Race Thread

[Bolder]

I missed these huge advantages for Van der Poel
Pidcock is not having a good day but Van Aert doesn't look much better either

I think Wout is playing for second; he lost too much with the flat to come back to MVDP. I don't think it's really an off day, no sense in blowing up with no chance to win. Edit: and now Wout is opening up a gap on the rest of the chasers.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, I have a few questions about teams...

Alpecin-Fenix is Alpecin-Fenix, both here and on the road, right? Except with the ladies, because two is a bit few for a road racing team.

Telenet-Baloise Lions is a conti-team on the road, but also the cross team for Trek-Segafredo? Mostly noticable with Brand, but if say... Stuyven randomly woke up one morning and decided to do a cross race, he'd ride in Telenet kit as well?

Tormans is Wanty?

And then there are riders - most noticable Van Aert - who just represents their road teams, and flies solo?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Obviously Wout was just taking it easy after his race was over in the first or second lap. His 8th lap was 2 seconds faster than Mathieu's 2nd lap (when he attacked). On the other hand, maybe Pidcock was also taking it easy with tomorrow in mind.

 

[Ricco']

So, I have a few questions about teams...

Alpecin-Fenix is Alpecin-Fenix, both here and on the road, right? Except with the ladies, because two is a bit few for a road racing team.

Telenet-Baloise Lions is a conti-team on the road, but also the cross team for Trek-Segafredo? Mostly noticable with Brand, but if say... Stuyven randomly woke up one morning and decided to do a cross race, he'd ride in Telenet kit as well?

Tormans is Wanty?

And then there are riders - most noticable Van Aert - who just represents their road teams, and flies solo?

Right about Alpecin. The ladies of the Roodhooft brothers's teams (Alpecin, 777.be, Credishop, Iko-Crelan) all race under the same banner on the road (I think it's something like Ciclismo Mundial, but that will probably change with some sponsors, since there were talks before COVID about them forming an UCI women's team on their own right for the road).

I wouldn't say Telenet - Baloise is Trek's team on the cross since they have their own Trek Factory team (with Evie Richards, Jolanda Neff and Maddie Munro), who is also very much related to their MTB team (and if not for the same name, because both teams have Jolanda and Evie). But do to the short amount of ladies on Telenet, they have a strong connection and Lucinda Brand and Shirin van Anrooij race with Trek - Segafredo when they want to race in the road.

 

[Spine Concept]

Again, a race influenced so early on by a mechanical (and a crash), such a darn shame as Wout was looking up for it vs Mathieu.

Regarding the fastest lap, to be fair to Mathieu, he was probably not going full gas anymore after half of the race and was consolidating. He stated that himself in the post-race interview.

Still it’s good for Wout’s morale and for future duels (Plz God). I felt so sorry for Eli, he’s probably out for the season. Ffs.

Edit: Thankfully it seems like there isn’t anything broken for Eli. Big relief. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Right about Alpecin. The ladies of the Roodhooft brothers's teams (Alpecin, 777.be, Credishop, Iko-Crelan) all race under the same banner on the road (I think it's something like Ciclismo Mundial, but that will probably change with some sponsors, since there were talks before COVID about them forming an UCI women's team on their own right for the road).

I wouldn't say Telenet - Baloise is Trek's team on the cross since they have their own Trek Factory team (with Evie Richards, Jolanda Neff and Maddie Munro), who is also very much related to their MTB team (and if not for the same name, because both teams have Jolanda and Evie). But do to the short amount of ladies on Telenet, they have a strong connection and Lucinda Brand and Shirin van Anrooij race with Trek - Segafredo when they want to race in the road.

Plus some of the Credishop male riders have flickflacked in and out of whatever form the Alpecin team is for road, but then rejoined the CX team in the winter. Most notably Gianni Vermeersch. He's ridden for Credishop/Creafin for the past two years along with Merlier (who rides fully with Alpecin probably since he's a valuable sprinter on the road now) and Kielich. Before that though he's ridden for Steylaerts in the field and Kielich road for ERA Circus (two other of the Roodhooft's teams).

Basically it's a way to get extra money through more sponsors, without making the jersey look like the billboard Savio has.

 

[jmdirt]

Was Iserbyt a footballer?! No arm/shoulder/clavicle injury requires that reaction. Yes, it hurts, but you can walk.

 

[Mayomaniac]

No broken bones for Eli, that's good news.
Today Aru of all people will race cx once again for the first time since the u23 days (a national Italian race).

 

[Flamin]

Damn, epic circumstances in Dendermonde. Looks like a super hard course due to the heavy rainfall.

Van Aert ftw.

 

[RedheadDane]

Nice weather!

 

[Flamin]

Surprising that Alvarado not only closed a 10" gap but is now dropping Brand on top of that. Bit of an off day for Brand so far.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Doesn't look great for racing - a case of just riding to the end. I'm not a fan of these mud fests.......especially on flat, field courses.

 

[davebqvst]

Surprising that Alvarado not only closed a 10" gap but is now dropping Brand on top of that. Bit of an off day for Brand so far.

Going the other way now, Brand put quite the gap between her and Alvarado, who got caught by Honsiger.. Alvarado seems to have run out of gas

 

[Flamin]

Going the other way now, Brand put quite the gap between her and Alvarado, who got caught by Honsiger.. Alvarado seems to have run out of gas

Yeah, she found a whole other gear after her 2nd bike change. Might have had something to do with tire pressure like Herygers was suggesting.

Alvarado lacking the raw power and engine at her young age.

 

[davebqvst]

Yeah, she found a whole other gear after her 2nd bike change. Might have had something to do with tire pressure like Herygers was suggesting.

Alvarado lacking the raw power and engine at her young age.

Speaking of tire pressure, since that was a talking point a couple of races ago: do these guys have bikes with differents setups (pressure-wise) ready or is there a way for them to communicate with their teams during the race to tell them to up the pressure before they switch bikes?

I'm watching on Eurosport right now without commentary, and I gotta say even though I love seeing cross with huge crowds, it is kinda cool to hear brakes squealing and the riders breathing hard when running up those hills

 

[Zams]

Wvv with an unlucky moment there again. This proper cross racing

 

[RedheadDane]

Uhm... excuse me, Wout! Pretty sure it's against the rules to steal bikes!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Mud glorious mud.

 

[KZD]

These crazy conditions look perfect for Wout. He is already on front.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Wout is going to put a minute into Mathieu if he keeps this up. Powermonster.
EDIT: already 30s in less than one lap.

 

[Bolder]

Yeah, technique isn’t really key today. Wout powering through the run ups...

 

[KZD]

What really matters today is the ability of producing the higher wattage over 1 hour.

And Toon Aerts is slowly closing into Van Der Poel.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yeah, technique isn’t really key today. Wout powering through the run ups...

Today is a test of who has the most power; no skill or technique really needed. And as such, I don't find it very interesting - it's hardly a spectacle.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Today is a test of who has the most power; no skill or technique really needed. And as such, I don't find it very interesting - it's hardly a spectacle.

Lame. You think riding through the mud requires only power? And seeing how the cookie crumbles when it comes to raw power i think is a spectacle in its own right.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Toon coming back