Liège - Bastogne - Liège 2026, one-day monument, 26th April

[Berniece]

However I do think there is a higher likelihood than the past two editions of one or both Remco or Seixas hanging on longer

If Evenepoel is not able to hang on as long as last year there might be a huge issue

 

[vappa]

Pogacar wins if he’s able to drop Evenepoel
Evenepoel wins if he’s able to hang on
Can’t see Seixas win unless Pogacar crashes

Does Remco have a MvdP level sprint? No

 

[Berniece]

Does Remco have a MvdP level sprint? No

I think he's currently faster than Pogacar and Seixas. Evenepoel was faster than Pidcock in Catalunya and Pidcock almost won from Pogacar in MSR after being boxed in a bit.

 

[jmdirt]

The GOAT vs The ***

***
three letters? A** (donkey)?

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

I think he's currently faster than Pogacar and Seixas. Evenepoel was faster than Pidcock in Catalunya and Pidcock almost won from Pogacar in MSR after being boxed in a bit.

Comparisons like this between races are absurd.
To begin with, Pidcock arrived to Catalunya after 300 kilometers in San Remo, while Remco arrived after doing altitude. Remco was much fresher than Pidcock.

If you take sprints out of context, does that mean Pogacar is faster than Van der Poel because he beat him in the Dauphiné?
Obviously not, Van der Poel is much faster than Pogacar.

By the way, Pogacar beat Godon on the final stage of Catalunya in 2024 at Montjuic. Godon, in turn, beat Remco in Catalunya, and they both beat Pidcock. This means that Godon would have finished second in San Remo...

Every races has its context, and in this case, even more so.you've picked the most misleading example. Pidcockhad just arrived to Catalunya from San Remo, Remco and Godon didn´t ride San Remo.

1	Pogačar Tadej	UAE Team Emirates	50	50	10″	3:15:23
2	Godon Dorian	Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team	30	30	6″	,

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The GOAT vs The ***

Bryan Coquard to win LBL

 

[Peyresourde]

There should be a headwind on La Redoute again (similar to the last two years). If Seixas is on the wheel of Pogacar at the start of the climb, then he won't be dropped easily unless Cosnefroy does a real lead out or Pogacar really goes all in.

And even then Seixas does not get dropped there for certain (draft in these conditons still saves ~0.3 w/kg depending on the exact speed). I can't see Evenepoel hanging on there as I have not seen a new climbing level from him this year.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

 

[Berniece]

Comparisons like this between races are absurd.

Sure, but then let me just reference AGR where Evenepoel looked very explosive. There's no reason to think he would automatically lose that sprint.

 

[Brullnux]

Does Remco have a MvdP level sprint? No

Have you seen the size of Evenepoel this year and his sprint in Amstel. He'll be competing for bunch sprints in July

 

[memyselfandI]

I don't think Remco and Paul can challenge Pogi in La Redoute. At least how Seixas looked at the Mur de Huy, not that level of explosives what Pogi typically produces atm, or was Seixas sandbagging to hide that for the weekend?

Interesting though is how the dynamics and cooperation happens between second group if Pogi is head of the race and say Remco-Paul duo chasing. If Seixas is as good as he's been in flats/tt'ing recently, Remco ain't gonna get rid of him easily. If bigger second group, like adding Skjelmose, Pidcock to the mix, it probably makes it easier for Seixas to time attack and jump away solo later.

Or Seixas just brute goes on his own after Pogi on La Redoute, soloing for a second spot, wouldn't surprise, kinda what happened in Strade.

Anyways one step harder again for Seixas to show the world who he really is.

 

[Gratemans]

I don't think Remco and Paul can challenge Pogi in La Redoute. At least how Seixas looked at the Mur de Huy, not that level of explosives what Pogi typically produces atm, or was Seixas sandbagging to hide that for the weekend?

Could very well be with how much he looked over his shoulder and appeared to slow down a couple of times when he saw the gap was big enough.
Still, I think Pogacar will win this. But it's nice to see some competition for a change.

 

[vappa]

I think he's currently faster than Pogacar and Seixas. Evenepoel was faster than Pidcock in Catalunya and Pidcock almost won from Pogacar in MSR after being boxed in a bit.

