Anybody notice that, even while pulling for Merlier's sprint for a full kilometer in the final, with still more than 1 k to go, VdP just rejoins the pack, and moves up and gets in the top 10? VdP was 7 and 12 in the two sprint stages, with ease. Anybody else would just get dropped and end 30s behind the pack. If he doesn't pull for Merlier/Philipsen, then what? Why would those watts not work in a mass sprint? In Cav's sprint, with 150 meters to go, you see VdP easily move up to just behind the group of A sprinters, who are going all out, sort of looking around. I can just see him thinking: am I good enough to win a bunch sprint against these guys? Lol.
Just analyzed:
VdP is ~25th position at 600m from the line in Cav's win. Goes from right hand pack of the bunch, to the full left, outside of the turn, making the most meters of all. Ends at 12, in the very first little pack.