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

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It's his Eminem era.

I think he's over that already. Looks more like Sting now.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think he's over that already. Looks more like Sting now.

Well people have been calling him an alien for some time now.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Niklas Larsen Top 25, don‘t let him get into the break in Roubaix

 

[MJR]

I think he's over that already. Looks more like Sting now.

His head isn't anywhere big enough to carry that kind of ego.

 

[Boehmand]

Dane watch:

5th Pedersen
18th Valgren (best EF)
25th Larsen (best Rocket)
28th Asgreen (2nd best EF)
31st Kragh (2nd best Lidl)
63rd Honore
84th Søjberg
95th Norsgaard

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

If I had bet my organs on Pogacar every time like I like to joke about, I could build a 2nd and 3rd Red Rick so we could be watch cycling and complain together.

Being a contrarian, would that not risk that one of you ends up arguing for Pog, or, even worse, Zverev?

 

[Boehmand]

Niklas Larsen Top 25, don‘t let him get into the break in Roubaix

Thus far not selected for the race

He was also a late addition to this one (got selected Wednesday)

 

[Netserk]

most boring , stationary edition ever

not a single thought needed by any participant

 

[Red Rick]

most boring , stationary edition ever

not a single thought needed by any participant

Van Aert not doing a thing between the first split and then Nieuwe Kruisberg was some character development. Sadly he got 0 reward for it.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

most boring , stationary edition ever

not a single thought needed by any participant

Think there were some thoughts needed, but not enough thinking was actually done.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Why do you type it MVPD? Is there a cultural meaning I’m missing?

Mathieu van der Poel --> MVDP

 

[dobrien]

Without the climbs to constantly put the heavy guys on their limit, I don't think Pogacar is dropping them.

I think both MvdP and WvA can stick with him

Pedersen worries me, but the absence of climbs will suit him, it's where he has lost the most because of the injury.

Yup, that was actually my point; I think it’s going to be a much bigger battle than this was, the terrain should be much more of an equalizer. But Pog has all the momentum at the moment and will be extraordinarily motivated…if he gets past PR with another win his chance to be the first to win all 5 monuments in a season goes to about 97%. Hoping for a much more interesting race next week.

Waiting for the Roubaix reveal Monday.... 🤣

That would be the greatest news ever, though let’s not forget the PR cobbles are a whole different level of ugly compared to today. That said, I was very wrong about Remco, I didn’t think he had it in him to do this. He managed that solo really well; it would have been very easy to blow in any of those bergs and he really hung in there tough. Last Kwaremont cooked him some but that was a very impressive ride from him.

 

[canina82]

The top 5 is the Top 5. they were the strongest in that order.
That said, the numbers 2 and 3, especially number 2 could have ridden a better race so as to create a chance to nullify the fact that number 1 is the strongest. Rider 2 does not seem to realise he could have ridden it differently given his interview. Moto's once again decided to help the strongest rider in the race as if he needed it....

number 4 rode a near perfect race, except being to far during 1 early moment.

I'll try not to fall in repeat in this thread so i'll end it here.

If motos are constantly helping, why isn't Remco taking advantage of that and drops Pogacar?

 

[KoopaCycling]

If motos are constantly helping, why isn't Remco taking advantage of that and drops Pogacar?

Moto's were ahead of Pogacar and MVDP, behind Remco
Also im not debating Pogacar was not the strongest. He was.
Just saying they also helped him. Making it even easier.

 

[the asian]

The top 9 and have either won a Monument, World Championship or podiumed in a monument or World Championship before. A selection of the strongest.

 

[Boehmand]

Yup, that was actually my point; I think it’s going to be a much bigger battle than this was, the terrain should be much more of an equalizer. But Pog has all the momentum at the moment and will be extraordinarily motivated…if he gets past PR with another win his chance to be the first to win all 5 monuments in a season goes to about 97%. Hoping for a much more interesting race next week.

I'll wait just over 7 days, before I root for Pogacar to complete the Grand Slam - but then I will be here for it - it would be historic.

Until then, Mads P still needs his monument - and if he can do it on Sunday, on the back of the spring he has had with both severe injury and illness last week, it will be movie script stuff

 

[memyselfandI]

My 02..Pogi and Mathieu were so knackered snake eyed because Remco made it so damn hard from far out.

