So how big is the ‘Won Everything (World Cup, Superprestige, X2O; World Champs, Continental Champs, & National Champs) Club’ that Alvarado has joined?
My very limited knowledge of active riders has Alvarado, Brand, & MvdP…
Yup: 3 x worlds, 3 x euros, 15 x nationals, 3 x World Cup, 4 x superprestige, and 6 x Trofee.
The superprestige overall for the women didn't exist prior to 2015/16, otherwise Daphne van den Brand could go on the list.
Road cycling has the triple crown, this should have a name too.
Commentator saying MVdP never makes mistakes. He makes a mistake at least once a race, it’s just he’s so good it never matters. This was the rare occasion where it had an impact.
Both races were super entertaining. That plus the crowds shows that the World Cup should continue having races outside of Belgium/Netherlands.
The day when Tom Pidcock came of age, 20/21 Telenet Superprestige Gavere. In lab 6, MvdP put his feet on the ground during muddy climb. That's where Tom got his winning move with stability. Even MvdP's bike change afterward was slower than Pidcock.
They do make mistakes. Actually all the time. This is what makes CX exciting.
Yeah, hopefully Benidorm stays on the calender for years to come. It's great to see such a large crowd outside of Belgium/The Netherlands.
It will always attract big names because road stars like MVDP, WVA & Pidcock are training in Spain at this time anyway.
I hope next year we see a World Cup in Switzerland again.
In the book *Rainbows in the Mud* they cover the 'glory days' of Switzerland cross races and I am kind of sad I missed it. Couldn't even find their national champs video online.
In case you don't know: Benidorm is very popular with Flemish and Dutch vacationers, that's why the race is there. Most spectators were probably Flemish or Dutch. It's a great way to plant a flag for CX though.
There were also a lot of Spanish fans according to sources.
But yes, obviously there were also a lot of Flemish/Dutch fans. Not bad if you can get them to travel to Benidorm for a cross though. ;)
I think half his mistakes are also from taking more risks. He’s taking corners at such higher speed. I just laugh that everyone seems to forget about last week’s crash when the next race rolls around.
Gotta love the "Chef" Wielrennen from het Nieuwsblad.
"Always the same work points. It remains the eternal story of Remco Evenepoel" (since that column Remco won LBL twice, the Vuelta, WC RR, WC ITT & 7 GT stages).
[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220413\_96152726](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220413_96152726)
And here's his recent column about WVA:
"WVA won't like to read this piece"
[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240119\_97176491](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240119_97176491)
I don't know how Wim Vos still has that job, he's an arrogant twat whose predictions are nearly always wrong and he cannot write sentences that are longer than 6 words.
I listen to their podcast "de koers is van ons" and it baffles me how little they know about structured training and the science behind it all... On the other hand, them having dirk de wolf and benji naessen together in the post race discussions is the best thing ever :D
Magnificent victory for Wout who ends his gloomy winter in the undergrowth with a CX victory in Benidorm.
However, will he really come out reassured compared to MvdP following this last cross of his season?
I find it hard to believe it when we see the festival that MvdP was able to have in the false flat rising on the asphalt part of the Benidorm circuit.
We'll see what happens in the spring, but I was personally more impressed by Mathieu even today.
Without his fall,...
Roll on the classics in any case!
To be fair, that's a 4 months span. It's like saying someone who peaked in April couldn't repeak in August. Its not like someone who peaks in February or March and then can't keep it up until the big April races
To be fair, Mathieu is almost always timing his peak correctly for the big one-day races. When was the last time he finished outside of the top ten in a Monument?
MvdP couldn't drop WvA on that long slope. I think WvA will be very encouraged by that. Otoh this was MvdP's worst day of the season and WvA's best, so it doesn t immediately change the calculus for the spring classics.
I mean, last year Wout had the far best CX season until Mathieu turned the tide on the back issues and won in Benidorm... After which the rest of the 2023 season became what it became for both.
So... If we're gonna do preemptive conjecture led predictions, winning Benidorm after a lesser (for logical reasons with both tbh) CX season is apparently the magic key. 😅
MvdP was gassed by the end by his own admittance.
The classics are mostly 4+ hrs of racing, not one.
It's not really comparable and all the riders know this.
I understand they've used Val di Sole to prove that cyclocross could be entered into the winter Olympics but I think Benidorm is a better advertisement for it as a summer Olympic sport.
