Race Thread

[Axel Hangleck]

If we ignore his history in the Diegem race, it would seem the least likely of the 3 consecutive races for MVDP to win. It's a race with lots of paved climbing, really, which should favor the proven road climbers, Wout and Pidcock. Mathieu won the hardest, heaviest race (Gavere) by a good margin, was a missed pedal from sprinting for the win at Zolder where Pidcock wasn't a factor (got his rest), and then was by far the best rider at Diegem for 6 laps. Blew up in the end. He'll be disappointed and maybe concerned, and I would have liked to see him do better, but I don't think it's time to dismiss his chances for the rainbow jersey.

He won the race with the most running, and the heaviest mud; that's Wout territory, whereas the other races normally suit MvdP. I don't know what happened at his training camp, but he's down a level from Antwerp. Maybe him/his team are looking long term, and his top form will kick in later on. The micro accelerations don't appear to be there which is where he's often gained time.
He did get a gap last night, but he didn't look like his best version, it looked like hard work. And the gap disappeared very quickly.....

 

[davidsonduke]

I don't think any one is dismissing anyone. Whatever their current condition, etc., VdP tried to bury them and it didn't work. On the CyclocrossSocial podcast, they said the VdP did the fast lap of 7:24 on laps on 2 and 4, but WvA clocked a 7:24 on lap 6.

After VdP was dropped, Pidcock and WvA were more tactical on those last 2 laps, definitely going full gas on the latter part of lap 8. So much fun.

 

[Sciatic]

It would be interesting to have facts on that. I think he looks much heavier than last seasons eg when he won in Oostende. It could be that both Van Aert and Pidcock have upped their levels which makes it tougher for Mathieu to lose them?

Ah, I see our traditional winter season of judging/guessing rider’ weight gain/loss has begun!
(Barkintheeye—no criticism meant to you, just observing a seasonal pattern on the forums)

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

People seem to have forgotten that in their first 3 seasons at the pros, Wout was roughly Mathieu's equal. The discrepancy really started to manifest as problems within the team started to occur while his focus shifted towards road racing.

So when Wout is in great form, it doesn't take much for Mathieu to lose to him. Just a few percentages off target are enough. And with Mathieu also focussing on the road more and more, preparations change.

 

[Barkintheeye]

People seem to have forgotten that in their first 3 seasons at the pros, Wout was roughly Mathieu's equal. The discrepancy really started to manifest as problems within the team started to occur while his focus shifted towards road racing.

So when Wout is in great form, it doesn't take much for Mathieu to lose to him. Just a few percentages off target are enough. And with Mathieu also focussing on the road more and more, preparations change.

I remember those early years (2014-2016) and they were very evenly matched and the rivalry was great to watch - like today.

Yet the main differences then still exist today, with Wout stronger at the more grinding efforts and Mathieu superior at explosive shorter burst and particularly when there are decisive technical sections.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Ah, I see our traditional winter season of judging/guessing rider’ weight gain/loss has begun!
(Barkintheeye—no criticism meant to you, just observing a seasonal pattern on the forums)

I didn’t know but I am happy to chip in. My guess is in fact that Van der Poel has done quite a bit of lifting and currently weighs in at around 77 kg

 

[Third Time Lucky]

If VdP is around 77kg, WvA must be around 85kg. I haven’t seen quads like that since Ullrich. Hell, if you were to chop off Wouts bottom half, it’d make a perfect seesaw partner for Pidcock.

 

[Gwbert]

If VdP is around 77kg, WvA must be around 85kg. I haven’t seen quads like that since Ullrich. Hell, if you were to chop off Wouts bottom half, it’d make a perfect seesaw partner for Pidcock.

The beautiful thing was seeing wout/mdvp and pidcock/iserbyt riding together in that order. It was like boxing weight classes. How Pidcock was able to keep up with the raw power of mvdp/wout i do not know, but I can’t wait to see him climb next season.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

The beautiful thing was seeing wout/mdvp and pidcock/iserbyt riding together in that order. It was like boxing weight classes. How Pidcock was able to keep up with the raw power of mvdp/wout i do not know, but I can’t wait to see him climb next season.

