E3 Saxo Classic 2026, March 27

[jono]

Magical sport. Always gets out the truly worst in people

Especially in this thread.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I think MVDP is still going to make it because there's going to be a moment they are thinking about their sprint for first place. Or someone is just going to ride dumb

Dead on!

 

[Monsi]

then hed still end as 5th , so would be pretty dumb

Then maybe do your one all-out attack then at that point, knowing he doesn't have a sprint, then hope the others look at each other.

 

[postmanhat]

THIS IS THE WORST RACE I EVER SAW

THIS SUCKS
THIS ABSOLUTELY SUCKS
IT'S MENTAL

IT'S A SHAME

I HAVE NO WORDS

Couldn't disagree more. It's very rare you see an MVDP solo get chased down. A shame they didn't catch him earlier and they probably would if Dewulf had chipped in. Can't blame them for messing about in the final few hundred metres with a podium at stake.

 

[tobydawq]

At least this might deter Mathieu from doing such extreme solos in the future.

 

[11-34]

A perfect day! An open race quite to the end a crazy finish that left me in tears laughing. And now i can bask in the tears of the MVDP haters here on the forum.

 

[Squire]

At least Abrahamsen finished last in the group. Has to be one of the most toxic riders to have in a group.

How? He's always up for it in such a group. In fact, him, Vermeersch and Hagenes was pretty much the perfect trio for a well-cooperating chase group. It's just that Abrahamsen doesn't have a sprint, so it's understandable that he would do some tactics at the end. Bit surprising that nobody instantly attacked when they started messing around. Would have been Dewulf's chance, too.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

A perfect day! An open race quite to the end a crazy finish that left me in tears laughing. And now i can bask in the tears of the MVDP haters here on the forum.

Good luck at Ronde...

 

[SorelyBoy]

They had all bet their monthly salary on MVDP winning this race

It does make you wonder. 'Well we've made a good show of it lads, but let's not get too carried away and actually win the race. That would be just shooting ourselves in the foot.'

 

[pastronef]

Couldn't disagree more. It's very rare you see an MVDP solo get chased down. A shame they didn't catch him earlier and they probably would if Dewulf had chipped in. Can't blame them for messing about in the final few hundred metres with a podium at stake.

yes, it's not the worst race I ever saw. but wow, I was pedalling with them, shouting, breathing, pushing. and they let him go. wow. madness

 

[Tim Cahill]

Come on, that was brilliant, in all fairness, in the end I do think they all just decided to play dead so they had enough to sprint for the win, it just looked ridiculous because they all did it at the same time.

 

[tobydawq]

Couldn't disagree more. It's very rare you see an MVDP solo get chased down. A shame they didn't catch him earlier and they probably would if Dewulf had chipped in. Can't blame them for messing about in the final few hundred metres with a podium at stake.

Yes, they certainly could be blamed. Especially Florian who just had to keep riding without even expending that much.

Hagenes is certainly getting some noticeable second places these days, by the way.

But it was a much more enjoyable finish than what it looked like it would be.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

A pretty simple rule is that when several riders are not cooperating and doing the “smart” thing, never put the blame on the guy that ends up last of these guys…

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Nobody going to be scared of him Sunday.

 

[awavey]

MVDP also took stupid pills. There was no reason for him to be solo so early.

I agree upto a point, because theres no way that moves work 99% of the time, but he said in the interview it didnt sound like a plan he just followed a move and then ended up by himself, and then theyre kind of giving him the gap so he kind of thinks might as well keep going see how the race develops from here.

at some point to win he was going to have to make a move like that, and maybe if he dropped back and tried it again he'd be less likely to break from them.

so while he might have been on the stupid pills, the lot behind were double dosing.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

yes, it's not the worst race I ever saw. but wow, I was pedalling with them, shouting, breathing, pushing. and they let him go. wow. madness

You weren't pedalling fast enough then

 

[Gratemans]

Van der Poel says he thought they were coming back, that was absolutely not a tactical decision to fake sitting up. They literally needed to ride for five more seconds and they ****ed it.

Yeah, it was obvious he already gave up. I mean, group 2 syndrome is an understandable phenomenon. But when you're THAT close.. man, I dont know if I ever saw that before.
Gotta say though, this was thoroughly entertaining.

 

[ashhutch1997]

What on earth was Abrahamsen doing?! Literally had to ride for 5 more seconds, absolutely crazy! Felt a bit sorry for Vermeersch, he dragged that group back. I genuinely wonder what the hell these sports directors are saying through the earpieces, awful junior level mistakes at the end.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Tactics gold.

In fact I meant it.
And I liked it.

Seriously, I'm not complaining about dying meters of haywire and confusion. I was entertained all the way through.

MvdP looking back, the "fake sit up", playing mind games by looking right in the faces of G2, knewing the front rider would most probably copy with this distance, then pulling a bit, leaving more hesitation behind, gap now just a tad too far for a single jump from G2 with something left for the final sprint.

And then checkmate.

Beautiful.

 

[Gratemans]

MVDP also took stupid pills. There was no reason for him to be solo so early (other than training impulse).

Well, turns out there was 😆

 

[SorelyBoy]

I agree upto a point, because theres no way that moves work 99% of the time, but he said in the interview it didnt sound like a plan he just followed a move and then ended up by himself, and then theyre kind of giving him the gap so he kind of thinks might as well keep going see how the race develops from here.

at some point to win he was going to have to make a move like that, and maybe if he dropped back and tried it again he'd be less likely to break from them.

so while he might have been on the stupid pills, the lot behind were double dosing.

Oi, keep this type of stuff for the clinic!

 

[jono]

I agree upto a point, because theres no way that moves work 99% of the time, but he said in the interview it didnt sound like a plan he just followed a move and then ended up by himself, and then theyre kind of giving him the gap so he kind of thinks might as well keep going see how the race develops from here.

at some point to win he was going to have to make a move like that, and maybe if he dropped back and tried it again he'd be less likely to break from them.

so while he might have been on the stupid pills, the lot behind were double dosing.

He could have made the same move 40k later, gotten the same gap and won much more easily.

 

[skippo12]

How? He's always up for it in such a group. In fact, him, Vermeersch and Hagenes was pretty much the perfect trio for a well-cooperating chase group. It's just that Abrahamsen doesn't have a sprint, so it's understandable that he would do some tactics at the end. Bit surprising that nobody instantly attacked when they started messing around. Would have been Dewulf's chance, too.

He`s always in groups like this. And he always "manages" his efforts. Hagenes and Vermeersch pulled longer and harder.
Tour stage last year was similar. I guess he can claim that he outsmarted the rest when he wins but I am not sure if it increases his chances in the future. At some point they will just stop working with him.

 

[canina82]

Nobody going to be scared of him Sunday.

Pogacar is gonna kill him. A 45 km solo in coming

 

[VanBsr]

Cycling is so weird sometimes. With the exception of a few riders, it seems not losing takes precedence over trying to win.

His fans are also hard to understand. On one hand, we are laughing at the guys today because they lost due to passivity; on the other hand, we are laughing at Pedersen for attacking and taking turns.