There are three competitions, the Superprestige, the X2O Badkamers Trophy (DVV/Bpost) and the World Cup.
Wasn't there one called Ethias Cross last cross-season, though? Or have I officially gone bonkers?
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There are three competitions, the Superprestige, the X2O Badkamers Trophy (DVV/Bpost) and the World Cup.
Names change with sponsors, just like teams.Wasn't there one called Ethias Cross last cross-season, though? Or have I officially gone bonkers?
Names change with sponsors, just like teams.
Ethias Cross has been that for last year or so. Before that it was the Brico Cross. There is also the X2O Badkamers Trofee which was the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee until this year. Before that it has been the BPost Bank Trofee and originally the Gazette van Antwerpen Trofee.Wasn't there one called Ethias Cross last cross-season, though? Or have I officially gone bonkers?
Superprestige is on points. X2O has been time based for the last six or seven seasons. If you miss a race, you loose five minutes.So the X2O is the one that used to be Ethias Cross? The one where the overall is counted by time, rather than points? And Iserbyt is leading both that and the Superprestige?
The first couple races weren't exactly easy for VDP last year - it was pretty clear that he was a bit more focused on base building for the road than in previous years and didn't really have his "flash" til reasonably late in the cross season (seems like he peaked perfectly for the WC's). Will be interesting to see how he comes in. Wouldn't be surprised to see him win or lose right out of the gate. Seems like his technical skills give him an advantage Wout doesn't have, and also seems like for MVDP there is absolutely no interest in anyting but winning. Guess you get that way when your hit rate is 95% or whatever the hell his is over the past few years.I'm looking forward to how Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout's level relate to MVDP's next week. That will be the ultimate benchmark of how high it really is. I think it's pretty high and that it's not going to be a walk in the park for MVDP. Unlike last year.
If it isn't, the best bike rider of 2020 would finish closer than half a minute behind Iserbyt. And Pidcock isn't exactly stirring things up either.
The first couple races weren't exactly easy for VDP last year - it was pretty clear that he was a bit more focused on base building for the road than in previous years and didn't really have his "flash" til reasonably late in the cross season (seems like he peaked perfectly for the WC's). Will be interesting to see how he comes in. Wouldn't be surprised to see him win or lose right out of the gate. Seems like his technical skills give him an advantage Wout doesn't have, and also seems like for MVDP there is absolutely no interest in anyting but winning. Guess you get that way when your hit rate is 95% or whatever the hell his is over the past few years.
He didn't win that easily at the beginning of last season though. At least not compared to the year before. The first few races he had to wait a long time before he could distance Iserbyt. The previous year he took off in lap 2 and won by a minute.If you win every race, and the majority of them with a significant gap, I'd say that's pretty easy. I expect more competition this year.
For sure he's not going to be at his best yet. If he would be, we wouldn't be wondering about if anyone is giving to go him a run for his money.
He didn't win that easily at the beginning of last season though. At least not compared to the year before. The first few races he had to wait a long time before he could distance Iserbyt. The previous year he took off in lap 2 and won by a minute.
Sure, but you were talking about van der Poel's level next week, to which Senna replied that the first races weren't easy for him last year. So that's where my response came from, that he didn't win that easily at the beginning of last year's season.Of course he wasn't at the same level at the start of last year compared to the year before, since he had a way heavier and longer road season and therefore a shorter cx preparation.
Fact is, he still won every single race bar one last year, and it wasn't anywhere near a close battle in most races.
What is it that you find annoying? Would it be less annoying if he were to arrogantly and disrespectfully predict the decimation of the whole CX peloton upon his arrival? What is he supposed to say?He always down plays it...and yet always wins. In many circumstances i find that annoying, I can't work out if I do in this situation.
It's damned if you do, damned if you don't. When you win roughly 62 out of the last 65 races, each week you have to face the camera's and predict your next race. So, either you are honest and will be perceived, by some, to be arrogant, or you try not to disrespect anyone and it will look like false modesty to others.What is it that you find annoying? Would it be less annoying if he were to arrogantly and disrespectfully predict the decimation of the whole CX peloton upon his arrival? What is he supposed to say?
Furthermore, it really is hard to know where you stand exactly after a long time out of CX and having only trained less than a handful of times in the field.
I agree. With that being said, I think generally speaking it's better and more respectful to choose the modest route.It's damned if you do, damned if you don't. When you win roughly 62 out of the last 65 races, each week you have to face the camera's and predict your next race. So, either you are honest and will be perceived, by some, to be arrogant, or you try not to disrespect anyone and it will look like false modesty to others.