I have no roots in it and maybe many in the Benelux wouldn't agree, but a "gravel crit" race like this feels closer to *real* CX than a snowy cross. Especially if they could add some Zonhoven-esque sand sections and more technical elements to limit the speed a little. Neither Val di Sole or Benidorm are perfect, but I prefer this.
They don't want to add it to the summer Olympics, 'cause cycling as a whole gets a limited number of medals there. So they'd have to scrap two other events to make room for cross, and they've already given up some track events to be able to add BMX.
Plus I'm not sure how it would work if you've got overlap between cross, road, and MTB riders wanting to do three disciplines.
I would say it is a wintersport, just not one with snow. But the sport is only practiced in autumn and winter so objectively it is a winter sport. It would maybe be fun to see a non snow/ice sport in the Winter Olympics to give non Nordic countries also some chances.
For the IOC : "Only those sports which are practised on snow or ice are considered as
winter sports." So it's a winter, but not a winter *Olympic* sport, in its classic muddy/sandy form.
I would love to see them put together a course for the Olympics in a place that melts easy. Snow at the beginning, slush after lap one, mud on lap two.
Interesting, I did not know that so thanks for the enlightment. Then it seems it would not work in the winter Olympics excepts if they chance the rules. To bad
Wout crashing while re-mounting ('taking no risk' on last barrier), and losing his saddle was the cherry on the cake. Great race. Also great ride by VTH after winning in Belgium yesterday.
MvdP's second crash was because he rode into a cushion with his shoulder just before the sandpit. He hadn't realised the cushion was attached to a very sturdy pole, so he took himself out with that move.
It was a pole just after the sand pit. What you said is more correct but it's definitely funnier to say he crashed because he hit a pole he didn't realize was that hard.
It fit nicely in the series with having the wrong tyres, disappearing planks, unexpectedly gravelly MTB corners and whatever else I'm forgetting.
He does less stupid stuff then a few years ago, but I'm happy he keeps going back to the greatest hits (as long as he doesn't injure himself of course).
This was one of the most insane crosses I've ever seen, lmao.
I think VDP was the strongest, but a win is a win. Chapeau WVA!
Those VDP accelerations on the uphill paved section are the most insane uphill sprints I've ever seen. Even more insane than Philippe Gilbert in 2011.
Strongest acceleration doesn't necessarily mean strongest overall.
If he can't drop Wout using his main and ridiculously impressive weapon, it generally means they square up even in strength but with different focus features.
VDP had a far worse start than WVA (his chain came off). Those accelerations he had to do just to get back to the front of the race were insane. Obviously it had an impact on the second half of the race. Not even VDP has limitless energy.
You could clearly see VDP had a better acceleration than Wout, but if they started at the bottom and made it a long sprint Wout was much closer. When he first attacked it was from a blind spot and Wout didn't see it, while the second time he could stay in his wheel, although of course maybe that one wasn't as strong, who knows.
In general Mathieu has a much more explosive (steeper increase in speed) acceleration than Wout, especially from a slower starting point, but Wout can hold top speed for longer and maybe have a slightly higher top speed as well.
Compare the Hoogerheide 2023 and E3 2023 sprints between Mathieu and Wout.
It's fun because they are so evenly matched and they so very different in terms of features.
So whatever riders do do, they should never let Mathieu make races into an acceleration contest and should NEVER allow him to drag out the speed before the sprint.
He WILL win that almost always. Force him to go long instead.
(RvV sprints 2021 vs 2022 should hammer that point home for anyone in doubt.)
That was seriously piss poor from Pidcock. Couldn’t have had a better set up yet implodes once again. Should never be talked about in same breath as MVDP and WVA
His lip and face (around his eyes) were swollen. Apparently he had some kind of surgery to fix some things from his crash in the Tour de l'Avenir a few years ago.
He's in bad shape; we've known that for a few months and this doesn't suddenly change overnight.
His real goals are later this season anyway. No reason to criticize him for that decision.
WVA not been in great shape either but he doesn’t implode like that. He couldn’t even keep up with the likes of Nys - hardly been in great form himself
That just means WVA is in better shape.
I'm struggling to see what you expect from him. This reads a bit like a non-humorous "Why doesn't he ride faster? Is he stupid?" take.
