Welp, the timing to praise his bike-handling skills couldn’t have been any worse. Never seen him struggle like this although he does take more risks on the bike because he’s such a great bike-handler. Today he just took too much of a risk which honestly might have cost him a podium spot or even the win. Shame. So so strong today, what a difference one week can make like he said himself after Ghent-Wevelgem. Would have loved to see him in PR with this form...
- Mar 13, 2009
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Well. He was super strong. Limitless energy it seems. He could still have won if he positioned himself better at Kwaremont and Pater. Start in front instead of at the back
- Jan 4, 2011
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I rewatched a bit of his comeback more closely and during the race, it looked more impressive to me than it was. There were actually a lot of dead moments in the bunch when he was off the back. After the penultimate Kwaremont he also had two team mates (Devolder and Vermeersch I think) that helped him out.
Obviously he lost quite some energy there but I wouldn't say for sure that he was the strongest guy in the race.
Obviously he lost quite some energy there but I wouldn't say for sure that he was the strongest guy in the race.
Apparently Matthieu only knew Bettiol was ahead at 5 km from the finish. He didn't see him go, he was too far back because he started too far back. He was that far back because he felt good enough to move up if needed. A rookie mistake, but that's one he probably won't make again.
No idea if he would have been able to follow Bettiol, but would have loved to see him try.
https://www.nu.nl/wielrennen/5831208/van-der-poel-heb-beslissende-demarrage-bettiol-niet-gezien.html
No idea if he would have been able to follow Bettiol, but would have loved to see him try.
https://www.nu.nl/wielrennen/5831208/van-der-poel-heb-beslissende-demarrage-bettiol-niet-gezien.html
Re:
I’m quite certain he was when you add up everything. Taking a tumble, shaking it off, using up more energy than he had to compared to the other favorites in order to get back to the group, probably riding with some pain or discomfort, and even then being badly positioned still ascended the Paterberg the quickest out of the group and even dropped them at the very top. He had a gap at the top and shortly after there was a gap between him and the group and you could see he wanted to ride on but no one was able to go with him. Shame. Definitely one of the strongest if not THE strongest all things considered imo.
Flamin said:
I’m quite certain he was when you add up everything. Taking a tumble, shaking it off, using up more energy than he had to compared to the other favorites in order to get back to the group, probably riding with some pain or discomfort, and even then being badly positioned still ascended the Paterberg the quickest out of the group and even dropped them at the very top. He had a gap at the top and shortly after there was a gap between him and the group and you could see he wanted to ride on but no one was able to go with him. Shame. Definitely one of the strongest if not THE strongest all things considered imo.
- Jan 7, 2017
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- Mar 13, 2009
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Re:
He was riding tempo. If you overdo it you cook yourselfs. And what he did on especially the Koppenberg and Taaienberg was impressive. For a hill he hates he might have gone quickest, weaving through the group. And soloing in between. Even the Trek DS-es were impressed
Lol. Then you should buy glasses.Flamin said:
He was riding tempo. If you overdo it you cook yourselfs. And what he did on especially the Koppenberg and Taaienberg was impressive. For a hill he hates he might have gone quickest, weaving through the group. And soloing in between. Even the Trek DS-es were impressed
- Jun 7, 2011
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- Jan 4, 2011
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Re: Re:
Buy glasses for what? You're going to deny the tempo dropped completely on numerous occasions? He was never alone on the parts between the climbs. On the climbs itself, he obviously had to do it himself but on Pater and Koppenberg it's every man for himself anyway.
Where did I say he wasn't impressive? I just meant he was also heavily favoured by the circumstances and that I'm not convinced he was the strongest in the race, and for that matter, could have followed Bettiol on Kwaremont). Even the Trek-DS were impressed? What kind of argument is that? Everyone was but that's totally besides the point.
Dekker_Tifosi said:
Buy glasses for what? You're going to deny the tempo dropped completely on numerous occasions? He was never alone on the parts between the climbs. On the climbs itself, he obviously had to do it himself but on Pater and Koppenberg it's every man for himself anyway.
