Tour de Suisse 2021 (June 6-13)

[Devil's Elbow]

I wouldn't be so sure about VDP not winning Fleche after Strade Bianchi. That uphill punch is nasty. And he's a better climber than Sagan ever was. On LBL and similar like courses Alaph clearly has the upper hand imo. But FW is I think just within VDP's range... if he ever tries for that.

Is he though? I've yet to see VDP winning big Tour de Suisse mountain stages or Tours of California featuring Mount Baldy. As it is, VDP's marquee climbing performance remains finishing six minutes down in Lombardia.

 

[Velolover2]

Wout has a better chance of winning all the monuments IMO.

MvDP has a better kick but Wout can survive almost everything.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Wout has a better chance of winning all the monuments IMO.

MvDP has a better kick but Wout can survive almost everything.

I'll reserve my judgement, until we see what MvdP can do in the Tour.

Nobody thought WvA could climb as well as he could, until he did his first Tour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I wouldn't be so sure about VDP not winning Fleche after Strade Bianchi. That uphill punch is nasty. And he's a better climber than Sagan ever was. On LBL and similar like courses Alaph clearly has the upper hand imo. But FW is I think just within VDP's range... if he ever tries for that.

Well, i said neither van Aert or van der Poel would win Strade considering the climbs (and especially the final one) were too steep and long. So i will remain cautious, lol. But there is a big difference between Strade and Fleche. Not only is Mur de Huy still a lot harder imho than the climb into Sienna, but the main difference is, that in Strade, you get a bunch of 2, 3 up to 10 riders in the final, and most of them are completely dead. In Fleche, an entire peloton with plenty of simply superior climbers to MvdP, arrives at the foot of the Mur. It's not a battle between corpses like in Strade. In Fleche it's easier for the better climbers to surface, because the race itself is not nearly as hard. That said, if those climbers don't put the screws on soon enough, and he can survive long enough, you can't rule him out. But that would mainly be a tactical blunder on their part.

 

[Velolover2]

But kudos to Alaphilippe for trying an alternative path to victory. He is an entertaining rider to watch.

If possible, I'd love to see him in Paris-Roubaix this autumn.

 

[wansteadimp]

Well, i said neither van Aert or van der Poel would win Strade considering the climbs (and especially the final one) were too steep and long. So i will remain cautious, lol. But there is a big difference between Strade and Fleche. Not only is Mur de Huy still a lot harder imho than the climb into Sienna, but the main difference is, that in Strade, you get a bunch of 2, 3 up to 10 riders in the final, and most of them are completely dead. In Fleche, an entire peloton with plenty of simply superior climbers to MvdP, arrives at the foot of the Mur. It's not a battle between corpses like in Strade. In Fleche it's easier for the better climbers to surface, because the race itself is not nearly as hard. That said, if those climbers don't put the screws on soon enough, and he can survive long enough, you can't rule him out. But that would mainly be a tactical blunder on their part.

Having watched the last two days I'm not sure MVDP would wait for the Mur to launch his attack - it might be a bunch of 2 or 3 that gets to the final.

 

[Velolover2]

MvdP attacking on Ereffe or Chemin would really spice up the race.

 

[broppo]

Wout has a better chance of winning all the monuments IMO.

MvDP has a better kick but Wout can survive almost everything.

I know Poels is showing good form but I think he is a bit old to win all the monuments still.

 

[limak_]

Definitely should have been relegated today for a clear deviation to block Matthews. At best Matthews would have got 2nd rather than 4th but JA should not still benefit from 3rd and the 4 bonus seconds for the GC.

As much as Alaf deviates his sprint line very often, in yesterday's sprint I think you guys exaggerate it so much. In my view, what we saw on this stage is nothing extraordinary in terms of sprint finishes. All he did, was that he tried to follow MvdP's wheel (the road wasn't straight), he definitely wasn't swerving left and right this time. Almost every sprint in cycling looks like that. If somene comes from behind your wheel, you try to get on his wheel to use his draft. 80% of cycling sprints looks more or equallly dangerous to this one. When MvdP started his sprint, Alaf made a move to the right, to catch his wheel, but actually Matthews still had a space to pass him next to the barriers. It surely wasn't Cav-Sagan type of space. Ok, his pushed Matthews to the right, out of MvdP's wheel but imo it wasn't like "he was swerving all over the place".

