He would have better off waiting for the car and new bike. He would have had help from Tibor and Philipsen.
Also one of those decisions that happens quickly, because it is a lot going on... which in hindsight one can say wasnt the best idea.
Also one of those decisions that happens quickly, because it is a lot going on... which in hindsight one can say wasnt the best idea.
With their experience of the race, they should have anticipated it. But know matter how experienced you're of this race, making the right split second decision isn't so easy.
🤔That's another Slovenian?I initially thought it was a good result for Pogacar today, two podiums in his first two tries, one of the best in the race, positioned well at the front, bit of bad luck here and there, just ride it a lot and eventually a win should come by probability.
However I've read the last 10 pages of this thread and my eyes have seen the light, this is a total disaster. You would think he's 42 in the dying embers of his career, dropped by Vendrame and a returning Pozzovio at a midweek Italian classic.
- Feb 20, 2012
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Am I the only one who saw Florian make a gesture with his head (no, no) to Bjerg when he stopped?
I'd have to see it again, but it seemed like a denial .
I'm not blaming Florian in that moment, though; perhaps that's what the director told him at that moment. Bjeg also stopped late. In fact, it was a bit embarrassing to see that Politt then had the energy to stay on VDP's wheel for many kilometers. When a domestique has that kind of energy after the leader needs it, it's a huge mistake by the team. A domestique is supposed to sacrifice their own strength to save the leader's.
Florian's big mistake, in any case, was that moment I mentioned, when Pogacar lost Bjerg behind him and pulled alone, closing the gap to 15 seconds and staying like that for too many kilometers, increasing the difference to 20. Florian was fresh; he would have closed those 15 seconds immediately.
Today we saw a very different attitude between Alpecin/Philipsen and UAE/Florian. The problem for Alpecin is that the bike change made no sense; Florian's help to Pogacar would have prevented him from finishing so coocked.
UAE's management was awful. I've always thought that team is overrated for winning minor races. In Grand Tours, they've been outclassed by Kuss and Simon Yates, and in the Classics, they've been unable to win with Politt, who finished second in Paris-Roubaix, Narvaez, Wellens, while Visma has won Omloop with Jan Tratnik. They're useless in top races; they depend too much on the Slovenian. Leaving him high and dry cost them the 2022 Tour de France and probably Paris-Roubaix today.
They're worse than rabofail, by far.
- Sep 12, 2022
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After a hard race? Not so ridiculous to think Pogacar is faster.
- Jul 7, 2013
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Pogi missed some % to win. Flat cobbles make it hard to get rid of all the big boys and he will always be an underdog in the final sprint. MVP's bad luck didnt help him but helped Wout, who was the fastest at the end.
- Jul 4, 2016
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- Jul 7, 2013
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Depends what kinda of race we talk about. Lots of elevation gain is favourable to Pog in the sprint. In a race like today, Wout and Mattieu engines are so good that its Pogacar who could be more tired at the end.
Very hard to know this. Last year he had a perfect race until his crash, not this year.
- Jul 7, 2013
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- Jul 8, 2017
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I would say that the type of a hard race matters significantly. In a race suited to Pog's strength (Montreal, to some extent RvV, etc), I would lean towards Pogacar. In a race suited to WVA's strengths, such as Roubaix, Van Aert should be considered favourite IMO.
Especially considering that it didn't seem like he was close to dropping.
One has won the Tour de France green jersey and the Champs-Élysées sprint. Van Aert has won massive sprints..
Put those in. If Pogacar wins a sprint on Ventoux, that wouldn't be a valid example either
The comments in the race thread have been completely biased. For a moment it seemed like they were talking about Landa vs. Cavendish.
Go to the thread and you'll see that besides saying Van Aert is moresprinter, I also said that Pogacar was completely washed, just like in Amstel. I take it back, today he was even more washed; today he would have finished third in Amstel by a significant margin.
- May 9, 2025
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Pog to equal Merckx's 1975 spring.
Merckx won MSR, RVV, 2nd at P-R, and won LBL.
Merckx won MSR, RVV, 2nd at P-R, and won LBL.
2 lessons for Pog today.
He should ride PR with his cycling imagination, not with a plan. Play with chaos, he used to be great at it. He showed that he was too eager today and the team tried to force this with the Plan.
Second, he needs to learn fast that his dominance is changing the logic of the sport. I believe the peloton is so desperate now that it prefers not to compete seriously against him. He should call their bluff and stop carrying them over the finish line. Forget about the ephemeral show, this of eternal glory.
He should ride PR with his cycling imagination, not with a plan. Play with chaos, he used to be great at it. He showed that he was too eager today and the team tried to force this with the Plan.
Second, he needs to learn fast that his dominance is changing the logic of the sport. I believe the peloton is so desperate now that it prefers not to compete seriously against him. He should call their bluff and stop carrying them over the finish line. Forget about the ephemeral show, this of eternal glory.
- May 22, 2024
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we live in bizaro world,split personality.half of the forum saying this si impossible,that he even competes.other half he is washed.
Dude, I can't understand half of your posts and I'm pretty sure I am not the only one.we live in bizaro world,split personality.half of the forum saying this si impossible,that he even competes.other half he is washed.
Disappointed by today. Still a great result when you step back a bit and look at the type of riders who this race suits and it is far from Pogacar.
The nagging doubt is when a better opportunity will arrive given the travails for MVDP today.
Today both showed that last year was no beginners luck and he can win this race in the future but also that the odds will always be stacked against him as he has to arrive solo to the velodrome.
The nagging doubt is when a better opportunity will arrive given the travails for MVDP today.
Today both showed that last year was no beginners luck and he can win this race in the future but also that the odds will always be stacked against him as he has to arrive solo to the velodrome.
Nothing a little track class and recognizing you spin to the wheel on a high line before dropping the big sprint gear. Voss did the same thing in her race when she had an almost perfect leadout.I initially thought it was a good result for Pogacar today, two podiums in his first two tries, one of the best in the race, positioned well at the front, bit of bad luck here and there, just ride it a lot and eventually a win should come by probability.
However I've read the last 10 pages of this thread and my eyes have seen the light, this is a total disaster. You would think he's 42 in the dying embers of his career, dropped by Vendrame and a returning Pozzovio at a midweek Italian classic.
- Sep 14, 2019
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The thing is UAE actually did an amazing job making the race super hard until this first puncture which threw the entire plan in the trash.
Who knows what would have happened without this puncture.
For sure WVA wouldnt have had as fresh legs as he did. However, it is also possible that MVDP wouldnt have punctured and lost 2min either....
Who knows what would have happened without this puncture.
For sure WVA wouldnt have had as fresh legs as he did. However, it is also possible that MVDP wouldnt have punctured and lost 2min either....
So after seeing this race with Pog 2 years in a row who are his main opponents; only MvDP and Wout. That is it !!! Pedersen was weaker this year as he was last year. If there is no one next two years (i don't see anyone close) to Wout, MvDP and Pogi than is obvious Pogi has a great chance to win P-R, since MvDP and Wout are getting older. I wouldn't be suprised Pogi going after Basque, LBL, Giro, TdF, Vuelta, WC, Lombardia next year. If he wins 2 LBLs, 2 Lombardia, 2 TdF, Vuelta and 2 WC in 2026+2027 than he really doesn't need to care about anything except P-R and Olimpics.
- Feb 18, 2015
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I'm not sure at all he was stronger last year than this year. I just think the chase before Arenberg took a lot out of him. I mean everyone seems to agree that MvdP was amazing today and he couldn't drop Bissegger in the last sectors. Turns out riding in the wind while everyone else is hiding in a slipstream is a big deal.
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