2026 world championships spoilers
- Thread starter Webbo2
- Start date
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Dorset Boy
Über Member
- Location
- North Dorset or a mountain
What happened to MvdP today, Turned over briefly on lap 5 and he was no where to be seen.
Both him and TP started in about 30th place. TP had got up to 9th by the end of the second lap wher as MVP never got through the congestion.
Having watched the whole race on Iplayer I now believe Carlton over on TNT is a pretty good observer of what’s going on in a race. The two commentating on the race were going on about how once Tom Pidcock got on to the back of the leading group he then dropped off due to effort of getting there.
But clearly you could see him make a mistake and have to get off his bike and remount.
But clearly you could see him make a mistake and have to get off his bike and remount.
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
Start grid about 33rd, got up to about 16th in the 2nd half of lap 2, but then started to lose ground, at which point the TV lost interest in him, beyond the occasional position report in the commentary.
Bad legs, he said.
M.R.M
Well-Known Member
Maybe it's tied to him basically exploding on long sustained efforts where the rest in between isn't sufficient? Normally he seems to be the best in the world at attacking then recovering and then attacking again.
But at MSR this year the crash turned shorter punchy efforts with recovery in between (Cipressa + Poggio) into a long effort (getting back from the crash into Cipressa) and he blew up immediately on the Poggio (I'm aware of him saying the pain in his hand didn't allow him to grab the levers).
In Val di Sole he had to make his way from 5th row while the climbs were raced super hard due to Boichis keeping the pressure on. Maybe the downhill wasn't sufficient recovery and he blew up after a few laps.
He has never shown dominant climbing efforts due to sustained hard efforts.
Even in CX he attacks hard and then settles into his own pace. He doesn't have to match someone stronger. He is usually technically better than almost everyone else (except Pidcock) except in MTB so his technical ability doesn't let him get additional rest like in CX or the road.
Not saying I have all the answers. Just trying to figure out what might be the reason beyond just "bad legs". I can't believe that. He has won 8 Monuments and 1 WC on the road and 7 CX WC's. Pressure doesn't get to him & he knows how to prepare. There ought to be more reason than just random bad legs.
But at MSR this year the crash turned shorter punchy efforts with recovery in between (Cipressa + Poggio) into a long effort (getting back from the crash into Cipressa) and he blew up immediately on the Poggio (I'm aware of him saying the pain in his hand didn't allow him to grab the levers).
In Val di Sole he had to make his way from 5th row while the climbs were raced super hard due to Boichis keeping the pressure on. Maybe the downhill wasn't sufficient recovery and he blew up after a few laps.
He has never shown dominant climbing efforts due to sustained hard efforts.
Even in CX he attacks hard and then settles into his own pace. He doesn't have to match someone stronger. He is usually technically better than almost everyone else (except Pidcock) except in MTB so his technical ability doesn't let him get additional rest like in CX or the road.
Not saying I have all the answers. Just trying to figure out what might be the reason beyond just "bad legs". I can't believe that. He has won 8 Monuments and 1 WC on the road and 7 CX WC's. Pressure doesn't get to him & he knows how to prepare. There ought to be more reason than just random bad legs.
MasterDabber
Veteran
You're right about that. (I wasn't sure whether he had to remount or not but he certainly made a mistake. I also noted that immediately after that there was no crazy adrenalin rush to make good the mistake, just steadily raised his pace to rejoin them.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
And an excellent bronze for Punchard🇨🇦 . Still only 22, he has risen through the ranks quickly and is now ready to take on the big boys.
Dorset Boy
Über Member
- Location
- North Dorset or a mountain
However he wasn't very far off winning last weekend in Les Gets having made much of the race.
M.R.M
Well-Known Member
Maybe the total time climbing was shorter? I don't really understand why he is dominant in everything except MTB. Pidcock has 0 chance against him anywhere else, so it has to come down to a W/kg issue in addition to skills. I don't think the skills gap is large enough to make such a meaningful difference.
