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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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While it's unlikely, imagine MvdP has an off day, and he barely wins, or somebody else wins the World title whilst WvA is sat at home watching on TV........He'd wonder 'what if?'.
So, why not race it and see what happens - it might even turn into a mud-fest...and he's right in the game.
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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Does Wout really think his performances the last two weeks have been that encouraging that he'd mess up his carefully crafted training calendar ("all in for the main objectives" or whatever he was saying earlier)? Or was worlds always but they waited to announce in case incident or injury disrupted the end of his cross season?

It's great that he's going for the attention that it will bring the sport, and to bring some drama to what might otherwise be a joyless procession for MVDP, but I don't know why he or anyone else would see his chances differently now than when he announced his calendar.
 
Wvv

Wvv

Jan 3, 2019
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Given the circumstances (rainy weather), the course (wide paths, power sections), the location (2 hours from where he lives), and most of all the much better feeling he has than anticipated during his recovery, it's a really good decision. He wouldn't go if he believed he doesn't stand a chance. We should all be grateful, and who knows...
 
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C

Coffeeplanter

Jul 15, 2024
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LookProGoSlow said:
that's just PR
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It’s not. Visma like to present themselves as these scientific geniuses where every move is calculated, and then proceed to do this. I don’t mind it all, the worst that could happen is he finishes 2nd, but this whole Visma schtick of braggadocio is tiring.

I recall last season Wout didn't want to ride frigging Algarve for GC in February, because the efforts could put his spring season in jeopardy. Double-u Tee Ef.
 
Barkintheeye

Barkintheeye

Feb 24, 2015
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jono said:
Does Wout really think his performances the last two weeks have been that encouraging that he'd mess up his carefully crafted training calendar ("all in for the main objectives" or whatever he was saying earlier)? Or was worlds always but they waited to announce in case incident or injury disrupted the end of his cross season?

It's great that he's going for the attention that it will bring the sport, and to bring some drama to what might otherwise be a joyless procession for MVDP, but I don't know why he or anyone else would see his chances differently now than when he announced his calendar.
Click to expand...
Well it's good for us (the fans), it's good for the sport (CX) and it's also good PR for both him and MVDP. And as someone put it: should MVDP have an off-day, a major mechanical or just be unlucky at least Van Aert is the clear #2 / runner up for the victory. Neither Nieuwenhuis nor Vanthorenhout are close. At Maasmechelen Van Aert got squarely beat by Van der Poel - pure technique so MVDP didn't even have to dig deep. Maybe Van Aert thinks he can do better at the WC?
 
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T

theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Coffeeplanter said:
It’s not. Visma like to present themselves as these scientific geniuses where every move is calculated, and then proceed to do this. I don’t mind it all, the worst that could happen is he finishes 2nd, but this whole Visma schtick of braggadocio is tiring.

I recall last season Wout didn't want to ride frigging Algarve for GC in February, because the efforts could put his spring season in jeopardy. Double-u Tee Ef.
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I think in the end Visma is just mostly trying to keep Wout happy, and hence the Belgian media and fans. Because all hell will break loose if it turns out they've explicitly told him not to ride Worlds (or if they tell him not to do anything, really). And he just might win, you never know. Not very likely, but there's a chance.

Wvv said:
Given the circumstances (rainy weather), the course (wide paths, power sections), the location (2 hours from where he lives), and most of all the much better feeling he has than anticipated during his recovery, it's a really good decision. He wouldn't go if he believed he doesn't stand a chance. We should all be grateful, and who knows...
Click to expand...
At the very least it's good for Sporza viewership :)
 
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Barkintheeye

Barkintheeye

Feb 24, 2015
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What's the take on the Lievin race course for next weekend? The few previews doesn't show much and what are the conditions expected to be?
 
J

jono

Jan 31, 2021
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Barkintheeye said:
What's the take on the Lievin race course for next weekend? The few previews doesn't show much and what are the conditions expected to be?
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Course preview write-up: https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/w...arcours-op-lijf-geschreven-van-wout-van-aert/

Strava segment for the 2022 course from the French CX series, which appears to be slightly different than the Worlds course: https://www.strava.com/segments/30741410

Highlights of the race from 2022: https://cyclocross24.com/race/11223/#video

Whether it is a course for Wout probably comes down to the weather. Some rain forecast during the week, sun called for on Saturday and Sunday.
 
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Wvv

Wvv

Jan 3, 2019
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Barkintheeye said:
What's the take on the Lievin race course for next weekend? The few previews doesn't show much and what are the conditions expected to be?
Click to expand...

So, since people don't read, I'll repeat.

Wvv said:
Given the circumstances (rainy weather), the course (wide paths, power sections), the location (2 hours from where he lives), and most of all the much better feeling he has than anticipated during his recovery, it's a really good decision. He wouldn't go if he believed he doesn't stand a chance. We should all be grateful, and who knows...
Click to expand...

It's a typical French parcours, meadow soil around little slopes. Not too technical probably, some stairs. Because of the weather it's probably going to be muddy, which will make some parts running sections.
 
Barkintheeye

Barkintheeye

Feb 24, 2015
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Wvv said:
So, since people don't read, I'll repeat.



It's a typical French parcours, meadow soil around little slopes. Not too technical probably, some stairs. Because of the weather it's probably going to be muddy, which will make some parts running sections.
Click to expand...
So if the course is not that difficult - like Maasmechelen for example - then Wout has a fairly good chance to challenge Van der Poel. It looked like Wout had good legs last Saturday but the technique was not there. On an easier course or even better on a course with lots of grind he might just make it.
 
J

JR1012

Jun 19, 2023
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Does anyone know why Vos DNF on Sunday?
She had a great start and then all of a sudden she was DNF.
 
Moose McKnuckles

Moose McKnuckles

Nov 7, 2009
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Ripper said:
Is it bad that I smiled when Iserbyt planted it on the last lap and Aerts passed him?
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denzel-training-day.gif
 
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