Race Thread

[sam6]

So the question for tomorrow is will van der Poel win by more or less than what van Empel won by today?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Looks like it's going to be no golds for Belgium this year.

The only realistic chance they had was the U23 men. Maybe if that crash at the start of the race doesn't happen, they can swamp the front of the race and take turns attacking/following, but now a lot of the boys were out of contention too early. Probably wouldn't have mattered, and the only thing that could have changed the outcome, was if Nys had chosen to ride the U23 again.

Anyway, news of the day must be Verdonschot beating more than half the Dutch squad. She's had a very good season but i would never have guessed she was going to finish so close to Alvarado, and ahead of Worst, Van der Heijden, Betsema, Bakker and Van Alphen. I had honestly given up on her a few years ago.

In the men's category, we could easily see a new Belgian World-champion though. All that is needed is some gutsy tactics...

 

[Pantani_lives]

Cross-country races with Van der Poel always have a lot of suspense.

• Will he get away in the first or in the second lap?
• Can he win by a bigger margin than Van Empel?
• Will he jump over the boards?
• Will he spit upon the spectators?
• How many owners of a sports car will be on the podium?

 

[theyoungest]

* * * * Stefano Viezzi, Aubin Sparfel
* * * Senna Remijn, Jules Simon, Albert Withen Philipsen
* * Keije Solen, Arthur Van Den Boer, Zsombor Takacs, David Thompson
* Paul Seixas, Krystof Bazant, Michiel Mouris, Mats Vanden Eynde, Barnabas Vas

Viezzi vs. Sparfel is the main attraction of the week as far as duels go. There's hardly any margin between them, they trade victories like it's Pokemon cards and the World Cup was decided by a hair. It's 50,1 against 49,9. Viezzi started the season like a rocket, only to lose ground to Sparfel midseason, only to reclaim the throne just last week in Hoogerheide. In normal circumstances, these two will fight for gold. However, I am counting on a very good Remijn tomorrow. He has been the disappointment of the season, but has regained form in prior weeks. If he wakes up with good sensations, he can become world champion. I have less faith in Simon, who is Mr. Consistency, but hardly ever wins. Good candidate for a medal, though. The French will have strength in numbers, with Seixas, Vassal and Vezie in their ranks too. Which brings us to the dark horse, the super talent: Albert Withen Philipsen. This is his race, the one he has been working towards all winter. Didn't care about winning, just about getting points to get himself the best possible starting row. He worked himself up from rank #86 all the way to 24th. Row 3 it is. He is fresher than everyone here, nobody can hang with him when it comes to pure watts. Question is: how well does he start? In Hoogerheide he was in the top 5 after just half a lap. If he is able to replicate this, the world title is in his grasp. To complete a never before-seen trilogy of rainbows.

On this course, if it's anything like yesterday, Philipsen seems to me the obvious favourite. He has a physical advantage over his age group, he's just bigger and more powerful than them, and this course is all about power. He's not a dark horse.

Anyway, news of the day must be Verdonschot beating more than half the Dutch squad. She's had a very good season but i would never have guessed she was going to finish so close to Alvarado, and ahead of Worst, Van der Heijden, Betsema, Bakker and Van Alphen. I had honestly given up on her a few years ago.

Was it really that surprising though? It's certainly a great result for her, but based on the last few weeks it's not that strange she did better than all those women, and was close to a fading Alvarado.

What was surprising in retrospect is that she didn't become Belgian champion.

 

[pelotonIQ]

How much distance are they riding?

 

[RedheadDane]

How much distance are they riding?

That would depend on how fast they're going.

 

[theyoungest]

Junior men riding faster than yesterday's U23s. The course is a bit faster today (at least this morning).

 

[DNP-Old]

A flat tire deciding between these two is fitting.

 

[Didinho]

Sparfel flat tyre. Really bad timing. Long course.

Viezzi lol. Keep calm.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Well done to Viezzi, an Italian World Champion in CX is good to see - can he stay in CX? And will he get a WT contract?
A shame for Sparfel, but his talent has already been seen, and will have other days.

 

[theyoungest]

That was a good race. Unfortunately decided by a flat tire. Great (almost) comeback by Solen.

Four Frenchmen and three Dutchies in the top-10... and no Belgians. Does this mean something for the future of cyclocross? Probably not.

 

[DNP-Old]

Well done to Viezzi, an Italian World Champion in CX is good to see - can he stay in CX? And will he get a WT contract?
A shame for Sparfel, but his talent has already been seen, and will have other days.

I haven't heard or read anything in regards to Viezzi's future aspirations and ambitions. He has done some racing on the road in the national scene, where he went toe to toe with some of Italy's best juniors, but whether this is just to keep up his condition during the summer or if it's something he wishes to pursue in the future we'll find out soon enough.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

That was a good race. Unfortunately decided by a flat tire. Great (almost) comeback by Solen.

Four Frenchmen and three Dutchies in the top-10... and no Belgians. Does this mean something for the future of cyclocross? Probably not.

Those French will probably disappear if history is anything to go by......though both Bisiaux & Sparfel have both said they want to continue......their team might not.

 

[RedheadDane]

Those French will probably disappear if history is anything to go by......though both Bisiaux & Sparfel have both said they want to continue......their team might not.

The team let Venturini continue doing CX when he was riding for them. My limited knowledge of CX aside, I don't think I'm offending anyone by saying that both Bisiaux and Sparfel are slightly more talented than Venturini.

Interestingly, the Danish commentators were actually talking about how Daniel Weis - the Danish Elite Champion - has picked the right team, because Ag2R lets riders do CX.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Zoe Bäckstedt won gold with the juniors two years ago, and silver with the U23 last year. She's already doing well in pro races, so she's the favorite for today.

Other candidates are Schreiber, Bentveld and Zemanova.

 

[RedheadDane]

Danish Commentator: "It's a rare (CX) race with only two Dutch riders at the start."

Otoh, two of the three Dutch women on the podium in the Elite Race yesterday could have ridden the U23 race if they'd so desired..

 

[glassmoon]

Zoe so powerful and still only 19yo

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why didn't Sanna Cant yesterday wear the jersey she won in the Belgium nat's?
Others are in their winners jerseys at the Worlds.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Danish Commentator: "It's a rare (CX) race with only two Dutch riders at the start."

Otoh, two of the three Dutch women on the podium in the Elite Race yesterday could have ridden the U23 race if they'd so desired..

Actually they couldnt't since they've already done the elite race before.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Zoe so powerful and still only 19yo

great race for Silver

 

[RedheadDane]

Actually they couldnt't since they've already done the elite race before.

I meant age-wise... if they'd desired to continue riding U23 without moving up early, they could have done so.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Zemanová and Bentveld have a good fight going. Molengraaf could possibly have been part of it if she could run and jump today.

 

[DNP-Old]

Molengraaf loses a minute every time she has to cross the barriers, embarrassing.

 

[theyoungest]

Molengraaf loses a minute every time she has to cross the barriers, embarrassing.

This is by far her best cross of the season. Walking is not her forte, as it isn't for a lot of these girls.

 

[jono]

If Isabella Holmgren didn't take half the race to get warmed up, she would have been challenging for 2nd. Lap times: 12:46, 12:33, 12:00, 11:55. By far the fastest rider on course in the second half.