THEMOVE Van der Poel Dominates as Brennan & Seixas Announce Themselves | Opening Weekend Breakdown | THEMOVE
Mar 2, 2026
They dissect Mathieu van der Poel's dominant cobbled classic win and the race dynamics that shaped it. They analyze crashes, positioning on the Molenberg, and why front riding matters in wet, windy conditions. They highlight Mathew Brennan and Visma's statement sprint at Kuurne and question Jasper Philipsen's late‑race tactics. They spotlight Paul Seixas' explosive climb and debate his next career steps.
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Van der Poel's Power And Bike Artistry
- Mathieu van der Poel's dominance stems from supreme power and bike-handling rather than fragility.
- Johan Bruyneel emphasizes Van der Poel's upper-body strength and uncanny cornering that let him avoid crashes and accelerate from the saddle.
Crash Created The Move Into Van der Poel's Winning Break
- A crash on the Molenberg forced a split that enabled Van der Poel, Tim van Dijk, and Florian Vermeersch to bridge to a five-man move.
- Van der Poel then dropped the companions on the Muur van Geraardsbergen by simply accelerating from the saddle.
Why Being In Front Beats Tucking Behind Van der Poel
- Riding proactively in front of Van der Poel is often the only realistic chance to podium; sitting behind risks being reeled in and fighting a large group for minor placings.
- Spencer Martin and Johan note teams choose to collaborate to secure second rather than gamble on being dropped and contesting a chaotic sprint.