Race Thread

[jono]

It's supposed to dry out a bit yet, but the course looks more selective than I was expecting.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Wow, that was a close one in the end.
It looked like GB had it before the penultimate lap, but Clauzel really outshone Kay, and Sparfel did very well to defend the lead against Mason. Mistakes are decisive on this course.

The junior & U23 GB riders get the team into position to win; and the Elite riders lose it......Kay had 20 secs over Clauzel - and finished 5 secs behind.......then Cam struggles to reel in a junior.

 

[jono]

Mason did have the fastest lap of the day, but still he has to be beating that junior. Backstedt the fastest woman.

 

[Wyndbrook]

The junior & U23 GB riders get the team into position to win; and the Elite riders lose it......Kay had 20 secs over Clauzel - and finished 5 secs behind.......then Cam struggles to reel in a junior

One lap sprint, perhaps its an ideal race for the sprogs.

 

[DNP-Old]

Impressive as he was, Sparfel was only two seconds faster than Viezzi. This is going to be as close a battle like Wout and Mathieu in Hoogerheide. Then there's that one Dane, putting fear into the entire field.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Was hoping that Stybie would do something magic in one of his last appearances but time has finally caught up with him. Still great effort and commendable to show gratitude and commitment to Tabor and Cyclocross that have been important in his career.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Impressive as he was, Sparfel was only two seconds faster than Viezzi. This is going to be as close a battle like Wout and Mathieu in Hoogerheide. Then there's that one Dane, putting fear into the entire field.

Could be the race of the weekend; Euro Champion v World Cup winner.........and it would be nice to think we see them in the years to come racing CX; I'm not sure we will.

As of yet, Philipsen hasn't convinced on the CX bike against these riders.

 

[shadowrider]

Belgian Sanne Cant was almost 20 to 30 seconds slower then under 23 Backstedt (only 19 !)..... in one lap. But on the other hand was Kay 25 seconds slower then Clauzel. Both, Cant and Kay performed below their level. It is therefore difficult for a country to win if one or two perform poorly. Don't forget France had to replace their elite man Menut before the start.
Taking all that into consideration, France was certainly the deserved winner.

 

[DNP-Old]

Could be the race of the weekend; Euro Champion v World Cup winner.........and it would be nice to think we see them in the years to come racing CX; I'm not sure we will.

As of yet, Philipsen hasn't convinced on the CX bike against these riders.

Hard to say how he made ground in Hoogerheide last week and how that would translate to Tabor, but he was flying over that course prior to his mechanical. He should be hitting top form and is a lot more fresh than the rest of the guys, which is an advantage. We do know he smashes everyone out of the ball park when it comes to pure watts.

 

[jono]

Belgian Sanne Cant was almost 20 to 30 seconds slower then under 23 Backstedt (only 19 !)..... in one lap. But on the other hand was Kay 25 seconds slower then Clauzel. Both, Cant and Kay performed below their level. It is therefore difficult for a country to win if one or two perform poorly. Don't forget France had to replace their elite man Menut before the start.
Taking all that into consideration, France was certainly the deserved winner.

Backstedt was the fastest woman by far (10:12), but Zemanova and A. Holmgren (10:27 and 10:35) were also both faster than Cant (10:43) or any of the other women's elite riders racing.

Of course, the best elite women didn't race today. Only 6 elites raced overall, and I can't judge them for holding back some reserves for their race tomorrow. A single hot-lap is also a format that favors some riders over others (for example, I don't expect Ava Holmgren to beat her sister on Sunday even though she was 13 seconds faster today).

 

[shadowrider]

Backstedt was the fastest woman by far (10:12), but Zemanova and A. Holmgren (10:27 and 10:35) were also both faster than Cant (10:43) or any of the other women's elite riders racing.

Of course, the best elite women didn't race today. Only 6 elites raced overall, and I can't judge them for holding back some reserves for their race tomorrow. A single hot-lap is also a format that favors some riders over others (for example, I don't expect Ava Holmgren to beat her sister on Sunday even though she was 13 seconds faster today).

