Race Thread

[Axel Hangleck]

It seems incredible that he's never won a World Cup......yet he's been a Belgian champion.

It will be a brave person to bet against the Dutch women winning every World Cup race......

 

[lemon cheese cake]

It seems incredible that he's never won a World Cup......yet he's been a Belgian champion.

It will be a brave person to bet against the Dutch women winning every World Cup race......

I feel you might be right. I think Vas and Honsinger may get close with Clauzel possibly as well, but just not have it to win. It'll be interesting to see how the seasons of Vas, Pieterse and van Empel look now they're all racing. For instance last year they mainly just did world cups and championships.

Good that the men's race was just as exciting as the women's race yesterday. I thought at first with Vandenbosch going off the front we would see a repeat of the u23 worlds where Wyseure rode away while everyone looked at eachother. But this course has grown on me. It produces close racing, which I think is always better than someone riding away. I think the element of having Sweeck on another team definitely helps and it would be good to see if Brunner can convert his fourth into more decent results when/if he comes to europe post nationals, like the american riders often do.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I do think Honsinger gets talked up an awful lot.... A few WCup podiums in mud, and a win at the Koppenburg...I get the feeling people are desperate for a non-Dutch/ European to win a World Cup.

 

[Gwbert]

It seems incredible that he's never won a World Cup......yet he's been a Belgian champion.

It will be a brave person to bet against the Dutch women winning every World Cup race......

I wouldn’t bet against it but Persico, Honsiger, Vas & Ferrand-Prevot do have an outside chance I guess? Line Burquier next year maybe. Backstedt on a super muddy course?!

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Something that PFP has never done; win a CX World Cup......Which may surprise a lot of people.

 

[postmanhat]

Something that PFP has never done; win a CX World Cup......Which may surprise a lot of people.

Yes, I remember when Evie Richards won her first MTB World Cup, Rob Warner saying she was the first woman to do so across both disciplines, which seemed equally unlikely?

 

[postmanhat]

Really enjoying watching Fem Van Empel's progress this year so far. Looked like she could match Brand on the stairs, is confident in her ability in the sprint now, and has added bunnyhopping to her skillset. Can't wait to see how the other young riders have improved. Speaking of which, Van Anrooij is back next Tuesday, as is Vos apparently.

EDIT - Van Anrooij is back even sooner, at Tabor on Sunday

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yes, I remember when Evie Richards won her first MTB World Cup, Rob Warner saying she was the first woman to do so across both disciplines, which seemed equally unlikely?

Evie is the only woman to win CX, XCC & XCO World Cups. Eva Lechner has won CX & XCO World Cups. And in the men MvdP is the only one to win CX, XCC & XCO World Cups.....

 

[Gwbert]

Really enjoying watching Fem Van Empel's progress this year so far. Looked like she could match Brand on the stairs, is confident in her ability in the sprint now, and has added bunnyhopping to her skillset. Can't wait to see how the other young riders have improved. Speaking of which, Van Anrooij is back next Tuesday, as is Vos apparently.

Yeah Fem has been awesome. Really interested to see Van Anrooij and Pieterse back at it as well.

 

[postmanhat]

Evie is the only woman to win CX, XCC & XCO World Cups. Eva Lechner has won CX & XCO World Cups. And in the men MvdP is the only one to win CX, XCC & XCO World Cups.....

Was thinking of Lechner as I typed it, but too lazy to research it. Thank you!

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

PF-P racing Koppenbergcross and Euro's in Namur.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

No Backstedt for Tabor, and no British youth riders either. It's also a UK National Trophy series round, so they are doing that instead.

And the Hulst World Cup round, is being moved to an earlier time as Belgium are playing in the football World Cup. Yes, you read that right; a Dutch event is moving for the benefit of Belgian TV.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

you'd think with all the shell money they'd be sending riders all over the place. no excuse for not sending riders to events now.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

you'd think with all the shell money they'd be sending riders all over the place. no excuse for not sending riders to events now.

