2023 Classics

[Orange Agent]

Some full on tactics in this race so far. Not sure I get a lot of them but entertaining nonetheless.

 

[eth-dog]

Some full on tactics in this race so far. Not sure I get a lot of them but entertaining nonetheless.

Laporte joining Tadej was strange

 

[largebus]

MVDP goes, WvA looks cooked

 

[largebus]

Pog went past pedersen like he was standing still. I want whatever PEDs he's on

 

[Orange Agent]

The moto pacing MVDP is a joke.

 

[eth-dog]

Pog gonna get there I reckon

 

[largebus]

First rider since Merckx to win Flanders and TdF.
Guy is already one of the greatest. 10 wins already this year

 

[eth-dog]

I mean. The guy is unbelievable. I didn't think he could do Flanders. Look at the quality behind.

Hope he decides to chase La Vuelta as well.

 

[eth-dog]

Can he win Roubaix?

 

[Reximilian]

Can he win Roubaix?

Probably too much of a lottery whether he can get through the crashes. I don’t think he’s riding next week anyway.

 

[Over The Post]

He just said he needs to toughen his hands up for the cobbles. Great win. Largebus channeling Vader here.

 

[99 Problems]

Just have to enjoy Pog while we have him. His quality is all-time, but his willingness to risk it all and light up just about every race he enters is something else.

He can definitely win Roubaix, but avoiding bad luck plays such a big part there. I know he said he won’t ride next week, but think he should really consider it. It’s clearly a race he wants to win and the nature of it means you really need to be on the start list as often as possible.

 

[Vader]

Can he win Roubaix?

Flanders has the climbs, which he can use to launch his attacks. Roubaix is flat as a pancake.

To win Roubaix he'd need to be able to power away from the likes of MVDP & WVA on completely flat cobblestone sectors. He's strong on the flat (massive engine for ITTs), but is he powerful enough to do that?

Roubaix is a lottery at the best of times, given the number of crashes & punctures it creates. Maybe he could, but I probably wouldn't be betting on it.

 

[eth-dog]

Flanders has the climbs, which he can use to launch his attacks. Roubaix is flat as a pancake.

To win Roubaix he'd need to be able to power away from the likes of MVDP & WVA on completely flat cobblestone sectors. He's strong on the flat (massive engine for ITTs), but is he powerful enough to do that?

Roubaix is a lottery at the best of times, given the number of crashes & punctures it creates. Maybe he could, but I probably wouldn't be betting on it.

He's not racing it this year. I agree with your assessment but I also didn't think he'd be able to win Flanders so I'm not sure I'll be right there too.

So, 2x TDF, 4 monuments (2x Il Lombardia, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and now Ronde Van Vlaanderen) and Strade Bianche (which for me is probably the best outside the Monuments). Hoping he rides the Dauphine this year so he can win that too. At what point will he be #2 behind Eddie?

 

[Vader]

He's not racing it this year. I agree with your assessment but I also didn't think he'd be able to win Flanders so I'm not sure I'll be right there too.

So, 2x TDF, 4 monuments (2x Il Lombardia, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and now Ronde Van Vlaanderen) and Strade Bianche (which for me is probably the best outside the Monuments). Hoping he rides the Dauphine this year so he can win that too. At what point will he be #2 behind Eddie?

In terms of the TDF, he still has to catch the riders who won 5x tours (Anquetil, Hinault, Merckx, Indurain). Given his age, it's highly likely he achieves that - but right now he only has 2 wins to his name.

Looking beyond Merckx, whose record is unparalleled:

• Bobet won 3x TDF, plus Flanders, Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, and Lombardia. As an all-round rider, he's still well ahead of the Pog.
• Hinault won 5x TDF, plus Lombardia, Roubaix, and Liege. I put him ahead, on the basis of his 5x TDF wins.

I have the Pog currently #4 on the all-time list of great all-rounders - riders who won both the Tour, and multiple monuments.

... and he's only 24 years of age, with the bulk of his career still ahead of him. Plenty of time for him to move up that list.

 

[Orange Agent]

Can he win Roubaix?

Yep. Last year's TDF stage showed he can handle it. Although the actual PR will have a more specialist field and more team tactics but his bike skills are easy good enough and his bunch positioning is why he rarely crashes.

 

[Orange Agent]

I think Keenan made the call he did a Babe Ruth, declared his intentions pre-race and goes out and does exactly that. Generational talent putting on a show every race, it's a great time to be cycling fan.

 

[Orange Agent]

Ardennes triple starts tonight. Pog supposedly starting all 3. Field tonight looks a bit weak so he is a good chance to get Amstel which maybe suits him the least out of the 3.

 

[eth-dog]

Ardennes triple starts tonight. Pog supposedly starting all 3. Field tonight looks a bit weak so he is a good chance to get Amstel which maybe suits him the least out of the 3.

Interesting that Gaudu is riding this. Wouldn't have thought it suits him

 

[Orange Agent]

Interesting that Gaudu is riding this. Wouldn't have thought it suits him

Agreed and conditions are not great, not much to be gained for a rider like him.

 

[eth-dog]

Hindley is in really good form it looks.

This is impressive from Healy. Didn't think he was this good.

 

[eth-dog]

He's so good. Ridiculous.

 

[Orange Agent]

In the break for 90ks, no probs. Bike change, no probs

 

[largebus]

Healy was eating into his lead for a minute but spent all his petrol tickets.
Pog's just on another level, so if course he gets motor paced by the directors car

 

[SBYM]

I've only just been able to turn it on...kids have been going fecking nuts today.

What have I missed??