They were often going fairly 'easy' up the hill so a decent amount of time to recover, but on the road Adam Blythe is always talking about riders having diamonds in their legs. Perhaps yesterday evening was one of those times for Pidcock.

 

[senna6541]

I don't know, Mathieu looks like he lacks a bit of (muscle) mass. Of course he has a different physique than Wout but the difference is quite striking right now. I don't know if that's because of a lack of depth, a lack of strength training, or whatever but there was a time when in a fast cross like Diegem he could simply ride Wout off his wheel with sheer power and explosiveness. He doesn't have that anymore.

Can't say I agree with that. MVDP looks plenty strong to me in both his upper and lower body in terms of muscle mass. Didn't seem to be lacking raw power at Gavere, where you really needed it, and he he's been able to get gaps on Wout with his explosiveness. He just hasn't been able to hit him the one or two more times needed to break him, and that is a lack of endurance and depth. Wout has had nothing but a smooth ride the last 18 months, whereas MVDP has been in a constant struggle just to get to starting lines in decent form - and he has still produced huge results during that time. It's all still in front of both of them in both CX and the Spring Classics, so let's see what happens from here. My money is on MVDP to produce the bigger results when they count most.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The supermutant watts of Pidders on Mallorca didn't lie. He is sublime.

Strava deleted his ride, lol. It was flagged and removed.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Strava deleted his ride, lol. It was flagged and removed.

Really? That’s bizarre. Was he riding an electric bike or motorpacing? ;(

 

[limak_]

Really? That’s bizarre. Was he riding an electric bike or motorpacing? ;(

Maybe he was running just as that time when he almost broke 5K world record

 

[Third Time Lucky]

Tom needs to be careful. Hell hath no fury like a triggered strava warrior.

 

[stonerider]

I believe the current state of affairs between Wout and Mathieu come down to who has the most discipline and sticks to a better season training plan. Mathieu has been all over the place the past two years with injuries from crashing too often, maybe ill advised altitude camps, trying to ride 2 grand tours back to back, etc. Makes me wonder how good he could be if he had a great coach/advisor that he trusted and listened to. He needs someone who understands his physiology and who is able to reign in his impulsive behaviour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Really? That’s bizarre. Was he riding an electric bike or motorpacing? ;(

No idea. You can see his time was nearly 2 minutes faster than that of the previous KOM by a guy roughly his weight (59kg according to Google, with Pidock weighing 58 supposedly). He should have pushed about 410 watts over 23 minutes i think. Which is maybe the reason it got flagged considerring he set his FTP to 324 in Strava.

 

[theyoungest]

Maybe he was running just as that time when he almost broke 5K world record

Puck Pieterse recently broke the 400 m world record. On Schiphol Airport.

 

[RedheadDane]

Pretty sure most people's Strava runs don't go through slides!

 

[DNP-Old]

Raining all day, Azencross is just a mud pool. Wout should have a field day.

 

[theyoungest]

17-year-old Lauren Molengraaf having a great race so far.

 

[Barkintheeye]

No idea. You can see his time was nearly 2 minutes faster than that of the previous KOM by a guy roughly his weight (59kg according to Google, with Pidock weighing 58 supposedly). He should have pushed about 410 watts over 23 minutes i think. Which is maybe the reason it got flagged considerring he set his FTP to 324 in Strava.

It all sounds jealous and ridiculous. Why would Pidcock even bother to put it on Strava it wasn’t legit? Further it’s totally impossible that his FTP is 324W. Garmin/Strava always asks for “accepting” new FTP etc. Has not much to do with reality. The guy who had the KOM is not a pro rider so Pidcock beating him by a margin… why isn’t possible?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Burquier really needs a few climbs/descents......loads of mud/ flat sections aren't her thing......

 

[RedheadDane]

Seems like after some short races, we're gonna have a longer one today.

 

[theyoungest]

Burquier really needs a few climbs/descents......loads of mud/ flat sections aren't her thing......

I had expected her to challenge the Dutch girls this season, at least on a few courses. So far, she's not even been close.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Van Anroij is great. Not at all another Brand. She may not be elegant on the bike but she has technique, power and lots of determination. Nice to see her progress! Schreiber and Bakker too.