What place will Remco get in RVV?

[theyoungest]

Mads Pedersen in the last 4 years: 8th, 3d, 22nd, 2nd.

Okay, touché. But who is most likely to follow Pogacar, at least for a while? Pedersen or Evenepoel?

 

[AmRacer]

Mads Pedersen in the last 4 years: 8th, 3d, 22nd, 2nd.

45 this year then, and next is his

 

[Gratemans]

Okay, touché. But who is most likely to follow Pogacar, at least for a while? Pedersen or Evenepoel?

That remains to be seen. But anyway, your point was it is now a race very much suited for climbers. I don't think so, I think it's a race for explosive riders.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I've been saying for a long time that he should do Flanders (Sanremo as well), so I'm glad to see him on the start list. I think he should be able to do very well, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the podium. He has a very good build for the race, lots of power, great acceleration and is good technically. Positioning is the biggest worry, but the way these races are ridden these days, positioning should matter less (as long as he's in position when Pogacar or Van der Poel make their initial attack).

 

[vappa]

45 this year then, and next is his

Did you somehow calculate 45 or just a random position?

 

[theyoungest]

That remains to be seen. But anyway, your point was it is now a race very much suited for climbers. I don't think so, I think it's a race for explosive riders.

Maybe not pure climbers, but the way the course is now, and the way it's raced, make it very difficult for a guy like Pedersen or Van Aert to win... but then again that's the case in every race where Pogacar takes part.

 

[AmRacer]

Did you somehow calculate 45 or just a random position?

I did a quick double blinded randomised statical analysis, and come up with the beautiful number #45

 

[Red Rick]

Maybe even 2nd time Kwaremont. If he's badly positioned the 2nd time, it might already be over

I think the energy cost at that point is just too high because the peloton is so big you just waste a bunch of energy against organized teams.

 

[canina82]

Maybe not pure climbers, but the way the course is now, and the way it's raced, make it very difficult for a guy like Pedersen or Van Aert to win... but then again that's the case in every race where Pogacar takes part.

I also don't see how could Mads or Wout follow Pogacar in the old route. The combination of Kwaremont+Paterberg+Koppenberg+Taaienberg was also there.

 

[Red Rick]

I also don't see how could Mads or Wout follow Pogacar in the old route. The combination of Kwaremont+Paterberg+Koppenberg+Taaienberg was also there.

It was much earlier in the race, and the 2 of them usually don't get dropped for good until the final OK.

Current field on the old route would most likely just be a murder scene on the Muur, because the terrain before the Muur is terrible to be solo ahead of a chase.

 

[canina82]

It was much earlier in the race, and the 2 of them usually don't get dropped for good until the final OK.

It's not like Pogacar can't rip a race with 100km to go. Last year, Pogacar without MVP would just ride away after the Koppenberg. The difference was massive between Pogacar and the rest (excluding MVP).

 

[Red Rick]

It's not like Pogacar can't rip a race with 100km to go. Last year, Pogacar without MVP would just ride away after the Koppenberg. The difference was massive between Pogacar and the rest (excluding MVP).

He got cooperation from Van der Poel, van Aert, Pedersen and whatnot, and in the end he finished a grand 2 minutes ahead of a 45 man group after a solo of 18km.

Van der Poel was dying after 60km solo versus a very lacklustre chase group in E3.

Or are we assuming 3 times the motorpacing of Sanremo

 

[canina82]

He got cooperation from Van der Poel, van Aert, Pedersen and whatnot, and in the end he finished a grand 2 minutes ahead of a 45 man group after a solo of 18km.

Van der Poel was dying after 60km solo versus a very lacklustre chase group in E3.

Or are we assuming 3 times the motorpacing of Sanremo

The profile of E3 is very different from the profile of RVV, specially the last 30-40km. I don't think it's comparable at all. And let's also not forget, Pogacar gained more than 30" in a headwind against Mads-Stuyven-Wout-MVP (and they were cooperating).

Pogacar did plenty of long solos and wasn't caught in most of them.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar gained more than 30" in a headwind against Mads-Stuyven-Wout-MVP (and they were cooperating).

That's a stretch

 

[MJR]

It's amusing to see the answers all over the place. We really don't know what to expect from him here.

I'll point out the obvious, though - having him there makes it a better race and if there's one rider who has the potential to pull back a Pog breakaway, it's him. I worry about his positioning and handling on the cobbles, but we'll have our answers in a few days.

 

[Extinction]

It's irrelevant, MvdP should drop Remco on Paterberg and if he doesn't it means he's cooked, they won't catch Pogacar as a result. Plus, there's tailwind towards the finish, better chance for an attacker to stay away

If Pidcock can stay with Pogacar on Poggio, Remco can stay with Tadej on Paterberg. 😱

 

[Extinction]

I've been saying for a long time that he should do Flanders (Sanremo as well), so I'm glad to see him on the start list. I think he should be able to do very well, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the podium. He has a very good build for the race, lots of power, great acceleration and is good technically. Positioning is the biggest worry, but the way these races are ridden these days, positioning should matter less (as long as he's in position when Pogacar or Van der Poel make their initial attack).

Imagine if Remco drops Tadej and decides to become a classics rider. 😱

 

[fenns]

i voted top 5. If not that he will dnf

 

[fenns]

I've been saying for a long time that he should do Flanders (Sanremo as well), so I'm glad to see him on the start list. I think he should be able to do very well, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the podium. He has a very good build for the race, lots of power, great acceleration and is good technically. Positioning is the biggest worry, but the way these races are ridden these days, positioning should matter less (as long as he's in position when Pogacar or Van der Poel make their initial attack).

His yearly absence from MSR is a mystery to me - perhaps to save himself for Belgian classics. If it was the same course in Belgium he'd race it every season.

 

[houtdffan]

His yearly absence from MSR is a mystery to me - perhaps to save himself for Belgian classics. If it was the same course in Belgium he'd race it every season.

he said today that the weather in Tenerife was why he did not do MSR

 

[vappa]

he said today that the weather in Tenerife was why he did not do MSR

He also said the combination MSR-Catalunya-RVV would be too much. I tend to agree with that

 

[Gigs_98]

I think barring crashes or badly timed mechanicals I don't see any reason to expect Evenepoel to not be among the 5 strongest riders in the finale.

I mean fair enough, but the way the question for the poll is framed I ubderstand a vote for "Top 5" as "he is getting precisely 4th or 5th" and there is no way thats more likely than him finishing outside the top 20.

 

[Red Rick]

I mean fair enough, but the way the question for the poll is framed I ubderstand a vote for "Top 5" as "he is getting precisely 4th or 5th" and there is no way thats more likely than him finishing outside the top 20.

I think both exactly 4th and exactly 5th are more likely than finishing but outside the top 20.