Gent-Wevelgem (men’s) 2024 (Sunday, March 24)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Van der Poel ran out of fuel today, because he'd ridden aggressively on Friday & Sunday though. Especially on Friday when he kinda lured Van Art into going into the red in order to catch him. Which was really impressive. Today Lidl made the Dutchman dig deep himself on the battlefield.

Pedersen certainly was in stellar shape today. Friday however he had a total off day. Spent too much energy early on and bonked after too much work in the favorites group. That's not exactly reliable either.

Visma has his team in shatters currently. Laporte sick. Tratnik fell. Benoot had Covid-19 and isn't fit. Hagenes would've been really needed as a wildcard, but he harmed himself too. There's only Jorgenson. While WvA isn't strong enough for sword to sword against Van der Poel currently.

So Mathieu might just ride aggressively again. Depending on how fresh he feels!

Pedersen bonked because E3 profile is much harder than GW. No inbetween flats, just hill after hill. Ergo why MVDP blasted him to 3 minutes.

Same way Pogi and VDP closed the gap to Pedersen + put minutes into him in RVV last year. He's just not as good when there's more repetition of hills compared to the flatter cobbled classics as GW and likely PR.

 

[Volderke]

This is just GW being a far, far easier race than RvV

I was inclined to comment about this during the race, but I thought it was better to wait and see the data.
My feeling has always been that a windy GW is at least as hard as the average RVV, e.g. looking at Tiller's power data:

https://www.strava.com/activities/8820681497 (RVV 2023) vs.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11029541804 (GW 2024)

RVV is an hour more, but weighted power is about the same.

 

[search]

Pedersen bonked because E3 profile is much harder than GW. No inbetween flats, just hill after hill. Ergo why MVDP blasted him to 3 minutes.

Same way Pogi and VDP closed the gap to Pedersen + put minutes into him in RVV last year. He's just not as good when there's more repetition of hills compared to the flatter cobbled classics as GW and likely PR.

I think the lack of distance plays a part as well, though. Pedersen has never been particularly good in E3, while he is usually up there in the Ronde

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I was inclined to comment about this during the race, but I thought it was better to wait and see the data.
My feeling has always been that a windy GW is at least as hard as the average RVV, e.g. looking at Tiller's power data:

https://www.strava.com/activities/8820681497 (RVV 2023) vs.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11029541804 (GW 2024)

RVV is an hour more, but weighted power is about the same.

weighted power is not a good comparison. RVV is much more about intervals. And even intervals on hills are completely different than on the flat.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

"The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated" - Mark Twain

I think rumours of Twain's death can be considered fact-checked and verified by this stage.

 

[Volderke]

weighted power is not a good comparison. RVV is much more about intervals. And even intervals on hills are completely different than on the flat.

So what's the hardest? intervals, or echelons? My experience is that an echelon can destroy you as much as any short climb. The files prove GW is no free ride, and comparing altitude, it's not exactly flat either.

 

[tobydawq]

I think rumours of Twain's death can be considered fact-checked and verified by this stage.

But likely not at the time he spoke the words.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I think rumours of Twain's death can be considered fact-checked and verified by this stage.

Check mark ✅

 

[Brullnux]

So what's the hardest? intervals, or echelons? My experience is that an echelon can destroy you as much as any short climb. The files prove GW is no free ride, and comparing altitude, it's not exactly flat either.

They're both hard, it's just a different test. Ronde suits MVDP more, as does E3.

 

[Billie]

Trek's 3 guys crack MvdP - are Trek the new Visma?
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...o-beat-mathieu-van-der-poel-in-gent-wevelgem/

The 30 flat kms after the first Kemmel were perfect for these tactics. They used Milan as perfect cannon fodder. Van der Poel basically led the group for like 95% from the moment Milan attacked untill he got caught again. Pithie, Tiller and Dijke could only help with some hesitant pulls. All while his two strongest opponents got a free ride in his wheel.