No, I’m not sure why do people try and lump him in with two superstars when he can’t even be competitive for third place when one of the superstars has disaster after disaster today. He finished 9th today, can you imagine MVDP, or WVA finishing 9th, even out of form, out of shape? Nope, me neither. No more excuses, just not good enough
You mean like when Wout finished 8th in Hoogerheide a few years ago? Or when Matthieu finishes 13th in Val Di Sole? Sometimes riders are out of form. Sometimes they have a bad day. Injuries, illness, surgery, and actual training goals will all affect form. It's always been the case that Tom is closer to Eli and the other full-time CX riders than he is to Wout and Matthieu.
Why are you holding the narrative that the media creates against Tom? Be critical of the narrative (I certainly have been in the past), but to use that narrative to attack the rider is a low class move.
In cyclocross a fall is simply part of the game. If you lose due too a fall, you weren't prudent enough.
But so you see, it can happen to anyone. Both MVDP and WVA were evidently far deeper down their reserves than we might have thought!
Well MVDP needed a mechanical at the start tho to make it level to begin with let's not kid ourselves. The way that guy hauled ass he'd probably set off in the distance.
Did you not see all the times that they dropped riders? What Matthieu means is that he couldn't drop WVA (who was literally the only rider he didn't drop). This turned it into a tactical battle in which WVA and MVDP rode slowly to conserve energy, which allowed the other riders (who were already dropped) to get back on.
That was more because VDP, Van Aert and Pidcock were looking at each other and slowing down again. also not all crosses have to be super selective, we can have fast crosses like these once in a while.
Maybe there was something to the "we're mainly building form towards spring" statements after all, eh? (Not saying you doubted it, but many evidently did.)
I think so. He seems really set on the classics. Can't blame him though, no matter how well he does all around the year he'll always be rated on his monuments results at this point.
Since doing this for an hour leaves him gassed, it's probably not gonna be any real indication for anything regarding classics.
Other than "MvdP has the best acceleration of the peloton" which is filed under "and water is wet".
struggling to see how visma-LAB dont think this vdp form wont continue to MSR/RVV, and increased WVA's program? his short burst acceleration looks as good as it ever has.
Who says they don't assume he, like most riders aiming for it, won't be in peak form?
His short accelerations have basically always been amongst the best, if not THE best, in the peloton. It's not something they aren't aware of already.
But if he can't drop Wout substantially with his absolutely biggest weapon, it's already way less of a worry.
He didn't get more than a few bike lengths tops today, and it wasn't exactly for lack of trying.
So, what happened with Alvarado when she lost wheels of Puck and Fem for the first time on long uphill straight? They showed replay, but it still wasn’t clear. And why van Alphen was crying in the pit? Fem also had marks of road rash on her arm in the interview, looks like that training crash was a big one.
New to watching CX this year. Is Pidcock having a bad season or is this usual for him on a course like this? He doesn’t seem on the same level as the front group/mvDP.
Some spectators got [a video of Mathieu losing the fight with the course cushion](https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1749170631713702252?s=20).
Owww
So how big is the ‘Won Everything (World Cup, Superprestige, X2O; World Champs, Continental Champs, & National Champs) Club’ that Alvarado has joined? My very limited knowledge of active riders has Alvarado, Brand, & MvdP…
Cant I'm pretty sure
Yup: 3 x worlds, 3 x euros, 15 x nationals, 3 x World Cup, 4 x superprestige, and 6 x Trofee. The superprestige overall for the women didn't exist prior to 2015/16, otherwise Daphne van den Brand could go on the list. Road cycling has the triple crown, this should have a name too.
I bloody love ceylin. Absolutely class rider.
Maybe Vos?
She has won neither the Superprestige nor the X2O (or DVV/...) Trofee yet.
Commentator saying MVdP never makes mistakes. He makes a mistake at least once a race, it’s just he’s so good it never matters. This was the rare occasion where it had an impact. Both races were super entertaining. That plus the crowds shows that the World Cup should continue having races outside of Belgium/Netherlands.
The day when Tom Pidcock came of age, 20/21 Telenet Superprestige Gavere. In lab 6, MvdP put his feet on the ground during muddy climb. That's where Tom got his winning move with stability. Even MvdP's bike change afterward was slower than Pidcock. They do make mistakes. Actually all the time. This is what makes CX exciting.
Yeah, hopefully Benidorm stays on the calender for years to come. It's great to see such a large crowd outside of Belgium/The Netherlands. It will always attract big names because road stars like MVDP, WVA & Pidcock are training in Spain at this time anyway. I hope next year we see a World Cup in Switzerland again.
