2026 Spring Classics Thread

[Pross]

With Remco doing Flanders apparently being real, how do we think he'll do?

My scientific approach has been to examine his race participation and find he's barely raced on cobbles - Brabantse Pijl being an exception (twice, won the second time, the first he went backwards on the cobbled climb), but that's very gentle for cobbled racing. He's also won Brussels Cycling Classic and Druivenkoers - Overijse which both have some cobbles, but again, nothing as savage as Flanders.

He's never raced OHN, E3, G-W, or any of the other Belgian semi-classics pre Flanders

He's too small to really fight for position himself, so he'll need a chaperone, his bike handling used to be pretty bad but has improved (as long as there isn't a roundabout in front of him...), I think this is so far beyond his racing experience it's nuts to even be there

So quick poll, where do you think he will finish?

1) Win
2) Podium
3) Top 5
4) Top 10
5) Top 20
6) With the rest
7) Last
8) Climbs off halfway though
9) Climbs off early
10) In a ditch


I'm thinking maybe top twenty (on watts and ability to handle long races) if he stays out of trouble, or in a ditch if he causes some

Didn't he do OK in the Flanders Worlds a few years ago alebit in a support role?

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Didn't he do OK in the Flanders Worlds a few years ago alebit in a support role?

Oooh, he might have done, can't really remember. But even if the parcours was troublesome enough, the Worlds will never have fight that the Ronde will, the peloton quality just isn't there

 

[wakemalcolm]

I hope it works well for him but it looks like an exploration of what he's going to do with his career now he's not going to be a multiple Tour winner.

It also looks like a bit of a Hail Mary for his team's classics season.

 

[rich p]

With Remco doing Flanders apparently being real, how do we think he'll do?

My scientific approach has been to examine his race participation and find he's barely raced on cobbles - Brabantse Pijl being an exception (twice, won the second time, the first he went backwards on the cobbled climb), but that's very gentle for cobbled racing. He's also won Brussels Cycling Classic and Druivenkoers - Overijse which both have some cobbles, but again, nothing as savage as Flanders.

He's never raced OHN, E3, G-W, or any of the other Belgian semi-classics pre Flanders

He's too small to really fight for position himself, so he'll need a chaperone, his bike handling used to be pretty bad but has improved (as long as there isn't a roundabout in front of him...), I think this is so far beyond his racing experience it's nuts to even be there

So quick poll, where do you think he will finish?

1) Win
2) Podium
3) Top 5
4) Top 10
5) Top 20
6) With the rest
7) Last
8) Climbs off halfway though
9) Climbs off early
10) In a ditch


I'm thinking maybe top twenty (on watts and ability to handle long races) if he stays out of trouble, or in a ditch if he causes some

8!

 

[wakemalcolm]

Based on engine and team: 3
Based on handling skills and experience: 10

 

[M.R.M]

He's the ultimate wild card. He wins a lot of his biggest wins by attacking when other favourites have already exhausted themselves and need a breather. Once he is gone, you can't bring him back. I'd expect him to come 5th-7th, but would actually not be terribly surprised if he wins. He could go in a situation where WVA has already attacked, Pog closed the gap, MvdP looks at Pog and Remco just escapes.

 

[M.R.M]

Any chance of rain on Sunday? That would give MvdP a really good shot at winning, instead of the outside shot currently.

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

Any chance of rain on Sunday? That would give MvdP a really good shot at winning, instead of the outside shot currently.

No rain forecast

 

[mididoctors]

Pog win at San remo was insanely impressive ... I can't see past him

 

[Domus]

Pog, MvdP, Wout and Remco in long range break would be nice.
My race prep almost complete.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Pog, MvdP, Wout and Remco in long range break would be nice.
My race prep almost complete.

Wout and Mads P in a buddy movie two up break win for me please. Wout gets the win, then they do the same at Paris-Roubaix and Mads P takes it.

Prep: Making some mini flamische (that's a tart with leeks and gruyere, not quite a quiche as you separate the yolks and use a ton of cream, so it's closer to a custard than an omelette in the filling).

Also on the menu (people kept saying we needed some veg, they're probably right..) white and green asparagus, some prawns (heading for a good old fashioned prawn salad with Marie Rose dressing I think, weird what you get a yearning for), maybe some smoked trout and obviously the charcuterie, paté and cheese board. Olives, nuts and stuff for snacking on as well, just in case there are some nooks and crannies to fill.

Beers from Chimay Dorée, Val Dieu blonde, Maredsous blonde, Saison Dupont Organic, Orval, Westmalle Dubbel, Duvel, Westmalle Tripel, Tripel Karmelite, Chimay Blue, St Bernadus 12 and Rochefort 10, depending on race stage etc.

I think I should probably seek help (professional, I'm not inviting you lot over)