So Cant even 31 seconds slower then Backstedt. What was the time of Kay ? Probably even worse. So, both ladys performed very poorly.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Backstedt was the fastest woman by far (10:12), but Zemanova and A. Holmgren (10:27 and 10:35) were also both faster than Cant (10:43) or any of the other women's elite riders racing.

Of course, the best elite women didn't race today. Only 6 elites raced overall, and I can't judge them for holding back some reserves for their race tomorrow. A single hot-lap is also a format that favors some riders over others (for example, I don't expect Ava Holmgren to beat her sister on Sunday even though she was 13 seconds faster today).

It's difficult to compare lap times since they will have been affected by the course conditions, which I assume got worse throughout the race, and the amount of traffic the riders experienced during their rides.

 

[shadowrider]

It's difficult to compare lap times since they will have been affected by the course conditions, which I assume got worse throughout the race, and the amount of traffic the riders experienced during their rides.

The course conditions were almost the same for all riders. No traffic at all. Perhaps the course was a little faster on the first lap (Backstedt). But that can never explain the difference between Backstedt and Kay and Cant. Even youngsters Zemanova and Holmgren were faster.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The course conditions were almost the same for all riders. No traffic at all. Perhaps the course was a little faster on the first lap (Backstedt). But that can never explain the difference between Backstedt and Kay and Cant. Even youngsters Zemanova and Holmgren were faster.

It was clear riders like Kay and Duraffourg didn't have great laps at all, but in a one lap race there's also a lot more randomness involved than there would have been if each rider had been on the course for longer. My overall point was that I don't think the results tell us too much about how the riders will fare in the remaining races.

 

[shadowrider]

It was clear riders like Kay and Duraffourg didn't have great laps at all, but in a one lap race there's also a lot more randomness involved than there would have been if each rider had been on the course for longer. My overall point was that I don't think the results tell us too much about how the riders will fare in the remaining races.

Agree.

 

[Barkintheeye]

In general it can be said that the course is definitely tricky and that the conditions will favor the more technical riders.

If the course continues to dry up it will be faster and a little easier on the legs but most likely it will be even more technical and people will go down if/when they overextend themselves…

 

[Didinho]

It will be different for each race I think. All the recons were a bit icy and in the race more slippery after the defrost.
You can watch Puck's youtube video in the recon, she did jumped the barriers in the end. Maybe she can do it also in the race and take advantage. Hope she's on a superday tomorrow after her sickness last week.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

It's more fun with Puck

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaxX786wBf0

 

[Barkintheeye]

So Cant even 31 seconds slower then Backstedt. What was the time of Kay ? Probably even worse. So, both ladys performed very poorly.

Change of guard in women elite

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So Cant even 31 seconds slower then Backstedt. What was the time of Kay ? Probably even worse. So, both ladys performed very poorly.

Cant was about half a minute faster than Kay iirc.

Team Relay:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L57FU4Ost54


Several riders jumping the barriers ('planks' )

They are supposedly 40cm high, but due to the riders sinking into the mud, it might feel/seem more than 40cm.
Video doesn't work for me though.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

"Balen" is a verb which doesn't have an English translation. "Ik baal" more or less means "I feel sh.t about it". If you say "het is balen", you basically say that it's a sh.t situation.

I'd say "feeling bummed" / "bummed out". Bummer, it sucks.

 

[Pantani_lives]

For the men U23 the world cup winner is Dutchman Tibor del Grosso. Can Tibor win in Tabor?

The opposition will come from the Belgians. Jente Michels is European champion. Emiel Verstrynge is Belgian champion and had some places of honor in pro races already.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Junior women up soon.
Should be between Gery, Ferguson and Chladonkova for the medals.
But hey its juniors somebody might just pop and get a result.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Doesn't appear that Eurosport are making any effort for the World Champs; no pre race show with previews, etc

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A shame we didn't get to see the moment when Gery got what proved to be the decisive gap. It might have made a difference that Ferguson didn't change bikes on the last lap/didn't accelerate when the others went into the pits, but they weren't separated by much today.