Race Thread

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Super exciting race in Gavere!

Maybe Walsleben could have won if his gears didn't block at the bottom of that climb. He was clearly much stronger on the climb than Nys.

Nice win by Nys though, he finished very strong with that sprint, but I really wanted Walsleben to win.

 

[Echoes]

I'm not so sure Walsleben was so stronger.
He's normally faster in the sprint but a sprint at Asper Gavere is not like a sprint in Hasselt and he really seemed exhausted.

I've always liked Walsleben, he's very fun - as you could see in the pre-race interview. I also wanted him to win. Philipp Walsleben of Potsdam winning one of the most prestigious cyclocrosses in Belgium, that would have been quite a feat.

 

[Arredondo]

Super exciting race in Gavere!

Maybe Walsleben could have won if his gears didn't block at the bottom of that climb. He was clearly much stronger on the climb than Nys.

Nice win by Nys though, he finished very strong with that sprint, but I really wanted Walsleben to win.

Nys was stronger on the climb. Actually, he was much, much stronger on the climb. Nys is just in total control, he knows when he has get to the front. Walsleben did a superb job, but Nys was better in all facets today.

Albert isn't a real champion. Just riding hard is the only thing he can do. He doesn't have a great sprint, or start, and isn't good technically. It's easy to beat him as Nys.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Nys was stronger on the climb. Actually, he was much, much stronger on the climb. Nys is just in total control, he knows when he has get to the front. Walsleben did a superb job, but Nys was better in all facets today.

If you get a free gap at the foot of the climb, you don't end up gapped at the top of the climb if you're the strongest on the climb. Btw, I agree Nys could probably have gone harder and was just staying in control on the climb and so he would probably still have closed the gap and won the sprint, even without getting a free gap because of mechanical issues of Walsleben. Maybe I was overreacting a bit, reactiing right after they'd finished. But imo Walsleben getting a gap on Nys at the top of the climb, after he was behind because of his gear blocking at the foot of the climb was pretty crazy.

Climbing seems to be Walslebens greatest strength; sprinting after a hard cross less so. At least judging from this season.

Hoping Walsleben can win a big one this year.

 

[rghysens]

Nys was stronger on the climb. Actually, he was much, much stronger on the climb. Nys is just in total control, he knows when he has get to the front. Walsleben did a superb job, but Nys was better in all facets today.

In my opinion Walsleben was the strongest on the climb today. And in 9 out of 10 races in Gavere, the strongest on that climb, wins. I guess it just shows Nys class, tenacity and mastership that he overpowered Walsleben (and luck that Walsleben's chain got stuck).

 

[Echoes]

Climbing seems to be Walslebens greatest strength; sprinting after a hard cross less so. At least judging from this season.

Not just judging from this season, you know.

The first time I saw Walsy do well against the pros was in Overijse 2007. He was a 'piepjong' 1st year U23 at that time and finished 2nd behind Vantornout (though the top guns let it go). Overijse is a climb cross. Wuyts already said a year or two what you just said "it's relative but Walsleben is a climber in cyclocross."

In 2010 Walsleben was the only crosser to perform in the Ardennes stage of the Tour of Belgium and since then he's consistently one of the best crossers on the road.

So in a nutshell, I agree with you.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The mud was just right today.
Exciting racing.
The German will get even stronger, but he may need another road season before wins starts clocking up.

 

[Arredondo]

Today was the third round of the Worldcup, with the famous 'zand' cross of Koksijde (known of the amount of sand). Niels Albert, the king of Koksijde, won today with dominant style. After he became WC in 2012, and his first win in 2011, it is his third titel here in Koksijde.

Francis Mourey, who isn't a sand specialist at all (and my favorite crosser!) became 2nd after a exciting fight with Philipp Walsleben, who became 3rd. Sven Nys had a race with bad luck and could only managed 4th, in front of Pauwels. Lars van der Haar only was 10th, but holds his lead with 2 points on Walsleben.

1. Albert
2. Mourey
3. Walsleben
4. Nys
5. Pauwels
6. Meeusen
7. Aernouts
8. Vantornout
9. Van Kessel
10. Van der Haar

Tomorrow part 2 of the sand races, with the Superprestige of Gieten, in the Netherlands!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Do we have an update on Bosmans? He was carted off on a stretcher with a neck brace, and when he went down he stayed down and did not move a muscle that we saw until we saw him on the stretcher.

 

[Arredondo]

Do we have an update on Bosmans? He was carted off on a stretcher with a neck brace, and when he went down he stayed down and did not move a muscle that we saw until we saw him on the stretcher.

According to his FB and website of BKCP, he regained conciousness shortly after the crash. Still no further update.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Now have this:
http://www.cyclo-cross.info/cyclocross/2013/11/23/bosmans-naar-ziekenhuis-hersenschudding/

So, concussion, suspected jaw fracture, dental problems.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Yeah Bosmans crash looked really nasty, seems to be less nasty than the crash looked, but he he has a bad concussion and jaw fracture that could still be pretty bad I guess

Exciting race though, obviously a sand cross like this isn't Van Der Haar's forte, nd recently his form hasn't been too good (obviously he peaked for those first two World Cups crosses which were suited to him), but he really was kind of bad today, without Bosmans crashing he wouldn't even have been top 10. I hope Van Der Haar will be a bit better in Namur, although Namur should be more suited to him, it should also be a lot more suited to Walsleben. My nationality forces me to support Van Der Haar, but Walsy winning the world cup would be nice too.

 

[Arredondo]

Yeah Bosmans crash looked really nasty, seems to be less nasty than the crash looked, but he he has a bad concussion and jaw fracture that could still be pretty bad I guess

Exciting race though, obviously a sand cross like this isn't Van Der Haar's forte, nd recently his form hasn't been too good (obviously he peaked for those first two World Cups crosses which were suited to him), but he really was kind of bad today, without Bosmans crashing he wouldn't even have been top 10. I hope Van Der Haar will be a bit better in Namur, although Namur should be more suited to him, it should also be a lot more suited to Walsleben. My nationality forces me to support Van Der Haar, but Walsy winning the world cup would be nice too.

If Namen will be muddy, it will be to hard for VDH. He has to be happy with a 7th or 8th place then.

I expect Mourey and Nys battle for victory in Namen, with a good Walsleben and Pauwels to. Namen is suited to Pauwels don't forget.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Sporza says Bosmans only has a concussion and stitches - I hope this version of the story is true.

With Albert probably fading again tomorrow in Gieten I can see it being a duel between Vantornout and Nys, although Walsleben and Pauwels might be good too. But Pauwels is not that good in sand if I'm not mistaken. I really hope for his return to the top though, I always liked his team tactics with Vantornout last year.

 

[Arredondo]

Interesting interview with Mourey

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mourey-unhappy-about-not-getting-invited-to-superprestige-series

This is the biggest problem of cyclocross. Inviting al kinds of ****ty Belgian crossers, but not a top rider like Francis Mourey. The only foreigner (more van VDHR and Walsleben) who can beat the Belgiums on every soil. Cyclocross is going to kill itself if they don't invite great foreign cyclocrossers

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Yeah, would be nice to see Mourey more.

Albert apparently winning two crosses in one weekend for the first time, nice for him, but only due to Van Der Haar fumbling with his pedals.

 

[Echoes]

In English, Namen is called Namur.

Mourey races the Challenge national. He explained a few years ago that as French it's his duty to race French races because organizers of the Challenge national expected to see the best French and that if every French rider came to Belgium to ride cyclocross, Belgian organizers would be rubbing their hands and cyclocross in France would disappear. I, as a Belgian, understood perfectly. So I don't really know why he's whining there, he's made his choices.


Oh and those "sh*tty" Belgian crossers have as much right to race Belgian cyclocross than Mourey. Otherwise where would they race ???

 

[De Snelle Duif]

I am wondering how much starting money a guy like Mourey would ask. It can't be that much if French organizers can pay him.

I really hate this "winter holiday" that the cyclocross competitions take. I want to be able to watch cyclocross every weekend

 

[Gung Ho Gun]

I am wondering how much starting money a guy like Mourey would ask. It can't be that much if French organizers can pay him.

I really hate this "winter holiday" that the cyclocross competitions take. I want to be able to watch cyclocross every weekend

Blame the Basque people!

 

[Kwibus]

1 Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team 1:02:38
2 Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Enertherm-BKCP 0:00:05
3 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus 0:00:13
4 Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:15
5 Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team
6 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:28
7 Wout Van Aert (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:31
8 Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team 0:00:42
9 Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team
10 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team


18 years old...Quite amazing.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Yeah amazing!

Wout Van Aert, who is only a few months older I think, got a similar result before though, but he ended up 7th this time. Van Aert is also an incredible talent though.

But yeah, 18 years old beating all these top class riders, it's amazing! Can't wait till this guy joins the elites!

 

[Gung Ho Gun]

Similar to Boom and Albert, let's hope for the sake of cyclocross they don't go for a road career - especially Van Der Poel of course, Van Aert can probably make a lot more money as a crosser

 

[Arredondo]

First win for Kevin Pauwels in Kalmthout, in the limelight. He beat Lars van der Haar after a nice fight. Klaas Vantornout became 3th, in front of Niels Albert and Tom Meeusen.

Sven Nys crashed twice and sat up in the end of the race (13th). Mourey had a bad day, and was only 11th.

1. Pauwels
2. VdH
3. Vantornout
4. Albert
5. Meeusen

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Yesterday, Van Der Poel second again behind Albert, only lost in the foto finish. Lol, born in 1995 and al ready riding equal with the best elite riders.

1. Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus)
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Enetherm-BKCP)
3. Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea)
4. Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL Trans)
5. Laurens Sweeck (KDL Trans)
6. Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus)
7. Martin Bina (Kwadro-Stannah)
8. Bart Aernouts (AA Drink CT)
9. Dieter Vanthourenhout (BKCP-Powerplus)
10. Francis Mourey (Equipe FDJ)

 

[Echoes]

Nice to see Sweeck also in the mix.

By the way, strictly for you, Maarten (haven't counted how many a's, lol), my Lars van der Haar pics from Overijse.

I like this one but too big to embed lol: http://imageshack.com/a/img819/7306/aem3.jpg

I was glad to see that he's as funny and friendly off as on camera, though I was already sure of it. Always smiling. So many athletes and other stars seem nice on camera but are really rude in real life and I definitely don't count him in.