Ronde van Vlaanderen 2025, one day monument, April 6 (men's)

[Moose McKnuckles]

I do think PR favors Wout more than Flanders does. Wout has shown himself to be a far superior climber than MvdP on longer pitches, but these relatively short efforts in Flanders favor MvdP's explosiveness.
Of course, Pog is superior on both, so there's that.

 

[Medvind]

I do think PR favors Wout more than Flanders does. Wout has shown himself to be a far superior climber than MvdP on longer pitches, but these relatively short efforts in Flanders favor MvdP's explosiveness.
Of course, Pog is superior on both, so there's that.

Wout:

"Paris-Roubaix suits me better than the Ronde. Will Pogacar's participation in Roubaix change anything? On the one hand, yes, because we might get a different race. But on the other hand, Paris-Roubaix remains a difficult race to win."

In 2023 he looked damn good in PR, unfortunately he had that puncture. What I might fear is that MVDP (and Pog) has improved last couple of years and Wout hasn't. Still, I hope for competitve Wout in PR.

"I wasn't always rightly promoted to top favorite" - Wout van Aert on Flanders plans and already with an eye on Paris-Roubaix

Wout van Aert is coming to the Tour de Flanders with mixed feelings. On the one hand his defeat at Dwars door Vlaanderen was a big blow and changes his status within the team for such a race; but on t...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[postmanhat]

Pogacar, MVDP

Orbiting the same planet
Pedersen. Jorgensen, WVA

Unlikely asteroid impact
Powless, Ganna, Kung, Mohoric, Stuyven, Vacek
Someone else from UAE/VLAB
Someone from Astana

Kuiper Belt
Everyone else. Theoretically there, but little TV evidence after 200K

 

[E_F_]

On the west coast of North America this is quite possible

You don't know how late I sleep..!

 

[scribers]

Woke up 7am local time today PST. Most races end anywhere from 6:30 PST to 8:30 PST. Honestly, I miss most of the intermediate pee sprints, so I am good with this schedule. Plus the race gets done over coffee and I have the rest of my day that's useful.

 

[James M]

We’ve heard legends that you’re a Greek god. Slayer of the lady hearts

Even the Greek gods are mere mortals compared to MvdP and Pogacar.

 

[Sciatic]

My point is that we could see a more tactical race than usual because the other teams know how strong UAE and Pog is. That could make it more hard to control for UAE. Pog mentioned in his interview that it could be tactical. Pedersen in a strong break where Pog eventually while have to chase alone is not what UAE wants. It will be interesting to see how they will react if Pedersen attacks away.

I would like to see that to add drama. But I believe you’re thinking about it as if it was the Quickstep days vs Cancellara. Pogacar and MVDP think nothing of attacking and going away in tandem with 80 km to go. So how early would Mads have to go? If you mean he needs to get into the morning initial break he won’t have the legs left at the end of the race. Only way that works is if you have one of those giant peloton-sized early breaks. Which seems highly doubtful.

 

[Sciatic]

Woke up 7am local time today PST. Most races end anywhere from 6:30 PST to 8:30 PST. Honestly, I miss most of the intermediate pee sprints, so I am good with this schedule. Plus the race gets done over coffee and I have the rest of my day that's useful.

I try to get up before the penultimate Old Kwaremont which usually means getting up by 5:30. i can take a nap later

 

[Peyroteo94]

First of all, Alpecin will help UAE to control the race.
Other point even more important is: Mads can get away with 100 km to go and open a gap of 3 minutes and he would still lose this advantage for Pogacar in a 55km race (from Kwaremont until Oudenaarde). This is like Isola 2000 where a lot of people were saying Matteo would win the stage because he had a 3 minutes gap with 11km to go an then UAE/Pogacar just destroyed him.
The gap is just massive between Pogi/MVP and the rest. This is why cobbled classics are no longer tactical wars.

 

[hayneplane]

I would like to see that to add drama. But I believe you’re thinking about it as if it was the Quickstep days vs Cancellara. Pogacar and MVDP think nothing of attacking and going away in tandem with 80 km to go. So how early would Mads have to go? If you mean he needs to get into the morning initial break he won’t have the legs left at the end of the race. Only way that works is if you have one of those giant peloton-sized early breaks. Which seems highly doubtful.

They will never die wondering by letting the race develop too far ahead of them while they get in a staring contest.

