2024 European Championships in Heusden-Zolder/Hasselt (September 11-15) Discussion Thread For All Races

[Brullnux]

The exodus of Wout pushing Belgium towards definitive bunch-sprint-wanters has sealed this, I am very much afraid.

Yeah, Belgium and Italy will be shutting almost everything down. VdP will look to get away if he can, Pedersen try to join him, but I think Mads might back himself in a sprint after a long race. France might be in chaos mode which could help.

Italy have also stacked up on really good engines, like Maestri, Affini, Cattaneo. Will be hard for attackers, just as it is now.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Elena Cecchini, any relation?

To you? Maybe
To Luigi/Stefano? Not as far as I know

 

[AmRacer]

Don't hate the player, hate the game. This course is just too weak to create any sort of adversity.

Instead of shutting down attacks, the Dutch could join the breakaway and pulling. But they don't want to.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Instead of shutting down attacks, the Dutch could join the breakaway and pulling. But they don't want to.

Lol.

 

[Brullnux]

Instead of shutting down attacks, the Dutch could join the breakaway and pulling. But they don't want to.

It's because they have this woman called Wiebes who is really fast

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Don't hate the player, hate the game. This course is just too weak to create any sort of adversity.

The player is Lorena Wiebes, she's earned a bit of it.

 

[Brullnux]

The player is Lorena Wiebes, she's earned a bit of it.

Can't really blame the coaches for backing her. Much harder to leave a national team than a standard contract, after all

 

[Coffeeplanter]

This course very much reminds me of Copenhagen 2011, when everyone and their mother were holding on to some (maybe imaginary) 20m long, 3% climb, hoping it would be enough to avoid a bunch sprint.

 

[Didinho]

Consonni behind Balsamo. Hope both of them can sprint for it. Would be hard against Wiebes but you never know.

 

[MartinGT]

Why no GB?

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Wiebes was about twice as fast as Balsamo.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

No competition.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Why no GB?

We're broke apparently.

 

[Didinho]

She was a bit boxed in but Italy slowed down and she even could sprint as first. Consonni as a buffer was a good plan but in the end she needed to help the leadout. Couldn’t sprint herself because had to break against the barriers.

Wiebes too strong.

 

[MartinGT]

We're broke apparently.

They'll have enough brass to do track though.

 

[tobydawq]

Philipsen: If Tim or I were to pick the team we would for sure not have selected each other.

Quite some refreshing honesty. In other news, I saw that Philipsen is third on the yearly CQ Ranking. I did not see that coming.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This course very much reminds me of Copenhagen 2011, when everyone and their mother were holding on to some (maybe imaginary) 20m long, 3% climb, hoping it would be enough to avoid a bunch sprint.

It didn't help that the organisers put the feed zone on the most sustained uphill part of the entire circuit, either. In Copenhagen, I mean.

 

[E_F_]

This course very much reminds me of Copenhagen 2011, when everyone and their mother were holding on to some (maybe imaginary) 20m long, 3% climb, hoping it would be enough to avoid a bunch sprint.

How could you not expect long range attacks on the mighty Mur de Søllerød Slot?!

 

[Pantani_lives]

Last year Belgium finished second and fourth. This year the goal is to do better: second and third - behind another Dutch winner in a bunch sprint!

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

This is the kind of course that would benefit from much smaller teams, like in the Olympics. If the big countries had 5 or maximum 6 riders it would've probably lead to a much more interesting race.

 

[Andy262]

Disgrace how the UK skips these championships. Not like there isn’t sufficient strength in depth these days.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Summary of the final +/- 15 kilometers: Crash. Crash. Crash. Crash. Crash. Crash. Dutch win. Crash.

 

[yaco]

I wonder why Slovenia is not in the men's RR. last time the Euro's was on a flat course, mezgec got a top 10.

 

[Wvv]

A bit underwhelming by De Buysser today, but ok. She's a first year junior and already had some really great results this season, even among U23 and elite riders. More opportunities in 2025.

 

[RedheadDane]

Everyone's favourite Vaticany rider right behind the commisaire car!