Belgian TTT at CX Worlds

[Choocher]

I know that these guys grew up riding this course every year, but that was strange.

 

[pmcg76]

I know that these guys grew up riding this course every year, but that was strange.

How so, I would only put Stybar as a possible contender amongst these guys and he clearly had a bad day. Anyone who follows cyclo-cross every week knows that these guys are the best. They just happen to riding in trade-team jerseys each week so its not as noticeable.

 

[Cloxxki]

Still, even Nys could not believe how fast Albert rode. Nys has a bit of CXperience, but seemed baffled in the post-race interview.

Sure, Nys and Pauwels had a tough program in the WC this winter, and Albert had the luxury of an injury to deal with, limit his race hours. But even then, it was a bit crazy.

In all the other categories, the Belgians have to deal with other countries on the podium. Here, PLacing 1 through 7, having started with 7 men.

Elite CX is different from all other categories, it seems.
The Belgian CXérs are even not Belgians in general, they're Flemish only. I believe there's 6 million of them. Making the rest of the world look like amateurs, even worse than the women's Norwegian XC Skiers in the early season. And this is effectively the Olympics of CX.

One could say that technical ability is a huge factor in teh sand, and I can vouch it is. But still, you'd expect one or 2 dopers in a field like this to get the additional power through the sand. Trust me, a bit of extra powers makes a huge difference.
Marianne Vos, and we're read about her physical abilities, and we can all see how proficient she is on the CX bike, she ended up running most of the sand passages, as did most of women. Power is a difference in the sand, and only the Belgians had it.

 

[Race Radio]

That was a bit ridiculous.

Would be interesting to see Neils do a 40k TT on the road.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

This wasn't a TTT.

Albert rode away from the start. He soloed for an hour and put insane amounts of time on the rest of the pack, even though he was being chased by Pauwels and Nys.

The other 4 just caught Nys and Pauwels but were still smoked by Albert.

 

[pmcg76]

Still, even Nys could not believe how fast Albert rode. Nys has a bit of CXperience, but seemed baffled in the post-race interview.

Sure, Nys and Pauwels had a tough program in the WC this winter, and Albert had the luxury of an injury to deal with, limit his race hours. But even then, it was a bit crazy.

In all the other categories, the Belgians have to deal with other countries on the podium. Here, PLacing 1 through 7, having started with 7 men.

Elite CX is different from all other categories, it seems.
The Belgian CXérs are even not Belgians in general, they're Flemish only. I believe there's 6 million of them. Making the rest of the world look like amateurs, even worse than the women's Norwegian XC Skiers in the early season. And this is effectively the Olympics of CX.

One could say that technical ability is a huge factor in teh sand, and I can vouch it is. But still, you'd expect one or 2 dopers in a field like this to get the additional power through the sand. Trust me, a bit of extra powers makes a huge difference.
Marianne Vos, and we're read about her physical abilities, and we can all see how proficient she is on the CX bike, she ended up running most of the sand passages, as did most of women. Power is a difference in the sand, and only the Belgians had it.

Is it Albert's that is being questioned or the entire Belgian squad.

Is it just today or the entire season we are debating because if its just today, there is not much to debate. Look at the WC or Superprestige standings, other than Stybar its all Belgians at the top so ahrdly a shock they dominate the Worlds.

 

[spalco]

Here, PLacing 1 through 7, having started with 7 men.

I almost thought everybody wore the same jerseys today. It was hilarious every time the camera showed the riders coming up a straight and it was one Belgian after another as far as the eye could see.

I have no clue about doping in cyclocross though and no reason to assume Belgians are worse offenders than any other nation.

 

[happychappy]

I have no clue about doping in cyclocross though and no reason to assume Belgians are worse offenders than any other nation.

Koksijde, Belgium. Reminds me of Levi and Horner dropping everyone like sacks of absolute **** at TOC.

 

[sniper]

CX for men used to be a two to three country event, belgians, dutch and italians. where have the latter two gone?

 

[gerundium]

CX for men used to be a two to three country event, belgians, dutch and italians. where have the latter two gone?

Boom wins the national championship jersey every year in CX, but he doesn't race CX seriously anymore. There is a big gap there.

 

[pmcg76]

CX for men used to be a two to three country event, belgians, dutch and italians. where have the latter two gone?

Back in the 80s/90s there used to be more countries competitive, Swiss, French, Dutch, Italians. For the last 10 years it has been the Belgians dominating with the odd intruder like Boom or Stybar. I just think Cross has remained hugely popular in Belgium whilst it has faded in other countries.

