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I mean. Van der Poel tried in what... 3 time trials at top level?Is anyone else finding van der Poel's newfound capacity to time trial the way from competitors at an absolutely ridiculous pace from 40 to 60 km out, pretty much nose breathing, perhaps a touch silly?
When I was younger I used to think of these attacks from a distance and obliterating the field as sublime and wished I could do the same in my local races.
I mean. Van der Poel tried in what... 3 time trials at top level?
TDF - 5th
Giro - 2nd and 3rd
He always had the capabilities to ride solo. Ffs newfound, the guy rode 95% of this CX races in the infamous 17/18 CX seasons solo from lap 1 to finish (1 hour efforts).
You think a tailwind explains how Joey Rosskopf beats Cancellara and Boonen at the height of their power? Again, are you serious? Plus, Froome already used that excuse, so we need another.Today was a lot of tailwind to be fair. And the race was extremely fast from km 1 on.
But still, this kind of solo does leave you wonder. Cancellara is probably sitting at home and thinking, he just rode away from everyone today as I did in 2010, just that the gap was even 1 min larger at the end today.
Come on man, you know those are not comparable to a steady solo time trial of 40 to 60 km in length. I've enjoyed watching him race for many years, and I am well aware of his cyclocross talents, but steady state for over an hour at warp speed has not been one of them.I mean. Van der Poel tried in what... 3 time trials at top level?
TDF - 5th
Giro - 2nd and 3rd
He always had the capabilities to ride solo. Ffs newfound, the guy rode 95% of this CX races in the infamous 17/18 CX seasons solo from lap 1 to finish (1 hour efforts).
That tdf tt was 25km or so, with some small hills in it, the giro tt´s were 9 and 16 km (or thereabouts) and raced on rather technical courses.I mean. Van der Poel tried in what... 3 time trials at top level?
TDF - 5th
Giro - 2nd and 3rd
He always had the capabilities to ride solo. Ffs newfound, the guy rode 95% of this CX races in the infamous 17/18 CX seasons solo from lap 1 to finish (1 hour efforts).
No. It would have been different if an entire team had chased him, but his team mates countered every attack. He was strong in Tour of Flanders and Roubaix, but not exceptional. Keep in mind that Visma LaB basically came with their b team today. Do you think this race would have been similar with WVA, Jorgenson, Tratnik, Van Baarle and an in form Laporte? Very unlikely.Is anyone else finding van der Poel's newfound capacity to time trial the way from competitors at an absolutely ridiculous pace from 40 to 60 km out, pretty much nose breathing, perhaps a touch silly?
When I was younger I used to think of these attacks from a distance and obliterating the field as sublime and wished I could do the same in my local races.
Check out the speed at which he rode solo.No. It would have been different if an entire team had chased him, but his team mates countered every attack. He was strong in Tour of Flanders and Roubaix, but not exceptional. Keep in mind that Visma LaB basically came with their b team today. Do you think this race would have been similar with WVA, Jorgenson, Tratnik, Van Baarle and an in form Laporte? Very unlikely.
When you’re trying to downplay the utter dominance and strength of the ride by stating that the opposition was sub par, you know that it truly was a race of 2 speeds.No. It would have been different if an entire team had chased him, but his team mates countered every attack. He was strong in Tour of Flanders and Roubaix, but not exceptional. Keep in mind that Visma LaB basically came with their b team today. Do you think this race would have been similar with WVA, Jorgenson, Tratnik, Van Baarle and an in form Laporte? Very unlikely.
It would be interesting to know. That said, on the following motorbike I saw all I needed to see. I mean, his bike handling is absolutely amazing, but even more so when you see the speed he is railing the corners on cobbles. He's tapping out 50 kph. Flat out nutsWhat kind of wattage did he average for those final 60km? Would be very interesting to know.
Excellent post. And teh 2nd speed is fast as f**k, as well.When you’re trying to downplay the utter dominance and strength of the ride by stating that the opposition was sub par, you know that it truly was a race of 2 speeds.
These long range solo attacks from both Pogacar and VDP has been very striking. As well as crushing the opposition it has helped kill the spectacle. The classics to date this season have been damp squibs.
The one thing I will give him, is that with current tubeless tires and pressure knowledge, you can rail on turns in ways you couldn't before...that doesn't bridge the gap, but it is a significan advantage.It would be interesting to know. That said, on the following motorbike I saw all I needed to see. I mean, his bike handling is absolutely amazing, but even more so when you see the speed he is railing the corners on cobbles. He's tapping out 50 kph. Flat out nuts
Yes he did, and with much of that his own personal TT. LOL.One way to look at MVP's latest performance is by a way of comparison to what Cancellara did back in 2010 with the infamous RVV-PR double where thermonuclear attacks took place against Boonen - those were really eyebrow raising performances that brought up the "motor-aid doping" discussion......
fast-forward to today's- Do I see MVPs performance suspicious? while He was way superior against his competitors, his "2 real competitors Pogacar & WVA for RVV were out and down, and then P-R with the absence of WVA along with a super-strong team & teammate Phillipsen at his disposal, the entire race seemed under control.........
but then again: MPV broke the record for both the fastest RVV & P-R in just one week...... hmmm
I don’t think putting prime Cancellara or Boonen in todays race, they would finish OTL (if thats your argument). There are more factors in average speeds. But ofc this era is extremely fast and we get records left and right.You think a tailwind explains how Joey Rosskopf beats Cancellara and Boonen at the height of their power? Again, are you serious? Plus, Froome already used that excuse, so we need another.
Exactly, Boonen and Canc in todays peloton would have access to the same ingredients that make current bunch generally go significantly faster than that of a decade ago. With speeds being up across the board, not just for MVDPs and Pogs of this world, there has to be some significant ingredients at play that are known and available to at least the most of the WT peloton.I don’t think putting prime Cancellara or Boonen in todays race, they would finish OTL (if thats your argument). There are more factors in average speeds. But ofc this era is extremely fast and we get records left and right.
I don't think so. You hear nothing about the pharmaceutical advances in football and basketball.If something new and powerful was so widely known and used, more than a little info would trickle out in this era of social media and around the clock news coverage, without a shadow of a doubt. Yet nothing of note has reached the surface.
To be fair, kermesse racing is totally nuts and really not that off the pace of many a world tour race.Vermeersch's ride was definitely a red flag, for sure. In fact, the whole of Alpecin was a bit lol. As LR said, they took a bunch of random kermesse racers and made them into a Classics super team. Keilich, Reisebeek, Planckaert. Who are these guys?
I think the point was that today's racing is so cray cray that it makes those guys, who looked nuts at the time, look like parking lot Crit chumps.I don’t think putting prime Cancellara or Boonen in todays race, they would finish OTL (if thats your argument). There are more factors in average speeds. But ofc this era is extremely fast and we get records left and right.