Race Thread

[Lequack]

MVDP really looking sharp and lean, great win today. Was afraid yesterday after that fall, but I'm happy with his win. And Wout not really far off his best, should be even better next races.

 

[Ricco']

If anyone has a link to photos of today's race, please share.

Would like to check if there is some neat photo from the offcamber section with Antwerp's skyline on the background.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Kudos to Jens Adams today

He is still, at 30, a solid top ten rider, and yet he is on his 3rd (?) season as a free rider. Is he independently wealthy such that he doesn't need a team? Is he sociopathic to the etent that no team can accommodate him? What's the story?

 

[lemon cheese cake]

He is still, at 30, a solid top ten rider, and yet he is on his 3rd (?) season as a free rider. Is he independently wealthy such that he doesn't need a team? Is he sociopathic to the etent that no team can accommodate him? What's the story?

His contract at Pauwels Sauzen wasn't renewed 2 or 3 seasons ago despite some good performances in that season, so since then he's ridden as a privateer, first with an apple farm and now with a chocolate milk company. I guess he just feels happy to do what he wants.

 

[Ricco']

The same for Vinnie Baestaens, who has been having some decent results but was let go by Deschacht who, apart from some Lander Loockx's performances, have been rather invisible. Meeusen kept the same kind of form of recent years but Daan Soete has been having a really bad season so far, specially considering he had a very decent summer in the MTB.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

The same for Vinnie Baestaens, who has been having some decent results but was let go by Deschacht who, apart from some Lander Loockx's performances, have been rather invisible. Meeusen kept the same kind of form of recent years but Daan Soete has been having a really bad season so far, specially considering he had a very decent summer in the MTB.

The Baestaens one confused me, because I'm sure he left Beobank Corendon as his contract was up and not renewed and then became a privateer with Hens Maes Containers being his sponsor. Maybe i'm completely wrong, but it just seems to me like he was essetially 'kicked out' of his own setup!?

 

[Barkintheeye]

It’s hard to find words for the brilliance of Van der Poel. When he gets it right he is untouchable. I believe there has never been a more skilled, complete and better cyclocross rider and for that matter road and MTB rider.

Fem van Empel and Pieterse looks to have many interesting battles ahead. Will be interesting to follow.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He reminded me of his best from 2-3 years ago, when he was almost untouchable. The more CX he does, the better the skills will get......

Van Empel is deceptively powerful, and stronger on the flat pedalling sections, whereas Puck is far stronger technically. CX tends to favour the former over the latter, so one would assume Fem will have a better win record in CX.

 

[Bolder]

One think that struck me about MvdP's race yesterday was how fast he ran up the stairs and just running in general. He would have been an amazing 400/800 meter man, I think.

 

[Ricco']

There is something in Fem's way of laying out power in the field that reminds me of WVA.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

One think that struck me about MvdP's race yesterday was how fast he ran up the stairs and just running in general. He would have been an amazing 400/800 meter man, I think.

But running like a soldier through heavy mud
Wout wins hands down.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

There is something in Fem's way of laying out power in the field that reminds me of WVA.

The whole way she rides reminds me of van Aert. Especially from his early elite days.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Yesterday I think both Pieterse and Van Aert overcooked themselves a bit.

Pieterse probably saw an opportunity to ride away when Van Empel made some mistakes and that's a perfectly good strategy. However when Van Empel came back maybe Pieterse should have needed to save a little more for either later attacks or for just keeping up. Always too easy to see in retrospect but if Pieterse wants to beat Van Empel she will really need a cool head and perfect strategy. Van Empel looks significantly stronger just powering on. Also when Van Empel dialed back just a tad the technique came in place and no more mistakes.

Wout also did the obvious thing and just going for it but it looked like it came with a high price this time. My recollection is that Wout generally starts a bit slower and then eases into a rhytm that almost none other can follow... Until his crash over the barriers he seemed to be on his absolute limit. Then when he had to rearrange, going a bit slower, the mistakes were gone and he slowly began to eat back on Van der Poel. He too will probably need to strategize a bit to beat Van der Poel.

