No. But neither could Van der Poel win against Merckx back then.The real question is, could Merckx have won here against MVDP?
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No. But neither could Van der Poel win against Merckx back then.The real question is, could Merckx have won here against MVDP?
Merkx was much better sprinter than Pogacar, he would have one option even playing as Pogacar...but Pogacar playing this way, zero. Playing another way, 80% to win.The real question is, could Merckx have won here against MVDP?
He was as well maybe stupid when he attacked at the end of the Poggio...but maybe no, he was so comfortable as Pogacar was working for him after his attacks than he could attack at the Poggio, to fail, and he has sure the sprint as well. He was not interesting in Pippo, just with Pogacar he was going to win for sure...with 3 he has to follow 2 man attacks and you never knows...For Poggi was the opossite, he rode ro be second and finally was 3 again. A champion ride ro win, and in his case means speculate and to follow wheels sometimes, no to try to act asvthe boss of cycling in every moment of the race...I think mvdp was playing a bit of cat and mouse, to be honest. He lured Pog into attacking 2-3 extra times on the Pog(gio).
Definitely his best tactical win. Legend vs legend made this a race for the ages.
No. But neither could Van der Poel win against Merckx back then.
He was immediately behind the crash just before the Cipressa; in fact it was the rider in front of him who crashed........I enjoyed it, but would've thought Pidcock to be in the mix as well.
Does anyone know if he had a puncture or just was badly positioned at Cipressa? Didn't notice him at all.
Yep. He is the blurred rider at the edge of the screen, behind the Cofidis rider who crashes.He was immediately behind the crash just before the Cipressa; in fact it was the rider in front of him who crashed........
It's the only way he can win. Either he drops him or he doesn't. Some people said he was 'dragging him up the Poggio', which I think is bull.He was the stronger climbing but in those climbs you cannot go with a man as VDP at you wheel.
Delete thisBy 2016, Boonen was also done. He was barely good enough to be relevant, yet he used what age didn't take from him and nearly won the best race of all time. It was of course easier done in a less absurd era though.
Hypothetical combinations of DNA are notoriously poor at maintaining a good speed on twisty descents like this.Not a believer in time travel?
It is Tadej who made the race in Cipressa. Don't see a race without him able to have these fireworks in Cipressa.Great final hour. Chapeau to 3 great champions who all fully deserved their plaudits.
Fantastic to see 40 years of received cycling wisdom ripped up so comprehensively to the point where the tactics book can be looked on anew.
The future of the race will benefit from this move staying clear so far as we should now expect by moves on the Cipressa most years with some sticking and some coming back bodies or on the Poggio.
This is the dream race for MVDP. I obviously wanted Pogacar to win but nobody can deny the class of MVDP. 7-7 in monument wins now with no sign of either slowing down. Very big chance that both get to 10 monuments with RVV 2025 looming large as having a huge say in who will hit double digits first.
The difference is that Alpecin can use everyone to lead Mathieu to the front. UAE also needs some riders to pace the Cipressa. Ans some sort of luck that gaps open up or you doesn't get boxed in. Or behind the crash like Pidcock.When we see how much positioning counted coming into Cipressa, if Pogačar can get to a position closer to Van der Poel, or even, by some miracle, Van der Poel is the one out of position, Pogačar has a good chance of dropping MvdP on the Cipressa. Of course this is unlikely, but it‘s definitely possible.
If I had to guess on the order entering Cipressa (the blue jerseys are hard to tell apart):
And then compare that to how Ganna rode TA.
I think Pedersen was just one of the many riders who made a mistake and slept when Pogi made the first attack on Cipressa. Also the bad weather at the beginning certainly also affected many riders.
My hope is that it will encourage others such Soudal to send Remco next year as by far their best card to play.It is Tadej who made the race in Cipressa. Don't see a race without him able to have these fireworks in Cipressa.