsch.

 

[staubsauger]

Pedersen always seems to waste energy with a lot of useless attacks. Last year at Flanders was an intelligent move that was about to pay off.

But today again. Lots of small digs that were completely unnecessary. Like the group behind is about to catch Van Der Poel. The Dutchman even sits up. But Pedersen wents in pursuit solo.

Then there's no fuel left, when the flight off takes place of course. Misses a bit of race insight IMHO!

 

[staubsauger]

What I want to know is which genius MBA at Red Bull decided WVA was a more extreme and marketable athlete than MVDP?

Not that I'm complaining --- it would be a crime to ever combine the redbull helmet with the rainbow stripes.

Especially since Red Bull would've had Max Verstappen & Mathieu van der Poel!

 

[tobydawq]

Pedersen always seems to waste energy with a lot of useless attacks. Last year at Flanders was an intelligent move that was about to pay off.

But today again. Lots of small digs that were completely unnecessary. Like the group behind is about to catch Van Der Poel. The Dutchman even sits up. But Pedersen wents in pursuit solo.

Then there's no fuel left, when the flight off takes place of course. Misses a bit of race insight IMHO!

Yeah, he did the same in Glasgow. It's like he thinks he's as strong as Mathieu. But even Mathieu played it smart for a while in Glasgow before stamping his authority.

Or maybe it's because he wants to have an excuse for himself as to why he couldn't follow when it mattered.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Van Aert looks like he's entered the fourth stage of grief. Soon, he will reach acceptance of the fact that he is not a guy who's going to beat Van der Poel in a cobbled monument, but rather a Belgian Pozzato.

 

[Ricco']

Especially since Red Bull would've had Max Verstappen & Mathieu van der Poel!

Maybe MVDP didn't want that sponsorhip?

Hard to fathom that Red Bull didn't try at some point to have him as one of their athletes, specially given his notoriety in Mountain Biking, where the bulk of Red Bull cycling sponsorship traditionally is/was.

I think that his girlfriend did some social media adverts for Monster Energy on the past tho.

 

[tobydawq]

Same 3 dudes win everything that matters and the gap is only getting bigger. Barely a point to tuning in any more other than bad habit.

Samremo is the only oultier, and that was just One Of The Three deciding to be kingmaker for the dirtiest sprinter in the peloton.

I will admit I am salt, but I basically miss the Froome days at this point

No, you don't miss the Froome days.

But I understand the point. Wout's crash didn't help here, though.