It's surprising to see that the second climb of the Kwaremont was faster than the third, because the third is when he created the gap. I suppose the early, gentler part was faster the second time, because they come flying at the foot with the whole bunch. I don't think he went 100% full on the second Kwaremont and the Koppenberg. He just used the succession of climbs to wear out the others, turning it into a war of attrition. He even attacked once on a slope in between two official climbs. As soon as he had a small gap on the third Kwaremont, there couldn't be much doubt about the outcome.
Second Kwaremont Pog really attacked but he wasnt dropping everybody, he moreso opened up the finale and the race exploded. They main guys were all relatively fresh as well, they could respond there. Van Aert, MVDP, Pedersen and Jorgenson. They were all with him going over the top.
And there were still riders ahead.
The peloton was large going into the second Kwaremont... so many riders and a bigger group was still not far behind.
It is here telling that MVDP also wants to ride and says this to Pog. They are both isolated and it is not a good situation numberswise with the other teams still strong in numbers. They both start pulling the group together into Paterberg, where it is actually MVDP on the front and putting the hammer down. They drop everyone. Others are still not far behind though.
Then Pog goes hard again on Koppenberg. Jorgenson, Van Aert and Pedersen struggling. I think Van Aert was badly positioned here. He had to go around both Pedersen and Jorgenson. Van Aert was very down and up shortly after, maybe he dug a little bit too deep on Koppenberg but recovered a bit later.
Pog just chips away more and more on Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg and really hard on the last climb Oude Kruisberg... before the last Kwaremont.
Ronde is like boxing for Pog. He has time, rounds, to just jab away at the others before landing a big punch later in the match.
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