Mathieu van der Poel!

[lechatnoir]

Happy for Tom, getting a 2nd is a big achievement when he could have easily and probably won the U23 but prefers to give it a go in the elites!!

 

the way I see it is that MVDP dominated the race, but Pidcock dominated too... Each time Aerts or WVA looked like making inroads, TP put the hammer down and took the gap out. And the gap to MVDP went out fast, but there were times that TP brought it back a bit. but MVDP was just too good on the day.

[kosmonooit]

But Tom rode in the chasing pack the first 5 laps was it? Brilliant attack but no way was he going to catch MvdP and he had to work hard to keep Toon at bay. Uitstekende ride in my opinion, No one has dropped the Belgians like that besides Mat, who normally rides in the pack the first few laps and then goes, and when he does.. its a sight to be seen, but this time it was from the get-go.

 

Fact is the best people (on the day) got the results. Not sure what happened to Isi, he and Tom normally 'ave it large.

[Frosty]

Watched the race. He just rode away from them from the very beginning. Didn't even see him look back ONCE. Interesting that the lap times slowed down each time, but his lead kept growing.

 

Such is the power of MvdP. I cannot wait for the Olympics.

I’m sure his times were slower with each given the conditions. Go search YouTube for the GoPro lap (on Friday) by Cameron Mason, then watch the Woman’s race. It puts the men’s race into a completely different category of HTFU by each participant. Epic stuff.

[Frosty]

Well Done Wout van Aert!!!!!!!

Good to see him back racing, after his horrible crash at the Tour.

[lechatnoir]

But Tom rode in the chasing pack the first 5 laps was it? Brilliant attack but no way was he going to catch MvdP and he had to work hard to keep Toon at bay. Uitstekende ride in my opinion, No one has dropped the Belgians like that besides Mat, who normally rides in the pack the first few laps and then goes, and when he does.. its a sight to be seen, but this time it was from the get-go.

 

Fact is the best people (on the day) got the results. Not sure what happened to Isi, he and Tom normally 'ave it large.

 

MVDP was clearly not in the mood to eat mud at all, so gapped it at the gun. Watching the race (and the U23 women before), I reckon WT riders are thanking their lucky stars they have it so easy... man, it looked so damn hard

[kosmonooit]

Will he be riding into the Roubaix velodrome on the 11th April with a silly grin on his face?

['Dale]

Good to see him back racing, after his horrible crash at the Tour.

True that

What a bike racer

Both him and Matthew of the Pool

['Dale]

Cool move

The board at Canyon Bikes would've grinned

 

Edited February 3, 2020 by 'Dale

[Long Wheel Base]

Cool move

The board at Canyon Bikes would've grinned

 

and he literally rode it for like a minute from pits till finish. That last bike change was all about the clean bike photos on the finish line. Well Played.

[SwissVan]

and he literally rode it for like a minute from pits till finish. That last bike change was all about the clean bike photos on the finish line. Well Played.

He changed bikes every lap that I watched.... his pit crew must have been having their own race to clean and lube the bike and chain between laps

[lechatnoir]

and he literally rode it for like a minute from pits till finish. That last bike change was all about the clean bike photos on the finish line. Well Played.

 

Thought I spotted him running a front mech? looked more than just a chain guide...

 

also, did anyone see WVA ride out the pits with a puncture? if so, that was a bummer

 

He changed bikes every lap that I watched.... his pit crew must have been having their own race to clean and lube the bike and chain between laps

 

Jet wash - not sure they're too fussed with bearing life.

[Long Wheel Base]

Thought I spotted him running a front mech? looked more than just a chain guide...

 

also, did anyone see WVA ride out the pits with a puncture? if so, that was a bummer

 

 

Jet wash - not sure they're too fussed with bearing life.

I did see close to the end they played a slow-mo of WvA back wheel coming onto the tar section and it was definitely a lot softer than normal. Ant Mcrossen didn't seem to notice so he didn't say anything. 

[Long Wheel Base]

Thought I spotted him running a front mech? looked more than just a chain guide...

 

also, did anyone see WVA ride out the pits with a puncture? if so, that was a bummer

 

 

Jet wash - not sure they're too fussed with bearing life.

Last year sometime I saw an article on MvdP new bike and the press release bike had 2x. It was a twitter link and I asked but never got a response. Maybe he uses both depending on course, weather etc.

[SwissVan]

Thought I spotted him running a front mech? looked more than just a chain guide...

 

also, did anyone see WVA ride out the pits with a puncture? if so, that was a bummer

 

 

Jet wash - not sure they're too fussed with bearing life.

With MVDP spewing times of just under 10 minutes a lap = plenty of time ????

[Tim Brink]

the way I see it is that MVDP dominated the race, but Pidcock dominated too... Each time Aerts or WVA looked like making inroads, TP put the hammer down and took the gap out. And the gap to MVDP went out fast, but there were times that TP brought it back a bit. but MVDP was just too good on the day.

And then there is this, from Piddles' post-race interview: 

[kosmonooit]

Finally a lad from ole Blighty on the XCO scene - only good things can come of this.  Going to be interesting to see how he shapes up in the Cape Epic.