🇨🇦 #GPQuébec @Arnaud_De_Lie: “My victory in Québec last year gave me a big confidence boost” Read more: lottodstny.be/en/news/detail…
"We will have a different race with Tadej Pogacar" - Arnaud De Lie looks to defend GP de Quebec title
CyclingFriday, 13 September 2024 at 16:20
Arnaud De Lie is evolving into an incredibly talented classics rider; a sprinter that climbs short hills equally as well. This versatile skillset saw him take a strong win at the GP de Québec last year and today he will attempt to defend his title but has different challenges to overcome, such as the presence of Tadej Pogacar.
“My victory here in Québec last year gave me a confidence boost for some races," he said in a press release, regarding last year's triumph. "You could see that in the Bretagne Classic, where I was also making the race on the climbs. It also gave me a mental boost. In the final here last year I was positioned very far actually, but then to still win makes you think about your potential. It was emotional and the team did great work the whole day.”
This year he has had a strong season and recently won the queen stage of the Renewi Tour; a day with plenty climbs of steep cobbled climbs, against Tim Wellens. It is safe to say that his form is on point coming to Canada and he is an absolute favourite to win in Québec. But he is aware that it will be a very different challenge:
“I think this year we will have a different race with Tadej Pogačar, we will have to be up there in the front earlier as I think the race will open up earlier. I am here, but also Maxim (Van Gils) is a specialist in one-day races. He is fast on the finish and can follow the best, having him here by my side is a big advantage as I can’t answer all attacks myself and need to keep something in my legs for the sprint. Sunday in Montréal is a race that suits Maxim better than me, if I can help him there I will definitely do so.”
“I’m super happy to be here again. I rested well since I have arrived here and don’t feel jetlagged," he added. The Belgian is one of the headliners of this weekend: "We want to go for the victory again. At the Bemer Cyclassics I didn’t have a great day, but I hope to find my good feeling again here in Canada. It’s a long race of 200 kilometers, you need to come fresh to the final. Especially at the finish you hear the crowds going crazy, it’s a fantastic atmosphere and the people along the road give you an extra boost.”
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- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024
- If you hold onto then, you blowup in a minute and then you finish 5 minutes down like Ben O'Connorabstractengineer21-12-2024
- Based on what argument?Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Agreed except the length of climbs, pretty sure you can stretch that to about a km unless we’re talking about half a dozen in quick succession.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Lot of contradictory information floating around world cup contenders, someone should do some tidying up.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- A bit much to suggest that Pogacar is better than MvdP on most terrains. The only terrain Pogacar is clearly better is long climbs, on any other terrain they are pretty even except flat cobbles and short and steep climbs (max a few 100 mtrs) where MvdP is clearly better than Pogacar.Velovibes21-12-2024
- The likelihood of RE improving enough at this point to outclass TP or JV is less than zero.verve82521-12-2024
- That’s the most stupid thing I’ve read for a long time, did you not go to school and learn even the most basic physics? Aero depends on one thing only, drag, drag depends speed and the relationship is squared and apart from maybe at zero or the speed of sound or due to side winds that relationship is valid at all speeds, it dies not “suddenly” start at a magic number. Very simply, the faster you go the more the effect becomes important. If you think 25km/h is needed to have noticeable effects you’re delusional, athletic WR are cancelled as soon as winds top 2m/s that’s 7.2km/h, why because the assistance is already too important at that speed and the times prove it. You don’t even consider wind which can significantly increase the effective speed for aerodynamics and you underestimate speed of climbs, 6% is ridden more at 30 than 25km/h, a speed at which early generation high rims were considered to have more advantages than disadvantages. And finally, as in normal races you can’t just switch bikes according to terrain, it’s pretty pointless to discuss climbs as a separate situation, the aero will have justified itself plenty during the rest of the ride.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- If you look at how much TP progressed in that 1 1/2 years you can no longer say that’s nothing. If Remco improves as much he’s a challenger!Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Froome wishing to ride the Vuelta...he won't even be selected for the team!frieders320-12-2024