 

[Lanark]

Belgium has always been the primary CX nation, but it was mountainbike becomming an Olympic sport that really killed any international attention for the sport. Just look at the list of world champion from the early nineties, and what happened at the end of that decade. A huge shift. Most of the talented guys from other nations go to the road (Boom, Franzoi, Gadret, maybe Stybar as well).

 

[Echoes]

Can it occur to anyone that Belgians are even more favoured than others in the sand ???

Koksijde compared to say Igorre or Namur, is a bit like the difference between Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne.


In 1994 Belgians were 1 and 3 (actually a sweep for the Low Countries) while we weren't a top nation.


The French made a lot of training session for months in Belgium to adapt to the sand and it didn't work out. Belgians are born on it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Koksijde, Belgium. Reminds me of Levi and Horner dropping everyone like sacks of absolute **** at TOC.

It reminds of Great Britain at the Olympics of London.

 

[El Pistolero]

Belgium has always been the primary CX nation, but it was mountainbike becomming an Olympic sport that really killed any international attention for the sport. Just look at the list of world champion from the early nineties, and what happened at the end of that decade. A huge shift. Most of the talented guys from other nations go to the road (Boom, Franzoi, Gadret, maybe Stybar as well).

Gadret and Hermida were there and they sucked. You have a point though.

Franzoi only does cyclo-cross by the way. Strange thing is, when he was still combining it with the road season he was much better... And he also was there at the WC

A much better example of talented guys from other nations going to the road would have been Peter Sagan.

 

[happychappy]

Gadret and Hermida were there and they sucked. You have a point though.

Hermida only dopes when he rides mountain bike races.

 

[theyoungest]

CX for men used to be a two to three country event, belgians, dutch and italians. where have the latter two gone?

Cross is dead in Holland... you wouldn't think so from the juniors and U23s, but there's virtually no interest in the sport.

 

[El Pistolero]

Cross is dead in Holland... you wouldn't think so from the juniors and U23s, but there's virtually no interest in the sport.

There's virtually no interest in Belgium for korfbal yet we get silver medal at the WC everytime

It will come back once Van der Haar starts winning.

 

[sniper]

Cross is dead in Holland... you wouldn't think so from the juniors and U23s, but there's virtually no interest in the sport.

reminiscing the days when groenendaal was still competitive, shortly before Nys started to systematically kick his ***.

back then it used to get decent coverage on the Dutch NOS.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hermida only dopes when he rides mountain bike races.

Of course he does. And Cav only dopes when he touches his bike.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Of course he does. And Cav only dopes when he touches his bike.

Cavendish is part of the "new generation of clean riders."

 

[theyoungest]

There's virtually no interest in Belgium for korfbal yet we get silver medal at the WC everytime

It will come back once Van der Haar starts winning.

So? There's no interest for korfbal in Holland either

Van der Haar won't start winning, he hasn't got the engine. He's no Lars Boom.

 

[Mich78BEL]

I don't get why guys like Boom and Stybar choose to go and be mediocre or at best a 'subtopper' in roadcycling while they could be competing with the best in cyclocross and win championships and so on.

The money? I think Nys makes at least as much as Tom Boonen, if not he's close.

 

[Choocher]

Yeah, I agree to a certain extent. I understand who the best riders are and who the best CX nation is. I also really enjoy the cycling culture in Belgium and have enjoyed it in person. Watching this race, though, I was just left with the feeling of something not seeming quite right, like the 1996 P-R or when the entire Postal team would drag Armstrong up an HC climb. Additionally, I realize that I am comparing apples, oranges, and pears, but I wanted to see what others thought as well.

How so, I would only put Stybar as a possible contender amongst these guys and he clearly had a bad day. Anyone who follows cyclo-cross every week knows that these guys are the best. They just happen to riding in trade-team jerseys each week so its not as noticeable.

 

[Leopejo]

Franzoi only does cyclo-cross by the way. Strange thing is, when he was still combining it with the road season he was much better... And he also was there at the WC

He is returning to road this season, with Miche-Guerciotti.

Both Elite Italian Champions in CC, Fontana (men) and Lechner (women), decided to skip the CC championships to focus their training for the Olympic MTB races. Quite revealing on the relative importance of cyclo-cross in Italy at the moment.

Not that it would have changed anything: U-23 national champ Elia Silvestri, who beat both Fontana and Franzoi in the combined Elite + U-23 event, placed a disappointing 19. in the U-23 Worlds yesterday.