Race Thread

[ChewbaccaDefense]

A perfect race for Wout fans: a mechanical to excuse another loss to Mathieu, and a new and surely to be much-hyped reason to hate Mathieu.

A perfect race for Mathieu fans: He shows he's a piece of sh!t, and now so can they.

 

[jono]

If they were just booing him and giving him some tepid grief then some kind of ban/dq is probably warranted.

I'm all for the occasional Cantona response but it has to be very very justified.

He is booed and jeered every single cross race, flipped the bird, etc. Obviously a line was crossed and he responded by crossing one himself.

 

[Volderke]

MvdP is absolutely right.

It's only the greatest in the sport who get agressive with the audience.

Richard Groenendaal:

View: https://youtu.be/SMPONOnvZvk?t=26


Sven Nijs:

View: https://youtu.be/WxgEF-t44gc?t=39


Bart Wellens:

And the Greatest of them all.
Not exactly fans he is about to give a hand, but all of the little conflicts above didn't involve fans either.

ps: 'fans' throw beer, but sometimes they throw mud and even urine. If you can only spread negative vibes, go home. This is a CX, not a cycling forum...

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

If they were just booing him and giving him some tepid grief then some kind of ban/dq is probably warranted.

I'm all for the occasional Cantona response but it has to be very very justified.

Agreed. Not sure what prompted it, and I'm sure it was something pretty awful, but you don't spit on people. In the heat of the moment, things happen, but some things are over the line, and that was one of those things.

 

[Tim Cahill]

MvdP is absolutely right.

It's only the greatest in the sport who get agressive with the audience.

Richard Groenendaal:

View: https://youtu.be/SMPONOnvZvk?t=26


Sven Nijs:

View: https://youtu.be/WxgEF-t44gc?t=39


Bart Wellens:

And the Greatest of them all.
Not exactly fans he is about to give a hand, but all of the little conflicts above didn't involve fans either.

ps: 'fans' throw beer, but sometimes they throw mud and even urine. If you can only spread negative vibes, go home. This is a CX, not a cycling forum...

Not as much problem with those going over for a straightener, spitting is a b*tch move

 

[Volderke]

Not as much problem with those going over for a straightener, spitting is a b*tch move

unfortunately MvdP didn't have enough time for a fist fight as he eased up in the last couple of rounds and the Trek boys were at around 15-20s... I would have loved to see a kind of duel as it's clear MvdP needs some more adrenaline from these races and he can't get it just by soloing for an easy win

ps: I agree it's not done (spitting) and kind of a d..k move, but then again, I honestly don't want to blame him. Between X-mas and New Year, CX is known to attract a lot of one-time 'fans'. Also, football has its winter break so you suddenly see a lot more football fans around the cross, who excel at drinking beer and not bothering too much about he race.

 

[kingjr]

Agreed. Not sure what prompted it, and I'm sure it was something pretty awful, but you don't spit on people. In the heat of the moment, things happen, but some things are over the line, and that was one of those things.

I don't see how spitting is worse than verbal abuse. If anything, they are getting off easy. See above for more appropriate responses.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Agreed. Not sure what prompted it, and I'm sure it was something pretty awful, but you don't spit on people. In the heat of the moment, things happen, but some things are over the line, and that was one of those things.

But it would have been about 7 1/2 minutes since he last saw them, and he presumably had enough mental activity during that lap to take his mind off it if he were willing to, which is why I don't think heat of the moment works in mitigation this time.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

We recently had the first podium without a Belgian for some years (followed the next day by another): this looks like it could be an all Dutch podium (6 of the top 7 at present): when did that last happen?

Only World Cup precedent was apparently Prata di Pordenone 1996 (per Cyclocross24.com on twitter)

 

[kingjr]

Because spitting can actually transmit illness. It's a gross thing to do, if you do it in public in many places it counts as assault.

The chances of that are very small in this case. It's in any case better than no retaliation at all. There's no reason why low-life scumbags at the side of the road shouldn't get what they deserve. Which they never would otherwise.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

The chances of that are very small in this case. It's in any case better than no retaliation at all. There's no reason why low-life scumbags at the side of the road shouldn't get what they deserve. Which they never would otherwise.

