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Race Thread

Page 262 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Putting my Maple Leaf glasses on (they rarely come off here, tbh) Canada had the top teenaged finishers in both elite races: 17yo Rafaelle Carrier in 19th, and 19yo Ian Ackert in 23rd.

Maghalie Rochette injured her finger somehow at Herentals and flew home a day early.

Carrier had a 10th at Baal last year, so perhaps she specializes in hard, muddy courses.
 
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Can anyone explain why Puck started from the second row? She had no points but could start ahead of others who already had points in the world cup standing.
I think it was because the first 16 world cup ranked riders get precidence, then on world rankings, as the highest uci ranked rider not in the top 16, 5th uci ranked Puck scraped on the second row because only 15 of the top world cup ranked were there (no Moors).
 
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Putting my Maple Leaf glasses on (they rarely come off here, tbh) Canada had the top teenaged finishers in both elite races: 17yo Rafaelle Carrier in 19th, and 19yo Ian Ackert in 23rd.

Maghalie Rochette injured her finger somehow at Herentals and flew home a day early.

Carrier had a 10th at Baal last year, so perhaps she specializes in hard, muddy courses.
I wonder what Isabella Holmgren could have done on that course.........It usually suits MTB riders.
 
Namur is really the perfect CX course. A split second of a little less concentration and you're down. A course for the cool, collected, technical rider that can keep it together for a full hour. Cannot remember how many times we have seen riders lose it in Namur. This time it was Toon Aerts. I think it was in 2019 when Pidcock overcooked it and lost the the third spot to Van Kessel?
 
Holmgren has dominated MTB in the junior and U23 ranks because she is a superior climber - a W/kg monster. I think she can do well with a heavy course, but I don't know how she'd handle the technical challenges of Namur.
Those Namur climbs are right up her street - and if you can finish 5th (1st U23) in the Elite MTB Worlds in Andorra, with the rooty climbs and descents - she'd be capable of a good result (Top 10) I'm sure.
 
At Namur, it's all about the long off camber section. Puck lost all of her momentum in that section each lap and that is where Toon lost the race win. Ceylin and Lucinda were killing it in that section, as well as Michael V. in the men's race.
 
At Namur, it's all about the long off camber section. Puck lost all of her momentum in that section each lap and that is where Toon lost the race win. Ceylin and Lucinda were killing it in that section, as well as Michael V. in the men's race.
Brand rode it in full at least once without dabbing. That was impressive.

If Aerts doesn't endo twice on that section he wins...
 
We can hope that MvdP shows up out of shape, like he did for the TdF this year. I'd love to see Wout, or someone else, beat him this year before he reaches top form. It probably won't be Eli beating him...just MvdP releasing his schedule has gotten into his head.
I don't see it happening. Even with MVDP less than fully cooked, I think you need someone to separate themselves from the pack a bit before they can challenge him. A few years ago, Pidcock. Last year Nieuwenhuis was closest. At the beginning of this year there were a few times it looked like Thibau would be that guy, but he's fallen off.

The most consistent and impressive rider right now is Vantourenhout. I just can't see him getting it done.
 
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We will have to look to the next generation of riders. TNys looked promising but has yet to live up to expectations. Ronhaar also looked great last year but quite not so this year. Maybe Verstrynge, Kuypers, Michels, Dockx or someone else?
 
We will have to look to the next generation of riders. TNys looked promising but has yet to live up to expectations. Ronhaar also looked great last year but quite not so this year. Maybe Verstrynge, Kuypers, Michels, Dockx or someone else?
Ronhaar and Nys are probably the best bets among young riders. Nieuwenhuis was probably the 2nd best overall last season, but both he and Ronhaar have been dealing with illness and injury this year.
 
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Excited for the Holmgrens, i think they could be Backstedt/Schreiber level, or maybe better in a few years.

On Ronhaar i think he’s almost back to where he should be. Nys on the other hand seems to be all over the place since he won the Euros.
 
Excited for the Holmgrens, i think they could be Backstedt/Schreiber level, or maybe better in a few years.

On Ronhaar i think he’s almost back to where he should be. Nys on the other hand seems to be all over the place since he won the Euros.
I know Schreiber and Backstedt have been on a similar level this year, but I think Backstedt is the better rider and will prove as much over the course of the season. I expect the Holmgrens, or at least Isabella, to be mixing it up with the Bentvelds and Schreibers of the world this season, and end up a little off the level of Zoe, especially when (if?) all compete in U23s at worlds.