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Craigagogo
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by Craigagogo

Geoff wrote:That is exactly what happened. Through the start/finish, he attacked and there was no response. Neither wanted to be the one to follow. We may see that play-out again between them throughout the Season, which could result in some unexpected wins.


On one occasion I recall MvP hot on Wout van Aert's wheel, when WvA was accelerating off the front. MvP had little trouble passing Toon Aerts with ease to mark the move. Perhaps MvP didn't want to chase his countryman down, although he could have easily done so, as it was pretty obvious that MvP is still on form to win?
More than 10 years a Weenie!

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ave
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by ave

wingguy wrote:
ave wrote:Even the Tour wasn't that bad this year. There was a stage where Froome had to chase the lead group! And once he was in difficulty! That's big difference to previous editions! :)

Ummm, 2015 stages 19 and 20?


True, I was wrong. Still, the point it wasn't that bad as "usual".

by Weenie


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KWalker
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by KWalker

the standards seem low these days.
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
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pastronef
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by pastronef

petepeterson wrote: I'd say the norm would be for outgoing riders to be benched for most of the fall.


or being sent to Tour of Guangxi (previously Beijing) :mrgreen:

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

KWalker wrote:the standards seem low these days.
Nostalic at heart? :lol:
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kingkongsfinger
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by kingkongsfinger

Craigagogo wrote:Does anybody else think that Mathieu van der Poel did not chase Lars van der Haar @ DVV Trophy Cyclocross Ronse for some reason?


VDP did not need to follow that move with all the wins he has already, he left it up to the world champ to chase. I also think VDP knew if it ended in a sprint he would get second to his countryman so it was a win win situation.
"I could have done this job myself in five minutes, but as things turned out I had to spend two days trying to find out why it had taken someone else three weeks to do it wrong."

Rondje
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Location: Netherlands

by Rondje

Craigagogo wrote:
Geoff wrote:That is exactly what happened. Through the start/finish, he attacked and there was no response. Neither wanted to be the one to follow. We may see that play-out again between them throughout the Season, which could result in some unexpected wins.


On one occasion I recall MvP hot on Wout van Aert's wheel, when WvA was accelerating off the front. MvP had little trouble passing Toon Aerts with ease to mark the move. Perhaps MvP didn't want to chase his countryman down, although he could have easily done so, as it was pretty obvious that MvP is still on form to win?


It wasn't really because he was a fellow countryman. Lars just took the right moment and both V Aert and VD Poel where looking at each other to close the gap. VD Poel won't give away a present like that to lose his first race. V Aert probably though it was up to VD Poel to close since he is the one to beat, and VD Poel though V Aert needed the win more as he hasn't won yet and is World Champion.

It is going to be interesting to see how the season continues. VD Poel came of the mountainbike on great form while V Aert still seems to grow. But V Aert wants to do the impossible by doing the spring classics and most of the CX races. While even Boom who only done around 10 CX races last year missed endurance for the classics last year.

Norregard
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by Norregard

Rondje wrote:
Craigagogo wrote:
Geoff wrote:That is exactly what happened. Through the start/finish, he attacked and there was no response. Neither wanted to be the one to follow. We may see that play-out again between them throughout the Season, which could result in some unexpected wins.


On one occasion I recall MvP hot on Wout van Aert's wheel, when WvA was accelerating off the front. MvP had little trouble passing Toon Aerts with ease to mark the move. Perhaps MvP didn't want to chase his countryman down, although he could have easily done so, as it was pretty obvious that MvP is still on form to win?


It wasn't really because he was a fellow countryman. Lars just took the right moment and both V Aert and VD Poel where looking at each other to close the gap. VD Poel won't give away a present like that to lose his first race. V Aert probably though it was up to VD Poel to close since he is the one to beat, and VD Poel though V Aert needed the win more as he hasn't won yet and is World Champion.

It is going to be interesting to see how the season continues. VD Poel came of the mountainbike on great form while V Aert still seems to grow. But V Aert wants to do the impossible by doing the spring classics and most of the CX races. While even Boom who only done around 10 CX races last year missed endurance for the classics last year.


It's certainly impossible to do them all in peak form. If you had to scrap one of: early season crosses, world championships, spring classics, I know what I'd choose. I think that is in large part the simple explanation of VDP outright dominance in CX right now (apart from VDP being a fantastic and unbelievably talented rider ofcourse, perhaps the outright best on any given day regardless of Van Aerts form).

Swannie
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by Swannie

Vdp has better skills on the bike and seems to enjoy cycling more than wva.
When i see WvA on his bike i always think he is sitting way deep in front, his handlebar seems so low what makes the technical sections harder + jumping is more difficult.
In the race saturday he lost much time due 2 not jumping!
He should get over his fear of falling, FAST!

Norregard
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by Norregard

VDP is a once in a generation natural talent, that's for sure. The Peter Sagan of CX.

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LeDuke
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by LeDuke

I think we'll see WvA move to the road permanently in the next year or two. Would be very surprised in QSF didn't snatch him up. Or, God help us, Sky.

Rondje
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by Rondje

LeDuke wrote:I think we'll see WvA move to the road permanently in the next year or two. Would be very surprised in QSF didn't snatch him up. Or, God help us, Sky.


He is already riding the classics next year (at least those for whom his team gets a wildcard), so if it goes as he pleases he maybe makes the definitive jump the year after. QS indeed seems the best fit, a new Belgium leading man after Boonen is gone. About Sky, VD Poel once said in a interview that he really likes them. Something I don't understand at all since he is an intuitive rider, not really programmed.

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LeDuke
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by LeDuke

Well, VdP is staying with Cross/MTB until 2020.

Sky, or any other current team for that matter, might not exist at that point in time.

petepeterson
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by petepeterson

Norregard wrote:VDP is a once in a generation natural talent, that's for sure. The Peter Sagan of CX.


man pro cycling more than any other sport is so what have you done for me lately.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Nys#Major_results

wingguy
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by wingguy

Norregard wrote:VDP is a once in a generation natural talent, that's for sure. The Peter Sagan of CX.

I dunno. Road racing is so powerful right now that the only way to find out if someone is the "Peter Sagan of XYZ" is for them to switch to road and compete against Peter Sagan. Seems like money and competition-wise everything on track*, CX and XC is secondary to the road for drawing in the very top talent. And I say that as a huge fan of Nino Schurter, but I wonder what his record would be like if riders like Sagan hadn't ditched XC early on to get a guaranteed payday on the road.

* Apart from the pure match sprinters.

by Weenie


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