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"Teddy"?Very impressive ride by Teddy today, reminiscent of last year's Flandres. He has a great shot at top3 in Flandres but by now he must have realized that beating the two big boys from the north in their playground is very difficult. If he wants to win he has to do it alone - easier said than done.
Very impressive ride by Teddy today, reminiscent of last year's Flandres. He has a great shot at top3 in Flandres but by now he must have realized that beating the two big boys from the north in their playground is very difficult. If he wants to win he has to do it alone - easier said than done.
You never know if one of his rivals are behind for some reason, he only needs to drop the other one. He always got to play his cards in Flanders, ride hard from the bottom.
A surprise attack in the last km's (when they're more spent than today) and watching eachother. But these 2 will always ride I'm afraid.He's in a tricky position. Not strong enough to drop MvdP uphill and not fast enough in a sprint to drop either him or WvA. If he wants to win the Ronde I think he has to get creative with an opportunistic move.
Much love for Pogacar. Incredible panache, attacking style. One of a kind.
Probably no one in this forum remembers the last time a TdF winner is head to head with cobble big boys.
The new (and possible the only) Eddy Merckx.
Geraint Thomas actually won E3.Much love for Pogacar. Incredible panache, attacking style. One of a kind.
Probably no one in this forum remembers the last time a TdF winner is head to head with cobble big boys.
The new (and possible the only) Eddy Merckx.
No podium in E3, but Bugno won De Ronde.Great result.
So versatile and all-round.
When was the last rider to win or podium each of these races below?
L-B-L, Lombardia, TdF and E3.
It's a good thing for cycling that a guy like Pogacar does these cobbled classics. I'm aware that he's already won a race or two in July, but in Flanders he's discovered what real racing is like.
Yeah, this is the true racing for him. In most stage races he has various options to win: either drop everyone or outsprint everyone. Here none on those works.
If only he would discover how to start a climb like Taaienberg in good position.It's a good thing for cycling that a guy like Pogacar does these cobbled classics. I'm aware that he's already won a race or two in July, but in Flanders he's discovered what real racing is like.
True, but Thomas wasn't yet a gc rider in 2015. He was already a decent climber, but no more a gc contender than someone like Van Aert is today. Once he focused on gc racing he never again contended on the cobbles.Geraint Thomas actually won E3.
Pogacar has yet to exceed him.
Also Bradley Wiggins took a serious shot at Roubaix in 2016
True, but Thomas wasn't yet a gc rider in 2015. He was already a decent climber, but no more a gc contender than someone like Van Aert is today. Once he focused on gc racing he never again contended on the cobbles.
Wiggins meanwhile completely stopped riding for gc after 2013 and became more of a TT specialist. Also, while he did get a top 10 in PR once, he was never really a force in his attempts there. I feel like if you name him you could just as well name Nibali, who at least had his shot at the Ronde when he was still a gc contender.
So I guess technically you are right that there have been TdF winners near the front of cobbles races, but really, none of those performances compare with Pogacars.
Thank you for assuming that I'm young!Much love for Pogacar. Incredible panache, attacking style. One of a kind.
Probably no one in this forum remembers the last time a TdF winner is head to head with cobble big boys.
The new (and possible the only) Eddy Merckx.
What does that even mean? He did what he had to do in order to avoid being beaten into third by the other two. He failed and finished third. Neither of the others needed to escape before the finish, they needed to stop anyone else escaping before the finish. Pog was the only one trying in the end? Who brought him back each time he tried, the magic breakaway pixie? They were all trying.Pog was the only one trying in the end,