Both would rather risk blowing up spectacularly than not be in a position to win.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I think the question is, who is the better Vermeersch. Gianni or Florian? Or who is the better van Dijke?
Not to mention that we again get the battle of Pedersens, there are three of them in the race.

Even more interesting: the battle of the three Dylans: Teuns vs. Van Baarle vs. Vandenstorme. Unfortunately Bob D. and D. Thomas couldn't come.

 

[memyselfandI]

Who mixes eggs with pasta...

Anyway eggs are higher in fat than protein. Great nutrition-dense food but they're not lean.

Now I'm kinda curious what tadej eats. Does he have a super boring diet or is that monk life just for wannabes?

Well..If you're like bigger size of an athlete like 70 kilos and taking in 1g/kg fats what can be a good level for training season, so for example 70 grams of fats. One medium sized egg contains whopping +- 4,5 grams of fats, eat two per day and you still have 60 grams to go? And btw eggs typically contain tiny bit more protein than fats.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Looking at the odds Pogacar is the clear favourite with odds around 4/6.

https://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/tour-of-flanders/winner

Putting money on MVP (who's around 2) may be tempting for people who think he's actually the top favourite.

 

[RedheadDane]

Who mixes eggs with pasta...

Well, pasta mixed with chicken is fairly common, and - when you think about it - egg is just... really young chicken.

Also, spaghetti carbonara.

 

[E_F_]

Looking at the odds Pogacar is the clear favourite with odds around 4/6.

https://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/tour-of-flanders/winner

Putting money on MVP (who's around 2) may be tempting for people who think he's actually the top favourite.

I think putting a lot of money on Pog is a pretty good bet, tbh.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Tomorrow's stage will be a second version of GdL. Everyone will try to anticipate Pogacar's move but UAE is too strong and just rip the peloton in pieces climb after climb and then the Poggenheimer will strike.

 

[Lequack]

Tomorrow's stage will be a second version of GdL. Everyone will try to anticipate Pogacar's move but UAE is too strong and just rip the peloton in pieces climb after climb and then the Poggenheimer will strike.

With MVDP on his whhel.

 

[memyselfandI]

At least this year van Aert isn't hyped up to be one of the main favorites. Might actually benefit him, takes of the pressure a bit. Hope he does a good race so he gets a confidence boost before PR, his real chance.

I've been wondering some time if he's sorta playing dead, sandbagging because of public pressure and being in the spotlight. Bit same like when Johan Bruyneel once said that he very well understand why some athletes, Evenepoel for example move to Spain because of this.

Of course there's certain realism that can be seen in can Aerts performance lately. But still.

Overall I think best tactic for others than Pogi and VDP is long waiting game, just wait for a first big explosion, go with them, don't go with no one else not one single time, not taking one single turn, follow new attacks if possible, try to go with Pogi and VDP with multiple team members and if that happens still not taking one single turn. And play/leave all attacking endgame to last 5k.

 

[AmRacer]

I've been wondering some time if he's sorta playing dead, sandbagging because of public pressure and being in the spotlight. Bit same like when Johan Bruyneel once said that he very well understand why some athletes, Evenepoel for example move to Spain because of this.

Of course there's certain realism that can be seen in can Aerts performance lately. But still.

Overall I think best tactic for others than Pogi and VDP is long waiting game, just wait for a first big explosion, go with them, don't go with no one else not one single time, not taking one single turn, follow new attacks if possible, try to go with Pogi and VDP with multiple team members and if that happens still not taking one single turn. And play/leave all attacking endgame to last 5k.

Nobody can follow Pogi and Mathieu, they will ride away into the sunset.

 

[Peyroteo94]

With MVDP on his whhel.

Maybe, maybe not. This is why this race will be very exciting.

 

[Samamba]

So Van Eetvelt is not 100% cause he drank some spoiled milk
He will be at the start tho probably.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Something along these lines should be the tactics. Real hoopers know the most important rule of cycling, you only need to be at the front once.

 

[scribers]

Van Aert will not really be extended any leashes by any of the favorites or pretenders. Poor guy might not be able to make the race afterall, but no one is going to assume he can't. It will be this way as it has been for aliphillip since 2021 until very recently he can go off the front and no one cares.

 

[Lequack]

Maybe, maybe not. This is why this race will be very exciting.

Didn't they break the climbing record on Cipressa and MVDP could easily hold on?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Didn't they break the climbing record on Cipressa and MVDP could easily hold on?

I wouldn't say easily but it was a 4% climb after all. You can't use draft to preserve energy in Koppenberg. Like I said, we will see.