But in E3 and RVV there is no such long flat sections. The repetitive hills do not give the other guys easier free rides. Even here he tried to use the uphill gravel section and an exposed piece of road to put the guys 'freewheeling' behind him in the gutter.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

On some beach in Bali, Mark Twain, Tupac, and JFK, Jr. are reading this thread and having a good laugh.

 

[Volderke]

The 30 flat kms after the first Kemmel were perfect for these tactics. They used Milan as perfect cannon fodder. Van der Poel basically led the group for like 95% from the moment Milan attacked untill he got caught again. Pithie, Tiller and Dijke could only help with some hesitant pulls. All while his two strongest opponents got a free ride in his wheel.

But in E3 and RVV there is no such long flat sections. The repetitive hills do not give the other guys easier free rides. Even here he tried to use the uphill gravel section and an exposed piece of road to put the guys 'freewheeling' behind him in the gutter.

True in RVV you don't have such long (flat) sections, but e.g. a good WvA in the draft can be the equal in the finale of a (good) MvdP that is overworked. The problem is that on a harder parcours like RVV you can get overworked, sitting in the wheel as well, especially on the bergs. And above all, you need very, very good bait. Milan was excellent as bait, but who, from Visma, could (and want to) take up his role? Because you really need a fearless rider that can pretend he's in the running for the win, while at the same time he's prepared to completely sacrifice himself. There simply aren't many that can pull this off.
So I fear the only possibility to work over MvdP is to have an alliance between WvA and some other contenders, but as those are not in the same team, it is very hard to achieve this (even within the same team it's not always possible / executed well).

 

[Brullnux]

Surely Jorgensen, van Baarle can do that?

 

[scribers]

Just now watching. Pedersen prevails. Very nice win. Seemed to carry most of the general pulling. Mvp pulling back most the attacks. Milan not only clearly assisted pedersen considering the work mvp had to do containing him, but also had something left to contest the best of the rest. Very strong team work

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

On some beach in Bali, Mark Twain, Tupac, and JFK, Jr. are reading this thread and having a good laugh.

Because Elvis has a house there

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

True in RVV you don't have such long (flat) sections, but e.g. a good WvA in the draft can be the equal in the finale of a (good) MvdP that is overworked. The problem is that on a harder parcours like RVV you can get overworked, sitting in the wheel as well, especially on the bergs. And above all, you need very, very good bait. Milan was excellent as bait, but who, from Visma, could (and want to) take up his role? Because you really need a fearless rider that can pretend he's in the running for the win, while at the same time he's prepared to completely sacrifice himself. There simply aren't many that can pull this off.
So I fear the only possibility to work over MvdP is to have an alliance between WvA and some other contenders, but as those are not in the same team, it is very hard to achieve this (even within the same team it's not always possible / executed well).

I think in reality, P-R is Wout's best shot. I think the bergs are too much of a strength for Mathieu, and I think he will attack until Wout cannot follow.

The scenario of a rider off the front by VLAB is possible for Jorgensen, but I think Alpecin and Lidl will not let him go so easy.

 

[Sciatic]

I think in reality, P-R is Wout's best shot. I think the bergs are too much of a strength for Mathieu, and I think he will attack until Wout cannot follow.

The scenario of a rider off the front by VLAB is possible for Jorgensen, but I think Alpecin and Lidl will not let him go so easy.

Or Lidl Trek will try try to get a rider into a early attacking group with him.

 

[Oldermanish]

Because Elvis has a house there

Same block as Janis and Jim.

 

[Oldermanish]

Surely Jorgensen, van Baarle can do that?

vanBaarle out which may leave Jorgensen as dom duty first.

 

[proffate]

Milan was excellent as bait

While he did work as bait, I'm still not exactly sure why. Was he a threat to solo to the finish? With the clarity of hindsight, no he was not, and it's not like he'd ever gone on a long solo mission before either, had he?