Those sprints are not comparable at all

 

[Berniece]

Those sprints are not comparable at all

Sure, but did you see AGR? That should tell you enough about Evenepoel's sprint at the moment. If you want to think Pogacar is faster go ahead. I think Pogacar will do everything in his power to drop Evenepoel rather than going to a sprint with him. That's different from Evenepoel having no issue with going to a sprint with Skjelmose.

 

[vappa]

Sure, but did you see AGR? That should tell you enough about Evenepoel's sprint at the moment. If you want to think Pogacar is faster go ahead. I think Pogacar will do everything in his power to drop Evenepoel rather than going to a sprint with him. That's different from Evenepoel having no issue with going to a sprint with Skjelmose.

I did and even commented in that thread that his sprint was very good

Isn't the better option for everyone to drop their rival and win solo, rather than in a sprint? And I believe Remco didn't drop Skjelmose in Amstel because he couldn't, and didn't even try at the end, not because sprinting was his preferred option

 

[Berniece]

Isn't the better option for everyone to drop their rival and win solo, rather than in a sprint? And I believe Remco didn't drop Skjelmose in Amstel because he couldn't, and didn't even try at the end, not because sprinting was his preferred option

Not necessarily. If Evenepoel believed he could always win that sprint because he worked hard on it, he might have though trying to drop Skjelmose , failing, and then Skjelmose attacking him was more risky.

 

[YavorD]

Sure, but did you see AGR? That should tell you enough about Evenepoel's sprint at the moment. If you want to think Pogacar is faster go ahead. I think Pogacar will do everything in his power to drop Evenepoel rather than going to a sprint with him. That's different from Evenepoel having no issue with going to a sprint with Skjelmose.

Duh . Pogacar tries to drip everyone regardless and that's absolutely normal if he thinks he is strong enough.
Obviously Evenepoel improved his sprint and he isn't the total outsider he was, but I wouldn't put him faster than Pogacar after such a hard race. Pogacar has beaten prime Van Aert and Pedersen after a hard race...
Of course Pogacar will do everything to drop Evenepoel, but he would do the same 2 years ago as well so it doesn't tell you anything in regards to his sprint.

 

[Tim Cahill]

PIddler isn't doing anything here, he looks average on climbs and beat Tomasso Dati in a sprint. It's a shame because his level was clearly exceptional.

Evenepoel's best chance of a win is Seixas being able to stay with Pogacar on the climb then them both messing around a bit, his sprinting legs look really good.

 

[vappa]

Not necessarily. If Evenepoel believed he could always win that sprint because he worked hard on it, he might have though trying to drop Skjelmose , failing, and then Skjelmose attacking him was more risky.

There is no certainty regarding the sprint, especially after a long race. He would 100% prefer to win solo if possible rsther than having to sprint for the win

 

[Berniece]

There is no certainty regarding the sprint, especially after a long race. He would 100% prefer to win solo if possible rsther than having to sprint for the win

Sure, but like I said, if he wasn't sure he could've won solo that's a different scenario. Do you think MVDP would attack at his hardest on the base of Kwaremont to drop Pogacar with a chance of being countered, instead of going for his sprint?

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Is McNulty sick?
A team with less climbers than in previous years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047306814350405864

View: https://x.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/2047306814350405864

 

[RedheadDane]

A team with less climbers than in previous years.

 

[vappa]

Sure, but like I said, if he wasn't sure he could've won solo that's a different scenario. Do you think MVDP would attack at his hardest on the base of Kwaremont to drop Pogacar with a chance of being countered, instead of going for his sprint?

That's not the same thing

 

[Ilmaestro99]

5* - eulalio
4* - scaroni, izagirre
3* - romeo, champussin, zambanini, schmidt, vansevenent
2* - pinarello, foldager, Germans, van etbelt, vauquelin
1* - sainbayer, otruba, costioux, evenepoel, sexass,

 

[RedheadDane]

2* - pinarello, foldager, Germans, van etbelt, vauquelin

That's just cheating! You can't just... throw all the Germans together like that.