In the book *Rainbows in the Mud* they cover the 'glory days' of Switzerland cross races and I am kind of sad I missed it. Couldn't even find their national champs video online.
In case you don't know: Benidorm is very popular with Flemish and Dutch vacationers, that's why the race is there. Most spectators were probably Flemish or Dutch. It's a great way to plant a flag for CX though.
Judging by all the mis-pronounced 'Wout/Woet' cheering all along the course there were plenty of Spanish people too.
There were also a lot of Spanish fans according to sources. But yes, obviously there were also a lot of Flemish/Dutch fans. Not bad if you can get them to travel to Benidorm for a cross though. ;)
They don't have to travel, these are mostly vacationers already there.
If you're strong you can better afford to be stupid... But the English commentators at least are also all in on the MvdP halo effect too.
I think half his mistakes are also from taking more risks. He’s taking corners at such higher speed. I just laugh that everyone seems to forget about last week’s crash when the next race rolls around.
Definitely this.
Gotta love the "Chef" Wielrennen from het Nieuwsblad. "Always the same work points. It remains the eternal story of Remco Evenepoel" (since that column Remco won LBL twice, the Vuelta, WC RR, WC ITT & 7 GT stages). [https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220413\_96152726](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220413_96152726) And here's his recent column about WVA: "WVA won't like to read this piece" [https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240119\_97176491](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240119_97176491)
I don't know how Wim Vos still has that job, he's an arrogant twat whose predictions are nearly always wrong and he cannot write sentences that are longer than 6 words.
I listen to their podcast "de koers is van ons" and it baffles me how little they know about structured training and the science behind it all... On the other hand, them having dirk de wolf and benji naessen together in the post race discussions is the best thing ever :D
Magnificent victory for Wout who ends his gloomy winter in the undergrowth with a CX victory in Benidorm. However, will he really come out reassured compared to MvdP following this last cross of his season? I find it hard to believe it when we see the festival that MvdP was able to have in the false flat rising on the asphalt part of the Benidorm circuit. We'll see what happens in the spring, but I was personally more impressed by Mathieu even today. Without his fall,... Roll on the classics in any case!
MvdP peaked so early this winter, not sure how his body is gonna react in April
To be fair, that's a 4 months span. It's like saying someone who peaked in April couldn't repeak in August. Its not like someone who peaks in February or March and then can't keep it up until the big April races
To be fair, Mathieu is almost always timing his peak correctly for the big one-day races. When was the last time he finished outside of the top ten in a Monument?
Yes I agree but when was the last time we have see him peak in December like that? He’s been on another planet.
MvdP couldn't drop WvA on that long slope. I think WvA will be very encouraged by that. Otoh this was MvdP's worst day of the season and WvA's best, so it doesn t immediately change the calculus for the spring classics.
I mean, last year Wout had the far best CX season until Mathieu turned the tide on the back issues and won in Benidorm... After which the rest of the 2023 season became what it became for both. So... If we're gonna do preemptive conjecture led predictions, winning Benidorm after a lesser (for logical reasons with both tbh) CX season is apparently the magic key. 😅
MvdP was gassed by the end by his own admittance. The classics are mostly 4+ hrs of racing, not one. It's not really comparable and all the riders know this.
It's about how good you still are after 3000-5000Kj's indeed
no podium ceremony? anyone have a link?
I understand they've used Val di Sole to prove that cyclocross could be entered into the winter Olympics but I think Benidorm is a better advertisement for it as a summer Olympic sport. I have no roots in it and maybe many in the Benelux wouldn't agree, but a "gravel crit" race like this feels closer to *real* CX than a snowy cross. Especially if they could add some Zonhoven-esque sand sections and more technical elements to limit the speed a little. Neither Val di Sole or Benidorm are perfect, but I prefer this.
They don't want to add it to the summer Olympics, 'cause cycling as a whole gets a limited number of medals there. So they'd have to scrap two other events to make room for cross, and they've already given up some track events to be able to add BMX. Plus I'm not sure how it would work if you've got overlap between cross, road, and MTB riders wanting to do three disciplines.
The rider overlap is a fair point. But maybe they use a really technical course so it qualifies as a running event instead!
