Race Thread

[Armchair Cyclist]

The best starter in women's racing has worst front row start I've seen for a long time.

Yet back in the top 3 within 90 seconds. Some stuff that adrenaline.

And several lengths clear after 2:15!

 

[glassmoon]

Backstedt sliding on her back...

 

[glassmoon]

Zoe clearly the strongest but the course is getting trickier by the time...

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Boring.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It looks like this will end up as a massacre, considering both Schreiber and Gery are often worse in the last part of a race. The fight for the other medals is hard to call though.

 

[jono]

What happened to Lauren Molengraaf? She was the heavy favorite two years ago in the junior race when Holmgren won. Today she's racing in the mid-20s with some of the second rate North American riders.

 

[theyoungest]

Boring.

I fear it will be the same this afternoon. MVDP will be gone after half a lap.

 

[theyoungest]

Schreiber is getting closer.

edit: ... and f.cked it up again.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What happened to Lauren Molengraaf? She was the heavy favorite two years ago in the junior race when Holmgren won. Today she's racing in the mid-20s with some of the second rate North American riders.

Ever since she crashed in that race, she's not been the same. And getting to work with Lars Boom doesn't seem to have helped her much either.

 

[glassmoon]

Amazing crowds though!

 

[theyoungest]

What happened to Lauren Molengraaf? She was the heavy favorite two years ago in the junior race when Holmgren won. Today she's racing in the mid-20s with some of the second rate North American riders.

She broke a finger last week in Maasmechelen. Not that she'd contend for the win otherwise, but it won't have helped.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This would of course have been a different race without Bäckstedt in it, but 30 seconds in-between each rider in the top 5 implies that it wouldn't necessarily have been a lot more interesting. Big gaps to the rest of the top 10.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Women U23

 

[jono]

So does what you've seen of the course in 5 races so far give you more or less hope for a Wout win (or at least a close race) than you had a week ago?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

So does what you've seen of the course in 5 races so far give you more or less hope for a Wout win (or at least a close race) than you had a week ago?

No, as much as I would love to see him win, I think the outcome is just as certain now as it was the day before Wout said he would ride. Mathieu is on another planet. It won't be close, and it won't take long for that to happen, barring a crash or flat or mechanical affecting Mathieu.

 

[Andy262]

Here's hoping for a Backstedt defeat. Go Holmgren.

Was Holmgren in the race?

 

[Davesta]

Was Holmgren in the race?

Yes, she finished 5th

 

[jono]

Was Holmgren in the race?

Indeed. Typical bad start, and was never in the mix. If she rides the first lap with the leading 4 I think she probably finishes 3rd, but she rode solo for 4 laps with no one really in sight in front of her, which is a hard way to stay motivated.

Still 3 years left in this age category to win a medal, should she choose to continue.

 

[Davesta]

No, as much as I would love to see him win, I think the outcome if just as certain now as it was the day before Wout said he would ride. Mathieu is on another planet. It won't be close, and it won't take long for that to happen, barring a crash or flat or mechanical affecting Mathieu.

I agree. The course looks like it’s becoming more technical and slippery, and I think we’ve seen from the last few weeks that Wout hasn’t spent enough time on his cross bike to have the technical sharpness he needs to trouble MvdP.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I think the big questions are whether Mathieu will harm that $300,000 watch he's wearing...or whether he will get mud on the seats of the Lambo...

 

[theyoungest]

Indeed. Typical bad start, and was never in the mix. If she rides the first lap with the leading 4 I think she probably finishes 3rd, but she rode solo for 4 laps with no one really in sight in front of her, which is a hard way to stay motivated.

Still 3 years left in this age category to win a medal, should she choose to continue.

No, two years. She's a 2nd year U23.

I agree. The course looks like it’s becoming more technical and slippery, and I think we’ve seen from the last few weeks that Wout hasn’t spent enough time on his cross bike to have the technical sharpness he needs to trouble MvdP.

Not the technique, but also simply not the power. Wout should be regarded as a very outside chance of a world title.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Wout is way back. No chance now. Mechanical or something?

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Great, about 7 seconds of excitement. Boring.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It's over already

 

[Davesta]

It was over after 1 corner!