The obvious takeaway from Gent-Wevelgem is that Mathieu van der Poel is human. He was spectacular once more on Sunday, however in the long run, he misplaced out to Mads Pedersen. That’s a lesson for anyone who thought Mathieu was going to be unbeatable this Spring after his efficiency at E3 Saxo Basic. He’s not unbeatable. In biking, and particularly within the Classics, no person is unbeatable.
I don’t assume Van der Poel made any massive errors by going away in that group so removed from the end. It was simply that this was extra of an endurance race than an attacking race. At E3, there was extra of a stop-start rhythm, and he may harm his rivals with massive accelerations in locations just like the Taaienberg and Paterberg. Gent-Wevelgem was a tough race too, however very totally different in model. The tempo was extra common, but it surely was a protracted, lengthy finale. By the top, all people was working out of gasoline, and Pedersen simply had a bit of bit extra left.
The second speaking level can be fairly clear. Lidl-Trek did a very nice race, using as an actual staff, similar to they already did at E3 Saxo Basic and in all places else to this point this Spring. Perhaps they don’t have a person on the identical stage as Van der Poel or Wout van Aert, however they’re compensating for that with their collective energy, and they’re racing with lots of unity as nicely.
However despite the fact that Lidl-Trek’s method paid off in the long run on Sunday, we really didn’t see their plan work to perfection, as a result of Jasper Stuyven’s puncture took him out of competition. At that second, coming via the Plugstreets, Lidl-Trek had three riders within the entrance group of seven. It was an excellent situation for them, and I’m curious to assume what would have occurred if Jasper hadn’t punctured at that second.
Due to this, I feel Lidl-Trek can nonetheless experience even higher than they did at Gent-Wevelgem. They despatched Jonathan Milan up the street to pressure Van der Poel to chase on Sunday, which was an excellent transfer, however they may have performed much more fascinating issues if Stuyven had nonetheless been up there. He confirmed how sturdy he’s proper now along with his second place in Harelbeke, in any case.
In any case, Pedersen was actually spectacular within the ultimate hour of the race, particularly on the final time up the Kemmelberg, the place he rode on the entrance to place stress on Van der Poel. I additionally preferred how he managed the ultimate dash. Mads likes to go in an enormous gear, so after they got here to the end at low pace, I puzzled if Mathieu would have one thing left to speed up previous him. However Pedersen made no mistake. He went early to verify Van der Poel wouldn’t shock him.
No robots
The Lidl-Trek staff main the peloton at E3 Saxo Basic
All of because of this Pedersen has put himself up there with Van der Poel as a high favorite for subsequent week on the Tour of Flanders. Nevertheless it’s not simply Mads, in fact – it’s Mads and Lidl-Trek collectively. The staff is an actual high contender for the Tour of Flanders now.
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Pedersen is the figurehead, however he has a co-leader in Jasper Stuyven, which may be very helpful at a race like Flanders. Van der Poel has a co-leader in Jasper Philipsen too, however for now, Wout van Aert seems to be like he has a weaker staff than them. Christophe Laporte has been an enormous loss, however Visma-Lease A Bike had lots of unhealthy luck with crashes within the final two races too. Let’s wait and see what occurs for them at Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier than drawing any massive conclusions.
Elsewhere, Laurence Pithie did an incredible race at Gent-Wevelgem. To be up there with Van der Poel and Pedersen till the final time up the Kemmel was a very particular efficiency from a younger man with no expertise in these races. Though he’s solely 21, it’s going to be fascinating to see what Pithie can do on the Tour of Flanders.
Elsewhere, there’s much more stress on Soudal-QuickStep after Gent-Wevelgem, however each race right here is totally different. E3 is brief and explosive, after which Gent-Wevelgem has extra flat sections. And the Tour of Flanders is one thing totally different once more, as a result of they do the Koppenberg, the Kwaremont and Paterberg a couple of occasions. It’s a distinct sort of effort, and a distinct sort of fatigue. There are nonetheless tactical video games, however having the legs is so vital.
In any case, I feel we’re going to have a really open race for the rostrum – and even for the win. Van der Poel is a good rider and he’s in nice type, but it surely’s doable to beat him. It’s greater than doable. They’re all human. In biking, there are not any robots.
Trentin leads the best way for Tudor
At Tudor Professional Biking Workforce, we picked up one other top-10 end with Matteo Trentin. Much more than the end result itself, however I’m happy with the best way Matteo raced on Sunday. I preferred the assault he made to attempt to get throughout to the entrance group earlier than the final time up the Kemmelberg, and he got here fairly shut to creating it too.
Matteo may be very pleased with the assist he’s getting from the staff, and Marius Mayrhofer pulled lots for him right here. I feel the boys are exhibiting up higher and higher in every race, and we will see that from the respect we’re getting from the opposite groups. Once we transfer as much as the entrance, we’re getting house within the bunch.
Part of me wonders if we may have introduced Arvid de Kleijn to Gent-Wevelgem, on condition that sprinters like Dylan Groenewegen made it over the Kemmel within the bunch preventing for third place. However that’s at all times the sophisticated factor about this race. It may possibly often be a race for sprinters, however fairly often it isn’t.
In any case, we will take lots from Gent-Wevelgem. We’re not fixated on the errors the boys make, we’re extra within the classes they’re studying. And Tudor’s Tour of Flanders debut subsequent week would be the Most worthy lesson of all. Making echelons is vital at Gent-Wevelgem, however the Tour of Flanders is extra about preventing for place earlier than the climbs. Driving collectively as a staff can be crucial.
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the Spring Classics- together with reporting, breaking information and evaluation from the Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and extra. Discover out extra.
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