Mathieu with another raging comeback... down to 6 seconds... and then Mathieu's candle died. Back to 20 seconds.Can’t watch the end of the race unfortunately, but seems like Wout has this in the bag. Deserved too. The worlds is shaping up to be another upset for Mathieu after being the best CX rider this season.
I've said this in the past a few times, but i'm still 100% convinced the reason why Mathieu has a lot of his punctures, is because he takes every obstacle and corner at a much higher speed. There is a downside to his way of racing. More pebbles and rocks, tree roots etc, accumulate in corners. Meaning a higher probability of getting a puncture.Aaaah little bit of frustration here. Again a flat tire that prevents a duel to the end. Would have loved to see them side by side till the finish and then do the Flaunders sprint all over again.
If next weeks course is going to be fast like they're saying in the post race interviews, it should suit Mathieu a whole lot more than today, yes?That's going to be tough on Mathieu as a preamble for the Worlds. Hope he recovers well.
It definitely will but Wout has a slight mental advantage.If next weeks course is going to be fast like they're saying in the post race interviews, it should suit Mathieu a whole lot more than today, yes?
Logic, do you really think spotting Wout 29 seconds is no big thing? Come on. As for flats, Wout has one and MVDP 2 this year - pretty random difference, no? Other than the mudfest, the times Wout has tried to chase back to MVDP this year have been a result of him getting dropped by MVDP - whereas MVDP is chasing back because of mechs.I've said this in the past a few times, but i'm still 100% convinced the reason why Mathieu has a lot of his punctures, is because he takes every obstacle and corner at a much higher speed. There is a downside to his way of racing. More pebbles and rocks, tree roots etc, accumulate in corners. Meaning a higher probability of getting a puncture.
After all, a deserved win for van Aert. Mathieu had 21 seconds to close with more than 5 laps remaining. He tried twice and couldn't close it, lost the amount of time the gained in the first place and cooked himself.
It was 21 seconds, not 29. Or in your universe van Aert didn't crash?Logic, do you really think spotting Wout 29 seconds is no big thing? Come on. As for flats, Wout has one and MVDP 2 this year - pretty random difference, no? Other than the mudfest, the times Wout has tried to chase back to MVDP this year have been a result of him getting dropped by MVDP - whereas MVDP is chasing back because of mechs.
Erwin Verwecken did a course preview. Very 'unmuddy' on the infield of the horse track but alot of deep wet beach sand in the other side of the bridge. Don't fully understand dutch, but at one point I think it was about the tide and how a couple of meters higher or lower could be the difference between running and riding.Oostende will be a fast race. Only the sand section could be tricky and heavy. Difficult to overtake unless the riders have to run. BUT...... the organisers were forced (?) to mix the natural sand of the beach with rough sand. So probably the riders will be able to stay in the saddle, the whole beach section. At the Belgian championship, a few years ago, on the same track, the riders could stay in the saddle, the first part of the beach, then had to run to come back in the hippodrome. What a pity they transformed a natural course mixing raw construction sand (forced by the UCI ?). I don't like courses where you cannot not use your strenght and technique to overtake because there is only one trace.
Kind of agree. I haven’t paid all too much attention but maybe you’re right that MVDP has an aggressive riding style that makes him more susceptible to punctures.It was 21 seconds, not 29. Or in your universe van Aert didn't crash?
2 vs 1, only a difference of 1. Or a difference of 50%? He was the only top rider to get a puncture yesterday.
Don't know why you are dragging in other races, since i was taking about yesterday.
Wout will also have to be perfect to beat Mathieu though. It’s not “just” the other way around. I know Mathieu hasn’t been as dominant this year but he still won more races than anyone else. He’s also beaten Wout on more occasions than the other way around. He’s also had some bad luck, as has others of course, but the fact remains.Stybar will ride WC, suggests race for third is "wide open." That would be cool.
I think I might give Wout the edge this year. MVDP has been beatable by 2 (gasp!) riders, although Pidcock seems to have faded a bit, and yes, I know, flats and all that, but I think in the 2 previous years he would have made up the gap yesterday. Still give MVDP the technical edge but he may have to be perfect to beat Wout, who seems to have a lot of confidence right how. Just hope for no flats, no mechanicals and a clean, hard-fought race...
Yup! Spot on.I could see it going either way, depending on course conditions, luck, etc., but the hard data this year and over their careers says Wout typically needs variables to tip in his favor to beat MVDP. In a 100 races MVDP wins 65% of the time. The only race Wout beat MVDP straight up this year was Dendermonde. Unlikely he would've won the first MVDP flat race earlier this year and probably 50/50 yesterday. All that said, as an MVDP fan, Wout makes me extremely nervous. The amount of power he must be laying down when he's pedaling a big gear through thick, sticky mud sections is pretty wild. He's obviously an absolute beast. In the end, they're lucky to have each other. Sugar Ray Leornard needed Duran and Hearns. Ali needed Frazier. Senna needed Prost, etc., etc.
To be honest, the World Cup coverage has been disappointing this season. Going live while on the start line isn't good enough; no track preview, etcLots of technical mishaps today on Eurosport Player.
Come on, 50 minutes without being able to fix the audio channels that were sent and being forced to listen to no audio when Jeremy Powers talked?
Now the riders are being presented and we don't have feed.
Both have their strengths in which they are better than their rival. Neither have real weaknesses, though compared to each other, you could say Wout's weakness is his technique, Mathieu doesn't really have any weakness and is the most balanced and allround rider of the bunch. Wout is a better runner, though Mathieu is still an excellent runner. Wout has more power, though Mathieu is not far behind and both are miles ahead of the rest. Wout seems to handle extreme weather conditions better and i also still give him an edge when it comes to fighting spirit and mentality. But Mathieu is so far superior on a technical level, and even if he is somewhat behind Wout on a few other key points, technique is more often than not the deciding factor, especially on a fast course. One sliding, having to put your foot on the ground and get going again, can cost you 3 seconds. A second and third mistake, you might not make up for.I could see it going either way, depending on course conditions, luck, etc., but the hard data this year and over their careers says Wout typically needs variables to tip in his favor to beat MVDP. In a 100 races MVDP wins 65% of the time. The only race Wout beat MVDP straight up this year was Dendermonde. Unlikely he would've won the first MVDP flat race earlier this year and probably 50/50 yesterday. All that said, as an MVDP fan, Wout makes me extremely nervous. The amount of power he must be laying down when he's pedaling a big gear through thick, sticky mud sections is pretty wild. He's obviously an absolute beast. In the end, they're lucky to have each other. Sugar Ray Leornard needed Duran and Hearns. Ali needed Frazier. Senna needed Prost, etc., etc.