Race Thread

[Unchained]

Good racing, I was expecting a boring solo, but Brand and Van Empel made it interesting. Shame about the last corner for Brand though.

What is strange to me is that Van Empel often shows she has higher power output than Brand or Pieterse, but yet when the road season comes around she is nowhere to be seen. You would think she would be able to carry that power over to the road no?

It was fun to watch as Van Empel looked to be able to go harder but took pace from Brand, looking like she was just waiting to pass
It's a shame that during emotional time immediately after post race, there are cameras and phones to record things that are better left out immediately after a disappointment.
Race is completely available on YouTube in my region, zero controversy. Last lap or any other lap ..Good hard racing great start !! I think it was France with holeshot.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Sidenote: why is there a fish on the sleeve of the Dutch kit?

Excellent question sir!

 

[Barkintheeye]

Van Empel deserved that victory. She is massively stronger than Puck and a tad technically better than Brand. She is certainly not amazing on any course but just doing the job and grinding on. That can be held against her but I believe that's quite unfair. She is developing - yet in her own pace - and she has an engine exceeding most competitors. PP just needs to get stronger and then we have a new MVDP vs WVA duel

 

[Hugh Januss]

It's honestly sad that these type of riders attach so much value to what is essentially ordinary statpadding, instead of taking a chance at a very realistic elite bronze. Same applies to Backstedt tomorrow, who even has a decent shot at gold.

World Sandbagger Champion! On the other hand he'll never be this age again and he has something neither Van Art or Van der Poel will ever have, multiple U-23 titles.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

The prediction of my magic 8 ball for what promises to be a ludicrous and very open junior race: 1. Bruyere Joumard, 2. Agostinacchio, 3. Noval.

 

[Sciatic]

Logo of the sponsor of the national team, the Dutch lottery.

Thanks!

 

[Andy262]

Van Empel deserved that victory. She is massively stronger than Puck and a tad technically better than Brand. She is certainly not amazing on any course but just doing the job and grinding on. That can be held against her but I believe that's quite unfair. She is developing - yet in her own pace - and she has an engine exceeding most competitors. PP just needs to get stronger and then we have a new MVDP vs WVA duel

For much of this season Brand’s edge has been that she made far fewer mistakes than van Empel, but on today’s less technical course Fem basically rode without mistakes. I was disappointed with how Puck fell away but maybe it’s a stamina thing.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Ten years ago in Tabor this was the podium:

1. Van der Poel
2. Van Aert
3. Van der Haar

Perhaps we'll get the same podium today?

 

[Berniece]

Ten years ago in Tabor this was the podium:

1. Van der Poel
2. Van Aert
3. Van der Haar

Perhaps we'll get the same podium today?

I hope so. For the race I like that WVA decided last minute to participate, but would rather have MVDP win it

 

[Barkintheeye]

Ten years ago in Tabor this was the podium:

1. Van der Poel
2. Van Aert
3. Van der Haar

Perhaps we'll get the same podium today?

Quite likely. Many fantastic outings between those two. My three favorite WC races this far are:
1. Ostende 2021. Battle on the Beach which was quite tight until late in the race
2. Bogense 2019. Outcome determined on one single off camber
3. Valkenburg 2018. Van Aert the Mudminator

Honorable mention Bieles 2016 that came down to tyre choice.

Dubendorf, Zolder, Tabor 2 and even Hoogerheide were not that fun to watch and the road race in the US was gifted to Pidcock

 

[Coffeeplanter]

An illustration of the unpredictability of the junior race, here's a graph of this years World Cup. It's all over the place, no consistency whatsoever.

 

[theyoungest]

Super fast and slippery course this morning. Every half lap a new leader because the previous one has crashed.

 

[glassmoon]

Amey killing it left and right

 

[Davesta]

Quite a few incidents in the junior race - I guess the course conditions are changing as it warms up, plus riders going beyond their limits a little…making for a good race so far!

Also looks like the organisers have laid down some wood chip at the bottom of the second bridge…

 

[glassmoon]

They can't stay on their bikes for 5 mins jeez

 

[TourOfSardinia]

mano a mano in the juniors

 

[glassmoon]

The stripped boa dial... of course it is plus 5w bonus

 

[theyoungest]

Agostinacchio is very Van der Poel-like.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Wheelie with a broken shoe

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Major take-away from the MJ race is that we miss a lot by normally only seeing races from lunchtime and early afternoon.
Early morning residual frost makes for fascinating conditions.

 

[stonerider]

Alpecin needs to invest in a good strength/core trainer for Puck and Ceylin. They both are excellent bike handlers but both lack a little low cadence power. Whereas Fem and Lucinda can grind away with seated power, both Puck and Ceylin have to wrestle with their bikes and stand too much to generate that same power.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I was interested to note the main Belgian challenger for a long time was (as I assumed) Gilles Lejeune, and I thought it interesting to see the unusual appearance of a Walloon in CX. But then his name was given as Giel, so I'm not so sure.

And talking of nationality and forenames, will @RedheadDane be claiming silver medallist Soren?

 

[RedheadDane]

And talking of nationality and forenames, will @RedheadDane be claiming silver medallist Soren?

Not sure... for all I know 'Soren' could simply be a French name, and not actually a version of 'Søren'.






(Also, claiming people is kinda rude!)

 

[theyoungest]

I was interested to note the main Belgian challenger for a long time was (as I assumed) Gilles Lejeune, and I thought it interesting to see the unusual appearance of a Walloon in CX. But then his name was given as Giel, so I'm not so sure.

The only Walloon cyclocrosser I can think of is the guy with the unfortunate name of Clément Horny. Giel Lejeune is indeed Flemish.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Here's hoping for a Backstedt defeat. Go Holmgren.