Recent content by Axel Hangleck

Hopefully not.

Whilst it's early, I don't think Nys is on another level to the others - and he needs to be if he's going to challenge the two 'aliens' when they return. And as you say, he doesn't have the raw watts to be competitive in the sand ( or the heavy mud when it turns up).

Racing a summer on the Road & MTB obviously takes priority - and leaves the winter for rest/ recovery - and maybe some MTB skills training.....Maybe they'll do the odd CX race here and there, but the Trek XC team no longer bothers to register as a CX team.

https://en.brujulabike.com/mads-pedersen-wants-to-rescue-danish-mtb-and-is-offering-to-raise-the-necessary-funds/

With the best will in the world, both of the women are making up the numbers, and are nowhere near getting a Top 10 result. Take Zoe away, and it's not great. Cam may do quite well, and is in good form but I'm not sure it's a course that suits him.

Said, slightly with tongue in cheek; have British Cycling actually sent a team? 3 races, and not one Top 10......I think Zoe Roche was prominent early in the Juniors, but soon went backwards. There is talent in UK cycling, not enough is seen in Cyclocross/ XC MTB at the moment.

Something I don't want to see in off-road racing - leave that for Road races.......Just ride for yourself as is meant, despite the jersey.

Euros at Middelkerke - only the Elites get coverage (similar to the XC Euro champs). Already two races, and a win for Czechia & Italy......Bukovska & Agostinacchio. Don't think the former is on any major team (3rd in the XCO Worlds) but the latter is now with EF-Easypost.

And in some early transfer news ( for XC racing): https://www.pinkbike.com/news/u23-xcc-world-cup-series-winner-katharina-sadnik-signs-deal-with-team-visma--lease-a-bike.html Not the U23 winner I expected to move to the WT........

Puck shouldn't be back for a while; her form dropped off a cliff after the Tour - and she was miles away from top form.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/05/kate-courtney-mountain-bike-marathon-world-champion A rare bit of coverage for the sport in the mainstream media........

If he wants to be the successor to MvdP & Wout, then he has to be putting the others away, and be in another league. A good start to his campaign, and I'm expecting him to be the man to beat - until the 'aliens' return.

Hopefully a good sign for the near future.......a mix of nations in the Top 10 is what we want to see. I would like to see a few Swiss in there as well (but CX in Switzerland seems to be for XC rejects), and with the current young North Americans it could be a lot more interesting going forward.

U23 World champ Finn Treudler extends with Cube Factory Racing until 2028; I expected some WT teams to show interest, but maybe not/ or he's a MTB only rider (he is Swiss, so it is likely)...

MTB Worlds take place during the Vuelta.......and it's a course he's won at - albeit back in 2019; Val di Sole......