Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Field 2023 March 26, 260.9 km (1.WT)

[ppanther92]

The gap always comes down, it's not E3, this isn't by any means over.

Its totally over though. Who should those two that are anyway better than the riders in the group on the flat, bring back?

 

[search]

I dont think so. Tiller is there and he is just sitting there. If Kristoff was there Tiller would be working.

think so too, yeah. Not really a good sign for next week. This kind of race should be exactly Kristoff's cup of tea, and he abandoned E3 on Friday to be better prepared.

 

[rghysens]

Kooij still there do they get the 1-2-3 today?

Given how he went over that final Kemmelberg, that would be very likely.

 

[Sciatic]

Where’s the guy to wave his hand and shake his head with disgust.

 

[Samamba]

So De LIe had a mechanical on the last plugstreet, thats why he was gone out of nowhere.

 

[SafeBet]

I understand people questioning QS tactics and / or team selection but let's be real: they're not strong enough to keep this race in check (or any other big cobble race for that matter) no matter what they do. They're a third tier team for cobbles now.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Will WVA give the stage to Laporte? What are your thoughts. I have 100 euros on Laporte. I don't know if I should cash out

 

[KZD]

The gap always comes down, it's not E3, this isn't by any means over.

The gap is almost 2 minutes now, this is by all means over.

 

[tobydawq]

Will WVA give the stage to Laporte? What are your thoughts. I have 100 euros on Laporte. I don't know if I should cash out

I would have said yes until Wout dropped him on the Kemmelberg.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I would have said yes until Wout dropped him on the Kemmelberg.

So do you think WVA will win?

 

[tobydawq]

So do you think WVA will win?

I really don't know. I'm still leaning on Laporte but I wouldn't be certain at all.

 

[tobydawq]

Imagine if the big Pedersen-Mohoric-Kragh group had just let Jakobsen join them. Then QuickStep wouldn't have chased, and Wout and Laporte would probably never have seen the front.

 

[peterfin]

This is not a race that anyone from Flanders would give away.

 

[ppanther92]

So do you think WVA will win?

What are the odds you have now, what are the implied odds if you cash out?

 

[Volderke]

Will WVA give the stage to Laporte? What are your thoughts. I have 100 euros on Laporte. I don't know if I should cash out

Honestly, WvA hasn't won many big races and thus he won't give this one away.
Laporte has a good contract at Jumbo and is more than happy if he wins some stages in PN and the Tour, so I would cash out.
But don't be mad at me if WvA is in a generous day ;-)

ps: WvA rode just a bit harder on the Kemmel to stop any discussions, when he will be first over the line, that Laporte had any chance if they battled it out.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Imagine if the big Pedersen-Mohoric-Kragh group had just let Jakobsen join them. Then QuickStep wouldn't have chased, and Wout and Laporte would probably never have seen the front.

Laporte was also in that group, no?

But yes, that decision has backfired on race and riders.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Its totally over though. Who should those two that are anyway better than the riders in the group on the flat, bring back?

Well to be fair it was about a minute at 30k when I posted that, but yeah it's over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1501186741985763330

 

[tobydawq]

Philipsen getting dropped now!?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Wout when the team car asks him if he wants to let Laporte win: "That doesn't work for me, brother!"

 

[Scarponi]

Wout when the team car asks him if he wants to let Laporte win: "That doesn't work for me, brother!"

Haha Hulk reference

 

[tobydawq]

Laporte was also in that group, no?

But yes, that decision has backfired on race and riders.

Oh, that's probably true. And Van Hooydonck. I remembered there were two Jumbos but different from Wout and Laporte but that's probably wrong.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Lol, if Van Aert has to give this one away to Laporte, he should start looking for another team ASAP. Unless Vingegaard is going to gift the TDF to Van Aert of course.

 

[DNP-Old]

Ok, Laporte will win.

 

[Sciatic]

Jeez ... going in the breakaway from the peloton with two guys 1 minute out in front. It's not the way to chase them down. So toxic for the collaboration. As I see it, this kind of miserable chasing has been more common in recent years.

Yup. I’m not sure what is worse with chasing groups: when guys in the chasing are constantly flicking elbows, and slowing noticeably when they get to the front, gesturing, etc . . . Or like they are today - looking like they’re riding hard but have surrendered another minute to the two leaders in the last ten Km?

 

[Samamba]

I understand people questioning QS tactics and / or team selection but let's be real: they're not strong enough to keep this race in check (or any other big cobble race for that matter) no matter what they do. They're a third tier team for cobbles now.

People just expect more because of their history, and PatLef arrogance obviously.
But yes I agree. They might even come 3rd with Merlier, who seems to be the only QS guy who's actually good in Flanders lately.