Race Thread

[DNP-Old]

Outside of the podium, Bisiaux is probably the fastest on the course currently.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Van Empel's absolutely destroying everyone, nor surprise there. I hadn't expected Casasola to be in 3rd at this stage, but she's ridden a very solid race,

 

[RedheadDane]

Van Empel just doesn't know how to not win.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Woman's Elite

 

[theyoungest]

Van Empel just doesn't know how to not win.

This is her 12th win in a row. The record I believe is 17, by Marianne Vos. That might be within reach.

 

[Lequack]

interesting men's race so far. Unlike the women's race, which was just like the last 10 races.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Hoping Cam will close that gap.

 

[RedheadDane]

Bit damp right now.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Men's Elite

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Nys sick, possibly?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Great rides by Vanthourenhout and Mason. A shame Van der Haar couldn't stay on his bike and that Nys and others imploded in the mud.

 

[KZD]

Surprised to see Mason and Casasola on the podium, good to see more countries getting medals in the elites.

Its the second time this season that Nys is one of the favourites for a Championship race and has a really bad day (the other was the U23 road Worlds). Could be a coincidence though.

 

[jmdirt]

Euros looks like a slopfest...'cross weather I guess.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Toons to come back from teaching ...

Toon Aerts eyes new contract as doping ban to expire in February

Belgian decries 'unfair trial', says 'teams can see all the files, I have nothing to hide'

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[theyoungest]

Surprised to see Mason and Casasola on the podium, good to see more countries getting medals in the elites.

Its the second time this season that Nys is one of the favourites for a Championship race and has a really bad day (the other was the U23 road Worlds). Could be a coincidence though.

Casasola is maybe not so much of a surprise, she was really strong in Maasmechelen. Apart from some mishap in the beginning she posted the fastest lap times (bar Van Empel, of course). And she was already 5th at the Euros last year.

Nys seems to be an all or nothing kind of guy. Which is fine. Maybe the Belgian press already expected a little too much.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Surprised to see Mason and Casasola on the podium, good to see more countries getting medals in the elites.

Yes; the more countries getting on the podium the better for the sport. It looks good in the Juniors with lots of French, Czech & Slovakian riders in the top 10. But keeping them in CX is the issue.......If you don't get picked up by a Belgian CX / World Tour road team, then where do you go?

 

[jono]

Isabella Holmgren wins the elite women Pan-Am continental title over Clara Honsinger. Eric Brunner cruising to the win in the men's race. Canada and USA split the 6 jerseys up for grabs today (Canada women's junior, men's U23 and women's elite, USA the rest).

 

[Sciatic]

Isabella Holmgren wins the elite women Pan-Am continental title over Clara Honsinger. Eric Brunner cruising to the win in the men's race. Canada and USA split the 6 jerseys up for grabs today (Canada women's junior, men's U23 and women's elite, USA the rest).

It’s interesting that on two different weekends of racing this fall that included elite races on both Sat-Sun, Honsinger finished ahead of Holmgren (going 1-2) in the Sat races and then Holmgren bounced back to beat Honsinger (again 1-2) in the Sunday races. This weekend the Sunday race (today) was definitely the bigger prize.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Isabella Holmgren wins the elite women Pan-Am continental title over Clara Honsinger. Eric Brunner cruising to the win in the men's race. Canada and USA split the 6 jerseys up for grabs today (Canada women's junior, men's U23 and women's elite, USA the rest).

Interesting she's jumped straight into Elites - and won't bother with U23.....whereas her sister was 2nd in the U23, though still coming back after her Worlds crash in practice. Another Canadian Ian Ackert won the U23, and he seems another talent; finished behind Philipsen in the junior XCO Worlds.

I think the Canadian riders are more promising going forward; the US riders appear to be what we've already seen. Any promising US male CX riders soon disappear to either road or MTB. Will AJ August continue with CX? You'd think not....

 

[Axel Hangleck]

It’s interesting that on two different weekends of racing this fall that included elite races on both Sat-Sun, Honsinger finished ahead of Holmgren (going 1-2) in the Sat races and then Holmgren bounced back to beat Honsinger (again 1-2) in the Sunday races. This weekend the Sunday race (today) was definitely the bigger prize.

Yes, using the MXGP scoring, Holmgren won the overall......But why did they run a race one day before a Championship? And, were there any non US/Canada riders involved? Have just looked; a couple of Costa Rica riders......

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Yes, using the MXGP scoring, Holmgren won the overall......But why did they run a race one day before a Championship? And, were there any non US/Canada riders involved? Have just looked; a couple of Costa Rica riders......

They always do. Last year at the Really Rad cx Festival when it was there and also previous years going back to when it was hosted in Louisville or Cincinnati when this evrnt started.

 

[jono]

Interesting she's jumped straight into Elites - and won't bother with U23.....whereas her sister was 2nd in the U23, though still coming back after her Worlds crash in practice. Another Canadian Ian Ackert won the U23, and he seems another talent; finished behind Philipsen in the junior XCO Worlds.

I think the Canadian riders are more promising going forward; the US riders appear to be what we've already seen. Any promising US male CX riders soon disappear to either road or MTB. Will AJ August continue with CX? You'd think not....

I'm not sure it's a matter of all Canadian riders being more promising, or just the Stimulus Orbea crew (Ackert and the Holmgrens, on a team run by the Holmgren's dad). Is Isabella Holmgren locked into elite now? I don't think it would make a big difference as so few women's races have U23 events.

On the men's side it does seem that some of the big American talents don't stay in CX, but there is still way more depth of talent, as evidenced by the results in the Men's Elite race yesterday. Unlike on the women's side with Rochette, Honsinger, and Holmgren, I wouldn't expect any North American men to be threatening top 10s in elite European races anytime soon.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Something I noticed, they didn't race in national team kits, as you would expect for a Continental championship. Any reason why?

Is Isabella Holmgren locked into elite now? I don't think it would make a big difference as so few women's races have U23 events.

For CX, I would say so; once you race a championship at Elite level, that's it. However, I imagine if she continues racing on the MTB, then U23 will be the way to go - the jump from Junior is too big; even U23s can struggle in Elites.

 

[jono]

Something I noticed, they didn't race in national team kits, as you would expect for a Continental championship. Any reason why?

I don't know for sure, but I don't think the national team programs are involved in managing the fields/allocating spots. I think anyone can sign up for the UCI races at Pan Ams. It would also be kind of silly seeing a field with just two different kits.

For CX, I would say so; once you race a championship at Elite level, that's it. However, I imagine if she continues racing on the MTB, then U23 will be the way to go - the jump from Junior is too big; even U23s can struggle in Elites.

That's what I would have thought too. But, for example, Ava Holmgren raced (and won) Canadian nationals as an elite last year, allowing the twins to double up on jerseys as was probably part of the reasoning for racing U23s yesterday. In Isabella's case it's likely a moot point as there wouldn't be much to prove at U23 level, although perhaps a missed opportunity for another jersey at worlds if in fact she is locked in to elite now.

 

[DNP-Old]

David Thompson won the junior race yesterday in the Pan-American championships. He'll be with AG2R next year on the road, and I reckon he can go quite a way for the rainbow jersey in CX once he makes the trip to Europe. Given he's been dominating the North American scene, he will have ideal starting position at all times. I believe he's #1 in the world currently, even.