Cycling Pro Discussion 4: Transfers Everywhere, Vuelta & Beyond

Videer said:
Last time Pogacar long range attack failed in a big one day race was in 2020 world champs. 2021 Lombardia he was caught but sprinted to win.
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Videer said:
Last time Pogacar long range attack failed in a big one day race was in 2020 world champs. 2021 Lombardia he was caught but sprinted to win.
Click to expand...

Wasn't there one in 2022 tour where Jonas and Jumbo elites caught him? The winds in the Netherlands can be brutal. Whoring into a 35k/h wind for 20km may be pimpin' but it ain't easy.

Here is the order of who played it smart at the end.

Best: Skejlmose. Not just because he won, he stayed patient and third wheel in the last 500m (the only place it counts) but he took two pulls in the last 2km to not lose 3rd place to the chasers. He did everything right. With 500m to go I said to myself, 'this is the smartest guy in the lead 3'.

Bad: Pogacar. It pains me to say it but he looked scared. He should have only pulled through lightly when they caught him and launched it on the Cauberg. Easy to say when you're not pushing the pedals at my age, but Pogacar knows it's true.

Dumbest (by far): Remco. I need a notebook to write down all of the things he did wrong. After an incredible effort to come back from the crash and then catch Pogacar, he went full retard. When they came up to Pogacar, he should have kept a 40m gap. There is nothing more unnerving when you wait for the pursuers and they don't bridge up to you, When they did bridge up -- and if Remco was feeling super strong -- he should have waited for a crosswind section and hit hard on the opposite side of the road. When the two bridge, he goes again on the opposite side. This used to a be a very basic tactic that is very effective. Nope. what did Remco do? He launched a 80% effort like he was in a training session and then paced everyone to the line.

Cauberg? Let's not even talk about the last ascent of the Cauberg for Remco.

The finale. If forced to ride at the front (especially in a windy final), you always go right up to the barrier to get the same protection as the guys behind you and then you only have to watch over one shoulder. You know where the jump is coming from. (if possible) You deceptively increase the speed so that when the followers go, they are having to make an increase in speed starting a higher speed (much harder to do then jumping at low speed). This also leaves much less time to the line to get around the lead rider. The other thing you can do is weave from one side of the road to the other. I've seen followers in two up and three up finishes get fixated on following the lead rider and then when the inevitable sprint comes there is too little distance to the line to get around them. This last scenario obviously doesn't work with a group of more than 3 riders.

/rant
 
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I never enjoyed descending through avalanches barriers. They aren't as dark as tunnels but in Italy, the pavement in avalanches protectors were sketchy as shit.

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Will we see the first Fleche win from the break in more than 20 years or will it come down to the mass uphill sprint on Mur de Huy?

I still believe Pogacar a clear favourite but after Amstel Gold I dont think he'll try to go for it on the second ascent of Huy. Remco might try something though, dont see him winning from the bunch.

Hirschi has been missing in action since good start to the season, Nys should do well but results have been slightly below expected.
 
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