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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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stonerider said:
Yep, he said it, "stupid crash". He and MvdP have a lot in common.
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Yeah, because they both push the limits of grip and speed - which makes it a helluva lot more interesting for the viewer, especially if you ride yourself and have at least of vague sense of how crazy the *** they pull off is - especially in CX where they have zero suspension and very little mechanical grip in the tires/brakes. Basically like the F1 racing in the mid to late 80's, when it took massive balls just to get in the cockpit and press the pedal.
 
Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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I'm curious to see what the changes to the course will do to the race in Herentals.

I didn't had anything against the previous course (although I'd rate 2020 way higher than 2022), but I admit that, especially last year, the skiberg may have dominated the whole course. 2020 tho was just perfect, the weather that day was atrocious and made for a hell of a race. From the map I already saw that they retired the up and down section right after the finish line and the first pits and before the woods, and reduced the amount of twisty technical turns in the woods section who was previously closer to the start. Just hope that the changes that the map shows in the Skiberg doesn't reduce the essence it showed particularly in 2020.
 
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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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Ricco' said:
I'm curious to see what the changes to the course will do to the race in Herentals.

I didn't had anything against the previous course (although I'd rate 2020 way higher than 2022), but I admit that, especially last year, the skiberg may have dominated the whole course. 2020 tho was just perfect, the weather that day was atrocious and made for a hell of a race. From the map I already saw that they retired the up and down section right after the finish line and the first pits and before the woods, and reduced the amount of twisty technical turns in the woods section who was previously closer to the start. Just hope that the changes that the map shows in the Skiberg doesn't reduce the essence it showed particularly in 2020.
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Not sure about the course, but pretty f'ing awesome that on a Tuesday morning in January after the holidays we get another great show to look forward to. Will be interesting to see how MVDP plays it - probably all guns blazing from the start.
 
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stonerider

Nov 14, 2009
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senna6541 said:
Yeah, because they both push the limits of grip and speed - which makes it a helluva lot more interesting for the viewer, especially if you ride yourself and have at least of vague sense of how crazy the *** they pull off is - especially in CX where they have zero suspension and very little mechanical grip in the tires/brakes. Basically like the F1 racing in the mid to late 80's, when it took massive balls just to get in the cockpit and press the pedal.
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I've raced Road, CX and XCO. My last crash I broke some ribs on the MTB. It was a "stupid crash" as I was trying to showboat and catch some air on a small jump that I've ridden a 100 times without crashing. From experience I know stupid when I see stupid.

I really enjoy watching MvdP and Tom race and hate seeing them take unnecessary risks that can have them off the bike.
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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stonerider said:
I really enjoy watching MvdP and Tom race and hate seeing them take unnecessary risks that can have them off the bike.
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I'm having a hard time thinking of an unnecessary risk from Van der Poel where he got hurt or lost a result as a result of showboating. The only thing I can remember that comes close is him getting hurt riding in the forest with his friends.
 
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Sciatic

Mar 4, 2011
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jono said:
I'm having a hard time thinking of an unnecessary risk from Van der Poel where he got hurt or lost a result as a result of showboating. The only thing I can remember that comes close is him getting hurt riding in the forest with his friends.
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Are you forgetting road world’s? That was definitely “an unnecessary risk . . . That had him off the bike”
 
DNP-Old

DNP-Old

Aug 6, 2014
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jono said:
I'm having a hard time thinking of an unnecessary risk from Van der Poel where he got hurt or lost a result as a result of showboating. The only thing I can remember that comes close is him getting hurt riding in the forest with his friends.
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Physically hurt I don't know, but he did hurt his chances (read: lost the race) in his first Ronde van Vlaanderen, trying to jump a bloembak for no reason.
 
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A

Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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jono said:
I'm having a hard time thinking of an unnecessary risk from Van der Poel where he got hurt or lost a result as a result of showboating. The only thing I can remember that comes close is him getting hurt riding in the forest with his friends.
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Showboating is frowned upon in road racing circles, it's not the done thing. However, go and watch a Downhill or XC race, and a lot of them do it....Nino is famous for styling it out over a jump, Koreztky even did a one handed half whip/ jump in Lenzerheide; and virtually all of the Downhillers will do it in a run, even in Finals.