The screen shows the moment when that space is most narrow and imo Matthews could easily fit into it (classic bunch sprinters like Ewan or Bennett wouldn't even hesitate for a second to do that - that's how you win sprints, taking risks and using your elbows, haven't you ever seen sprinters squeezeing through much smaller gaps?). Imho if Matthews was eager to take more risk in the sprints, he would win much more races in his career - taking risks in sprinting is an ability as much important as ability to push huge power on the pedals.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, i said neither van Aert or van der Poel would win Strade considering the climbs (and especially the final one) were too steep and long. So i will remain cautious, lol. But there is a big difference between Strade and Fleche. Not only is Mur de Huy still a lot harder imho than the climb into Sienna, but the main difference is, that in Strade, you get a bunch of 2, 3 up to 10 riders in the final, and most of them are completely dead. In Fleche, an entire peloton with plenty of simply superior climbers to MvdP, arrives at the foot of the Mur. It's not a battle between corpses like in Strade. In Fleche it's easier for the better climbers to surface, because the race itself is not nearly as hard. That said, if those climbers don't put the screws on soon enough, and he can survive long enough, you can't rule him out. But that would mainly be a tactical blunder on their part.

Exactly, there's a massive difference between being good enough to compete in Fleche and actually being the best in the world at such a climb. This year basically showed it's just about the longest climb where Alaphilippe could beat Roglic and that was with a very slow first half of the climb.

 

[MrTea1976]

All this talk of WvA and MvdP without mentioning Pidcock once....

 

[Taxus4a]

Today is not a step climb. So it looks another stage for VdP.

 

[Earns1985]

Today is not a step climb. So it looks another stage for VdP.

Yes, but could also go to the breakaway, if good enough and without GC threats in the group.. First hour of the race will decide this..

 

[Blanco]

I wouldn't be so sure about VDP not winning Fleche after Strade Bianchi. That uphill punch is nasty. And he's a better climber than Sagan ever was. On LBL and similar like courses Alaph clearly has the upper hand imo. But FW is I think just within VDP's range... if he ever tries for that.

I think he has a better shot at Liege, though. The finish suits him, and he was not too far back last autumn. I think with his Strade legs he can contest there for the win. The problem is that the classics season lasts long and Liege is the last race. I don't know if he can maintain high form that long.
Mur de Huy is a bit too long and steep for him, I think, although he's a freak, you just never know...

 

[Open Horizon]

All this talk of WvA and MvdP without mentioning Pidcock once....

Pidcock is scary indeed. His progress is starting to cast a serious shadow over WvA's and MvdP's dreams of dominating the current era of cycling.

Used to view him as merely a 'likeable future prospect' only half a year ago.

It wasn't until that superb Namur cross, when he almost brought WvA and MvdP to their knees, that I realized he already is a top class rider.

He then went toe-to-toe with WvA in classic sprints in April, and subsequently destroyed the entire MTB world elite (including MvdP) in May, removing all my remaining doubts that he is destined to be a legendary rider.

His flawless bike handling, incredible power-weight ratio and sheer love for cycling will win him countless classics, several grand tours, MTB olympic gold, and also a way hotter girlfriend than his face and physique would otherwise predict.

 

[Eeslliw]

also a way hotter girlfriend than his face and physique would otherwise predict.

Lol where did that come from?

 

[Open Horizon]

patterns in mate selection among homo sapiens, mostly.

 

[Skalman]

Today is not a step climb. So it looks another stage for VdP.

Nah if the break doesn't take it Matthews will

 

[BlueRoads]

Nah if the break doesn't take it Hodeg will

One can hope.

 

[sir fly]

Just over 51kph average so far.

 

[Open Horizon]

Orange (with the national squad), Red-White-Blue (national champ), Dark blue (Alpecin's) and White (CX rainbow jersey) all looked good on MvdP, but this light yellow...

 

[broppo]

so the break is gonna win? huge letdown....

 

[Samamba]

What is it with this year and having weak ass breakaways winning stages

 

[titan31]

As it is, break should win and if they don't get a crack on it, Bissegger could go into race lead (probably unlikely but he is atm)

 

[broppo]

What is it with this year and having weak ass breakaways winning stages

kinda lame Matthews and Alaphilipe are so scared of MvdP, they don't even dare to try anymore!!!