If you mean because of having a photo of herself?, I don't get that (narcissism) sense at all. Think of every sports column, editorial column, etc. that have a picture of the writer and not a picture of the topic or person they are writing about. Pretty standard journalism these days.
- Nov 5, 2013
- 5,266
- 5,037
- 23,180
Guys, Amstel Gold is on Easter Sunday...this post is comedy gold. I'd like my flowers.
I thought you meant Remco, but he's up for Brabantse
Cookster15
Moderator
- May 14, 2011
- 6,095
- 6,606
- 23,180
Tbh I haven’t got so involved in RVV until this year. Now, maybe because of the MVDP / Pogacar rivalry and buildup, I have a much better appreciation of this monument.
Some of us on the other side of the planet who have never been to Europe let alone Belgium are still learning about professional cycling - largely thanks to the internet.
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,502
- 13,676
- 28,180
It's all in there really.
You can overanalyse the situation for days and from a rational point of view it was the wrong decision by both WVA and the car.
But there's an emotional component that drives many of our choices and I'm sympathetic towards Van Aert after the horrible year he's had. If anything I'll cheer for him more after this failure. The way he admitted his mistake in the interview broke my heart.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,371
- 13,951
- 23,180
WvA missed a trick, i.e. he should have said he was trying to win for his daughter, or uncle, or someone's birthday. Maybe as a tribute to a teammate as well.
Worked well enough for his fisherman teammate once upon a time in the Vuelta.
- Oct 31, 2018
- 575
- 714
- 6,780
What hits me the most is that he's been sprinting backwards all year.
His only weapen to win against MVP and Poggy is to somehow outlast and then settle the sprint (like he did in E3 2023).
That is no longer an option. I can only imagine it has something to do with his Vuelta fall last year and knee injuries considering he was still decent in sprinting in last years Vuelta.
His only weapen to win against MVP and Poggy is to somehow outlast and then settle the sprint (like he did in E3 2023).
That is no longer an option. I can only imagine it has something to do with his Vuelta fall last year and knee injuries considering he was still decent in sprinting in last years Vuelta.
- Aug 5, 2024
- 327
- 532
- 2,880
I believe so too (that his knee is a factor). Cramping in a 180K race is something you don't expect from a rider like WvA. There are some things that are worth considering:
1. it was a long and though finale for the 3 Visma riders. They forced it from a long way out, and they had to battle for those first 30-40 seconds for a long time, and even until the final 10K, they didn't get more than a minute. It's only the second race after his Tenerife camp and by far the hardest he did.
2. if he still has power loss in his right leg, it's much easier to overcompensate and cramp.
3. he has been on shorter cranks I read, but since when? And are those influencing either his cramping, or his sprint or both?
Me too. It's funny how adversity (provided it's handled with humility and grace) can elevate an athlete in our eyes. It's that old "sport as metaphor for life" thing.
That said, I wonder if he has some kind of iliac artery issue? His dropoff in form could be the culmulative effect of his injuries, more likely -- he's a big guy and has taken some huge hits over his career. His TdF TT crash was really horrible and it could be a long-term recurrence.
- Apr 13, 2021
- 7,375
- 19,348
- 17,180
Oh my god man youve gone woke
- Apr 13, 2021
- 7,375
- 19,348
- 17,180
The fact that this even needs to be explained is bizarre.
How do people race big classics, or spend years watching classics, and not understand how to play the numbers to win these races?
Last edited by a moderator:
- Aug 6, 2010
- 6,884
- 6,216
- 23,180
I was about to say that low is the new high might become our new prophet, but I wasn't going to go quite this far.
- Jul 4, 2016
- 3,504
- 6,294
- 19,180
I watched the race live (watching a re-run doesn't count). When the yellow with a tinge of pink breakaway formed, I thought it would be funny if Powless won. But the way it happened wasn't funny, it was sad. I'm hoping Visma animate the race on Sunday and send Jorge on the attack (he can help Alaphilippe).
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,021
- 9,514
- 17,180
A lot of riders had cramps according to Edward Theuns. Has to do with coming from altitude, and the change in weather.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,371
- 13,951
- 23,180
WvA apparently wanted to race Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. The team said no.
cyclinguptodate.com
It's a cliché at this point but Visma is too science focused and not 'human' enough. FYI Heijboer might be an expert in his particular field but he's still the same man who advised Rog against riding the 2021 Olympics ITT, i.e. because of what his 'data' said.
