"May be right on the limit of uphill efforts for Mathieu" - Physiology expert analyses van der Poel's chances vs Pogacar at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
CyclingFriday, 19 April 2024 at 13:30
Will Mathieu van der Poel be able to live with Tadej Pogacar on the climbs of Liege-Bastogne-Liege? It's a question that we'll soon find an answer to on Sunday, but for Jan Boone, exercise physiologist at Ghent University, it all comes down to the numbers.
“It is indeed a hot topic in exercise physiology,” says Boone in conversation with Sporza, ahead of this Sunday's clash at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. "A professional cyclist can easily deliver a very high wattage once. The difficulty lies in continuing to deliver those high wattages."
"In a race of 250 km with many slopes you naturally have a decline in performance. The real world toppers can nowadays greatly limit that decline, and that is precisely where the strength of Mathieu van der Poel lies," Boon continues. "When he climbed the Oude Kwaremont for the third time in the Tour of Flanders, he logically did so at a slightly lower wattage. The big difference with the average rider: his decline is much lower."
When it comes to battling with probably the best all-round rider on the planet in Tadej Pogacar however, even van der Poel may be at a disadvantage. "The Ardennes Hills are between 5 and 10 minutes in terms of effort. That may be right on the limit of uphill efforts that are just too long for Mathieu," Boone concludes. "The light Pogacar has an advantage there with a higher wattage/kg, but it is not impossible."
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maria2024202409-05-2025 - It’s really a bad sign with a competitor is supposed to be happy with moral victories. Or when 2nd place is a positive sign to be happy about. Or “I’ve been ill”. I know he’s coming back from a lot of injuries. At some point the excuses need to end and “W’s” startmij09-05-2025
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Is this a joke?
You tell me.
Belgian and joke go together like Dutch and stingy
🤣🤣🤣
For someone making a living selling figures he could make an effort to be a bit more precise.
Belgians are not exactly known for getting their facts right either.
You only have to look at the LBL website and within 30s spot several glaring errors, like the Côte de Bonnerue, 2,5km at 12,5%, don’t make be laugh, this isn’t the Vuelta.
Besides, it wouldn’t be a small blip on the profile then would it.
Human error or too much relying on machines?