The dramatic moment of the day, WVA slips on the cobbles while MVDP attacks on Paterberg. 😱 I would have prefered to see Wout staying upright but that's cycling. Their next battle will be next Sunday, in De Ronde. #E3SaxoClassic
"He rode a little too much in the shadow of van der Poel" - Sep Vanmarcke wants to see more aggressive style from Wout van Aert
CyclingTuesday, 26 March 2024 at 18:00
In the first meeting of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert of the 2024 road season at the E3 Saxo Classic last week, it was the Dutchman who prevailed, rather comfortably in the end.
Reflecting on the race and van Aert's early season form, ex-pro Sep Vanmarcke admitted he wanted to see a more aggressive form of racing from his compatriot. “In my opinion, he rode a little too much in the shadow of van der Poel," the two-time former Gent Wevelgem runner-up analyses via the Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast for HLN.
"When the world champion attacked, he was there. But Van Aert had to chase and react every time. He himself could not yet make the action," Vanmarcke continues although he admits van Aert may not yet be at his peak and more is likely to be expected in the coming weeks. "At the foot of the Paterberg you simply have to be the first or second to go. Only then are you in control. Van Aert was not quite there yet.”
A big question for van Aert this season is his decision to prepare at altitude whilst van der Poel prepares with regular race rhythm. “Of course he cannot question his own preparation," Michael Wuyts adds to the conversation. "Then he undermines his own moral authority."
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- I counted 16 riders under 24 out of 43 that started. Once was only 16 ! Two of the top riders are Zoe and Schreiber and both under 23 yet that have done 50 min races in the past with the elites so I think it's just bad clock management. Let them race 50 freakin' minutes! One more lap could have made a big dffierence most times in the podium and winner.frieders319-11-2024
- He needs to finish out his contract and then go hit MTB and Cross/Gravel really hard, that's where his heart is.awp18-11-2024
- Pidcock is starting to sound like Froome now.Sweep18-11-2024
- I think this was because there were junior women in the race. If a race has junior women am pretty sure it has to be less than 45 minutes. I believe a rule is coming in for next season that will fine organisers that don't put on a junior women's race a fine equivalent to the prize money. So fingers crossed we should see more longer elite and junior women's races from next season.NorrisHippocampe18-11-2024
- Of course he CAN. Big salary in cycling is not when you win but when they talk about you (and your team / sponsors). For every news about Jonas, MVdP or Wout there are 10 times more(!) news about Pidcock (like everyday for last 2 months?). Since cycling is advertising sport not competitive sport (in terms of from money comes from) Pidcock is winner and GOAT - change my mind. ;-)averagecyclist18-11-2024
- Why do the women CXs keep getting short changed with the length of theor races? They could have easily done another lap to put them at 50 minutes which is their time limit. Yet another CX race where they fail to reach this when they had a chance to. Come on ... the math isn't that hard to figure out lap times and divide into 50 min!frieders318-11-2024
- All pro cyclists are massively underpaid! The amount of riding and physical exertion they put their bodies through is crazy compared to other sports. I can't think of any other sport where you are physically active at a very high level of power output for hours on end each day.Pogboom17-11-2024
- When I was working for Starkist/Heinz my manager quit. So the next week my group was put under another manager. During our first meeting he asked if there was anything we needed to tell him. I said that I would be out the following week on vacation. He said "I don't know if I can let you go on vacation". I replied, "You can't tell if I can go. You can only tell me if I can come back".Sweep17-11-2024
- :-)Sweep17-11-2024
- What a mess there :-)
DareDevil17-11-2024