Race Thread

[theyoungest]

Is this the year Sanne Cant finally loses her tricolor jersey? Looks like a big bagarre shaping up with Verdonschott at Belgian nationals.

Verdonschot has a very specific skillset: she's good in the sand. The Belgian nationals aren't on a sand course. Cant is usually better than Verdonschot on any other type of course.

You also have the naturalized Belgian Norbert-Riberolle who could have won last year, and who looked really good earlier this season as well... but she seems to have dropped off quite a bit.

 

[awavey]

saw Sven Nys is saying the Holmgrens future is on the road, and arent engaged to do a major cyclocross program with his team, which is why they supported them for a few races via Trek, but was why they werent on the team roster.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

saw Sven Nys is saying the Holmgrens future is on the road, and aren't engaged to do a major cyclocross program with his team, which is why they supported them for a few races via Trek, but was why they weren't on the team roster.

Yeah, I read that on Wielerflits......and I guess that will apply to Philipsen as well.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Interesting interview with Swiss rider, Timon Ruegg; the lack of top Swiss talents....

Vrijdag, de dertiende: Timon Rüegg ziet Zwitserse cross doodbloeden en verlegt focus naar MTB

Interview Iedere vrijdag om 13.13 uur lees je in onze winterse rubriek ‘Vrijdag, de dertiende’ een interview met een crosser of veldrijdster die in een van de weken voordien als dertiende is geëindigd. Dat loopt uiteen van de junioren meisjes tot aan de elite mannen, van C2-cross tot WK. Wat is...

www.wielerflits.nl

 

[Barkintheeye]

Interesting interview with Swiss rider, Timon Ruegg; the lack of top Swiss talents....

Vrijdag, de dertiende: Timon Rüegg ziet Zwitserse cross doodbloeden en verlegt focus naar MTB

Interview Iedere vrijdag om 13.13 uur lees je in onze winterse rubriek ‘Vrijdag, de dertiende’ een interview met een crosser of veldrijdster die in een van de weken voordien als dertiende is geëindigd. Dat loopt uiteen van de junioren meisjes tot aan de elite mannen, van C2-cross tot WK. Wat is...

www.wielerflits.nl

Nice interview. One of the many sad points in it is the Swiss National cycling federation’s lack of interest for cyclocross. This is similar in many (if not most) other European countries outside Belgium. That despite CX being a great entrance for young riders (safe, technical, easy to oversee for coaches and families, etc) but most likely CX not being an Olympic sport makes it “redundant”. Sad.

 

[Ripper]

Just by looking at their faces you can see that MVDP is in way better shape than WVA. I'm not sure Mathieu can get a lot better than this, Wout certainly can. Now if that will be enough to beat him in April, we'll see, but I think Wout's level right now is just about what you can expect. He said he's never been this bad going into cross season and he wasn't lying. And Mathieu is the best he's ever been in cross. Then this is the result.

I think this is fairly close to accurate. I really don't know why some people are surprised or worried by Wout's performance, it's actually better than I would have expected given a change in training focus. Also not surprised by MvdP's dominance. It is nice to see some other riders beginning to emerge ... Pim had a pretty excellent race yesterday.

 

[pmcg76]

Van Empel missing the next few weeks to go on a Visma training camp. Will return at Benidorm WC. Should make things more interesting on womens side as Pieterse, Alvarado and Brand are much closer in level.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Nice interview. One of the many sad points in it is the Swiss National cycling federation’s lack of interest for cyclocross. This is similar in many (if not most) other European countries outside Belgium. That despite CX being a great entrance for young riders (safe, technical, easy to oversee for coaches and families, etc) but most likely CX not being an Olympic sport makes it “redundant”. Sad.

There was short period when Switzerland was the go to place to race.
One of the greatest champions in Zweifel, and world winners Richard and Runkel. Plus amateur champions and top players such as Frischnecht and many others.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yeah, it seems incredible that there was a time when Belgium didn't rule, and it was the Swiss.......
Frischi and his dad, Peter were stalwarts of the Swiss CX scene - later, when MTB XC arrived and that became the focus for Swiss off-road racing. They've had an exceptional record in that.......

I think for a lot of countries, the non Olympic status of CX is the issue.......
You see international fields in Juniors, with lots of French, Italians, Czechs even US/Canada.......by U23 they're gone from the sport - or use it primarily as training.

 

[jono]

saw Sven Nys is saying the Holmgrens future is on the road, and arent engaged to do a major cyclocross program with his team, which is why they supported them for a few races via Trek, but was why they werent on the team roster.

