Race Thread

[Axel Hangleck]

Racing a summer on the Road & MTB obviously takes priority - and leaves the winter for rest/ recovery - and maybe some MTB skills training.....Maybe they'll do the odd CX race here and there, but the Trek XC team no longer bothers to register as a CX team.

 

[Sciatic]

Racing a summer on the Road & MTB obviously takes priority - and leaves the winter for rest/ recovery - and maybe some MTB skills training.....Maybe they'll do the odd CX race here and there, but the Trek XC team no longer bothers to register as a CX team.

That’s too bad, but of course understandable. Especially when they are do
Young. So perhaps Rochelle vs Carrier for Canadian Nats?

 

[jono]

That’s too bad, but of course understandable. Especially when they are do
Young. So perhaps Rochelle vs Carrier for Canadian Nats?

Of the current registrants, Rochette will be favourite for the national champs jersey with Sidney McGill as her biggest competition. Carrier is racing for the U23 title, understandably as it is her first year out of junior.

 

[Sciatic]

Of the current registrants, Rochette will be favourite for the national champs jersey with Sidney McGill as her biggest competition. Carrier is racing for the U23 title, understandably as it is her first year out of junior.

Yes, it's Rochette--thank you.

 

[CXXC]

Great men's race today at Merksplas with a deserved win for Nieuwenhuis . It's
always a good race when the lead changes so much . But what was going on with Nys? He often looked the strongest but never seemed happy again making so many pits and small errors.

 

[Sciatic]

Even though it was just a short sand pit section today, Inge VDH showed how strong she is there, which helps explain (obviously along with other factors like team dynamics) her big win last weekend. But a minor crash eliminated her chances to stay with Brand today.

 

[jono]

Even though it was just a short sand pit section today, Inge VDH showed how strong she is there, which helps explain (obviously along with other factors like team dynamics) her big win last weekend. But a minor crash eliminated her chances to stay with Brand today.

The sand pit proved decisive in the men's race as well as Nieuwenhuis rode it better than any other rider in the last 3 laps, while Nys' race fell apart there.

 

[jono]

Canadian national champs:

Men: Tyler Clark
Women: Maghalie Rochette
Men U23: Mika Comaniuk
Women U23: Rafaelle Carrier
Junior Men: Emilien Belzile
Junior Women: Eliane Blais

 

[logeardaddy]

In the absence of Van Empel, Alvarado, Pieterse, Worst, it was once again the Lucy Show at Merksplas. I'm wondering if Van Alphen and Bentveld have really made a huge stride or if they've just moved up to fill the open slots in the top10.
Tough day for the over-30 men as the youth surge.

 

[stonerider]

Great men's race today at Merksplas with a deserved win for Nieuwenhuis . It's
always a good race when the lead changes so much . But what was going on with Nys? He often looked the strongest but never seemed happy again making so many pits and small errors.

Nys seems "mental" to me. If something is just a little bit off it really gets into his head. Seems everything has to go perfect for him to win. He also didn't have the raw watts to ride the sand section.

 

[awavey]

In the absence of Van Empel, Alvarado, Pieterse, Worst, it was once again the Lucy Show at Merksplas. I'm wondering if Van Alphen and Bentveld have really made a huge stride or if they've just moved up to fill the open slots in the top10.
Tough day for the over-30 men as the youth surge.

are they intending to race at some point this season ? or is this basically it for the womens races as its getting quite dull it has to be said.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Nys seems "mental" to me. If something is just a little bit off it really gets into his head. Seems everything has to go perfect for him to win. He also didn't have the raw watts to ride the sand section.

Whilst it's early, I don't think Nys is on another level to the others - and he needs to be if he's going to challenge the two 'aliens' when they return. And as you say, he doesn't have the raw watts to be competitive in the sand ( or the heavy mud when it turns up).

 

[CXXC]

Watching the women's race from Hamme , I started reading my book, Ghosts
not a ghost story but an exploration of relationships , wise and humorous - that
summed up todays 1st televised race.

 

[AmRacer]

C'mon Mason

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Really Nys racing - from Mason too.

Ps: how come Toon's form fell off a cliff.

 

[KZD]

Great fight today between Nys and Mason with belgian winning again. Too bad yesterday's winner Nieuwenhuis crashed in the first lap.

@TourOfSardinia Aerts got sick.

 

[awavey]

Watching the women's race from Hamme , I started reading my book, Ghosts
not a ghost story but an exploration of relationships , wise and humorous - that
summed up todays 1st televised race.

The battle for 3rd was interesting at least.

Equally I pondered why so many of them chose white shoes to race with

 

[CXXC]

Equally I pondered why so many of them chose white shoes to race with

Look at road racing some 99% of riders where white shoes, it's the fashion I guess?

Back to CX however dull race conditions are virtually all riders wear sunglasses at the start , many will be discarded mid race, that's for the sponsors?

 

[Davesta]

Ps: how come Toon's form fell off a cliff.

He didn’t start today due to illness. So likely he was suffering from it yesterday too, hence his lacklustre race

 

[Davesta]

Look at road racing some 99% of riders where white shoes, it's the fashion I guess?

Back to CX however dull race conditions are virtually all riders wear sunglasses at the start , many will be discarded mid race, that's for the sponsors?

Wearing glasses at the start can be v useful, to stop mud from getting in your eyes as it flicks up from other riders’ tyres…as the riders become less crowded after a couple of laps, there’s less chance of mud flicking up, so you can then get rid of the glasses (especially as they’re probably covered in mud by that point).

 

[Wyndbrook]

are they intending to race at some point this season ? or is this basically it for the womens races as its getting quite dull it has to be said.

Its still a long list of riders missing, but sowly getting better, Schrieber and Worst were back today. I assume Van Empel will return next Sunday. Zoe will return once she get over her wrist and hand fractures.
Van Anrooij has stated she will ride this season, no news yet on Puck.
Its just been such a bad season for injuries and illness. Alvarado still out with knee problems, Casasola and Riberolle currently out with illness and injuries. Laura Verdonschot riding, but still struggling with leg issues, despite her earlier operation.

 

[logeardaddy]

Schreiber provided the most suspense in the women's race at Hamme, with her 100m run down the finishing straight to finish before the next riders could catch her, even though she had given them some extra seconds by trying to reseat the chain.

 

[Lequack]

I don't think the big names are taking this sport seriously anymore. And how could they, when can just come at any point in the season and beat everyone who's racing year round.

 

[awavey]

Look at road racing some 99% of riders where white shoes, it's the fashion I guess?

Back to CX however dull race conditions are virtually all riders wear sunglasses at the start , many will be discarded mid race, that's for the sponsors?

I get roadies doing it as they like to pose with the one bit of kit they get to decide for themselves, but even they question their choices on a day when its wet & grimey, as they know they'll get wrecked.

For CXers, and it was basically the majority of riders in both races, knowing the course conditions. It just seemed insane because no matter how hard you try to clean them, they'll always have some dirt left on them and they'll just fade to grey.

And you might imagine top riders get sponsored to do it, but not half the flipping field wrecking 200quid plus shoes just to look "fashionable".

 

[awavey]

Cool trophy 🍻

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRIXJBPDCXu/