Race Thread

[Barkintheeye]

Great to see a win for Alvarado in a long time. She is technically superb and has attack in her riding. I also like Betsema but she rides so cautious that I wish she would be a little more aggressive in her riding. Think that what’s missing for a win…

 

[pmcg76]

Great to see a win for Alvarado in a long time. She is technically superb and has attack in her riding. I also like Betsema but she rides so cautious that I wish she would be a little more aggressive in her riding. Think that what’s missing for a win…

Yes, nice to see Alvarado back on the top spot of the podium. Clearly very emotional for her having endured such a tough time.

Also happy to see Van der Haar win, has been very consistent this season.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Unfortunately Lars was second.

 

[pmcg76]

Unfortunately Lars was second.

I know my memory was getting bad, but this is really something. I watched the race live and somehow forgot about Sweeck.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Great to see a win for Alvarado in a long time. She is technically superb and has attack in her riding. I also like Betsema but she rides so cautious that I wish she would be a little more aggressive in her riding. Think that what’s missing for a win…

She's a fabulous rider, and seems the form is returning. I recall Paris 2024 on the MTB was one of her aims a year or so ago, I wonder if it still is. The illness may have taken that away.

Another World Cup tomorrow, and it seems a lot of the younger riders are concentrating on that, and missing the other series - and I don't really blame them.

 

[stonerider]

Does the Super and X2O series pay start money for the top racers to show up? It was my understanding the the World Cup series doesn't pay any start money. I guess the younger racers make enough from their team contracts to not need start money?

 

[Gwbert]

Unfortunately Lars was second.

He did win a week or so ago on the Koppenburg…

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Does the Super and X2O series pay start money for the top racers to show up? It was my understanding the the World Cup series doesn't pay any start money. I guess the younger racers make enough from their team contracts to not need start money?

That's correct the World cups don't give out start money but Iserbyt wants them to and Thomas van der Spiegel from Flanders Classics said they'd think about doing it. I have no idea how much riders earn on their contracts but out of interest I had a look at a rider like Van Empel and her results from last year, compared it with the prize money being given it each category (c1, c2, world cup, championship events, etc) and I think it came to at least €25000. I'm no expert on Dutch taxes but assuming she still lives at home with her parents then even if you don't include the salary, that's still a healthy amount to start with and its probably a similar situation for the likes of Pieterse, Van Anrooij, Ronhaar, Meeusen, Verstrynge to name a few. Obviously start money is quite nice to have though.

 

[postmanhat]

She's a fabulous rider, and seems the form is returning. I recall Paris 2024 on the MTB was one of her aims a year or so ago, I wonder if it still is. The illness may have taken that away.

Another World Cup tomorrow, and it seems a lot of the younger riders are concentrating on that, and missing the other series - and I don't really blame them.

All the best U-23 riders skipping the other series is a little sad, but indicates what a changing of the guard we're seeing this season? It's one of reasons I prefer women's CX, that no one stays dominant for too long. And there are always riders emerging who can become real challengers. Vos seems to be the only constant, but there are signs her reign might be coming to an end?

It's a shame Burquier isn't participating tomorrow as she's becoming one of my favourites. Loved watching her and Vas tackling the descent at Namur. And on a more nationalistic note, would be nice to see Backstedt get though a first lap without crashing. While 16 year old Cat Ferguson is looking increasingly impressive.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Burquier has hardly had any time off since last CX season; she was in Brazil for the first MTB World Cup in early April - and has done most of the World Cups, plus some French Cup races. And was still racing XC shortly before her first CX World Cup in Tabor.

And I agree about the British women; it's been a while since one was up at the front in an Elite World Cup race; I do wonder whether Kay can ever be that rider, though after injuries it might be too early to come to that conclusion.

 

[jono]

All three, Wout, MvdP, and Pidcock, have been posting some run training on Strava during their roadie off-season. Wout posts run training most regularly of the big three and seems to be more durable than the other two. Both MvdP and Pidcock seem to deal with little injuries more often. Does Wout's more frequent runs, even during road season, help make him a more balanced athlete?

There might be some merit to your running theory, but I think the injuries for Pidcock and MVDP are more likely to do with including MTB in their schedules in addition to road and CX.

