Race Thread

[TourOfSardinia]

crowds not that big in Sardinia

yes I didn't go

 

[CXXC]

what a great race WITHOUT Mathieu and Wout.

Great men's race , women's less so . Circuit was rather terrible but what could be done with so little elevation difference.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I thought it was a pretty ordinary course - and surely there are better venues in Italy who can afford to host a CX World Cup?
I’d really like to see a hilly course in the Italian Alps, doesn’t have to be snow, just a course with climbs, and some descents to offer something different from what we usually see.
We’re coming into the part of the season which will likely see numerous Belgian mudfests, which soon become tiresome…….

 

[Barkintheeye]

Hope you all watched the Essen race. Mighty strong fighting by Hernandez that not only managed two times to come back to the front group but also made a senseless but lovely attack on one of the last laps. It didn’t hold of course but still hats off for the guts and showing. Vandeputte and Sweeck looked strongest but Vandebosch took the chance when it opened up.

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Will anyone challenge Brand this year? I can't tell if she is really that good, or all the best competition is out with injury or otherwise. The rest of the field can only challenge her if they ride a perfect race.

I would like to see Ryan Kamp win something, but he doesn't seem to ride like believes he can win.

And cool to see local boy Finn Westover out there in a World Cup and actually finishing without being lapped.

 

[CXXC]

Will anyone challenge Brand this year? I can't tell if she is really that good, or all the best competition is out with injury or otherwise. The rest of the field can only challenge her if they ride a perfect race.

I really don't understand , Brand has her skillset but she is no world beater like MVDP to be fair her recent performances on the road have been pretty ordinary yet at her age she performs better than ever year on year in CX.
There is very little depth of talent in women's CX , look how quickly the field stretches out with very few competing for podium spots. Then there are so many either injured or not interested in competing in CX.

 

[jono]

Will anyone challenge Brand this year? I can't tell if she is really that good, or all the best competition is out with injury or otherwise. The rest of the field can only challenge her if they ride a perfect race.

Brand has been one of the best in the sport since at least 2018 and the best in many of those seasons.

Even when the trio of van Empel, Pieterse, and van Anrooij began racing elites as 20 year olds, Brand was still finishing on the podium far more often than not. She is remarkably consistent, and not far off those racers even on their best day.

Pieterse can no longer do a full CX season due to her road and MTB commitments. Van Empel seems to be having her own issues, and van Anrooij has had injury problems. The next likely challengers, riders like Vas and Backstedt, haven't raced either in 2025.

With her commitment to the sport, I think it's safe to assume that Brand is good, one of the best if not the best, until proven otherwise.

I'm hoping we see a few races in the CX calendar that include Pieterse, van Empel, van Anrooij, Backstedt, Vas, Alvarado, Schreiber, maybe even some Holmgrens in addition to Brand, but even the I'd be rather surprised if Brand finished outside the top 3.

 

[theyoungest]

The only ones who can challenge Brand are Van Empel and Pieterse. Van Empel beats her on pure power, and Pieterse on technique. Neither of them are racing, so then it becomes a walk in the park for Brand.

At least Pieterse will return in Namur. She often needs a little time to get back in the groove though. Van Empel... we can only hope she returns to racing at all, never mind winning.

 

[Sciatic]

The only ones who can challenge Brand are Van Empel and Pieterse. Van Empel beats her on pure power, and Pieterse on technique. Neither of them are racing, so then it becomes a walk in the park for Brand.

At least Pieterse will return in Namur. She often needs a little time to get back in the groove though. Van Empel... we can only hope she returns to racing at all, never mind winning.

Not quite the same level as those you mentioned, but Van Androoj made a big jump in performance (3rd) Sunday from her 1st race (well back in the standings) the previous weekend. If she keeps improving she might at least make the racing more competitive

 

[Barkintheeye]

Why isn’t Zoe Backstedt racing?

 

[Wyndbrook]

Why isn’t Zoe Backstedt racing?

Training crash, broken hand and wrist bones.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Training crash, broken hand and wrist bones.

Oh, ok. That's a pity. At least she'd be ok when the road season starts I guess.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Oh, ok. That's a pity. At least she'd be ok when the road season starts I guess.

Happened on 31st October, at the time she indicated that she was still aiming to race this winter. Not aware of any more recent updates.

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Hope you all watched the Essen race. Mighty strong fighting by Hernandez that not only managed two times to come back to the front group but also made a senseless but lovely attack on one of the last laps. It didn’t hold of course but still hats off for the guts and showing. Vandeputte and Sweeck looked strongest but Vandebosch took the chance when it opened up.

Where can I find this race? I am in the US, so finding CX racing is a real challenge.

 

[andrew_s]

Where can I find this race? I am in the US, so finding CX racing is a real challenge.

It was an Exact Cross race on 18th October, in Essen Belgium. Here in the UK, it was on Discovery Plus.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hjFUeCQC8A

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Ah, I thought it was a more recent race that I had missed. One of the mid week events.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Provisional start list for womens race this weeked Namur at Namur includes Puck Pieterse and surprisingly Jolanda Neff.
Neff her did usually US local race a few weeks ago, but I can't remember her last crossrace in Europe, maybe Denmark worlds or the world cup with the big crash involving the favourites.
Edit: Just looked it up 2019 worlds.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Hope you all watched the Essen race. Mighty strong fighting by Hernandez that not only managed two times to come back to the front group but also made a senseless but lovely attack on one of the last laps. It didn’t hold of course but still hats off for the guts and showing. Vandeputte and Sweeck looked strongest but Vandebosch took the chance when it opened up.

Who is Hernandez?