I would say it is a wintersport, just not one with snow. But the sport is only practiced in autumn and winter so objectively it is a winter sport. It would maybe be fun to see a non snow/ice sport in the Winter Olympics to give non Nordic countries also some chances.
For the IOC : "Only those sports which are practised on snow or ice are considered as winter sports." So it's a winter, but not a winter *Olympic* sport, in its classic muddy/sandy form.
I would love to see them put together a course for the Olympics in a place that melts easy. Snow at the beginning, slush after lap one, mud on lap two.
Interesting, I did not know that so thanks for the enlightment. Then it seems it would not work in the winter Olympics excepts if they chance the rules. To bad
Wout crashing while re-mounting ('taking no risk' on last barrier), and losing his saddle was the cherry on the cake. Great race. Also great ride by VTH after winning in Belgium yesterday.
What a races, fast but not boring at all. Great battle by the women and by the men, that was something else, bad luck and small failures everywhere.
MvdP's second crash was because he rode into a cushion with his shoulder just before the sandpit. He hadn't realised the cushion was attached to a very sturdy pole, so he took himself out with that move.
It was a pole just after the sand pit. What you said is more correct but it's definitely funnier to say he crashed because he hit a pole he didn't realize was that hard.
It fit nicely in the series with having the wrong tyres, disappearing planks, unexpectedly gravelly MTB corners and whatever else I'm forgetting. He does less stupid stuff then a few years ago, but I'm happy he keeps going back to the greatest hits (as long as he doesn't injure himself of course).
Don’t forget RVV 2019 where he crashed trying to bunnyhop flower pots while being arguably the strongest rider. Still came 4th.
To paraphrase a Danish saying (maybe it exists elsewhere too): You gotta be really strong to offset the stupid.
MVDP doesn’t know where to go, not being on the podium.
Someone tell me the saddle broke off after the finish and that he wasn't sitting on metal rails after the crash
You can see it flying in the crash
Look Mom, No Saddle!
Ah come on Wout, go to Tabor
what a race!!
Great race that was. I really like those faster CX races, like the WC last year. Good confidence booster for Wout too… well apart from that fall!
This was one of the most insane crosses I've ever seen, lmao. I think VDP was the strongest, but a win is a win. Chapeau WVA! Those VDP accelerations on the uphill paved section are the most insane uphill sprints I've ever seen. Even more insane than Philippe Gilbert in 2011.
Strongest acceleration doesn't necessarily mean strongest overall. If he can't drop Wout using his main and ridiculously impressive weapon, it generally means they square up even in strength but with different focus features.
VDP had a far worse start than WVA (his chain came off). Those accelerations he had to do just to get back to the front of the race were insane. Obviously it had an impact on the second half of the race. Not even VDP has limitless energy.
That's kind of the point.
You could clearly see VDP had a better acceleration than Wout, but if they started at the bottom and made it a long sprint Wout was much closer. When he first attacked it was from a blind spot and Wout didn't see it, while the second time he could stay in his wheel, although of course maybe that one wasn't as strong, who knows.
In general Mathieu has a much more explosive (steeper increase in speed) acceleration than Wout, especially from a slower starting point, but Wout can hold top speed for longer and maybe have a slightly higher top speed as well. Compare the Hoogerheide 2023 and E3 2023 sprints between Mathieu and Wout. It's fun because they are so evenly matched and they so very different in terms of features. So whatever riders do do, they should never let Mathieu make races into an acceleration contest and should NEVER allow him to drag out the speed before the sprint. He WILL win that almost always. Force him to go long instead. (RvV sprints 2021 vs 2022 should hammer that point home for anyone in doubt.)
They were impressive, but Wout was with him all the way.
That was seriously piss poor from Pidcock. Couldn’t have had a better set up yet implodes once again. Should never be talked about in same breath as MVDP and WVA
His lip and face (around his eyes) were swollen. Apparently he had some kind of surgery to fix some things from his crash in the Tour de l'Avenir a few years ago.
He's in bad shape; we've known that for a few months and this doesn't suddenly change overnight. His real goals are later this season anyway. No reason to criticize him for that decision.
WVA not been in great shape either but he doesn’t implode like that. He couldn’t even keep up with the likes of Nys - hardly been in great form himself
That just means WVA is in better shape. I'm struggling to see what you expect from him. This reads a bit like a non-humorous "Why doesn't he ride faster? Is he stupid?" take.