That was my thought as well. I find it quite disappointing they aren't sending any riders to Tabor. I hope that changes for Maasmechelen the week after, despite there being a National Trophy also that weekend.

 

[Wyndbrook]

you'd think with all the shell money they'd be sending riders all over the place. no excuse for not sending riders to events now.

It's not making them awash with money, HSBC and Sky deals were at a much higher level. They are still looking to attract a higher level partner sponsor.
I believe there is a big hole to fill to over the last nine months since HSBC pulled out.
Personally I believe they should be investing heavily in cross, the Junior entry at last weeks National Series was pretty impressive. Even my local league junior entries have never been higher.
UK cross would really benefit from it becoming an Olympic sport enabling lottery funding to be invested in cross.

 

[postmanhat]

Does anyone know if Ardooie will be televised tomorrow? It's not on Eurosport, but hoping there might be a stream or replay available. Backstedt and Van Anrooij making their season debuts.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Personally I believe they should be investing heavily in cross, the Junior entry at last weeks National Series was pretty impressive. Even my local league junior entries have never been higher.
UK cross would really benefit from it becoming an Olympic sport enabling lottery funding to be invested in cross.

Yes, they probably should, but track is their 'thing', and doesn't look like changing. And XC MTB is Olympic, and we've hardly been awash with world class XC racers over the years. We're currently in a successful era, but what is coming up behind them?

And it has to be said that CX is used as a stepping stone to road racing, rather than MTB in many countries....

 

[Ricco']

Does anyone know if Ardooie will be televised tomorrow? It's not on Eurosport, but hoping there might be a stream or replay available. Backstedt and Van Anrooij making their season debuts.

No, it's not normally televised and I don't think it has changed this year.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Vos will be back in Woerden, but is doing the Dutch gravel champs first this weekend. Defending champ Demi Vollering said on Instagram somewhere a couple of weeks back she isn't defending the title. Vos' teammate Van Aert is also now back on the cross bike this morning after some holidaying around Australia in his off season .

 

[Ricco']

Kata Blanka Vas and Shirin van Anrooij appear to have obliterated the rest of the field in Ardooie. The rest more than 2 minutes behind Vas, with Zoe Backstedt at 2'37 and Sanne Cant at 3'54.

Hermans won in the men's race, with Felipe Orts coming second ahead of Laurens Sweeck.

 

[Lequack]

I think Quinten Hermans might be dominating this year, with his road race form. At least until Wout, MVDP and Pidcock don't show up, but they're now too cool for Cyclocross so they'll just show up whenever they feel like.

 

[Gwbert]

I think Quinten Hermans might be dominating this year, with his road race form. At least until Wout, MVDP and Pidcock don't show up, but they're now too cool for Cyclocross so they'll just show up whenever they feel like.

Dominating over Iserbyt? Possibly, but I’m not sure. Agree his road form has been super though.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Dominating over Iserbyt? Possibly, but I’m not sure. Agree his road form has been super though.

He'll hopefully at least be closer to Iserbyt. Adding him to Sweeck and van der Haar should be good and hopefully make for less controlling by two (or 3 as it was last year) riders from one team. Once he got a bike with a chain on it, I don't think Ronhaar lost that much time in Fayetteville and also showed he could be up there in Beringen. Hopefully with luck in his side he can also have an effect on stopping the domination of the Sauces.

 

[Gwbert]

He'll hopefully at least be closer to Iserbyt. Adding him to Sweeck and van der Haar should be good and hopefully make for less controlling by two (or 3 as it was last year) riders from one team. Once he got a bike with a chain on it, I don't think Ronhaar lost that much time in Fayetteville and also showed he could be up there in Beringen. Hopefully with luck in his side he can also have an effect on stopping the domination of the Sauces.

Yeah Ronhaar’s laptimes were good and there’s also Nys to throw in as well. The controlling of Sweeck was hard to watch at times.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Nys is down for the u23 race....