Where did I say he wasn't impressive? I just meant he was also heavily favoured by the circumstances and that I'm not convinced he was the strongest in the race, and for that matter, could have followed Bettiol on Kwaremont). Even the Trek-DS were impressed? What kind of argument is that? Everyone was but that's totally besides the point.
Re: Re:
It wouldn't have been much more interesting if Mathieu went with Bettiol imo, I think we would have known the winner in that case as well. Mathieu finished 2nd in the bunch sprint just after Kristoff. He would have definitely relied on his sprint, and given his form I doubt Bettiol would have dropped him en route to the finish. Oh well, that's if's, maybe's, and probably's...
tobydawq said:
It wouldn't have been much more interesting if Mathieu went with Bettiol imo, I think we would have known the winner in that case as well. Mathieu finished 2nd in the bunch sprint just after Kristoff. He would have definitely relied on his sprint, and given his form I doubt Bettiol would have dropped him en route to the finish. Oh well, that's if's, maybe's, and probably's...
- Nov 16, 2013
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Re: Re:
You're right, I thought about that when writing the other post. But I don't think it would have been as pre-determined as the Kristoff-Terpstra sprint of 2015.
Mavic said:tobydawq said:
It wouldn't have been much more interesting if Mathieu went with Bettiol imo, I think we would have known the winner in that case as well. Mathieu finished 2nd in the bunch sprint just after Kristoff. He would have definitely relied on his sprint, and given his form I doubt Bettiol would have dropped him en route to the finish. Oh well, that's if's, maybe's, and probably's...
You're right, I thought about that when writing the other post. But I don't think it would have been as pre-determined as the Kristoff-Terpstra sprint of 2015.
- Jun 7, 2011
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Re: Re:
Oh yes it would have. I would literally eat my own shyte if Bettilol beats Mathieu in a two man sprint.
tobydawq said:Mavic said:tobydawq said:
It wouldn't have been much more interesting if Mathieu went with Bettiol imo, I think we would have known the winner in that case as well. Mathieu finished 2nd in the bunch sprint just after Kristoff. He would have definitely relied on his sprint, and given his form I doubt Bettiol would have dropped him en route to the finish. Oh well, that's if's, maybe's, and probably's...
You're right, I thought about that when writing the other post. But I don't think it would have been as pre-determined as the Kristoff-Terpstra sprint of 2015.
Oh yes it would have. I would literally eat my own shyte if Bettilol beats Mathieu in a two man sprint.
- Jun 7, 2011
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Re: Re:
Still. Wellens would need to go from far. And gaps at BP are always small.It's a typical "MVDP" race, a playground.Blanco said:
- Aug 3, 2015
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Just an insane classics talent. If he doesnt crash today, he wins this bike race Im pretty sure. Will probably even be the biggest favourite for Amstel. After just watching 3-4 road races of Mathieu (Gent, Dwaars, Flanders and EC) I can say he is the bigger talent than Van Aert on the road (dont know about XC or mountainbike) which you probably wouldn't expect given Aert focuses more on the road than him.
Im curious to what whether he can win races like Roubaix or Liege in the future. San-Remo, Strade, Flanders (all the flemish classics and G-W included), Amstel etc. should fit him very well. Guess he never will contend for Wallone and Lombardia, but I guess someone who know him a lot more than me can tell me that given I don't pay jackshit attention to other than road racing.
Im curious to what whether he can win races like Roubaix or Liege in the future. San-Remo, Strade, Flanders (all the flemish classics and G-W included), Amstel etc. should fit him very well. Guess he never will contend for Wallone and Lombardia, but I guess someone who know him a lot more than me can tell me that given I don't pay jackshit attention to other than road racing.
- Mar 19, 2009
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Likely, but I don't know for sure that's it's too hard, especially with the new finish. It might depend on how it's raced. I mean, Matthews has finished 4th recently. The one I'd say that suits him the least is MSR. I think it would be way too boring for him. No way I can see him just sitting in the bunch for 250k+.
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