- Nov 6, 2020
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Yes, WVA is the more complete rider on the road, but you are aware of MVDP's exploits on wider tires, no?
I figure good to blow it and learn from it at relatively minor races like this - similar to how he completely messed up BP last fall and then got RVV right. Kind've wonder if the "kid" has a bit of ADD? Just kidding, but he does seem to get bored pretty easily in some of the 5+ hour road races where he's in zone 2 for half the race.
- Apr 28, 2010
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There isn’t a more polyvalent rider on two wheels than Mathieu. At least not one that does it on the level that he does. It’s not all about RR...
Pidcock might take the crown if he can start winning consistently on the highest level in all of those cycling disciplines on different surfaces.
If we’re talking exclusively on the road than yes, at least for the time being Wout is better overall.
However, I also think that Mathieu simply isn’t interested in being a mountain goat as he’s stated several times before. He’d rather go for stage wins in a GT/stage race than go for a good GC.
As far as tt’ing goes, I think that plays more into Wout’s strengths tbh. Those sustained efforts seem to suit him better. Though Mathieu has never really trained properly for tt’s like Wout has at a team like Jumbo.
Pidcock might take the crown if he can start winning consistently on the highest level in all of those cycling disciplines on different surfaces.
If we’re talking exclusively on the road than yes, at least for the time being Wout is better overall.
However, I also think that Mathieu simply isn’t interested in being a mountain goat as he’s stated several times before. He’d rather go for stage wins in a GT/stage race than go for a good GC.
As far as tt’ing goes, I think that plays more into Wout’s strengths tbh. Those sustained efforts seem to suit him better. Though Mathieu has never really trained properly for tt’s like Wout has at a team like Jumbo.
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he he, you think he will beat Pogacar in ITT ? Pogacar is still the favorite here
- May 8, 2014
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- Apr 28, 2010
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- Jun 7, 2011
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I hear mineworkers are tough men. I could see Pogacar beat Wout, but i don't think it would be correct to assume he's the favorite against the silver medalist of the last WCC ITT.
At UAE Pog was only 4th behind Ganna, Bissegger & even Bjerg in a short ITT. Not sure if van Aert favors short or long ITT's. In long ones, i 've noticed he usually starts slower and finishes faster (BN 2019, TDF2020, WCC2020). But he did beat Martin in a short ITT 5 years ago when Martin was still top of the world. I assume he's not exactly bad at them.
At UAE Pog was only 4th behind Ganna, Bissegger & even Bjerg in a short ITT. Not sure if van Aert favors short or long ITT's. In long ones, i 've noticed he usually starts slower and finishes faster (BN 2019, TDF2020, WCC2020). But he did beat Martin in a short ITT 5 years ago when Martin was still top of the world. I assume he's not exactly bad at them.
- Aug 14, 2012
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Regarding VDP positioning, I've just read a bunch of posts some pages back so I'm not going to quote all of them.
I'm rewatching the last KM now. He is 4th in line in the bunch at 600m to go, same as Alaphilippe. The difference is that VDP is on the right and Ala on the left. The roads bends to the right closing him and at the same time the bunch catch Sivakov and Landa who are also on the right side.
The camera than switches to Almeida and when it goes back to the bunch VDP is on the middle of the bunch, with Sivakov and Landa still in front of him, right when Thomas launches the sprint with Alaphilippe on his wheel. The left side of the bunch reacts quickly and the right half, where were the remnants of the break, is slower to get on their wheels.
I'm rewatching the last KM now. He is 4th in line in the bunch at 600m to go, same as Alaphilippe. The difference is that VDP is on the right and Ala on the left. The roads bends to the right closing him and at the same time the bunch catch Sivakov and Landa who are also on the right side.
The camera than switches to Almeida and when it goes back to the bunch VDP is on the middle of the bunch, with Sivakov and Landa still in front of him, right when Thomas launches the sprint with Alaphilippe on his wheel. The left side of the bunch reacts quickly and the right half, where were the remnants of the break, is slower to get on their wheels.
- Mar 19, 2009
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I've been wondering how hard he'll try to hang on in the mountains. I know his original plan was to test himself and see how well he could hang on the climbs in the UAE Tour but of course they got sent home after the one stage.
- Apr 28, 2010
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Can't see him overexerting himself "just" for hanging on. Why would he? Would be very "un"-Mathieu. He'd rather "soft-peddle" it and save energy for a big win imo.
Then again, it's not the first time he's surprised me these last days so I wouldn't be surprised. Which ironically is also a very Mathieu thing to do.
- Jun 7, 2011
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Van Aert peed on a signalguy 
He's been fined by the organization for unseemly inappropriate behavior, for when he was driving at the side of the road, while peeing (as riders are sometimes known to do) when there was no time to stop, and he accidentally passed a signalman. I'm sure the bloke didn't find it humorous, but come on...
Giving new meaning to the phrase "taking the piss".
He's been fined by the organization for unseemly inappropriate behavior, for when he was driving at the side of the road, while peeing (as riders are sometimes known to do) when there was no time to stop, and he accidentally passed a signalman. I'm sure the bloke didn't find it humorous, but come on...
Giving new meaning to the phrase "taking the piss".
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- May 5, 2010
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Van Aert peed on a signalguy
He's been fined by the organization for unseemly inappropriate behavior, for when he was driving at the side of the road, while peeing (as riders are sometimes known to do) when there was no time to stop, and he accidentally passed a signalman. I'm sure the bloke didn't find it humorous, but come on...
Giving new meaning to the phrase "taking the piss".
The riders probably accidentally pee on each other quite frequently.
- May 9, 2010
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Yes, I think he will. Not by much, and 20 seconds is probably too much. 10-15 seconds seems more likely. Pogacar is certainly not the favorite against Van Aert in the ITT. If you mean he's the favorite to win the GC, I don't think anyone would disagree with you.
- Sep 2, 2011
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Don't know about you, but I wouldn't look that up on Pornhub.
- Jan 4, 2020
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This already feels like pornhub. A lot of orgasms that van der Poel initiates. Guys, tune it down a bit, will you? The neighbours couldn't sleep.
- Sep 26, 2020
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You're still sure you don't have any fetishes?
- Sep 2, 2011
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Me neither.Don't know about you, but I wouldn't look that up on Pornhub.
Actually I don't really know what Pornhub is. Just heard my friends talking about it
- Apr 28, 2010
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If true you’re either way too young or way too old. In any case you’re too pure for this world.Me neither.
Actually I don't really know what Pornhub is. Just heard my friends talking about it
Not sure he was on the limit but yeah something that a lot of people forget after a sprint is that it also takes energy to position yourself. Sitting out of the wind, which side of the road, having a slipstream...It all matters.
Someone coming fast from behind doesn't necessarily mean he was the strongest..
Yet we always hear: "if he was in the winners wheel he would have definitely won".
This isn't about yesterday's stage btw, just an observation
In MVDP's case I really have no idea. But he wasn't too far off either. Not in the last km, not in the last corner. More of a timing issue or sitting on the wrong side like mentioned above. In any case I think many were "surprised" by Alaphillippe's strong acceleration. Made the "catch up margin" very small.
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- Jan 4, 2020
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