And of course Wout has probably missed more time due to injury than both of them, although that was a single catastrophic crash and not some of the lingering stuff van der Poel has been dealing with.

 

[Ricco']

The Beekse Bergen course looks uninspiring from Puck Pieterse's preview.

Saw a video of a sandy run up when they held the NCh there in 2013 but it seems to not have been included.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yes, I watched it on her You Tube channel, and was similarly unimpressed. Flat, fast, a few sand sections - and that's it. Is it possible to have World Cup venues with proper climbs and descents, or is that not what those in CX want?

 

[stonerider]

Yes, I watched it on her You Tube channel, and was similarly unimpressed. Flat, fast, a few sand sections - and that's it. Is it possible to have World Cup venues with proper climbs and descents, or is that not what those in CX want?

The World Cups will be raced on whatever venue can pony up the money to pay the UCI their fee. The UCI could care less about the venue as long as they get their $$$$.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

The World Cups will be raced on whatever venue can pony up the money to pay Flanders Classics their fee. They could care less about the venue as long as they get their $$$$.

Well yes, as we see in motorsport, he who pays the Promoter, gets to host an event. I just wish we'd see more variety in WCup venues.....If you're a decent climber, you're not getting many races to suit you.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, they're racing in a safari park today? But not among the lions, apparently.

 

[KZD]

Van Empel finally beaten after a great attack by Van Anrooij in the end of the penultimate lap. Pieterse third. This new generation of women's cyclo cross is incredible.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ages included

1	VAN ANROOIJ Shirin	20	Baloise Trek Lions		200	0:47:02
2	VAN EMPEL Fem	20	Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal		170	0:01
3	PIETERSE Puck	20	Alpecin - Deceuninck		140	,,
4	ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen	24	Alpecin - Deceuninck		120	0:25
5	VOS Marianne	35	Team Jumbo-Visma		100	0:30
6	VAS Kata Blanka	21	Team SD Worx		90	0:46
7	BRAND Lucinda	33	Baloise Trek Lions		80	0:47
8	SCHREIBER Marie	19	Tormans Cyclo Cross Team		70	1:06
9	VAN ALPHEN Aniek	23	777		60	1:09
10	BETSEMA Denise	29	Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal		50	1:17

Bold denotes technically young enough to be U23. I'll just go get a cane now...

 

[davidsonduke]

4 Former World Champion
5 World Champion
6 U23
7 Former World Champion

1-3 U23 (yes, I know van Empel is now riding Elite), 25+ clear of rest of field.

 

[KZD]

Ages included

1	VAN ANROOIJ Shirin	20	Baloise Trek Lions		200	0:47:02
2	VAN EMPEL Fem	20	Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal		170	0:01
3	PIETERSE Puck	20	Alpecin - Deceuninck		140	,,
4	ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen	24	Alpecin - Deceuninck		120	0:25
5	VOS Marianne	35	Team Jumbo-Visma		100	0:30
6	VAS Kata Blanka	21	Team SD Worx		90	0:46
7	BRAND Lucinda	33	Baloise Trek Lions		80	0:47
8	SCHREIBER Marie	19	Tormans Cyclo Cross Team		70	1:06
9	VAN ALPHEN Aniek	23	777		60	1:09
10	BETSEMA Denise	29	Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal		50	1:17

Bold denotes technically young enough to be U23. I'll just go get a cane now...

Its no coincidence that this result happened in a very technical course. This new generation of riders is not only very strong physically but also superior technically to their predecessors.

 

[RedheadDane]

Its no coincidence that this result happened in a very technical course. This new generation of riders is not only very strong physically but also superior technically to their predecessors.

It's not just today. Women's cyclo cross in general has been making me feel old lately. The only actually old person in that top-10 is Vos!

 

[RedheadDane]

Maybe Joris wants to buy a new house.

 

[jmdirt]

I know my memory was getting bad, but this is really something. I watched the race live and somehow forgot about Sweeck.

Welcome to the club!

EDIT: The bad memory club, not the 'Sweeck who' club.

 

[RedheadDane]

Welcome to the club!

Reminder: Sweeck is in the race.

 

[jmdirt]

van Anrooij! Congrats.