Race Thread

[Coffeeplanter]

That was boring.

 

[jono]

No Canadians racing at all in the elites. Curious.

 

[Lequack]

That was boring.

Without Wout or Pidcock to at least push MVDP, yes it's a bit boring.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

That was boring.

AF

 

[stonerider]

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

If he wants a challenge racing off-road then, we know where that is........

 

[awavey]

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

didnt he actually say post race the day before alot of his mistakes/crashes came about because he was bored in the race and not concentrating as much as he should.

 

[AmRacer]

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

I think he wants eighth so he will ride next season too.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

If CX gets added to the Olympic winter programme he might be forced to ride regardless. NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic comittee) is notoriously ludicrously harsh when it comes to selections and qualifications, much tougher than what the Olympics themselves prescribe and advice. I could totally see some insane cumulative quantity ranking be the decisive factor.

 

[Wyndbrook]

MVDP may have been showboating on the mini pump track, but more importantly.
1 Is he too old to jump the planks ? A young man's game today.
2 Was the sister a looker and was he tempted?
3 What did he think of the 'allez Pogacar ' banner as he passed it each lap?

 

[theyoungest]

If CX gets added to the Olympic winter programme he might be forced to ride regardless. NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic comittee) is notoriously ludicrously harsh when it comes to selections and qualifications, much tougher than what the Olympics themselves prescribe and advice. I could totally see some insane cumulative quantity ranking be the decisive factor.

It wasn't NOCNSF who made qualifying for the MTB so difficult. Their criteria actually weren't that harsh, I believe it was top-10 in a world cup or in the Euros/Worlds. If they use something similar for cyclocross he'll easily qualify... according to the NOCNSF standards, that is.

I think it's not just the fans who are bored. I suspect MvdP is bored as well and would relish to be challenged for the win. After he wins the World Championship this year, I would not be surprised if MvdP takes 2 or 3 years off from CX racing and then comes back for a farewell tour after his road powers have diminished a little.

It's quite lucrative though, for something which clearly costs him no effort at all and which he doesn't even really specifically need to train for.

 

[jono]

What's required for competitive cross racing on the men's side is an off-form, coming back from injury MVDP and an at least somewhat invested Wout. That was the formula for close racing in the 22-23 season. Or no Mathieu. His level is simply too far beyond everyone else, and at least part of the reason he gets away so early is the other racers don't even bother with trying to follow and race as if he isn't even on the start list.

 

[awavey]

It wasn't NOCNSF who made qualifying for the MTB so difficult. Their criteria actually weren't that harsh, I believe it was top-10 in a world cup or in the Euros/Worlds. If they use something similar for cyclocross he'll easily qualify... according to the NOCNSF standards, that is.


It's quite lucrative though, for something which clearly costs him no effort at all and which he doesn't even really specifically need to train for.

I dunno those Lamboghinis cost alot to keep fueling up to drive to these races

 

[awavey]

What's required for competitive cross racing on the men's side is an off-form, coming back from injury MVDP and an at least somewhat invested Wout. That was the formula for close racing in the 22-23 season. Or no Mathieu. His level is simply too far beyond everyone else, and at least part of the reason he gets away so early is the other racers don't even bother with trying to follow and race as if he isn't even on the start list.

part of that is because for most of them good finishing positions in the overall world cup are very lucrative, if you chased MVDP who may or may not even do all the rounds, sure theres glory if you beat him that one time,but equally you could completely wreck your race doing it, and suffer the consequences in the standings and gridding for the next race and they cant afford to do that.

so they treat him as if he isnt part of the race and dont bother chasing him, because theres no point, the battle is between all of them, not them vs MVDP.

 

[jono]

MVDP won't do all the rounds but he'll likely finish 2nd overall in the World Cup series. First not out of the realm of possibility if Vantourenhout picks up an injury or Mathieu changes his mind about Benidorm.

 

[stonerider]

MVDP may have been showboating on the mini pump track, but more importantly.
1 Is he too old to jump the planks ? A young man's game today.
2 Was the sister a looker and was he tempted?
3 What did he think of the 'allez Pogacar ' banner as he passed it each lap?

MvdP is finally showing a little maturity and is trying to avoid taking unnecessary risks. What frustrated me immensely in the past was his frequent crashes which resulted in knee and back injuries that would take a while for him to recover from. When I saw one of the best jumpers in CX running the planks I knew he was using his head and playing it safe. He has a World Championship to win. No one can make him lose that World Championship except him injuring himself or illness.

 

[theyoungest]

I dunno those Lamboghinis cost alot to keep fueling up to drive to these races

And for this particular race, a private jet.

 

[RedheadDane]

The shortest person* in the race is the first to try to bunny-hop.




*At least I'm assuming Anna Kay is the shortest, yes, even shorter than the juniors.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Vandeputte acquiring the moral victory with that whip

 

[RedheadDane]

Vanthourenhout having problems with his shoes.
Again...



Also, Foldager 18th in the women's race. Not bad for a 17-year-old.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Also, Foldager 18th in the women's race. Not bad for a 17-year-old.

It mostly says something about the quality of the field, but at least she wasn't lapped like Pieterse.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Van der Poel MIA equals epic race.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Heart rate 200 atm, insane race.

 

[jono]

Van der Poel MIA equals epic race.

So much negative racing, but on a cross course like this it’s entertaining.

 

[KZD]

Great race, Sweeck beats Vandeputte and Nys that had a gear issue in the end.

Brand won the women's race.