And thus my procrastinating has paid off, because I now get to conclude with musings on the Grenadier and out-rider of chainsaws Egan Bernal’s Wednesday day-out wearing fine street clothes.
Tag Archives: Mathieu Van Der Poel
2021 Giro: Alpecin-Fenix Wastes No Time (Written)
“With the likes of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma), Fernando Gaviria (UAE), Elia Viviani (Cofidis), and Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos), it would be a tall order for Alpecin-Fenix’s Tim Merlier to pull off a stage win this Giro—but that was the team’s goal nonetheless.”
2021 RVV: The New Alpha
“It was there that Mathieu Van Der Poel put in attack and the only one who could match the ferocity was Elegant-Quickstep’s Champion of Denmark Casper Asgreen, the E3 winner—the Flanders dress rehearsal nine days ago.”
Eulogy for the Supertuck
“In the decades to come, the new fans of cycling studying up on their cycling history and lore will come across articles and clips of Chris Froome’s 2016 Peyresourde descent…and it will seem as foreign and ancient as the cyclists with no helmets, the cyclists smoking or drinking midrace, and the cyclists with the spare tire slung across their chest. “
2021 E3: The Wolfpack’s Ronde Dress Rehearsal (Written)
“Yes, at this point the musical numbers should be prepared, all the stage blocking done for each scene, the costumes fitted properly, the tickets bought, and of course the script should be fully written and memorized by now. Thus with these elements in mind, the Deceuninck-Quickstep Wolfpack set about crafting a battle plan here that could prove a winning strategy later for Flanders itself. “
2021 MSR: Yet Another Recipe for a Mouthwatering Sanremo Finale (Written)
“At first, I liken it is to a massive 30-gallon cauldron filled to the brim with water needing to be brought to a boil on a regular kitchen stove that can support the cauldron’s weight. But this analogy is appallingly poor: for when the cauldron is finally brought to a boil, all one shall have is 30 gallons of boiling water. Not good enough, not good enough indeed. If we are to metaphorize the Milan-Sanremo’s slow burn, its finish must be compared to something far more extravagant than plain boiling water.”
2021 T-A: The Greatest Edition of Neptune’s Race (WRITTEN)
‘And all the race previews were hyping up the race well…except for one….“Well, this irks me,” King Neptune said. “What is this Cycling Odysseys podcast? Who is this Patrick Santino ant? A podcast named for that horrid Odysseus?”‘
Strade Bianche 2021: A Dream Final Selection (WRITTEN)
“And this is the Dream selection that forms the title of this piece. As I said, the chasers kept them close, but did any viewer in the world think anyone was gonna catch onto this group of All-Stars? No offense to the chasers, but did anyone want them to? Or can we all just admit a fantasy was coming true”
The Showmen Light Up the Opening Weekend…of Reduced Bunch Sprints? (Written)
“On this Opening Weekend in Belgium two of cycling’s superstars dictated how the race would play out…and in a complete power move: neither even factored in winning into their calculations.”
2021 Men’s CX Worlds: Deflation Interrupts the Mighty Aces PRINT
“I say this too, Mathieu. It is no secret, I root for Wout more than you, I’m even openly bummed he lost this race. But it is because Wout so often finds himself in an underdog position to yourself, it really is quite remarkable…your versatility and reliability makes you into a giant. I find it exciting when giants are slayed, but do not take it personally, and do not underestimate how much respect I have for the giants.”
Cycling Odysseys 