Ronde van Vlaanderen - Tour des Flandres 2023, one day monument, April 2 (men's)

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Wout weaker than last week, and MVDP burning a lot of matches today. Next week to someone else, hopefully.

 

[movingtarget]

Dominant win. Every hill just made it obvious who was strongest. VDP gave it his best Too bad Pedersen couldn't get over the final hills with a gap but he probably would have been caught anyway by the superior TT rider.

 

[Ricco']

First time in history that there are two consecutive Ronde editions without a Belgian on the podium.

 

[HelloDolly]

I was thinking a late career muscle
And weight gain. Guess it would only
Matter to him if it’s the last thing he hasn’t won.

You are right as Pog just said in an interview that he would need more weight and to strenghten his hands for PR

I think though that sooner is alwasy a better option as who knows what the future brings

 

[QueenStagiaire]

It’s wild seeing someone who looks like a literal child crushing the hard men on the cobbles. I’m not sure he has a single strand of facial hair.

I don‘t think Van der Poel could grow a beard either though

 

[Didinho]

I was thinking a late career muscle
And weight gain. Guess it would only
Matter to him if it’s the last thing he hasn’t won.

He was not bad on the cobbles in the Tour.

 

[HelloDolly]

So glad Mads got the podium.....great great ride and he went for it ...courage in bags

 

[Salvarani]

Theuns on Ballerini... not nice.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

What a war of attrition in the last 1.5 hours! What a ridiculous performance by the new Merckx! Congrats on this historic Flandres victory Also congrats to MVP on this epic fight.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I don‘t think Van der Poel could grow a beard either though

True. Is that the secret?

 

[Aimar16]

Guys are crashing even while fighting for 30th place or something like that

 

[Salvarani]

Guys are crashing even while fighting for 30th place or something like that

Theuns tried to go through a gap that wasnt there and hit Ballerini.

 

[movingtarget]

Guys are crashing even while fighting for 30th place or something like that

Like those sensible barriers.

 

[Peyroteo94]

To be fair, it was obvious that Wout should've won last year. He was in suberb form, one level above today. Might never win this race looking at how it panned out today unless he hits that monsterform again or just get lucky.

Bla bla bla. Excuse after excuse. He is just not good enough

 

[movingtarget]

Pedresen still beating Van Aert in the sprint for third. Disaster for Jumbo.

They are overdue for at least one disaster this season..............

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Bla bla bla. Excuse after excuse. He is just not good enough

He's an amazing rider, so takes like this are idiotic.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I am going to bet that next year's cross season will not see major participation by Wout or MVDP.

 

[Red Rick]

Big 3 looked like chasing at 100%, 98% and 96% respectively.

With Van Aert you don't know what the crash took out of him.

With MvdP I think the attack on Kruisberg wasn't necessary, but that's hindsight.

I was surprised to see MvdP not even try to follow Pogacar.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Bla bla bla. Excuse after excuse. He is just not good enough

Maybe if he hires Valv.Piti, or anyone of us on here, really, as a DS he could win it.

 

[jono]

I am going to bet that next year's cross season will not see major participation by Wout or MVDP.

You're probably right. Especially Wout.

Though I wouldn't be surprised if MVDP skips RVV next year to go all in on P-R. Unless he wins this year.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

You're probably right. Especially Wout.

Though I wouldn't be surprised if MVDP skips RVV next year to go all in on P-R. Unless he wins this year.

They're both getting old enough, that year round racing just isn't realistic anymore.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

With MvdP I think the attack on Kruisberg wasn't necessary, but that's hindsight.

I was surprised to see MvdP not even try to follow Pogacar.

They dropped WVA and got close to the front group so this attack had an effect.
As for Pog, none of his Kwaremont attacks was covered. On the first one would say that Vans were maybe sparing some energy but on the second? Maybe MVP thought he would limit the loss to a minimum or had no more power.

 

[Winnen]

Van der Poel: I think I rode my best Flanders ever. After the Paterberg I have not been below 400 watt and I did not come closer. So a deserved second place.

 

[HelloDolly]

Wout weaker than last week, and MVDP burning a lot of matches today. Next week to someone else, hopefully.

Neils Polliit ...you heard it here first

Today's mind games was all part of his big plan

 

[staubsauger]

Van der Poel IMHO wanted to ride Oude Kwaremont with an calculated effort as he knew Pogacar has to dig deep there to drop him at all costs.