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Interesting perspective, thanks. Clearly today both are special races, but since specialization set in 30 years ago, it's difficult that a GT candidate risks the cobbled classics. So we don't have riders competing in the same classics. Yet Flanders-Roubaix combo arguably has the greatest appeal. Now Hinault, had he been Belgian, I have no doubt he would have won Flanders, but being French back then Roubaix was an absolute must!
Liege has equally rich history as Ronde, maybe even richer, cause it's an older race. These days, I admit, Ronde provides more exciting racing, but that was not always the case. In 2000's for example, Liege was more exciting and had stronger field.
And he is the one whos has to last the most with Remco. So he needs to survive the pace of all his teammates as well at the front. Many leaders yesterday could not last that long, imagine a domestique doing it. It takes a big effort.
He still did the Redoute in the same time as in the recon (3th overall). Which is really strong after 200km+. Says something about Van Wilder's pace untill he launched. I also think he could've gone solo from where he wanted to attack.
No way, as Remco was just cruising. Had he had to dig really deep I don't think Pog could have dropped him.
I'm in agreement with you. (as a flemish dude) i find LBL to be more prestigious in name, RVV more fun/entertaining to watch.
I tend to agree, given Remco's actual performance, but as is said: "de mortuis nil nisi bonum".
Or it could be Remco launches from Redoutte, Pog follows, Remco tries on Forges and that climb before, Pog follows, and than Pog buries him on Roche and winning solo.
It is actually easier to relax and go into TT mode when you know your chief rival is out. You can max effort, stay loose and do your best not to crash while any remaining chasers yo-yo in futile attempts to escape the peloton. You only need to be faster than the best 2 chasers in that situation and the survivors weren't collaborating to any efficient level. None of them were going to accomplish a bridge solo, either.
A fundamental difference between RVV and LBL as a race, a prestigious event, etc, is that Liege is a straightforward out-and-back, whereas de Ronde goes back and forth over the same roads. So the crowd on the Muur gets (drunker and) louder with each passage, and the atmosphere builds and builds.
You also need to forget what either of these riders would normally do. It was clear the way many riders rode the climbs that they were too slick to apply max power and the 30km run-in to the finish was wet and curvy enough that flat-out pursuiting would be difficult. I would imagine that Remco's wattage output wasn't super high in many places in the last 40km just trying to stay upright. That said; I'd agree with Red R's conclusion. They would have kept a manageable gap and sprinted. That's assuming neither of them didn't slide out on a corner....
Pidcock did not follow the initial accelleration, you weren't paying careful attention. He temporarily got back on on the descent. And Remco's wheel slipped when he wanted to go initially, forcing him to abort his first attempt, which changed the whole dynamic. Had he been able to go when he wanted to, it's unlikely Pidcock would have ever gotten back, however fleetingly.
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