Race Thread

[Axel Hangleck]

Yeah, because sand is her speciality. Although this best/least technical rider discussion is probably down to 'who has the most confidence' anyway, and right now Van Anrooij rides with a lot of confidence.

I think being on Sven's team is a massive help; Brand wasn't great when she went there, and has improved immensely. For some, it comes easily, almost naturally - others have to really work hard at it.
I wonder who will continue with Van Empel at Jumbo; do they have a technical coach?

 

[lemon cheese cake]

So van Anrooij won't ride the dutch nationals and will decide later in which category she'll ride
https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/s...t-nk-veldrijden-2023-over-en-stelt-keuze-uit/

 

[theyoungest]

I think being on Sven's team is a massive help; Brand wasn't great when she went there, and has improved immensely. For some, it comes easily, almost naturally - others have to really work hard at it.
I wonder who will continue with Van Empel at Jumbo; do they have a technical coach?

Jumbo's technical coach is Marianne Vos I don't know, I think right now Van Empel just needs to get fully fit and get some proper cross training in, that would help immensely already.

 

[pmcg76]

Van Anrooij is probably technically the least proficient of the Big Three, but she happens to be really good in the sand Maybe because she's from Zeeland, which as the name suggests is a province with a lot of beaches.

Hoogerheide is a little less suited to Van Anrooij, it's not super hard and more importantly it's not a sand race. She'd still at least make the podium in the elite race, should she ride it.

Well that's the thing. The 3 young guns have been way ahead of the rest this year, but on a less technical course, the likes of Brand and Vos may come back into play. Nothing against those riders, but I would prefer to see one of the youngsters crowned World Champion as they have been so dominant all year. The only time all three have been in a race and not made up the podium was Tabor which was Van Anrooijs first race back.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

So Nys, Verstrynge, Wyseure and Michels are having to race the belgian nationals as elites as they can't race the u23 due to having pro contracts

 

[theyoungest]

Well that's the thing. The 3 young guns have been way ahead of the rest this year, but on a less technical course, the likes of Brand and Vos may come back into play. Nothing against those riders, but I would prefer to see one of the youngsters crowned World Champion as they have been so dominant all year. The only time all three have been in a race and not made up the podium was Tabor which was Van Anrooijs first race back.

Marianne Vos won the world cup in Hoogerheide last year, but honestly, these three are just on another level right now. Don't forget that last year the U23 worlds was already a faster race than the elite edition, and all three of them have made a massive step this year. Brand and certainly Vos would have to improve a lot to stand a chance, no matter the course. Vos should be happy that as world champion she's certain of a starting spot, otherwise I'm not even sure she'd be on the team.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Marianne Vos won the world cup in Hoogerheide last year, but honestly, these three are just on another level right now. Don't forget that last year the U23 worlds was already a faster race than the elite edition, and all three of them have made a massive step this year. Brand and certainly Vos would have to improve a lot to stand a chance, no matter the course. Vos should be happy that as world champion she's certain of a starting spot, otherwise I'm not even sure she'd be on the team.

With at least Pieterse and van Empel racing the elites, it'll be interesting to see who'll miss out on selection.

With that being said, what are the numbers allowed for each team for the worlds? Have they changed like the world cups, or is there still a max of 8 plus 1 for the nation with the world cup winner?

 

[theyoungest]

With at least Pieterse and van Empel racing the elites, it'll be interesting to see who'll miss out on selection.

With that being said, what are the numbers allowed for each team for the worlds? Have they changed like the world cups, or is there still a max of 8 plus 1 for the nation with the world cup winner?

It's 7 riders, plus the world champion, plus the European champion, plus the world cup winner. As it stands the world cup winner and the Euro champ are the same rider, so basically only if Pieterse wins the world cup the team is 10 people, otherwise it's 9.

Let's assume it's 9, then you have Vos and Van Empel as certainties, and then 7 more out of
Pieterse (UCI no. 2)
Brand (3)
Alvarado (4)
Van Anrooij (5)
Betsema (6)
Van der Heijden (7)
Bakker (8)
Worst (10)
Van Alphen (12)

 

[lemon cheese cake]

It's 7 riders, plus the world champion, plus the European champion, plus the world cup winner. As it stands the world cup winner and the Euro champ are the same rider, so basically only if Pieterse wins the world cup the team is 10 people, otherwise it's 9.

Let's assume it's 9, then you have Vos and Van Empel as certainties, and then 7 more out of
Pieterse (UCI no. 2)
Brand (3)
Alvarado (4)
Van Anrooij (5)
Betsema (6)
Van der Heijden (7)
Bakker (8)
Worst (10)
Van Alphen (12)

I'd guess it would be van Alphen and Bakker who'll muss out with that. And if van Anrooij does ride u23 then either Bakker or van Alphen to get the final spot as van Alphen mentioned around when she won in Boom.


Tormans mentioned that it was the last Belgian cx of the season for Marie Schreiber which means she won't be continuing after the world champs. I also saw her in a picture on Chantal Blaak's Instagram with the SD Worx riders and staff which possibly means she's moving to SD Worx alongside Vas. She's been making good progress this season, so if that's true, hopefully she doesn't stall like Vas appears to have done over the last season and a half.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Tormans mentioned that it was the last Belgian cx of the season for Marie Schreiber which means she won't be continuing after the world champs. I also saw her in a picture on Chantal Blaak's Instagram with the SD Worx riders and staff which possibly means she's moving to SD Worx alongside Vas. She's been making good progress this season, so if that's true, hopefully she doesn't stall like Vas appears to have done over the last season and a half.

