Weird combination as he put he'd race CX and XC for UAE and then road for Axeon. I guess though for both Venturini and Christen, BMC don't make a cx bike and the gravel bike is less suited than the ridleys Venturini used when AG2R were sponsored by Eddy Merckx, which has the same owner. The Colnagos seemed to be given to Christen earlier in the season when it wasn't confirmed/announced he'd ride for Axeon.I've noticed a few non sponsor correct equipment in some races.....
Jan Christen riding in his new Hagens team colours, but on the Colnago bike. And Venturini on a Ridley/Shimano as opposed to BMC/Campagnolo....and Annie Last in plain black kit, but on what was a Scott bike....her transfer still hasn't been announced.
He has to wear the Continental championships jersey as that's higher ranked I think?Which jersey would you wear Belgium or European?
I think she's been chasing her form since returning from the crash, she looked good in Baal but now it seems like she lacks that extra gear. And then a course like this is pretty unforgiving. Look at Marianne Vos, she was about to give up at some point.Yes, while it might have been just a 'bad day' she hasn't really had any this season. I recall a comment on another forum along the lines of "you can't keep your form for the whole season". Now I don't know how true that is, but she started the season on form, that's a long time to hold it.
And then a course like this is pretty unforgiving. Look at Marianne Vos, she was about to give up at some point.
I’m Team Sweeck. After the NC he said that the result would’ve been the same, but mistakes were made by the team of Vanthourenhout. Fair assessment if you ask me.Anyone with any thoughts on the Sweeck/Vanthourenhout pit beef from yesterday that may or may not have carried forward to today's race?
I’m Team Sweeck. After the NC he said that the result would’ve been the same, but mistakes were made by the team of Vanthourenhout. Fair assessment if you ask me.
That Vanthourenhout and his team then try to discredit him by saying he’s whining and he wouldn’t have won anyway probably made it worse. I thought it was funny Sweeck made a small pirouette in front of the mechanics, and I didn’t see the issue with forcing someone to take a different path, that’s standard CX riding. If Vanthourenhout didn’t want to switch bikes then just brake.
Apparently Vanthourenhout's mechanics changed their place after the first lap, which is against the rules. I don't believe there was any deliberate hampering; they were just too close to each other. I don't think it really changed the outcome in the final lap.Anyone with any thoughts on the Sweeck/Vanthourenhout pit beef from yesterday that may or may not have carried forward to today's race?
I give him 8 for technical execution and 7 for artistry.I thought it was funny Sweeck made a small pirouette in front of the mechanics.
Haven’t they raced together - in and out the same teams - since they were kids?
Yeah those team changes were confusing. Sweeck was in Era Circus which I think was part of the Roodhooft brothers setup. I think that team then seemed to end when Circus were sponsoring Corendon Circus and Wanty Gobert, and Sweeck moved to Pauwels Sauzen, before that merged with Marlux.EDIT: I may have missed the former team sponsors as that was a messy merger. Maybe Eli and Michael team was Marlux - Bingoal, led by Mettepeningen, and Sweeck's was Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice.
Ostensibly it was because she didn't want to leave the training camp in Spain. I think she'd have won actually. Look at how close Alvarado came. Pieterse doesn't like all the running and Van Empel just isn't at her best. If I had to bet right now I'd put my money on her for the worlds as well... if she rides it.Why was Shirin van Anrooij a no-show in NL? Couldn't she make up her mind on espoir vs elite?