Recent content by jono

Excuse my ignorance, and my going off topic, but how do humans ride outdoors in Phoenix in summer?

I would have liked to see how his times through the technical/descending sections compare with riders outside of the top 8 or so.

I'm not sure Punchard would have stayed with Braidot and Martin on the final lap, but damn did he sure seem to be having fun out there. Youngest rider in the field so I'm sure it's not the last time we'll see him at the front of the races. He also finished 5th in the XCC on Friday.

The climbing legs certainly couldn't have been fresh after Friday's double day of climbing stages.

Probably right. He also mentioned in his interview that he felt like he was lacking a bit of punch which I found interesting but perhaps not surprising after two thirds of a grand tour followed by an illness.

https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/van-der-poel-dacht-aan-winnen-in-wereldbeker-les-gets-maar-in-afdalingen-heb-ik-wedstrijd-verloren/ He seems happy about the result. Apparently he had a really poor start, which would make sense, given he actually lost positions, down to about 45th before...

How does the worlds course compare with today?

Just looking at the results from the other races, I was surprised to see that Isabella (and Ava) Holmgren dropped right into the U23 race after finishing the Tour de l'Avenir on Friday. Third for Isabella.

6th in the end. MVDP can be happy with his result as a proof of concept, and would probably have podiumed with a better start position. But I don't think he can win against the current crew of XCO racers on a technical course like this without spending much more time in the sport.

Brutal luck for Punchard.

Several moments already where we've seen the technical skills aren't sharp. But the motor is so much stronger.

Starting to get interesting...

In Tokyo, he crashed riding a drop that he didn't believe was a drop. In Scotland he washed out on a loose corner in a flat turn on the start loop. I don't recall the nature of his first crash in the race this year, but I believe it involved a collision with another rider? I don't doubt that...

I should hope not!

Grid start.