Race Thread

[jono]

If not for grid position and the traffic and holdups for Wout he probably starts the second lap 10-11 seconds behind instead of over 40. Van Aert has the capability to winch in a lead of that type over the next laps. Van Aert did not have clear track in front of him until nearly half way through the race, and from there on the lap times were pretty even.

I don't see Wout as having suffered much from the traffic past midway the 2nd lap, as other than Nieuwenhuis, the riders he was sat behind were in Belgian colors and appeared to be working for him whenever possible.

 

[logeardaddy]

This would of course have been a different race without Bäckstedt in it, but 30 seconds in-between each rider in the top 5 implies that it wouldn't necessarily have been a lot more interesting. Big gaps to the rest of the top 10.

If one of the Dutch U23 riders in the elite race had signed up for this one, the Dutch would mostly likely have obtained another gold, and still had their triple in the elite race.

 

[Andy262]

If one of the Dutch U23 riders in the elite race had signed up for this one, the Dutch would mostly likely have obtained another gold, and still had their triple in the elite race.

Not sure Puck would have beaten Backstedt on that course. Fem, quite possibly but neither of them was eligible.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Given that the only 22 year olds in either of the U23 races, or 18 year olds in the junior events, were those with January birthdays, I assume that the cut-off date for eligibility is 31st December, and there were no U23s in the elite race, Dutch or otherwise.

This will often throw those used to UK or Irish school sports, where from September to July, U16 (for example) means under 16 on the 31st August just before that competition year starts. So a kid with a birthday Sept to Dec could be U16 for autumn events in school sports, but already has been ineligible for 8 months or more according to organisations following an annual calendar, and from January, would be U16 in school, but not even U17 out of school.

 

[theyoungest]

Given that the only 22 year olds in either of the U23 races, or 18 year olds in the junior events, were those with January birthdays, I assume that the cut-off date for eligibility is 31st December, and there were no U23s in the elite race, Dutch or otherwise.

This will often throw those used to UK or Irish school sports, where from September to July, U16 (for example) means under 16 on the 31st August just before that competition year starts. So a kid with a birthday Sept to Dec could be U16 for autumn events in school sports, but already has been ineligible for 8 months or more according to organisations following an annual calendar, and from January, would be U16 in school, but not even U17 out of school.

You're right, even though Fem and Puck are only 22, they're not U23 riders. Even if they were still eligible in terms of age they wouldn't be, because they've already switched to elite and you can't switch back.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

We've been robbed of a proper duel between MVDP and Wout because of the starting order unfortunately.

Rules is rules, and if Van Aert wasn't aware of them, he damned well should have been.

But they are odd rules: Verstrynge and Orts made the front row on account of their World Cup standings rather than World ranking, but Van Aert who would have had 2nd row on that basis was judged by ranking, and so ended up on 4th row.

 

[Davesta]

It looks like the first two rows are based on the World Cup standings, and the remaining rows are based on UCI ranking…but then why is Boros ahead of WvA? Is it because WvA entered too late?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

How come one of the Belgium team couldn't swap start-places with him?

 

[Berniece]

How come one of the Belgium team couldn't swap start-places with him?

Because your start-place is based on individual performance

 

[theyoungest]

It looks like the first two rows are based on the World Cup standings, and the remaining rows are based on UCI ranking…but then why is Boros ahead of WvA? Is it because WvA entered too late?

They've actually applied the rule you describe: first two rows based on world cup standings, and the rest on the UCI ranking. It says Boros starts 3d row, not 2nd, so even though WVA is ahead of him in the world cup, that doesn't matter behind the first 2 rows.

 

[Davesta]

Ah yes, I thought the horizontal lines were separating the start rows - I didn’t spot the first column…
That’s kinda weird though - the first row had 8 riders, second row was 7 riders, third row 6 riders, then 4th row 8 riders again…

 

[theyoungest]

Ah yes, I thought the horizontal lines were separating the start rows - I didn’t spot the first column…
That’s kinda weird though - the first row had 8 riders, second row was 7 riders, third row 6 riders, then 4th row 8 riders again…

I believe WVA was 4th row? According to this list he's 5th row, so that's also not correct.

In the end I believe it didn't really matter, other than the race might have been a little more exciting for the first lap or so.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Its first 16 based on world cup ranking, then 17 to 32 is on world rankings, 33 to 40 as required is reserved for riders in the top 10 of any other discipline, then remaining word rankings riders and finally lot drawing for any unranked remainder.

 

[Davesta]

I believe WVA was 4th row? According to this list he's 5th row, so that's also not correct.

In the end I believe it didn't really matter, other than the race might have been a little more exciting for the first lap or so.

Yes, nobody else could ride the course anywhere near as quickly as MvdP. It might have given us the illusion of a race for a couple of laps but made no difference to the result.

 

[jono]

Rules is rules, and if Van Aert wasn't aware of them, he damned well should have been.

But they are odd rules: Verstrynge and Orts made the front row on account of their World Cup standings rather than World ranking, but Van Aert who would have had 2nd row on that basis was judged by ranking, and so ended up on 4th row.

Top 16 positions in World Cup get priority seeding. Remaining seeds are gridded according to UCI ranking. This is the rule.

This is not the same as the top 16 grid positions go to the best placed in the World Cup standings, which would have seen Wout on the second row.

He could have foreseen this problem and done another race.

Seeing what MVDP did on lap 1 and the few remaining laps where he was riding hard, I don't see the outcome being any different.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

No-one watched Maldegem?

Bit of controversy in the women's; first 30 second crash-fest and OK duel in last two laps of the men's.

But not a great miss if you didn't catch it.

 

[Sciatic]

No-one watched Maldegem?

Mistakenly thought we were suppose to boycott watching all races to protest the TTT stage at Valenciana