Frustrating race to say the least. The competition needed him to have that bad of luck to keep him from winning (whether in a spring or even dropping Wout and Pogi on the cobbles). Tough breaks at both spring monuments but that's the way it goes and in cycling if you come out in one piece and move on to the next one, consider yourself lucky. With this form you wonder if maybe he jumps in Amstel or maybe take a week to rest from PR go for a result in LBL. Personally, I would love to see him call it a road season and go all in on the MTB from here on.
Considering it's his final big goal, him (or his team) aren't really pulling out the stops to achieve it........
He could have a short rest, and then do Swiss/ French Cup races before the second MTB World Cup in Nove Mesto in late May. We keep saying it, but he needs time on the MTB to get the skills back......
Yeah, was interesting to see how much he still thinks about the MTB in the short film that just came out. Between the fact that MTB riding/ racing is just more fun than the road, and the fact that it remains a massive personal challenge for him when everything else comes so "easy", the guy is clearly serious about the MTB. Now he just needs his team and sponsors to let him do it. It would unbelievable to see him shred and overpower World Cup courses with the right amount of saddle time. Think about how much bigger his engine and just overall body strength is now vs. when he was racing in 2017-19 with an iffy back and lesser core.
And the only other worthwhile goal is road WC's but seems too hard - at least if a decent Pogi is defending?
How hard is it compared to Zurich? Because MdvP was extremely competitive there, and lots of people said it was way too hard for him beforehand.
It’s harder. Elevation is like 3500m (zurich was 4500m) but they will have a flat section of 100 km before hitting the circuit. 3500m in 170km is a lot.
The main climb is 1.7 km at 7.7%. Zurich circuit didn't have a climb like this one.
I like the transition to MTB but he deserves the week off and an opportunity to shed some demons at LBL. I say that more for the public perspective. One of the most admirable parts of his public persona is he doesn't languish in missed or stolen opportunities. He appears very well adjusted which may be a product of his family history. Dad and Grandad saw all sides of the sport and in the end were apparently satisfied with their careers. I can't know if that's true but would like to believe there are non-sociopaths that succeed in this sport.
Agreed. On LBL, would be great if Pogi decided to sit it out now that winning all the Monuments in the same year is off the table. Without Pogi MVDP would have a fighting chance of winning there. Wishful thinking though and I doubt MVDP goes there just to fight for a podium spot.
Too bad he won't to go Amstel, the biggest race on home soil. If Remco aren't in peak shape, MdvP could have a decent chance of winning.
- Jul 7, 2013
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Evenepoel is too good for MVP in Liege and I think Seixas could be a factor as well. Plus there are a few other guys with a good chance to beat MVP there. Even without Pogacar top3 could be too hard for MVP.
- Feb 20, 2012
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Much of the circuit is false flat downhill though.
I think it should be easier than Montreal, especially for MvdP and Van Aert. Slovemia also should have much less firepower to make the race super hard than UAE normally has, but then they will probably get helped from Belgium (which would be stupid)
Theres a good reason Montreal wasnt really the most selective race pre 2024
Zurich World Championships were too influenced by Pogacar. In other categories, riders like Koppecky and Behrens, who aren't climbers, won.
In the years when Milano-San Remo was a race for sprinters, where Freire, won three times, those Zurich World Championships would have been contested by riders like VDP or Pedersen.
In fact, VDP seemed the strongest of the group, even though he didn't finish second.
In the years when Milano-San Remo was a race for sprinters, where Freire, won three times, those Zurich World Championships would have been contested by riders like VDP or Pedersen.
In fact, VDP seemed the strongest of the group, even though he didn't finish second.
- Sep 12, 2022
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DS of Belgium already said that WC is a big target for Van Aert. This alone will already help with not trying to make the race as hard as possible. They want to keep their 2 favourites in play as long as possible, so they will control, but they won't do it like they did at UEC RR 2025.
But there is still 2 more hills in the circuit. Something like 500-600m at 6%. This where Pogacar can build his gap after going solo on the main hill. I still think MVP can be in the top10 but fighting for the win is out of reach. We are talking about MVP, no chance he will race it if he doesn't think he can compete there.
- Apr 30, 2011
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yeah with his limited schedule amstel is a big miss
but he has been winning since omloop ( and some other niche sport before that ) , so hed have needed to approach the spring differently
tour route is not great for him , so merely good shape rather than megapeak in july and then all in on canada
- Jul 7, 2013
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Did he? The route is very good for Evenepoel but maybe the Belgians want to play more tactical games against Pogacar. To me the candidates hierarchy is clear: 1) Pogacar 2) Evenepoel
Besides the Pau stage and the final stage in Paris, there really is not one single stage thats suits MvdP. He should skip the tour.
- Apr 30, 2011
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for what instead , bingobongo benelux tour ?
he can take it easy and chill most of the race while helping phil and then target paris
- Sep 12, 2022
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If they want to win, they should. Hope they finally understood what everyone in the world already knows, that if the race is too hard, Pogacar wins. You need to win tactically. Pretty sure they'll learn that lesson again in LBL.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Mountainbike? It's the 26th of August, so he could work towards that, make sure he can start somewhere in the beginning, already lose some weight for WC RR too
- Aug 3, 2015
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Pog aint sitting over no LBL. He has already missed 2 opportunities (DNS 2022, DNF 2023). Its a monument and these kind of races are literally his specialty.
Pogacar has few race days this year and is the favorite for Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He is obligated to participate.
Furthermore, all indications are that his team will perform poorly in the Ardennes Classics due to injuries and the poor form of riders like Cosnefroy. He is obligated to at least participate in the Monument of the Ardennes.
Even so, VDP can't beat Remco in Liège, and I don't think he can even beat a rider like Healy if he is in good shape, although he doesn't seem to be.
Furthermore, all indications are that his team will perform poorly in the Ardennes Classics due to injuries and the poor form of riders like Cosnefroy. He is obligated to at least participate in the Monument of the Ardennes.
Even so, VDP can't beat Remco in Liège, and I don't think he can even beat a rider like Healy if he is in good shape, although he doesn't seem to be.
- Jul 7, 2013
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Pogacar won MSR and RVV this year so losing LBL would be quite underwhelming. Victory is expected there.
That's the downside of being the favorite: defeat is emphasized more, but that's precisely why he's obligated to go. A favorite can't shy away from a scenario like that.
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