"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
Cycling
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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Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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🏛️ Un objectif monumental D’un côté @mathieuvdpoel court après son troisième monument de la saison et de l’autre @TamauPogi vise un deuxième succès sur La Doyenne. Qui lèvera les bras à Liège ? ➡️ Découvrez les principaux engagés ici : bit.ly/4aDuNKZ
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