It should always be man > math, every time. The latter should serve the former. They ignored that and WvA exploded like a pressure cooker yesterday.
Wout van Aert and Team Visma | Lease a Bike not on the same page? "He still wanted to start in Gent Wevelgem"
Once again, Wout van Aert finds himself at the centre of attention, and once again, the headlines surrounding the Belgian are far from positive. Following a disappointing ending to an otherwise strong...
cyclinguptodate.com
It's a cliché at this point but Visma is too science focused and not 'human' enough. FYI Heijboer might be an expert in his particular field but he's still the same man who advised Rog against riding the 2021 Olympics ITT, i.e. because of what his 'data' said.
It should always be man > math, every time. The latter should serve the former. They ignored that and WvA exploded like a pressure cooker yesterday.
- Aug 6, 2010
- 6,884
- 6,216
- 23,180
I've been watching Flanders at times for a while now, but I think that 2022 was the first edition that I took a major interest in, or that it had me on the edge of my seat. It's probably the best guaranteed day of racing of the season.
They are crazy. I'm not even sure how math gets you to dwars > GW.WvA apparently wanted to race Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. The team said no.
Wout van Aert and Team Visma | Lease a Bike not on the same page? "He still wanted to start in Gent Wevelgem"
Once again, Wout van Aert finds himself at the centre of attention, and once again, the headlines surrounding the Belgian are far from positive. Following a disappointing ending to an otherwise strong...
It's a cliché at this point but Visma is too science focused and not 'human' enough. FYI Heijboer might be an expert in his particular field but he's still the same man who advised Rog against riding the 2021 Olympics ITT, i.e. because of what his 'data' said.
It should always be man > math, every time. The latter should serve the former. They ignored that and WvA exploded like a pressure cooker yesterday.
RVV is in a few days and it will be one of the hardest in history with MVDP and Pog both in insane form, and now he has thrashed himself a few days before the big race and done his head in as well.
I just hope he has a great PR.
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,021
- 9,514
- 17,180
They all seemed pretty spent at the end. Apparently he cramped as well. It's only a few days to RVV. I know they are used to backing it up day after day but he hasn't had a lot of race days and it's early in the season, meanwhile Pog and MVDP have a meticulous run in.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,371
- 13,951
- 23,180
There's been a lot said and written about Belgian media and fans putting an insane amount of pressure on WvA in monuments but looking at his preparation here and now for these spring 25 races, Visma have done their part as well in making a really huge deal out of De Ronde and Roubaix.
So many races he could have done for race sharpness or morale boosts (or even just a high placing which he could have had in Milan San Remo) were deliberately left off his program.
So many races he could have done for race sharpness or morale boosts (or even just a high placing which he could have had in Milan San Remo) were deliberately left off his program.
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,021
- 9,514
- 17,180
Cramping was normal, he'll be fine by Sunday. Obviously not at Pogacar/MVDP level, he's just not that good. But I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the podium too.
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,021
- 9,514
- 17,180
That I agree about. Even more so since you now how mentally heavy this period is for him. If he wanted to ride GW to get more racing kilometers in, they should've listened to him. It's not like he asked for something crazy.
- Jul 4, 2016
- 3,504
- 6,294
- 19,180
And 3rd spot on the podium would be a victory of sorts.
3rd at Ronde > winning Dwars?
- Aug 5, 2024
- 327
- 532
- 2,880
The fewer races he rides, the more people (and the team and himself) expect him to win at least one of them. He'd maybe have been better off riding something like Tirreno and San Remo with zero pressure at all but some days targeting the win, vs. no races in March (besides first and last days) and coming back with all pressure on no more than 4 races (E3, DDV, RVV and PR).
If there is one thing he should just keep in mind to keep pressure off: he isn't the favourite for RVV or PR. Realistically he could aim for 3rd at RVV (but imho about 0% chance winning) and if stars align he may take PR (more % as it's all flat and that suits him better + mishaps (flat, crashes) can occur with other favourites), but he shouldn't pressure himself that he has to win those as that can only result in disappointment.
If there is one thing he should just keep in mind to keep pressure off: he isn't the favourite for RVV or PR. Realistically he could aim for 3rd at RVV (but imho about 0% chance winning) and if stars align he may take PR (more % as it's all flat and that suits him better + mishaps (flat, crashes) can occur with other favourites), but he shouldn't pressure himself that he has to win those as that can only result in disappointment.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Tre Valli Varesine 2025, one day race, October 7- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 161
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 2K
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, September 21- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 942
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 35K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 40K
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram