Wouldn't have worked. Del Grosso is not stupid.
Ronhaar didn't do much wrong. It's Van der Haar who needs a better start to be able to challenge for wins. He used to be Van der Holeshot, but toward the end of his career he's the complete opposite.
Ronhaar didn't do much wrong. It's Van der Haar who needs a better start to be able to challenge for wins. He used to be Van der Holeshot, but toward the end of his career he's the complete opposite.
There were very few opportunities to pass on that course, and as we've seen del Grosso doesn't mind taking it to a sprint. Being in front and controlling the pace and rhythm of the race is a good option if you are not the best on the day. Every tactic is a gamble, but Pim played the worst set of cards that he had and paid for it immediately.
MVDP sitting out Benidorm.
Could set up some drama in the World Cup overall competition. Assuming van der Poel wins in Maaschelen and Hoogerheide, Thibau Nys would need to do no worse than 1-3-3 or 2-2-2 in the three remaining World Cups to finish level with Mathieu. Not sure what tiebreakers are in place after that.
Could set up some drama in the World Cup overall competition. Assuming van der Poel wins in Maaschelen and Hoogerheide, Thibau Nys would need to do no worse than 1-3-3 or 2-2-2 in the three remaining World Cups to finish level with Mathieu. Not sure what tiebreakers are in place after that.
Given that there are a lot of cross races outside the World Cup events, how much status/gravitas is there in winning the WC overall title? I know in some sports like FIS Alpine Skiing, winning the globe for the overall is a big deal. But the points for that trophy come from all of the races those pros complete in across 4 disciplines. For Alpine elite, There are no separate events for outside the WC schedule, whereas cross has things like the Superprestige series (and I forget the other one) where top riders also participate. I'm not trying to minimize the achievement of the cross racers who win it; just trying to get ideal of the scale.
- Jul 9, 2009
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I don't think the CX World Cup is as important in CX, as the MTB World Cup is in the MTB World......Super Prestige, X20 Badkammers Trophy also see the top riders racing......riders will target different series. And there is the travel outside Flanders......It's not popular, so a rest, or training camp in the sun is an alternative.
Its one of the reasons the UCI wanted to make changes so CX racers have to prioritise the CX World Cup. You'd never see a XC racer miss a World Cup to race a Swiss Bike Cup, or French series race......as they don't clash. A CX World Cup should really take up the whole weekend - and the other series fit around it.......but that won't happen.
No beer and no frites and no euro disco in Belgium at a cycling race !!! 🤯
Are they governmentless again 🤔
No. They do have a prime minister who believes Belgium shouldn't exist though.
(a previous PM when asked to sing the Belgian national anthem went "alors enfants de la patrie..." so I don't know what's worse)
Armchair Cyclist
Moderator
- Mar 22, 2010
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Thanks, that gives me a better idea about it. And it doesn't appear to matter that much to the throngs of fans at these races
- Jan 3, 2019
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Hopefully a Nys-Del Grosso showdown on the new uphill finish (it's that hill where those amazing nuclear shots from MvdP, WVA and TN were taken in the past).
Could go on the MTB thread, but the UCI MTB Teams list has been published, and Trinity Racing have Rafaelle Carrier on their team.........
Yeah, Thibau vs. Tibor would have been a nice battle on that course. Now we already know the winner.
And we're supposed to believe that MVDP is thinking about skipping an entire CX season? He can't even skip one race.
I understand the sentiment, but Benidorm is not a course where I'd expect MVDP to dominate or even finish on a gap. In his 2 appearances he has won in a 2 up sprint and finished 5th.
- Jul 9, 2009
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In this era of training camps and long breaks from racing for preparation I kind of like the explanation. Racers should want to race!
Maybe this is the one race in future he keeps on his schedule, round of golf in the morning and rocks up to race in the afternoon.
- May 3, 2010
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MvdP's last defeat in cyclo-cross was in Benidorm 2024, when he crashed twice. Let's see if he can stay undefeated for two whole years.
- Feb 24, 2015
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A bit of nostalgia. Sven Nys GP 2006, about 10 years ago. A race where most of today’s best racers participated and some of yesterday’s hard hitters;
View: https://youtu.be/mH3coPmHvXY?si=A0gM0-k8zccr5J3h
Quite fun to watch. So many good races since then.
Quite fun to watch. So many good races since then.
Course preview:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70mQ6F-HYz4
Definitely not as dry and fast than last year.
Definitely not as dry and fast than last year.
Moving the start-finish to the paved climb makes it even more likely that MVDP happily rides with the group for the entire race. No need to attack in any of the other sections when he knows he can nuke everyone in the finish.
Boring, but fast, group riding on the menu.
Edit: just watched the preview. Not the dust bowl of previous seasons. The first half of the course has a few wet sections, but will otherwise be basically smooth hardpack by the time the men's elites get to racing. Ironically, the more typical CX conditions on the grassy sections in the second half of the lap will make it worse for those who prefer an 'exciting race' (read: MVDP not winning).
Boring, but fast, group riding on the menu.
Edit: just watched the preview. Not the dust bowl of previous seasons. The first half of the course has a few wet sections, but will otherwise be basically smooth hardpack by the time the men's elites get to racing. Ironically, the more typical CX conditions on the grassy sections in the second half of the lap will make it worse for those who prefer an 'exciting race' (read: MVDP not winning).
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Both Junior World Cups won by Italian riders......good to see them producing talent; now can they keep them in U23/ Elites??
- May 5, 2010
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Okay... I hate the first race after national championships! So confusing with some people wearing NC jerseys, and others... not...
For example; I didn't recognise Fouquenet at first. Of course, also doesn't help that I'm still thinking of her as an Arkea rider...
For example; I didn't recognise Fouquenet at first. Of course, also doesn't help that I'm still thinking of her as an Arkea rider...
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