Pidcock just wasn't there - and as someone already stated - the talk of the Big 3 is wrong. There are just 2!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

... Pidcock just wasn't there - and as someone already stated - the talk of the Big 3 is wrong. There are just 2!

Tom beat Mathieu Saturday!

 

[Barkintheeye]

Tom beat Mathieu Saturday!

Apparently, and crashes and mechanicals DO count but that time it really didn't say much on TP vs MVDP.

 

[jono]

Until his crash over the barriers he seemed to be on his absolute limit. Then when he had to rearrange, going a bit slower, the mistakes were gone and he slowly began to eat back on Van der Poel.

You're right that WVA was faster than MVDP on the last lap, after Wout's crash (the only lap where he was faster). I'm not sure how much stock I'd put into that though: neither were really racing at that point. Case in point: Vanthourenhout put 13 seconds into MVDP in the last lap, and was 7 seconds better than WVA, which you wouldn't see if either was still pushing things.

https://cyclocross24.com/files/pdf/laptimes/2022/uci-world-cup-antwerpen-men-elite-04-12-2022.pdf

 

[Barkintheeye]

You're right that WVA was faster than MVDP on the last lap, after Wout's crash (the only lap where he was faster). I'm not sure how much stock I'd put into that though: neither were really racing at that point. Case in point: Vanthourenhout put 13 seconds into MVDP in the last lap, and was 7 seconds better than WVA, which you wouldn't see if either was still pushing things.

https://cyclocross24.com/files/pdf/laptimes/2022/uci-world-cup-antwerpen-men-elite-04-12-2022.pdf

Hm, you're probably right. And going a bit slower should make for less mistakes.

 

[DNP-Old]

You're right, I thought one of them wasn't planning for it...pidcock?

Correct, Pidders is unlikely to participate, yes. Partly a shame, partly a good decision.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Vantourenhout extends with the Sauces until 2025; to be honest is there anywhere else he could go? The Lions or a Roodhooft team.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Vantourenhout extends with the Sauces until 2025; to be honest is there anywhere else he could go? The Lions or a Roodhooft team.

The road teams wouldn’t be interested in him? Or maybe he is just only interested in CX?

 

[Barkintheeye]

Having rewatched Boom hats off goes to Van der Poel. Quite a sorry mishap and a relatively bad crash. Yet no quitting. He just carried on. True CX spirit. Respecting the fans, the team, the mechanics, the organizers and in particular the other competitors. They got the chance to measure themselves to the best while Van der Poel was moving up the field. It would have been the easy way out. “Another race tomorrow “, “I’m hurt so better rest” , “No use to drain myself for a minor position “ etc. But no, keep on grinding and why quit when you can go. That’s a professional!

 

[lemon cheese cake]

The road teams wouldn’t be interested in him? Or maybe he is just only interested in CX?

He's definitely one of the most pure cross riders. Looking at his road racing he generally just does the national level stage races, .1 & .2 races and national crits that cross teams generally do. He doesn't seem to dabble with XC like others do and the results in those aforementioned are very very average and middle of the pack.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

He's definitely one of the most pure cross riders. Looking at his road racing he generally just does the national level stage races, .1 & .2 races and national crits that cross teams generally do. He doesn't seem to dabble with XC like others do and the results in those aforementioned are very very average and middle of the pack.

I'd guess if any of the road teams were interested, they would have been in by now. And in any case, he'll likely make more money as a top CX rider, with a champion jersey than as just another rider on a road team. And like Eli, he's probably content to be a CX rider.....the road doesn't suit everybody.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Start lists for Dublin looking rather thin, especially womens race.
28 riders listed including 8 Irish.
5 Dutch, Belgian B team, 2 Brits and PFP only French rider.

 

[Gwbert]

Start lists for Dublin looking rather thin, especially womens race.
28 riders listed including 8 Irish.
5 Dutch, Belgian B team, 2 Brits and PFP only French rider.

It’s like Val di Sole last year i guess. It’s good to see cyclocross outside of the main benelux region but it needs some work to make it more attractive. I’d love to see a climbing-heavy, pidcock-friendly UK route for example.