 
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stonerider

Nov 14, 2009
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Axel Hangleck said:
Showboating is frowned upon in road racing circles, it's not the done thing. However, go and watch a Downhill or XC race, and a lot of them do it....Nino is famous for styling it out over a jump, Koreztky even did a one handed half whip/ jump in Lenzerheide; and virtually all of the Downhillers will do it in a run, even in Finals.

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Didn't Nino crash last year and DNF on a bridge by trying to do a whip? Just win the f'ing race as I don't care if you can do a whip or not. Wout does no whips but so far this CX season he's the MAN!
 
Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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stonerider said:
Didn't Nino crash last year and DNF on a bridge by trying to do a whip? Just win the f'ing race as I don't care if you can do a whip or not. Wout does no whips but so far this CX season he's the MAN!
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If you're talking about Snowshoe XCC race, as far as I remember he wasn't doing anyting out of the ordinary, I think his front wheel slipped away from him while going down the bridge.
 
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Barkintheeye

Barkintheeye

Feb 24, 2015
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View: https://youtu.be/FG4H8qz_lDM


Season 14/15 and 15/16 were quite even between MVDP and WVA with 11 vs 17 victories respectively for each season. MVDP won WC in Tabor 2015 and WVA in Zolder 2016.

Season 16/17 to 19/20 MVDP dominated with 22 vs 17, 31 vs 9, 32 vs 4 and 24 vs 1 wins. The WC on the other hand were , 2 vs 1, 3 vs 1, 1 vs 2 and 1 vs 4.

Season 20/21 both had very few starts with 14 respectively and 10 vs 5 wins. MVDP won in Oostende and WVA #2.

Last season 21/22 MVDP had only 2 starts (0 wins) and no start in WC. WVA10 starts and 9 wins(!) but DNS in WC.

Total wins vs starts:
MVDP : 144 / 205 (70%)
WVA: 84 / 205 (41%)
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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Obviously we didn't get to see the finish most of would have hoped for (just like Zolder) but I think a 4-2 margin for Wout in wins during this Christmas period, so far, better reflects the balance of power in these races than a 5-1 score would have done. I have my doubts that MVDP would have prevailed in the sprint, or just before, but nevertheless I do think he played his cards correctly today.

With my Canadian hat on, nice to see the Holmgren twins on the podium in the junior women's for the second race in a row, and Rochette snagging a second consecutive top 10. Looking forward to see how they all do in the next WOrld Cup.
 
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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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A good race, decided by a puncture - it's the nature of sports, these things can happen. For the winner, it's good but doesn't feel like a win; for the victim it's a loss, but not really a defeat. I still think Wout would have won. And I don't think MvdP is quite there yet; still missing that snap in acceleration.

Another ace ride for Cam Mason - I wonder where his future lies team wise as Trinity are a U23/ development squad.....
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
yeah imagine if this guy learned saving powers.

Still Van Aert looking so goddamn powerfull. What a tank that man
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The interesting thing for me today is that the attacks where he managed to put MVDP under serious stress were on flat or false flat sections, while van der Poel easily closed Wout's attacks on the heavy uphill sections, especially later in the race.
 
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Ricco'

Ricco'

Aug 14, 2012
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jono said:
The interesting thing for me today is that the only attacks where he really managed to put MVDP under serious stress were on flat or false flat sections, while van der Poel easily closed Wout's attacks on the heavy uphill sections, especially later in the race.
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VDP seems more fragile in his previous stronger points while looking way better in his previous shortcomings. I think they are more closely matched than ever.

Maybe this year, due to the problems he faced in the last 18 months, they focused more on building endurance during the winter than in previous year in order to build a stronger base for the road season, which made him lose a bit/not train as much that snap of change of speed?
 
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T

theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Bolder said:
He does ride CX like a tracked armored vehicle...just plows right through.

Days like today, bad luck aside, it's hard to see how he keeps losing road races (well, finishing second). He's got MvdP's number this year in CX, I think.
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Van Aert doesn't have as much racing instinct as Van der Poel. He's also better in a bunch sprint than in a sprint from a small group, probably because he needs sprints to be really long rather than short and punchy.

It's funny though that before the race all the hype was about SRAM vs Shimano, and in the end it's a good ol' flat tire that did him in.
 
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