Scheldeprijs 2024: 3/4 The least crash-prone big one-day race this week

[Tim Cahill]

Merlier wins with time to post up

 

[RedheadDane]

Tim Merlier is on fire*!

Unfortunately, it looked like there was a crash.


*Please note that he's not actually on fire, that would be bad.

 

[Tour de Berghem]

Merlier is one of the most underestimate rider in the peloton.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Merlier is one of the most underestimate rider in the peloton.

No he is not. We are in the least talented sprinters era ever. Cav would win with one leg 5 sprints in the Tour.

 

[Tour de Berghem]

No he is not. We are in the least talented sprinters era ever. Cav would win with one leg 5 sprints in the Tour.

I think that with the actual Philipsen would not be so easy (despite in my opinion Cav is the best sprinter of all times, same level as Cipollini as sprinter, better in general)

 

[staubsauger]

I think that with the actual Philipsen would not be so easy (despite in my opinion Cav is the best sprinter of all times, same level as Cipollini as sprinter, better in general)

Cav isn't even better than peak Kittel!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Unfortunately, it looked like there was a crash.

And so it is written, and so it shall come to pass

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Easy for Merlier when everyone else is either boxed on or just not good enough.

Boxers should stay in the ring.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Boxers should stay in the ring.

Nacer Bouhanni: "why not do both?"

 

[jmdirt]

GREAT recovery and win by TM and his team!

 

[proffate]

Easy for Merlier when everyone else is either boxed on or just not good enough.

I wish I could find races to enter where everyone else is just not good enough to beat me

 

[jmdirt]

We are in the least talented sprinters era ever.

I disagree.

 

[kingjr]

I disagree.

Yeah, what about the year when Stuart O'Grady almost won the green jersey. Those memorable battles between him, Erik Zabel, and Sven Teutenberg lol.

 

[Netserk]

"of all time", "ever" = last ten years.

 

[Peyroteo94]

"of all time", "ever" = last ten years.

25 years.

 

[jaylew]

Impressive sprint from Merlier, he was out front for a long time. Best sprinter in the peloton so far this year.

 

[Danskebjerge]

No he is not. We are in the least talented sprinters era ever. Cav would win with one leg 5 sprints in the Tour.

Depends on what you base it on. I we took Cavendish of 2011, I think he would have won less these days - the routes have become tougher, and the speeds are higher, so he would have struggled on certain medium stages today.

 

[proffate]

Depends on what you base it on. I we took Cavendish of 2011, I think he would have won less these days - the routes have become tougher, and the speeds are higher, so he would have struggled on certain medium stages today.

and it seems no one wants to dedicate an entire tour squad to a leadout train. Fighting for 9th GC is oh so crucial these days. Cav would have half the wins if he didn't have those leadouts

 

[Tour de Berghem]

Cav isn't even better than peak Kittel!

You forgot Jakub Mareczko

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Depends on what you base it on. I we took Cavendish of 2011, I think he would have won less these days - the routes have become tougher, and the speeds are higher, so he would have struggled on certain medium stages today.

In 2009, which I would argue was the most dominant he ever was, Cavendish won Sanremo in a sprint of 50 and a Tour stage with a climb of 14k at 4% at 17k to go in a sprint of 40. Prime Cavendish dealt with hills a lot better than later-career Cavendish and it's been memory-holed to an extent, to the point where people don't realise he would have been one of the favourites for things like the Tour stage Pedersen won last year had he been in his prime right now.

 

[Tour de Berghem]

In 2009, which I would argue was the most dominant he ever was, Cavendish won Sanremo in a sprint of 50 and a Tour stage with a climb of 14k at 4% at 17k to go in a sprint of 40. Prime Cavendish dealt with hills a lot better than later-career Cavendish and it's been memory-holed to an extent, to the point where people don't realise he would have been one of the favourites for things like the Tour stage Pedersen won last year had he been in his prime right now.

Also in Giro 2013 won a stage with an hilly last part, also this include a 15 km climb at 4 % that ended at less than 40 km from finish with many others small 4/5 % small climbs in the final

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2013/stage-13/info/profiles

 

[Mayomaniac]

Also in Giro 2013 won a stage with an hilly last part, also this include a 15 km climb at 4 % that ended at less than 40 km from finish with many others small 4/5 % small climbs in the final

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2013/stage-13/info/profiles

BTW, your signature is awesome!
Sadly people outside of Italy won't get it...

 

[Tour de Berghem]

BTW, your signature is awesome!
Sadly people outside of Italy won't get it...

ahah thank you

 

[tobydawq]

ahah thank you

Is that from Ponferrada?

 

[Tour de Berghem]

Is that from Ponferrada?

Yes, an italian journalist during the race live commentary declared that Poland was in the front for an agreement with Belgium, working for Tom Boonen