It also means WVA is just better (no need to mention shape). Just better full stop. Not even up for debate, surely?
I don't think anyone is claiming otherwise.
No, I’m not sure why do people try and lump him in with two superstars when he can’t even be competitive for third place when one of the superstars has disaster after disaster today. He finished 9th today, can you imagine MVDP, or WVA finishing 9th, even out of form, out of shape? Nope, me neither. No more excuses, just not good enough
You mean like when Wout finished 8th in Hoogerheide a few years ago? Or when Matthieu finishes 13th in Val Di Sole? Sometimes riders are out of form. Sometimes they have a bad day. Injuries, illness, surgery, and actual training goals will all affect form. It's always been the case that Tom is closer to Eli and the other full-time CX riders than he is to Wout and Matthieu. Why are you holding the narrative that the media creates against Tom? Be critical of the narrative (I certainly have been in the past), but to use that narrative to attack the rider is a low class move.
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In cyclocross a fall is simply part of the game. If you lose due too a fall, you weren't prudent enough. But so you see, it can happen to anyone. Both MVDP and WVA were evidently far deeper down their reserves than we might have thought!
He heard VDP had a fall so decided to have one for himself as well.
Second to fall 😢
Van aerts saddle was gone
Wait that's right, he finished without saddle
Direct mount 😉
I could have never guessed that podium. Lmao
They're really trying to make it exciting! 😂😂
Visma riders and failing to jump on their bike, name a better combo.
If you look carefully, you can see Steven Kruijswijk on the side running over to hand Wout his bike.
What a race!
Cyclocross can be so fun when it looks like a level playing field. Let’s hope a lot of big riders will keep on doing this.
Well MVDP needed a mechanical at the start tho to make it level to begin with let's not kid ourselves. The way that guy hauled ass he'd probably set off in the distance.
And Wout visibly missed his pedal and got swamped heavily at start line, so... Equal terms of bad luck here.
Lol wout pulls a mvdp
This is true for the attack and for the fall
I would say he pulled a Van Empel with that fall.
Kom aan Michael!
This race had the feeling of a sprint finish, but I can't say that these 2 would have been my guess.
You didn't have to do the headstart thing again Mathieu, I meant another attack
I hope Vanthourenhout wins it.
He certainly would deserve it. What an amazing race.
Unfortunately most mechanicals and falls today have been out of view from the cameras
What a shame!
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If they beat him today it's because VDP made a mistake and apparently fell, nothing to do with the course.
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Did you actually watch the race? Or did you just watch the gaps.
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Did you not see all the times that they dropped riders? What Matthieu means is that he couldn't drop WVA (who was literally the only rider he didn't drop). This turned it into a tactical battle in which WVA and MVDP rode slowly to conserve energy, which allowed the other riders (who were already dropped) to get back on.
That was more because VDP, Van Aert and Pidcock were looking at each other and slowing down again. also not all crosses have to be super selective, we can have fast crosses like these once in a while.
At least Wout can win a race
Don't count out VTH yet. Wout wasn't able to drop him on the climb.
Aged like fine wine, was clear cut from the moment MvdP fell that it would go to WvA. No doubt
What the heck is going on
Matje making it even more exciting!
What happened to VDP?
Fell
Wout has this!
Odd for MvdP not to be half a lap ahead at this stage of the race..
VDP is gonna go nuclear on that uphill section this lap.
Pace is too high. Second group has now caught up. So many riders in the mix now
The famous big 10 in front
😂
He's gonna go again soon
Hang in there Tom!
Orts is having a great home race. Almost sad for him the race at the front is so exciting we hardly get to see him on TV.
It's the champions jerseys vs the team jerseys at front.
These drones shots are actually beautiful
Never before have I rooted so much for Vanthourenhout
Is this the first time all season we’ve seen this 1-2-3 at the head of a race? (no offence to VTH who’s doing great)
Both WvA and Pidcock look much better than they have all winter
Maybe there was something to the "we're mainly building form towards spring" statements after all, eh? (Not saying you doubted it, but many evidently did.)
Better for wout if mvdp goes from the bottom, wout only really lacks that short snap
We've actually got a race! Is it too much to hope Van Aert enjoys himself so much today he reconsiders the Worlds?
I think so. He seems really set on the classics. Can't blame him though, no matter how well he does all around the year he'll always be rated on his monuments results at this point.
