I guess I'm not a "true" CX fan because I would rather watch dry and fast courses versus the muddy, slow grind races.
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Pretty weak fields for tomorrow aside from the two headliners in the men's race. I suppose everyone else will be en route to France.
She is. Alvarado has never been able to beat either of them at their best. But what she lacks in pure power she makes up for in grinta and self confidence. I think if you give her Fem's legs she wins every race under the sun.
I'm similar. I'd love to see Gavere held about 6 weeks earlier, in drier conditions - then it would be a great course - and far more rideable. That long climb that they have to run quite a bit, then grind up it would be far better......I'm sure that's where Pidcock made loads of time when he beat MvdP in 2020........
Heavy/ muddy courses just favour power riders, and the lighter and/or superior skilled riders can't really make use of them.
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Last year Pieterse won Gavere mostly because of her confidence in the descents (and Van Empel's lack of it) so I think this is a course where actually these skills can make a difference.
I would quite like her to win, don't think she has ever gone a season without a win.
Her form is good at the moment, ironically often best Belgian.
Depends a lot on which Riberolle turns up, the one with the race face on or the one who rides likes a bag of spanners.
Riberolle is an enigma; fluked an U23 World title, and has won very little since then. Switched to Belgian nationality as the French didn't view her as worth supporting - and still can't beat an ageing Cant in the Nationals.....
But occasionally pulls out a decent ride, and you wonder " where did that come from?"
But occasionally pulls out a decent ride, and you wonder " where did that come from?"
What has happened to Puck this year? Her skills and fitness seem lower than I expected. I was hoping she would be able to challenge Fem right away, or at least be the best of the rest. At Gavere, Lucinda passed her running uphill like she was standing still. I guess Puck has been skipping leg days in the gym.
The first few races of Pieterse last year weren't that great either. She needs some time to find the rhythm, also technically. I think she'll be okay in January. Given her results on the road and MTB it might have been expected that she'd make a Van der Poel-like return, but the general level of talent in women's cross is just higher than in men's cross.What has happened to Puck this year? Her skills and fitness seem lower than I expected. I was hoping she would be able to challenge Fem right away, or at least be the best of the rest. At Gavere, Lucinda passed her running uphill like she was standing still. I guess Puck has been skipping leg days in the gym.
It would be pretty sweet for Cant to get a win in her final season. She's looking really good so far.
Puck is a MTB-er now, and CX is probably her 3rd discipline. However, I reckon she's trying to do a 'PFP' - and be competitive, but hit her top form for Worlds. In fact, PFP never won a World Cup in 2023, until after winning Worlds......
Whether that happens is another matter.
Whether that happens is another matter.
Bazant first race in two months, and victorious immediately. Should be present in Besancon, an opportunity to show who the man to beat is this year.
To think a few years ago, as an U23 Kay was thought to be the next thing in British CX, following Brammeier & Wyman. It's not really happened, and she's a Top15 at best - and was let go by the Roodhooft empire.battle of the Brits for 3rd
Has to be the youngest girl on the podium of a tv cross since her compatriot Backstedt, surely.
Ava Holmgren was younger when she podiumed at Baal behind van Empel and Brand last year.
He looked pretty good today, a few errors and got submarined by Nys there at the end. I thought I saw Nys maybe apologize after the finish but maybe I’m projecting…
At least in this kerstperioede there have been a few riders capable of putting up some sort of battle against Van der Poel.
Sweeck is looking in top shape and Vanthourenhout is also strong with Nys back at his best after a few difficult weeks. Van Aert also looked strong today for someone that has been ill lately.
Sweeck is looking in top shape and Vanthourenhout is also strong with Nys back at his best after a few difficult weeks. Van Aert also looked strong today for someone that has been ill lately.
yep Gavere was her first top 15 finish in over a year. not sure what happened to her really except she kind of peaked as a junior and hasnt got any better since, I dont think she's had any major injuries that have kept her out of things, tbh I thought she'd quit the sport as clearly her results dont end up with contracts.
it was funny listening to Helen on comms kind of big her up saying that one part of a corner on the course really suited her style of riding, and Im thinking ok but its 4km course you need to be good at more than one corner to do well in Cyclocross.
but if she peaks for nationals, and her main rivals teams decide that its not important for the likes of Zoe, Imogen or Cat to race it, she could easily be champion again as the national series is barely at club league level thesedays.
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