Is Flanders too hard for its own good?

[PurplePenguin]

But if the chasing group had been able to (or maybe wanted to?) work together effectively and chase Pog down it could have been pretty thrilling yesterday. Big if I know.

None of them had the legs to chase, so even if they had given it their all, they still wouldn't have caught him. That scenario plays out a lot on that stretch of road.

 

[ddraver]

I've seen 3 people getting CPR in my life, 2 were at the RVV sportive...

But maybe it's not the worse way to go, if we have to.

 

[M.R.M]

Is the modern route just too hard at the expense of the racing ? Ok cycling has never really been chess on wheels but tactics have always been a big part of it - some modern races - Strade Bianche and Flanders for two -have become significantly harder and I'm not sure it's good. Ok maybe it's just the Pogacar affect but when a race is that hard it cuts down the number of potential winners who can make up for physical shortcomings by riding smart.

Both San Remo and RVV were phenomenal editions. Strade Bianche is a much better example for your case. I think it won't make a difference as Pogacar and MvdP are also among the most clever riders in terms of race craft, reacting on the spur of the moment and positioning themselves when they need to.
Atm there is simply no real answer to the Pogacar problem besides to just keep trying.

 

[mididoctors]

I think the last 10km is consistently pointless, so would happy for that to be removed, but I suspect the finish is there for commercial reasons.

I'm.ok.with the 10k run in where you can contemplate all that came before