Race Thread

[Gwbert]

Puck in another fabulous ride.....demonstrating her skills. Van Anrooij kept her honest, and a fine third for Ceylin. Looked a good battle between Vas, Persico & Backstedt. PFP not helped by more chain/ rear mech issues but wasn't ever going to trouble the sharp end.

I wonder how PFP would fare with a decent starting position? A bit better perhaps but not troubling Puck & co.

 

[theyoungest]

I wonder how PFP would fare with a decent starting position? A bit better perhaps but not troubling Puck & co.

Dublin had a very small field of riders, about 25, so there the starting position didn't affect the race too much. And she had a pretty decent start there. Until Van Empel and Pieterse put on the afterburners and it was bye bye Pauline. The starting position really isn't the problem.

 

[pmcg76]

Puck in another fabulous ride.....demonstrating her skills. Van Anrooij kept her honest, and a fine third for Ceylin. Looked a good battle between Vas, Persico & Backstedt. PFP not helped by more chain/ rear mech issues but wasn't ever going to trouble the sharp end.

Think if Van Anrooj had a decent start, it might have been a proper two-up battle. Think she got pushed back down to about 15th and Puck just flew on that first lap. Slow starts have been an issue for Shirin a few times this year, the Euros in Namur was one such race. Puck still technically the best.

Think Alvarado has been the best of the Non-youngsters this season and had a seriously impressive run through the sand on one lap, looked like she was sprinting.

Also, meant to say this before but Clara Honsingers helmet looks awful, like an upside down basin, I know it's team issue yet I don't really notice Baclstedts helmet as much unless it's the colour making it worse.

 

[Gwbert]

Think if Van Anrooj had a decent start, it might have been a proper two-up battle. Think she got pushed back down to about 15th and Puck just flew on that first lap. Slow starts have been an issue for Shirin a few times this year, the Euros in Namur was one such race. Puck still technically the best.

Think Alvarado has been the best of the Non-youngsters this season and had a seriously impressive run through the sand on one lap, looked like she was sprinting.

Also, meant to say this before but Clara Honsingers helmet looks awful, like an upside down basin, I know it's team issue yet I don't really notice Baclstedts helmet as much unless it's the colour making it worse.

The top ten is seriously young if you look at it with Alvarado only 24 and already a WC.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Absurd to have 92 starters on a course like Diegem.

 

[postmanhat]

Think if Van Anrooj had a decent start, it might have been a proper two-up battle. Think she got pushed back down to about 15th and Puck just flew on that first lap. Slow starts have been an issue for Shirin a few times this year, the Euros in Namur was one such race. Puck still technically the best.

Think Alvarado has been the best of the Non-youngsters this season and had a seriously impressive run through the sand on one lap, looked like she was sprinting.

Also, meant to say this before but Clara Honsingers helmet looks awful, like an upside down basin, I know it's team issue yet I don't really notice Baclstedts helmet as much unless it's the colour making it worse.

Yes, she was miles back at the start and it was impressive how quickly she came through in the first lap, but it must have taken it's toll. A shame as Marty pointed out, it would have a classic duel between an MTB/CX and Road/CX rider. Van Anrooij a monster in the sand, quicker on the road/flat, with Pieterse better everywhere else? Backstedt's been on form since her training camp, but really needs to improve her running and sand riding. Time is on her side I suppose

 

[KZD]

Sweeck bringing Vanthourenhout down in the barriers. He has been a bit off in the last races.

Meanwhile Pidcock going hard in the front, only Van Aert and Van der Poel follow.

 

[postmanhat]

The top ten is seriously young if you look at it with Alvarado only 24 and already a WC.

Amazing turnaround. It seems like top riders for the last five years have been largely supplanted in the last 12 months.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Never watched this before, turned it on because the TDU is still ages away but I really should, Pidcock gaining time back with great technique to the front two who seem to be a bit more powerful is incredible to see, can't understand how he gets that much speed coming out of corners.

 

[postmanhat]

I think MVDP has been taking it easy till now? Iserbyt and the others shouldn't be coming back to him on a course like this.

EDIt - My mistake, it's just Isybert who's gaining a bit.

 

[Lequack]

 

[theyoungest]

Van Aert is really terrible in the sand today, quite surprising.

 

[Lequack]

Can MVDP hold off the charging Pidcock?

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Van Aert is really terrible in the sand today, quite surprising.

Van der Poel has always seemed to be stronger than van Aert on that specific sand pit in previous years. He has always gapped him there, especially when the barriers were closer to the pits and the sand in the past.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Pidcock has been exceptional on the off-camber.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Strange that VdP has not taken the upper line on the off-camber. Pidcock and Van Aert gained on that line.
This looks like it's coming back together. We'll see on the sand.

 

[Third Time Lucky]

Damn, is this coming back together again?

 

[DNP-Old]

This has to be greatest three day period for CX ever.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

VdP has cracked.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Interesting now

 

[Lequack]

Wout just switched into MVDP mode.

 

[jono]

VdP has cracked.

He's done. So is Pidcock.

 

[noob]

Neg split always Van Aert forte.

 

[DNP-Old]

The supermutant watts of Pidders on Mallorca didn't lie. He is sublime.

 

[Third Time Lucky]

Wtf! Best race ever