Race Thread

[Sciatic]

Big North American contingent for this weekend's World Cups. Of note, the Holmgrens (all 3!) will be making their World Cup and European debuts for the season. Both newly-minted USA elite champs will be in action. And the women's junior category could feature several American and Canadian riders in the top 10.

I think there’s optimism for the US junior women to make a mark, but at the elite level will be nowhere to seen.

 

[jono]

I think there’s optimism for the US junior women to make a mark, but at the elite level will be nowhere to seen.

A few years ago Vida Lopez de San Roman was at a similar level to the Holmgren twins. All will be racing elites this year. She's likely the only USA women's rider with the chance to make any sort of impression beyond the junior level.

 

[Wyndbrook]

A few years ago Vida Lopez de San Roman was at a similar level to the Holmgren twins. All will be racing elites this year. She's likely the only USA women's rider with the chance to make any sort of impression beyond the junior level.

Will be interesting to see over the next few weeks where she is in comparison to Celia Gery and Cat Ferguson. She was generally around two minutes down last season. Grid position will be against her, world ranked ranked sixty.

 

[jono]

Will be interesting to see over the next few weeks where she is in comparison to Celia Gery and Cat Ferguson. She was generally around two minutes down last season. Grid position will be against her, world ranked ranked sixty.

Probably a closer comp is Rafaelle Carrier, who will still do the junior races this year, when there is one, but has had some decent elite results (19th at Namur last weekend, 17th and 10th at Koksijde and Baal last season).

 

[Sciatic]

A few years ago Vida Lopez de San Roman was at a similar level to the Holmgren twins. All will be racing elites this year. She's likely the only USA women's rider with the chance to make any sort of impression beyond the junior level.

Thanks —I hadn’t realized she had moved up to elites.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Probably a closer comp is Rafaelle Carrier, who will still do the junior races this year, when there is one, but has had some decent elite results (19th at Namur last weekend, 17th and 10th at Koksijde and Baal last season).

Will be difficult this weekend then, my point was to compare with riders in the same age category who she will regularly compete against.

 

[Sciatic]

World’s still a possibility for Wout:
“today his Sporting Director does not rule out seeing his protégé, at the beginning of February, in Liévin.”

Wout van Aert quand même présent aux Mondiaux de cyclocross? Visma laisse planer le doute - RTBF Actus

En théorie Wout van Aert ne devait participer qu’à 6 cyclocross cet hiver. Le coureur de la Visma ne prévoyait pas...

www.rtbf.be

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Puck Recon Hulst

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOgtEHqjIT0

 

[pmcg76]

Fem not racing this weekend unfortunately. Crashed in training and injured her knee. Definitely has not been her season.

Fem van Empel injured during training ride and forced to miss key World Cup weekend

As the season runs longer and longer, more cyclocross riders face difficult obstacles in injuries and illnesses. This weekend is a very important one with the World Cup races in Hulst and Zonhoven, bu...

cyclinguptodate.com

I think this also means the World Cup title is already Brand's unless something happens her as well. That is a downside to a double WC weekend, miss it and there is little chance of going for the overall.

 

[Gwbert]

Puck Recon Hulst

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOgtEHqjIT0

I’ve always loved Hulst. Those descents look crazy. Pucks videos are great too.

 

[Gwbert]

Looks different to the last few years

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Looks different to the last few years

I believe it is being ridden in the opposite direction (or parts of it are)

 

[JR1012]

Schreiber. 😯💪
First non Dutch women world cup win since 2021.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Tough race for the women. Schreiber obviously benefited from being alone in front, but last season she would never had been able to defend a lead like that.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Mason absolutely charging through the field. It's about time.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Strohmeyer having a respectable race

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Going to be an Alpecin weekend.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Actually, Orts has a real shot here!!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Orts equals Iserbyt in the standings

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Schreiber. 😯💪
First non Dutch women world cup win since 2021.

At last - the sport needs more countries up at the front in the women's races, otherwise it just looks like a parochial sport.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Will be interesting to see over the next few weeks where she is in comparison to Celia Gery and Cat Ferguson. She was generally around two minutes down last season. Grid position will be against her, world ranked ranked sixty.

Four seconds behind Isabella Holmgren and six behind Gery suggests she did pretty well.
Unfortunately Ferguson crashed on the big drop and was taken to hospital.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Two junior world cups so far, two different first year junior winners..
First time a year one has won since Nys five years ago. Ronhaar in 2017 and Matthew himself in 2011.
Exalted company for Geil Lejeune and Soren Bruyere.

 

[jono]

Four seconds behind Isabella Holmgren and six behind Gery suggests she did pretty well.
Unfortunately Ferguson crashed on the big drop and was taken to hospital.

I don't think either rider will be happy with those results. I expect some better finishes from Isabella and Vida over the Christmas period. Both have barely raced so far this year, and a tough course for their first European race of the season is a bit of a rude introduction.

Ava finishing nearly a minute and a half ahead of her sister is surprising.

 

[Bolder]

Orts equals Iserbyt in the standings

Monster ride by VdP the lesser (NVDP?). Orts always looks like he's in the red but that's just his race face, I guess.

Vanthourenhout crashed about 6 times. I thought he was going to catch Vandeputte in the first few laps but he just kept going down.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Monster ride by VdP the lesser (NVDP?). Orts always looks like he's in the red but that's just his race face, I guess.

Vanthourenhout crashed about 6 times. I thought he was going to catch Vandeputte in the first few laps but he just kept going down.

Excellent ride by Vandeputte. He really shines when conditions are difficult and technical. Must’ve been one of the most difficult course conditions in a long time. Well deserved victory! Fun to see Orts high up and a little bit surprising that MVTH had such a difficult day. Yet he kept going and didn’t cave in.