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

[Krzysztof_O]

I repeat after today...

???????????????????????????????

What's your problem really? There shouldn't even be that many guys in the poll for victory/in star ranks (max 4) so obviously some of them are kinda space fillers (or candidates for top5-top10). De Lie was somewhere around top10 of odds, 4th in GW so he landed there somehow (maybe by mistake ok but maybe half of those guys shouldn't be there)

 

[Netserk]

What's your problem really? There shouldn't even be that many guys in the poll for victory/in star ranks (max 4) so obviously some of them are kinda space fillers (or candidates for top5-top10). De Lie was somewhere around top10 of odds, 6th in GW so he landed there somehow (maybe by mistake ok but maybe half of those guys shouldn't be there)

* * * * * - pogi
* * * * - van der poel
* * * - van aert , pedersen , vermeersch
* * - hagenes , vermeersch , segaert , laporte , stuyven
* - abra , morgado , van dijke , mohoric , valgren , sheffield

 

[Krzysztof_O]

* * * * * - pogi
* * * * - van der poel
* * * - van aert , pedersen , vermeersch
* * - hagenes , vermeersch , segaert , laporte , stuyven
* - abra , morgado , van dijke , mohoric , valgren , sheffield

How many of them can win the race? Realistically two of them but if disaster strikes both then maybe a few more. Oh wait, where is Remco?

 

[Netserk]

How many of them can win the race? Realistically two of them but if disaster strikes both then maybe a few more. Oh wait, where is Remco?

oops

* * * * * - pogi
* * * * - van der poel
* * * - van aert , mister muscles , pedersen , vermeersch
* * - hagenes , vermeersch , segaert , laporte , stuyven
* - abra , morgado , van dijke , mohoric , valgren , sheffield

 

[Krzysztof_O]

oops

* * * * * - pogi
* * * * - van der poel
* * * - van aert , mister muscles , pedersen , vermeersch
* * - hagenes , vermeersch , segaert , laporte , stuyven
* - abra , morgado , van dijke , mohoric , valgren , sheffield

Your list is better than mine, I must admit.

 

[RedheadDane]

* * * * * - pogi
* * * * - van der poel
* * * - van aert , pedersen , vermeersch
* * - hagenes , vermeersch , segaert , laporte , stuyven
* - abra , morgado , van dijke , mohoric , valgren , sheffield

Which Vermeersch is which?

 

[Didinho]

as suspected

was the same with pogi last year

I remember it was in the news that day because he was spotted on a couple important RVV hills. But because they all denied it immediately we didn’t think about it anymore. Now it feels logic.

They’re not riding if they don’t work towards it and be ready for the win.

 

[Netserk]

Which Vermeersch is which?

florian higher than gianni

tim with a star and not mick

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Fun fact: this is the first monument ridden by all three: Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel! Unbelievable, considering those are top3 riders in classics in this decade.

I edited intro a bit and star ranks (also to add Evenepoel).

 

[Tim Cahill]

Arrgghhh turns out Remco just got dropped on those hills in UAE Tour because he was cultivating mass for tour of flanders, i just knew there was a reason!!!

 

[Netserk]

sad that the official profile isnt as good as it used to be

 

[Devil's Elbow]

sad that the official profile isnt as good as it used to be

The map is also not exactly a masterpiece. How is anyone supposed to tell which circuit is which?

 

[Netserk]

detailed profiles of the bergs of the finale

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Netserk

Great profiles. No wonder Teddy makes almost all big boys look like amateurs on Kwaremont: nearly 1 km at 7% plus shallow ascents before and after.

 

[vappa]

Fun fact: this is the first monument ridden by all three: Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel! Unbelievable, considering those are top3 riders in classics in this decade.

I edited intro a bit and star ranks (also to add Evenepoel).

Not only that, the first 1 day race ever that the three of them will ride together for their clubs!
And also a first 1 day race for Remco and MvdP in club jersey since 2020 Lombardia. Seems impossible

 

[Netserk]

@Netserk

Great profiles. No wonder Teddy makes almost all big boys look like amateurs on Kwaremont: nearly 1 km at 7% plus shallow ascents before and after.

and the cobbles there are not new and nice like on eikenberg . even the " flat " top is brutal

 

[Netserk]

van aert has only made the podium once before in this race

he ought to do so again and i think it will be his aim for the race

 

[Red Rick]

van aert has only made the podium once before in this race

he ought to do so again and i think it will be his aim for the race

If G1 is Van der Poel/Pogacar and G2 is Evenepoel/Van Aert will Evenepoel cooperate with Van Aert?

 

[Lequack]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkvIznVtpSc

 

[Netserk]

If G1 is Van der Poel/Pogacar and G2 is Evenepoel/Van Aert will Evenepoel cooperate with Van Aert?

ofc

at the top of each berg he will shout " *** pull ! "

mister muscles is here to ride hard

 

[Red Rick]

ofc

at the top of each berg he will shout " *** pull ! "

mister muscles is here to ride hard

But he's bunk buddies with the other 2.

 

[Netserk]

But he's bunk buddies with the other 2.

i think its only if he is forced to chase the top two after koppenberg for a long time that he risks melting down and then sulks at the back of the group

 

[Didinho]

If G1 is Van der Poel/Pogacar and G2 is Evenepoel/Van Aert will Evenepoel cooperate with Van Aert?

I was also thinking about all the 2 vs 2 scenarios with these riders.

If it’s after Paterberg with more than 15” I don’t think they catch the front 2. Especially because it’s the 2 stronger riders at that point. Even with Remco in G2 I don’t think they come back if all 4 go all out.

 

[Netserk]

provisional startlist

 

[Jan the Man]

I was also thinking about all the 2 vs 2 scenarios with these riders.

If it’s after Paterberg with more than 15” I don’t think they catch the front 2. Especially because it’s the 2 stronger riders at that point. Even with Remco in G2 I don’t think they come back if all 4 go all out.

I’d agree with this - with 260km ish in the legs that’s a factor too as by then if they’ve gone all out they’ve probably been on the limit.

Great to see Remco riding. I think he has the capacity to be great at MSR and RVV. I’d caution about expecting too much this year, although his form looks fine, and be pleasantly surprised if he’s challenging at the thick end come the final time up the Kwaremont. I’m hoping he is but let’s not get too hung up if he’s not quite able to match the big 2 on the cobbled climbs this year