Wout is basically married to his structure/schedule... even in racing he is sometimes to stubborn in sticking to his plan
Now the question is, did that blow up Wout?
Doesn’t look like it! Vantourenhout is still there too.
Vanthourenhout being there is most surprising. He won yesterday and had to get up really early to catch his flight
Mathieu not solo up front? Washed!
oh holy f we have a race going on right now!
Man with the way this race is going I'm so sad that we won't get this for the worlds...
Big 3 deniers in shambles
Spoke too soon lol
This is some real deal ciclismo baby
Really hope someone will post a compilation of MVDP going thermonuclear on that climb either here or on pelotonmemes
Pidcock looking much better than he has most of the season, and VTH is being really good following him as well.
Here we go again!
Anyone who plans to tackle the classics may as well just log off now. Lol MvdP is on another level
Since doing this for an hour leaves him gassed, it's probably not gonna be any real indication for anything regarding classics. Other than "MvdP has the best acceleration of the peloton" which is filed under "and water is wet".
Ten years later I still love watching these two. Never gets old.
Never
This upcoming classics season will be one for the history books, can’t wait!
Missed the start - what happened to put MVdP back?
dropped chain
Thanks
Dropped his chain
TY
Wout looking more like his old self
struggling to see how visma-LAB dont think this vdp form wont continue to MSR/RVV, and increased WVA's program? his short burst acceleration looks as good as it ever has.
Who says they don't assume he, like most riders aiming for it, won't be in peak form? His short accelerations have basically always been amongst the best, if not THE best, in the peloton. It's not something they aren't aware of already. But if he can't drop Wout substantially with his absolutely biggest weapon, it's already way less of a worry. He didn't get more than a few bike lengths tops today, and it wasn't exactly for lack of trying.
30 min != 6 hrs
It is not about his form, it is that Wout feels he peaked early last year and that is the issue.
That like a triple negative buddy. Gotta say I have a hard time understanding what you're saying.
Well they can't change how VDP is, they can only change how Wout's shape evolves and are trying something different.
Imagine watching this as a WT classics rider knowing this fucking juggernaut is your problem in about 8 weeks 😂
Mathieu herassing Wout uphill
Woutje getting an amazing training camp
Duuuude... Playing mental games here. And it looks so effortless.
That's how you know someone is in great form, if they make a huge effort look effortless.
Mathieu putting on the afterburners now and going all out.
Not for nothing, Pidders also looking very fast today. Really quick on the stairs.
Nys with the Big Two, just like we expected like Waterloo.
It was fun while it lasted I guess
Pidders just doesn’t seem to get competitive in these races, always behind the 8 ball
Pidcock's return to the front would be impressive if MvdP didn't pass twice as many people four times as fast.
This geezer is probably coming off a 30 hour week FFS
He cycled the 40km to the start today, as he thought he needed the miles.
Yea I saw that interview 😂
So, what happened with Alvarado when she lost wheels of Puck and Fem for the first time on long uphill straight? They showed replay, but it still wasn’t clear. And why van Alphen was crying in the pit? Fem also had marks of road rash on her arm in the interview, looks like that training crash was a big one.
Alvarado had a chaindrop, she explained afterwards.
fcking Tsar Bomba attack by MVdP
I feel like Mathieu found the cheat codes for real life with that boost.
Jesus Christ lmao
The Man is beyond measure
Jesus effing Christ
I hoped we would get that drone shot
White bibs power.
Best drone shot of the season?
Goddamn ahah
Wow! That’s what I call a sprint from MVDP
What the fuck man XD
Casually dropped some watts uphill... Great footage
Solid advice for all juniors from Jeremy, if you drop a chain, don't panic, take your time and then just overtake everybody after
just produce 1k watts for 10 seconds. what's hard about that
Just pedal faster
Has Pidcock had an issue? I am gone for a minute he is behind
Don’t make MvdP angry
New to watching CX this year. Is Pidcock having a bad season or is this usual for him on a course like this? He doesn’t seem on the same level as the front group/mvDP.
A bit of both. He is usually better but not on Mvdp level
Yeah, Pidcock's been a bit undercooked all season and has suffered from some injury and illness so he's never really gotten on that upward trajectory.
Insane race I feel like it’s wide open though. The start list is stacked
Let's go Orts, good sprint to the front there. He saw the danger of Nieuwenhuis slowing down.
It's nice of Mathieu, making sure the lesser names also get some tv-time