- Feb 24, 2015
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Agree. Kamp really isn't the most solid rider in the bunch though he doesn't seem intentionally mean... like the Sauces. Yet I understand if fellow riders feel a little uncomfortable around him.
Pidcock bringing mvdp back at Diegem and being competitive at flatish courses was awesome. It’s a shame he didn’t drop into Namur which is perfect for him (i still remember him coming back from last to first at Namur with ease)
Wout's double take when Pidcock bridged up on the tarmac section on the penultimate lap (if I remember correctly) is still amusing for me to watch. Obviously, I'm a Wout fan, but I was a bit tweaked when he brushed Pidcock off earlier in the race.
- Feb 16, 2010
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Not really CX
but still Puck (& Tibor) at training camp
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN8qGMxvajs
but still Puck (& Tibor) at training camp
I didn't notice MvdP in Puck's video. I'm thinking he rarely trains with the "team". Tibor could benefit from some training sessions with MvdP. It's kind of funny he doesn't train with his "teammate" since they seem to be on a similar CX schedule.
I might be the only one with the niche interest of Canadian women's cyclocross, but the most recent news is that the Holmgrens are not racing 'cross this year. Meanwhile, a few more riders in the elite field this weekend: youngsters Nico Knoll and Rafaelle Carrier are doing their first European race of the season at Antwerp. With the Holmgrens absent, I would expect Carrier to be earning the strongest results among the Canadian women.
On the men's side national champ Tyler Clark will be joining a few other lesser Canadians on the start line while former U23 standout Ian Ackert also appears to be giving 'cross a pass in 2025-26.
It will be interesting to see what jersey Carrier is wearing January 1st as she was with Arkea this season (despite barely racing on the road).
On the men's side national champ Tyler Clark will be joining a few other lesser Canadians on the start line while former U23 standout Ian Ackert also appears to be giving 'cross a pass in 2025-26.
It will be interesting to see what jersey Carrier is wearing January 1st as she was with Arkea this season (despite barely racing on the road).
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I think Ackert mentioned at the end of the MTB season he'd give 'Cross a miss this season.......and he'll be changing teams as Trek Future Racing are finishing. I'm not surprised the Holmgrens are giving it a swerve either......combining MTB with Road is a big effort, and having to race another discipline doesn't leave much time for rest........even of they say they'll miss it.
So Carrier is another Arkea rider looking for a team.........????
So Carrier is another Arkea rider looking for a team.........????
According to Cyclism'Actu, Søren Kragh Andersen told feltet.dk that MvdP only pays attention to his teammates on race day, the rest of the time he's off doing his own thing. Andersen was comparing him to Pedersen who cares about team-building and involving the other riders in training and planning.
Arkea was a strange fit for Carrier, who is a MTB specialist. The only road races she did in 2025 were nationals, worlds, and low level 3 day race in Quebec.
Bummer about the Holmgrens. I didn't realize until yesterday that the Carriers are another sister team; is it just the older one racing elites in Europe this winter?
I'm not aware of a younger Carrier sister. There is a 16 year old Maxim Carrier who raced men's junior nats this year that I assume is a brother.
Oh! That must be it--I was breezing through startlists and thought I saw another Carrier. Could just be hallucinating as well.
Fem is calling a timeout on her cycling career. She is mentally burned out and is leaving Visma.
- Feb 24, 2015
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That’s really bad. One would think that one of the biggest and most professional teams would be able to manage their riders and make them prosper and grow. Particularly the young ones.
It's possible that the 'big Pro team' environment doesn't suit her; and maybe a more 'hands on' small team is where she would thrive. Signing for Visma made sense, I guess they really signed her for her road racing potential - the CX was just a bonus.
The team can try everything, but in the end it comes down to intrinsic motivation. The rider has to want to do it. Similar to Dumoulin, as soon as they start thinking "what the hell am I doing, what's the point, and do I even enjoy it"... that's the beginning of the end. It seems something similar happened to Van Empel.
It's really sad, and I think the sport loses its most talented rider, but I can't say I'm surprised. It was pretty clear something was going on and it wasn't good.
If she returns to the sport at some point it will probably be at Pauwels, an environment where she clearly felt more at home.
Antwerp course preview. If second place finishes within 30s of MVDP on this one, I'll be surprised.
Who is the EF rider?
- Jul 9, 2009
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I think she's a victim of her own expectations. She was on top of the cross world, then she saw what Puck was doing in MTB and thought she could dominate there as well. When that went badly she disappeared only to reappear on the road and have very limited success there as well especially compared to Puck and Van Androoji her top patsies in cross. It only takes a little self-doubt to sink the entire ship.
- Jul 9, 2009
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That depends on what sort of Van Aert we get.
That's a heavy rider's course. I think Nys will struggle tomorrow, with that much/deep sand.
I also don't expect Lucinda will be challenged by anyone on that course.
- Jul 9, 2009
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Nys was right there in the European Championship which was pretty sandy. I am hoping that Van Der Heijden and Van Alphen can mount some kind of challenge to Brand they have both been riding well in sand races.
When was the last time van Aert was able to challenge a healthy MVDP in 'cross?
Her own expectations, or those of the outside world? I don't think it's Van Empel's fault that she just happened to be better at cyclocross than Pieterse is... but not better at road and mtb. For some of the perpetually dissatisfied online fans she was the one eyed king in the land of the blind.
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