It would be very unfortunate if the Holmgrens left their off-road pursuits behind entirely in order to focus exclusively on road. I may be biased (Canadian) but they are among the most exciting prospects on the women's side of the sport.

 

[Sciatic]

It would be very unfortunate if the Holmgrens left their off-road pursuits behind entirely in order to focus exclusively on road. I may be biased (Canadian) but they are among the most exciting prospects on the women's side of the sport.

Agreed, and we’re going to get to see more of them in the next few days.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

It would be very unfortunate if the Holmgrens left their off-road pursuits behind entirely in order to focus exclusively on road. I may be biased (Canadian) but they are among the most exciting prospects on the women's side of the sport.

I think they've always wanted to focus on the road - the off-road is just a bonus. Hopefully we do see them occasionally, whether in 'Cross, or in XC. Their brother seems to be very much off-road.....

 

[Gwbert]

I think they've always wanted to focus on the road - the off-road is just a bonus. Hopefully we do see them occasionally, whether in 'Cross, or in XC. Their brother seems to be very much off-road.....

Surely they could do a big three or a Van Anrooij and they’d concentrate on the road but have a decent cx programme too. The womens side could do with some non-Dutchies!

 

[jono]

I think they've always wanted to focus on the road - the off-road is just a bonus. Hopefully we do see them occasionally, whether in 'Cross, or in XC. Their brother seems to be very much off-road.....

I'm not going to criticize any choice that they make, and surely the road will end up being the most lucrative option. I can imagine them continuing with a shortened CX season (not bothering with the USA calendar as there's nothing left to prove there). There are just so few Canadians near the top of any discipline in cycling (aside from some track which I can't get into) and I'd prefer to see them battling for cyclocross podiums if the possibility exists.

 

[awavey]

It would be very unfortunate if the Holmgrens left their off-road pursuits behind entirely in order to focus exclusively on road. I may be biased (Canadian) but they are among the most exciting prospects on the women's side of the sport.

It's not ruled out forever, just the near term focus for them is road, Sven mentioned mtb was possible this year, and that they could come back for a major cross program in the future.

 

[jono]

It's not ruled out forever, just the near term focus for them is road, Sven mentioned mtb was possible this year, and that they could come back for a major cross program in the future.

Thanks. Do you have a link to Sven's interview?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I'm not going to criticize any choice that they make, and surely the road will end up being the most lucrative option. I can imagine them continuing with a shortened CX season (not bothering with the USA calendar as there's nothing left to prove there). There are just so few Canadians near the top of any discipline in cycling (aside from some track which I can't get into) and I'd prefer to see them battling for cyclocross podiums if the possibility exists.

You've missed Finn Iles, Jackstone Goldstone.......


And the interview with Sven was also seen on Wielerflits:

Zusjes Holmgren plannen voorlopig geen toekomst in de cross

De talentvolle zussen Ava en Isabella Holmgren (beide 18) zullen hun vizier de komende jaren meer op de weg, en minder op het veldrijden leggen. Dat vertelt Sven Nys, die de twee meisjes van Lidl-Trek – ondanks de link met Nys’ Baloise Trek Lions – niet onder zijn hoede kreeg, aan WielerFlits...

www.wielerflits.nl

 

[AmRacer]

Well done Zoe.

 

[KZD]

First pro win in Europe for Zoe Bäckstedt beating Bakker and Van der Heijden in Gullegem.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Nice win for Bäckstedt. Unless she gets injured, there doesn't seem to be anything that will keep her from riding CX for years to come.

Let's hope Alvarado recovers for tomorrow's race.

 

[awavey]

bloomin typical isnt it, been watching all the races this season to see her win, till today and then she go wins the one race I wasnt watching

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Thread title should now be "What would be the point of giving Cameron Mason a front row start?"

 

[pmcg76]

Thread title should now be "What would be the point of giving Cameron Mason a front row start?"

Alvardo has back issues and will miss Zonhoven tomorrow. She could have wrapped up the Overall title, but will have to wait a bit longer. Hopefully she will only miss this week and that her back will not limit her going forward. She was back to her best so I want to see her stay there. Should be a straight battle between Puck and Brand unless Backstedt can get involved.

 

[theyoungest]

First pro win in Europe for Zoe Bäckstedt beating Bakker and Van der Heijden in Gullegem.

First win as a pro, but not her first pro win... she won the elite race in Essen when she was still a junior. Give her a long slog through the mud and she gets that big engine going.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Not seen so many opposite dismount riders at the front of a race in a long time. Vanthourenhout, Vermeersch, Loockx, and Laureyssen for a short bit. Last time I can think there was more than this would be back when Kevin Pauwels was still racing.