That's for stewards to do, and for fellow spectators to tell them exactly what they are acting like.
Not professional athletes being paid to represent a brand and with a role (much overstated in my opinion) as ambassadors for their sport/country/team/whatever.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

On the more pleasant sporting achievement side of today, three wins in three days for the second time in his career, and the third time in family history (no race tomorrow, so no chance to equal his dad's 4 in 4). Sven Nys did it once as well.

 

[kingjr]

That's for stewards to do, and for fellow spectators to tell them exactly what they are acting like.
Not professional athletes being paid to represent a brand and with a role (much overstated in my opinion) as ambassadors for their sport/country/team/whatever.

No one's going to do ***, you know that. And I agree with the bolded.

 

[Rob5091]

If the well to do can boo at the opera then it should not be surprising that MvdP gets booed at too. If you're a public figure, then the paying public can come with unwanted reactions.
In the heat of the moment, it probably seemed justified, but come tomorrow and calmer heads, then a public "mea culpa" might be the best idea. Froome got fined 200 Swiss Francs for punching a guy so a fine seems likely, and if MvdP sends some beverages to the guys he might make himself a few friends (and get less hassle in the future).

 

[theyoungest]

That's for stewards to do, and for fellow spectators to tell them exactly what they are acting like.
Not professional athletes being paid to represent a brand and with a role (much overstated in my opinion) as ambassadors for their sport/country/team/whatever.

Cyclocross has a history of Belgian spectators acting like complete morons towards Dutch riders. In the case of Mathieu it's especially stupid, the guy is practically Belgian. These people need to get their issues sorted, and if Mathieu crossing the line a little is what does it, fair play to him.

 

[Bolder]

Eh, fine him 300 euros and move on. Was definitely the most exciting part of the race.

 

[kingjr]

If the well to do can boo at the opera then it should not be surprising that MvdP gets booed at too. If you're a public figure, then the paying public can come with unwanted reactions.
In the heat of the moment, it probably seemed justified, but come tomorrow and calmer heads, then a public "mea culpa" might be the best idea. Froome got fined 200 Swiss Francs for punching a guy so a fine seems likely, and if MvdP sends some beverages to the guys he might make himself a few friends (and get less hassle in the future).

How about a mutual mea culpa. How about these people using the opportunity to come forward and say, "Sorry, the constant booing and *** really is uncalled-for, we'll just cheer for our guy in the future."

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The most friendly Belgian cycling fans around!!

 

[Barkintheeye]

So cyclocross fans have lowered themselves to the level of football fans? Should be Belgian Cyclocross fans. That’s sad to see. Also that Mathieu let them drag him down to their level. No winners there unfortunately…

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice to see in the women's race
the old guard finally putting up a real
resistance to the new guard

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Don't think it was mentioned, but in the women's Junior race (not a World Cup) a win for US youngster, Vida De Lopez San Roman, beating Imogen Wolff.......

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Pieterse was brilliant today. Alvarado likewise - the gap she put on Brand on the off-camber section right before the run up was truly impressive. Wonder if Van Empel had any words for Brand after the race re: Brand cutting her off on the downhill.
The women's race was far better than the men's. Also, F any fans who throw urine, beer, and spit on the riders. If you want to be drunk trash, at least have the curtesy of being so in your own home or back yard.

Very bummed about Pidcock's crash. WvA had a very impressive comeback after that mechanical. So, there were some positives in the men's race. VdP brilliant as usual. I was happy to see Van der Haar doing well again. Sweeck rode strongly as well.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Thinking more about this, every race organizer should have a squad of goons who go around finding fans who misbehave and kick the *** out of them.

 

[jono]

Don't think it was mentioned, but in the women's Junior race (not a World Cup) a win for US youngster, Vida De Lopez San Roman, beating Imogen Wolff.......

I wonder how riders decided which race to take part in. There were quite a few juniors in the women's elite race.