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

[Gobbo]

Overall I did enjoy the race. It was great to see all the big stars line up and fight against each others and they also all lived up to the expectations. But as other users have pointed out, the race was also a bit to predictable, as it pretty much ended with the Top 5 that we could logically have expected and even in the same order as expected. Except that if Mads Pedersen had been 100% fit, he could have arrived 3rd or 4th, but still he would not have won even at 100%, because Pogacar and Van der Poel are simply stronger than him in this type of races because they are better than him uphill. And maybe I didn´t expect Evenepoel to beat Van Aert, but I am not sure. But anyway, the outcome was pretty much as predicted. Still an enjoyable race though.

As a Dane, it was nice to see Valgren confirm his great form and his great comeback to his old self, since he arrived 18th. But I also missed a bit of courage from EF´s Danes, Asgreen and Valgren. They should have tried to go with the morning breakout and maybe Asgreen or Valgren could have finisched in the Top 10 (since also Asgreen seems to be in a better shape now than last season, even though he is still not the old version of himself from 2021). And as a Dane and also a Scandinavian it was sad to see the two norwegians, Abrahamsen and Strand Hagenes, both have unlucky accident that ruined the race for them.

Now I am looking forward to Paris-Roubaix. A race that is never as predictable as other races, because there are so many punctures and crashes. So even the greatest stars need a bit of luck to win. So it is not quite sure that Pogacar or Van der Poel will win, even that it still remains the most likely outcome. In a week Mads Pedersen should be even stronger so I hope for at Top 3 for him, but winning will still be very very hard with all that fantastic competition. I would also like to see Van Aert win and he surely has a chance, since this Springs version of him seems very promising.

 

[TrekCyclist]

Might be an idea to change the course a bit, if one wants a different race.
Even without Pogacar, yesterday would probably have seen a very similar race (just look at the last 5 winners).
They could take out the last Kwaremont and replace it with a less hard climb. Same with the Kruisberg or Taaienberg.

 

[Old-school]

Didn't watch the race. I have the impression that the presence of Pogi makes the top5 final results very predictable. If you remove Pogi from the race, the final ranking would have good chance to be different. With Pogi, selection is bases 100% on strenght, no more tactical and no more uncertainty.
This being said, happy for remco and a bit disappointed for wout, but they are in their place.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Didn't watch the race. I have the impression that the presence of Pogi makes the top5 final results very predictable. If you remove Pogi from the race, the final ranking would have good chance to be different. With Pogi, selection is bases 100% on strenght, no more tactical and no more uncertainty.
This being said, happy for remco and a bit disappointed for wout, but they are in their place.

Without Pogacar MVP would have done the same but the gaps would have been smaller.

 

[Netserk]

Doesn't matter. Take Pogacar out of RvV or TdF and both these races would've been just as boring as the 2nd best guy is still miles ahead of the rest.
Pogacar is not the problem, he's just the most prominent symptom.

i dont think thats true

you still need someone to drive the selection and a strong team to control before that

e3 , gw and dwars disprove it

 

[Netserk]

Without Pogacar MVP would have done the same but the gaps would have been smaller.

no , i dont think hed have the strength to keep the pressure on for so long , certainly not a willingness to drive a group like that

battle for 2nd was completely different in 2024

and kragh isnt anywhere near vermeersch , alpecin is rather mid this year

 

[Krzysztof_O]

no , i dont think hed have the strength to keep the pressure on for so long , certainly not a willingness to drive a group like that

battle for 2nd was completely different in 2024

and kragh isnt anywhere near vermeersch , alpecin is rather mid this year

I stick to my opinion that at some point the strongest guys would prevail. Likely MVP with Evenepoel and for some time with Wout and Mads. I think the finale would have been between MVP and Remco (who would have to catch up on flats once or twice) but the Dutch would be too much on decisive bergs and would win the race. Albeit the gaps, as I said, would be smaller.

 

[Netserk]

I stick to my opinion that at some point the strongest guys would prevail. Likely MVP with Evenepoel and for some time with Wout and Mads. I think the finale would have been between MVP and Remco (who would have to catch up on flats once or twice) but the Dutch would be too much on decisive bergs and would win the race. Albeit the gaps, as I said, would be smaller.

that sounds like it has space for an actual race with decisions to make

 

[Old-school]

Without Pogacar MVP would have done the same but the gaps would have been smaller.

Agree MVDP would have been the N1 favorite but with less certainty to win than Pogi.

 

[AmRacer]

Agree MVDP would have been the N1 favorite but with less certainty to win than Pogi.

Mathieu has won 3 times already, without Pogi Mathieu would have 6 wins.

 

[Old-school]

Mathieu has won 3 times already, without Pogi Mathieu would have 6 wins.

Probably but if I have to bet a large sum I am more confident with Pogi in the race 😉

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Didn't watch the race. I have the impression that the presence of Pogi makes the top5 final results very predictable. If you remove Pogi from the race, the final ranking would have good chance to be different. With Pogi, selection is bases 100% on strenght, no more tactical and no more uncertainty.
This being said, happy for remco and a bit disappointed for wout, but they are in their place.

Pogacar has a far superior w/kg, and therefore wins. He's producing similar power, but is approx 10kg lighter......that counts on the hills, and adds up. You can't defeat physics.......no amount of tactics can......
It's fairly simple; no amount of discussion on this, that, should have, could have matters........
MvdP didn't do too much wrong....but a lighter rider with decent power rode away on the penultimate hill........

 

[canina82]

Pogacar has a far superior w/kg, and therefore wins. He's producing similar power, but is approx 10kg lighter......that counts on the hills, and adds up. You can't defeat physics.......no amount of tactics can......
It's fairly simple; no amount of discussion on this, that, should have, could have matters........
MvdP didn't do too much wrong....but a lighter rider with decent power rode away on the penultimate hill........

Exactly this. According to Velo, Pogi produced 640 watts (in 1'13") during his attack on the 2nd Kwaremont. His time was similar in the third kwaremont so MVP doing 650 watts is not enough since he is 10 kg heavier.

 

[Red Rick]

Exactly this. According to Velo, Pogi produced 640 watts (in 1'13") during his attack on the 2nd Kwaremont. His time was similar in the third kwaremont so MVP doing 650 watts is not enough since he is 10 kg heavier.

Very clearly Van der Poel did way more on the 2nd Kwaremont, so in the end it's about recovery and threshold, and Van der Poel isn't the best at long, flat efforts.

 

[Boehmand]

Mathieu has won 3 times already, without Pogi Mathieu would have 6 wins.

Pedersen was 2nd last year, so he would have 5.

 

[AmRacer]

Pedersen was 2nd last year, so he would have 5.

Last year, Mathieu blow himself up trying to follow Pogi. Without Pogi, Mathieu would've dropped them all.

 

[canina82]

Very clearly Van der Poel did way more on the 2nd Kwaremont, so in the end it's about recovery and threshold, and Van der Poel isn't the best at long, flat efforts.

I can also say Pogacar was not going close to his best on the 2nd Kwaremont. You also pointed that btw.

 

[AmRacer]

I can also say Pogacar was not going close to his best on the 2nd Kwaremont. You also pointed that btw.

They were all slower third time up, so Pogi saved a bullet.

 

[Boehmand]

Last year, Mathieu blow himself up trying to follow Pogi. Without Pogi, Mathieu would've dropped them all.

It's not like Pedersen was having a vacation

Go watch a highlight reel of the race

 

[AmRacer]

It's not like Pedersen was having a vacation

Go watch a highlight reel of the race

The race without Pogi would be completely different, and I believe Mathieu would've won.