Remco did white knuckle ride, he was on a good day for sure.

Top5 is four world chapions and one Wout!

Same same but different.

 

[canina82]

Moto's were ahead of Pogacar and MVDP, behind Remco
Also im not debating Pogacar was not the strongest. He was.
Just saying they also helped him. Making it even easier.

Motos didn't do anything crazy. You are trying to make things worse than what they actually were.
You are reading RR's posts too much.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Motos didn't do anything crazy. You are trying to mske things worse than what they actually were.
You are reading RR's posts too much.

I counted several moto's(more than 1 at the same time) in favour of Pogacar on 3 important moments. I understand the strongest get that dice. But sometimes it is too obvious. Maybe they are not aware of their own actions, filming from way too close and providing draft. Their footage was seemingly barely used though, so that goes against them as well.

 

[the asian]

I'll wait just over 7 days, before I root for Pogacar to complete the Grand Slam - but then I will be here for it - it would be historic.

Until then, Mads P still needs his monument - and if he can do it on Sunday, on the back of the spring he has had with both severe injury and illness last week, it will be movie script stuff

He will have a better chance next year, when hopefully Pogi wins all five monuments this year and concentrates on winning all three GT's in a year. Without the injuries, he could have probably podiumed at least one.

 

[dobrien]

I'll wait just over 7 days, before I root for Pogacar to complete the Grand Slam - but then I will be here for it - it would be historic.

Until then, Mads P still needs his monument - and if he can do it on Sunday, on the back of the spring he has had with both severe injury and illness last week, it will be movie script stuff

I would be very happy indeed to see Mads win it, one of my favorites. But then there is Wout; though he has a monument, he doesn't have a COBBLED monument.. and he's Belgian...

 

[canina82]

I counted several moto's(more than 1 at the same time) in favour of Pogacar on 3 important moments.

Remco didn't catch Pogacar and MVP because Pogacar accelerated on mariaborrestraat when Remco was only 3" down. It's clear Remco was very close to his limit while Pogacar was still fresh. Even later, Pogacar was pulling to maintain Remco distanced. Remco didn't have the legs and this is very obvious.

 

[Boehmand]

He will have a better chance next year, when hopefully Pogi wins all five monuments this year and concentrates on winning all three GT's in a year. Without the injuries, he could have probably podiumed at least one.

Yeah, but he is turning 31 in december

He is running out of time, so every shot counts the next 2+ years

Also we all know how much luck is involved next Sunday, a flat for Pogacar at the wrong point, and the shot may be there.

 

[jono]

I would be very happy indeed to see Mads win it, one of my favorites. But then there is Wout; though he has a monument, he doesn't have a COBBLED monument.. and he's Belgian...

I don't care for either Wout or Mads but I would be thrilled if either won if it means Pog doesn't.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco didn't catch Pogacar and MVP because Pogacar accelerated on mariaborrestraat when Remco was only 3" down. It's clear Remco was very close to his limit while Pogacar was still fresh. Even later, Pogacar was pulling to maintain Remco distanced. Remco didn't have the legs and this is very obvious.

And Pogacar was also helped by 2 moto's. Helping him to gap Remco. Maybe he does not increase the gap as much without them. Maybe that smaller gap creates an opening.

I believe that it would have been possible for MVDP to ride this smarter. Hope that Remco makes it back. Now odds are Pogacar still easily dispatches Remco on the Kwaremont and slightly gaps MVDP there. But without the moto's helping a tiny bit+ MVDP riding it more smartly there is at least a 1% - 10% chance of a different outcome imo by Remco and MVDP helping each other against Pogacar. Now I never doubted this was gonna be a Pogacar win.

Maybe MVDP does not help Pogacar at all or only barely, and Remco comes back and they become a trio. Maybe Remco attacks before the Kwaremont and Pogacar needs to waste some energy. maybe MVDP has saved some energy by not helping Pogacar as much and maybe Pogacar has wasted some energy by riding after Remco. Maybe that's enough to reduce the difference between Pogacar and MVDP on that final Kwaremont ascend. I know that's a lot of maybe. And i too saw Pogacar was clearly the strongest. But i felt that once again the moto's and MVDP helped him by not riding smart.

Now there was 0% chance of Pogacar losing Flanders today save for a mechanical on the Kwaremont during the last climb.