Ronde van Vlaanderen 2026, monument, April 5 (men's)

[Keldergoat]

I'm just wishing for a wet race now. I love when people underestimate Pogacar. MVP this, MVP that, he is unbeatable here, he is unbeatable there, until... he gets punched in the face by Pogacar, just like in RVV 2023, RVV 2025 and more recently MSR 2026 (where I also doubted Pogacar would be able to drop MVP).

Who exactly underestimates Pogacar? Who's stating that MvdP is unbeatable? Two things that I haven't read in a while on this forum. You are making stuff up.

 

[canina82]

Who exactly underestimates Pogacar? Who's stating that MvdP is unbeatable? Two things that I haven't read in a while on this forum. You are making stuff up.

Exactly last year before the 2025 RVV.

Edit: There is also this year in MSR so I don't get where am I making stuff up.

“Van der Poel will stay with Pogacar, Pogacar will not drop him” - Johan Bruyneel backs Dutchman ahead of Milano-Sanremo showdown

The duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar is once again expected to shape the finale of Milano-Sanremo, but Johan Bruyneel believes the Dutchman currently holds the advantage. Speaking o...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Exactly last year before the 2025 RVV.

75% of the voters have picked Pogacar in the poll so far. I wouldn't call it underestimation.

 

[canina82]

75% of the voters have picked Pogacar in the poll so far. I wouldn't call it underestimation.

That's not the point (who will win 2026 RVV). The point is some people believe a rainy RVV would give MVP more favoritism than Pogacar and I think this is nonsense since technique is overrated and what really counts is w/kg. I also believe Pogacar's technique is underrated, the guy is normally better positioned than MVP for example.

 

[Red Rick]

"Crashed harder" is such a BS thing to say. We have absolutely no way of figuring out who was affected more during the crash

Yes you do.

It's most likely to be the rider that did not drop one of the best performances of his career.

 

[Barkintheeye]

That's not the point (who will win 2026 RVV). The point is some people believe a rainy RVV would give MVP more favoritism than Pogacar and I think this is nonsense since technique is overrated and what really counts is w/kg. I also believe Pogacar's technique is underrated, the guy is normally better positioned than MVP for example.

Now you're making things up. I'm convinced rain will even the odds, yet the odds are still with Pog on RVV and I'll give it to you that RVV isn't that technical. Wet also makes for a slower race and different sorts of mistakes.

Paris Roubaix is another story. A real slippery and wet PR will make technique a factor. Call it decisive or not. It's a matter of words and definitions. Many don't realize puncture (or rather not puncturing) is also a matter of technique. The combination of technique and power is what makes a race like PR, hence why Remco will (most likely) never be a contender at PR.

Finally, yes I'm quite impressed by Pog's skills. He was killing it on the Poggio descent (someone to check his ride with Mohoric's). He also proved himself last year PR yet he got it wrong and MVDP did not.

ps. Mohoric 2022: 3:09 / 57,3 km/h vs Pidcock (+Pog) 2026: 3:17 / 54,9 km/h

 

[vappa]

Yes you do.

It's most likely to be the rider that did not drop one of the best performances of his career.

How can you possibly know that without the crash Pogacar wouldn't go solo on the Cipressa already? Or on the Poggio? You can't, it's pure guessing based on what happened

Performance couldn't be THAT good if Pidcock could follow