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Recent content by Axel Hangleck

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    Race Thread

    Its a part and parcel of off-road racing.........races decided by mistakes........It's not road racing.
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    Race Thread

    I'm struggling to see how Lucinda doesn't win the Worlds....... However, if all the racing catches up with her (which is unlikely) or, she makes a bad start and another Dutch rider is takes advantage......Shirin is cable of winning, I wonder if Hulst really suits Backstedt..... We haven't seen...
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    Race Thread

    I think Gavere will be a decent race, and that long climb will actually be rideable for once......which enabled Pidcock to beat MvdP in 2020.....since then its been too muddy to ride. I think Gavere, along with Overijse & Namur, are probably the best all round tests of a CX racer........ And I...
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    Race Thread

    Hulst will be a Valkenburg 2018 redux......(You read it here first);) There don't seem to be any strong rumours about any possible teams interested about Amandine.....
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    UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

    https://www.pinkbike.com/news/nukeproof-is-now-the-bike-sponsor-of-the-kmcnukeproof-mtb-xco-team.html Not surprising news; it was hinted at a while ago - the owners stated that Ridley is really a Road brand, and Nukeproof would be a better fit for a new XC bike.
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    Race Thread

    In my opinion, off-road racing shouldn't just be who has the most power........ I know the Pinkbike community (yes I know) often moan about superior fitness beating skills in XCO - even Jenny has commented about XCO courses not being technical enough.
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    UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

    https://www.bikeradar.com/features/first-look-friday/misspent-summers-ninety-hurly-burly-and-the-world-stage-2025 End of year MTB World Cup books, for XC, DH & Enduro.
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    Race Thread

    My annual 'issue' with CX....power overcomes skills/ technique more often than not......too many courses favour power. (Saying that, Brand's skills have improved massively over the years).
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    Race Thread

    I've said similar elsewhere, but about XCO racers moving to the road; road racing is not for everyone, it's not the promised land many people claim it is. The pressure to perform is on another level compared to off-road racing, where it's a little more relaxed (whilst still serious/ professional).
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    Race Thread

    It's possible that the 'big Pro team' environment doesn't suit her; and maybe a more 'hands on' small team is where she would thrive. Signing for Visma made sense, I guess they really signed her for her road racing potential - the CX was just a bonus.
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    UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

    Some MTB racing news stories (as road biased websites don't bother) https://esmtb.com/decathlon-ford-asegura-a-samara-maxwell-hasta-2028/ https://esmtb.com/estas-son-las-cifras-de-audiencia-oficiales-de-la-whoop-uci-mtb-world-series-2025/...
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    Vuelta a España Vuelta 2026 route rumours

    Marvellous, another w/kg contest. There is more to cycling than climbing…….the best athletes beating the better cyclists…….boring.
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    UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

    To be honest was easy to not notice; they didn't do a very good job of promoting the 'Pirelli' part of the team name, when they were already a sponsor on the jerseys.
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    UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

    Last season they were Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli XC. Whilst it's good they've now got a proper title sponsor, I still think it's a shame the Lidl sponsorship didn't cover the whole of Trek racing - and not just the road teams. Nina Benz to Trek-Unbroken.......
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    Race Thread

    I think Ackert mentioned at the end of the MTB season he'd give 'Cross a miss this season.......and he'll be changing teams as Trek Future Racing are finishing. I'm not surprised the Holmgrens are giving it a swerve either......combining MTB with Road is a big effort, and having to race another...