Race Thread

[theyoungest]

Is it then correct to assume that the two Anne are qualified unless FVE and/or PP get one (1) top-8 world cup or top-8 EC or top-12 WC? Or do FVE/PP also have to beat Anne and Anne?

It doesn't say anything about that, but I'm just assuming they will pick the one who they think has the most chance of winning a medal, all other factors being equal.

How Puck handles the step up to the Elites will be interesting. If Fem dominates the U23 this year, and does well early next season, who knows?
For the Dutch the major worry is the men; at the moment they won't be sending anybody

I don't know if Fem will stay with the U23s, I think her coach said they want to evaluate this summer if the Olympic dream is realistic and they won't really know that from racing with the U23s.

You're right about the men, there's three good or decent Dutch mountainbikers (Van der Poel, Vader, and Nordemann) and none of them has done any racing the past year.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

May be we won't see MVdP next winter.

"Last year, of course, it was because of my back," Van der Poel said, referring to his late start to the 2022 road campaign.
"But when I don't do cyclocross I have a good build-up [for the road season]. That's the problem – it's so busy. I didn't want to miss the Worlds in Hoogerheide for all the money in the world. But if I had to map out the perfect winter now, it would be one without cyclocross."

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mathieu-van-der-poel-questions-cyclocross-campaign-after-slow-start-to-road-season/

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I imagine that won't go down too well in Flanders....I had a look on the Wielerflits site, and the comments are interesting.

He has to listen to his body and go from there....

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Some interesting news from her instagram page; Maghalie Rochette is parting with Specialized.....

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Some interesting news from her instagram page; Maghalie Rochette is parting with Specialized.....

Although it is being presented in a way that makes it seem amicable, I wonder if it has a connection with the gravel riders on the ambassador programme that Specialized dropped some time last year. She does say though there is exciting news coming soon.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

From memory, I'm not sure she was an employed Factory rider, mainly a privateer/customer type operation running her own team with her husband.

It will be interesting to see what is next. Anything connected to the Holmgren sisters I wonder?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Well, she finally announced on instagram who her new bike partner is, and it's Canyon.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

I probably would have tuned in if were on a field in November:
Fleche du Sud

I guess the .2 road races in Belgium/Netherlands are like this throughout the summer, but I normally never notice them.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Classic CX prep; lots of those types of races throughout the summer, featuring many CX teams. And training camps. As I said on the MTB forum, I wish a few more CX riders would have a go at MTB in the summer.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Cx riders have been doing well in the Oberoesterreich Rundfahrt again. Daan Soete and Lander Lockx almost managed to lock out the top 2 spots of the prologue for a third year running however unfortunately Soete's time (eventually third) was matched by italian Bruttomesso, 1 second behind Loockx. Victor Van de Putte was 4th, Verstrynge 6th, Kielich 9th, Sweeck 11th and Vandebosch 16th. The first stage was then won by Kielich with Sweeck 4th and Loockx 5th.

On the women's side, Pieterse has re-signed with Alpecin Deceuninck/Fenix Deceuninck through to 2027.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Where else would Puck go? Alpecin is the only team who can support her multi discipline ambitions. Jumbo have Fem, and SD Worx seem to tolerate CX, but Vas hasn't been seen on the MTB since last May.....Trek already has Brand & Van Anrooij, but none of them do MTB...