Great races this weekend. It definitely has become more competitive and with MVDP and Pidcock back also more interesting.
Iserbyt. Looks like he had a bad recovery after Antwerpen. The start at Gavere wasn't fantastic but already four minutes into the race he was back up there just a few seconds up to MVDP/Aerts/etc. Maybe he took too much out challenging Van der Poel?
Pidcock. Typically a slow starter - like in Antwerpen - must have felt fantastic in Gavere, going all out from the start. With his light frame and superb technique the course was perfect for him. Really one of the most fun riders to watch.
MVDP. Lap 2 in Antwerpen was something extraordinary and showed that when he gets everything right there is no one to beat him. Even more interesting to find that even he makes mistakes. Still, on a flat sandy track, who can beat him unless he has a disastrous day or mechanical issue?
Maybe a pattern is emerging? The few times Van der Poel has shown some small kinks in the armour, have a thing in common: muddy and hilly courses. Ronse last year, Valkenburg 2018, Namur 2019 (win but by tiny margin and due to big mistake from Aerts) and maybe Bieles 2017 (unfair comparison due to several punctures?). Clearly a big powerful rider will not have the same advantage but Aerts and WvA are also quite big. Nonetheless Ostende should be a course where Van der Poel and Wout will do well.