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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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ChewbaccaDefense said:
She hasn't sniffed being at the front this year, so I think she was happy.
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I'll ignore the ad hominem, but 2nd in this start field is just about what you can expect. The gap with Brand was still huge, certainly because she's a sand specialist and Brand most definitely is not.
 
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ChewbaccaDefense

Nov 5, 2013
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theyoungest said:
I'll ignore the ad hominem, but 2nd in this start field is just about what you can expect. The gap with Brand was still huge, certainly because she's a sand specialist and Brand most definitely is not.
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..21 seconds..."huge"...clearly you haven't see how far back she's been all season. She indicated in her interview that she was happy with her result. As she should be, considering how much she seems to be gaining.

And it wasn't "ad hominem." It was an observation of your posting style, that holds water.
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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ChewbaccaDefense said:
..21 seconds..."huge"...clearly you haven't see how far back she's been all season. She indicated in her interview that she was happy with her result. As she should be, considering how much she seems to be gaining.

And it wasn't "ad hominem." It was an observation of your posting style, that holds water.
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Brand was freewheeling for half of the final lap, so the 20 odd seconds gap at the finish is a bit flattering. I have seen how far back Shirin has been, but that's also because of a crash in Namur, and a really bad start in Flamanville. Today she did look good in the first 2 laps but that's about it. So that's why I said, it wasn't bad, but for her standards, not that good either.
 
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ChewbaccaDefense

Nov 5, 2013
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theyoungest said:
Brand was freewheeling for half of the final lap, so the 20 odd seconds gap at the finish is a bit flattering. I have seen how far back Shirin has been, but that's also because of a crash in Namur, and a really bad start in Flamanville. Today she did look good in the first 2 laps but that's about it. So that's why I said, it wasn't bad, but for her standards, not that good either.
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Okay, you win. It was a s**tty result. Make sure to put on new kit before you take the podium.
 
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ChewbaccaDefense

Nov 5, 2013
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I was in fully REM sleep when my alarm went off this morning...should have slept and watched later. You cannot realiably extrapolate future results, based on where someone is in December, but I still fear that riding in 2nd whenever Mathieu is present, is going to be something Wout will need to continue to be comfortable with, over the next year (as he did last year). Mathieu is frighteingly strong right now...and I'm sure he isn't peak, yet.
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Strawberry_Jams said:
For once, Van Aert wasn't lying about his form. (and what this cx season represents for him)
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Yeah, he's not great at the moment, combined with Mathieu's great form and his bigger natural talent for cyclocross, makes it quite an uneven battle. Although last year it was exactly the other way around in Mol, and we all know how that cross season ended... but I don't see Van Aert really turning this around, it's also like he doesn't really care. Seems a bit lacklustre, not very Van Aert-ish.
 
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ChewbaccaDefense

Nov 5, 2013
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theyoungest said:
Yeah, he's not great at the moment, combined with Mathieu's great form and his bigger natural talent for cyclocross, makes it quite an uneven battle. Although last year it was exactly the other way around in Mol, and we all know how that cross season ended... but I don't see Van Aert really turning this around, it's also like he doesn't really care. Seems a bit lacklustre, not very Van Aert-ish.
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This I agree with. I know he's worked in the past with a psychologist, and I am sure last year was really difficult for him mentally. Maybe he is trying to stay relaxed, and instead of the constant pressure of him chasing Mathieu, he is taking the tack of focusing only on what he is doing, and what he and his coach believe his preparation needs to be right now, for his goals next season.

What seems also evident, is that regardless of whether Mathieu is training specifically for the CXWC, his strength is so high, that nobody could touch him, irrespective of how much they trained. If Wout had decided to again contest the WC's, he would have been an exercise in futility, and would have mentally begun his season, once again, looking at the back of Mathieu, and wondering why his best just isn't good enough.

Not sure if Wout's mental tack will pay off, but I think it's his only real option.
 
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senna6541

Jan 18, 2020
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I think people have forgotten the MVDP was a shell of himself for most of the last two seasons in CX due to the back issues. When he is healthy and on relatively good form neither Wout or Piddy are a straight up match for him other than on a very heavy course (Wout) or when MVDP has the occasional bad day.
 
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theyoungest

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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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Another junior win for French Aubin Sparfel....with the Italian Stefano Viezzi 2nd....and a healthy looking Top 10.
The current British junior men don't appear to be good; the cupboard looks bare behind Pidcock & Mason.....

However, a British 1-2 in the junior women's, with Ferguson beating Wolff, with Celia Gery in 3rd.....I'm guessing that Namur last week was far too technical for Ferguson (who is going to be a road rider), whereas it suited Gery.....
 
Barkintheeye

Barkintheeye

Feb 24, 2015
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theyoungest said:
Yeah, he's not great at the moment, combined with Mathieu's great form and his bigger natural talent for cyclocross, makes it quite an uneven battle. Although last year it was exactly the other way around in Mol, and we all know how that cross season ended... but I don't see Van Aert really turning this around, it's also like he doesn't really care. Seems a bit lacklustre, not very Van Aert-ish.
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Could it be that Wout came into the CX season with his mind already someplace else? Maybe set for the next year's road season? If that's the case clearly both focus and peaking isn't there...

He has already decided to skip the CX WC but also MSR and Strade Bianche and the big focus seems to be Ronde, P-R, Giro and the Road WC.

Road
12-02 Clásica Jaén
14-02 Volta ao Algarve
24-02 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
25-02 Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne
22-03 E3 Saxo Bank Classic
24-03 Gent-Wevelgem
27-03 Dwars door Vlaanderen
31-03 Ronde van Vlaanderen
07-04 Paris-Roubaix
14-04 Amstel Gold Race
04-05 - 26-05 Giro d'Italia (Grand Tour)
03-08 Olympic Games Road Race
17-08 - 08-09 Vuelta a Espana (Grand Tour)
29-09 UCI World Championships - Road Race
 
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