You don't expect to see a (possible) new transfer being revealed at a gender reveal party!

 

[lemon cheese cake]

You don't expect to see a (possible) new transfer being revealed at a gender reveal party!

Maybe it was just a general reveal party that featured both gender and transfers!

 

[theyoungest]

You don't expect to see a (possible) new transfer being revealed at a gender reveal party!

It's a girl! Her name is Marie.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Tormans mentioned that it was the last Belgian cx of the season for Marie Schreiber which means she won't be continuing after the world champs. I also saw her in a picture on Chantal Blaak's Instagram with the SD Worx riders and staff which possibly means she's moving to SD Worx alongside Vas. She's been making good progress this season, so if that's true, hopefully she doesn't stall like Vas appears to have done over the last season and a half.

I can't recall any rumours about a possible move, would be interesting if it happens.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

So it's Nationals weekend; the UK is at the Westmorland Showground..... which immediately makes me think of a mainly flat course, which with all the rain we've had will be a mudfest - yet another one. Having seen photos and a course layout, it's not particularly inspiring - and will require loads of power. It's hard to see past Backstedt in the women's, the men's maybe closer.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Maybe it was just a general reveal party that featured both gender and transfers!

Probably, yeah, but still you would have expected a press officer/SoMe manager to have intervened before the photo was taken/posted online, if she is indeed joining the team.

It's a girl! Her name is Marie.

I would have been quite surprised if their newest signing had been a male rider.

 

[theyoungest]

So it's Nationals weekend; the UK is at the Westmorland Showground..... which immediately makes me think of a mainly flat course, which with all the rain we've had will be a mudfest - yet another one. Having seen photos and a course layout, it's not particularly inspiring - and will require loads of power. It's hard to see past Backstedt in the women's, the men's maybe closer.

The location for the Dutch championships looks pretty cool, on a riverside. Some sand sections, some mud, going up and down the banking. Maybe a muddier version of Antwerp.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Belgian champs course in Lokeren looks similar to the Ethias Cross course from last season, apart from an extra section in a field for the vips to watch riders on the hurdles.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

So it's Nationals weekend; the UK is at the Westmorland Showground..... which immediately makes me think of a mainly flat course, which with all the rain we've had will be a mudfest - yet another one. Having seen photos and a course layout, it's not particularly inspiring - and will require loads of power. It's hard to see past Backstedt in the women's, the men's maybe closer.

I don't think it's that flat. From this view on google maps, there is a decent amount of elevation in the top corner of the course. From memory of the venue in relation to the course map, I think it includes quite a long gravel climb from the bottom of the field to the top. Anything can be better than what was created in Shrewsbury prior to the pandemic.

 

[theyoungest]

Usually all the fun banter is in Dutch, but now Puck has done a video in English, for all you non-cheeseheads to enjoy.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Usually all the fun banter is in Dutch, but now Puck has done a video in English, for all you non-cheeseheads to enjoy.

Excellent video. Great to see young people enjoying themselves training, competing and riding bikes. It's about having fun!

 

[Wyndbrook]

Bisiaux is back in the World Cup and just continues to dominate the junior ranks. Don't think he'll have much trouble getting the world title in Hoogerheide too.

He will be the favourite, by worlds are rarely won easily. Last year Haverdings was the favourite and finished 9th.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Alpecin and Fenix Deceuninck released the full teams of both Conti and World teams. Unsurprisingly the cx riders are spread out across both. However, the odd one for me is Puck Pieterse on the World team, considering as far as I can see the only road race she's done was the junior rr champs in 2019.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

He will be the favourite, by worlds are rarely won easily. Last year Haverdings was the favourite and finished 9th.

Haverdings had a crash early on so it's not a direct reflection of being the one to watch and then not having it on the day though. But like you say the season a great season does not always correlate to a win in the worlds as a Junior, looking back recently, there have been surprise (or less expected) winners like Tulett twice, Andreassen and even Christen last year once Haverdings was out of it and Dockx became the favourite.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Alpecin and Fenix Deceuninck released the full teams of both Conti and World teams. Unsurprisingly the cx riders are spread out across both. However, the odd one for me is Puck Pieterse on the World team, considering as far as I can see the only road race she's done was the junior rr champs in 2019.

I'm hoping it's only for fitness training; I didn't think she was particularly interested in riding on the road. There's a big gap from the end of the CX Worlds, and the first MTB World Cup in mid May. Sam Gaze is on the men's World Tour squad, I'm guessing he'll mainly do early season races before the MTB racing starts.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm hoping it's only for fitness training; I didn't think she was particularly interested in riding on the road. There's a big gap from the end of the CX Worlds, and the first MTB World Cup in mid May. Sam Gaze is on the men's World Tour squad, I'm guessing he'll mainly do early season races before the MTB racing starts.

It would be fun to see all these crossers in Strade Bianche though. A race within the race, for the coveted title of 'best crosser in the most crossy race in the worldtour'. Seeing how Shirin van Anrooij is going right now, and given that she was already 9th last year, she'll probably be hard to beat for that one.