Race Thread

[logeardaddy]

Is Van Alphen a candidate for most improved rider? My not-always-reliable memory tells me she was usually 7th-12th last season, with the large time gaps those placins imply. And now she's fighting to be best of the rest.

 

[jono]

Is Van Alphen a candidate for most improved rider? My not-always-reliable memory tells me she was usually 7th-12th last season, with the large time gaps those placins imply. And now she's fighting to be best of the rest.

She had some better seasons a few years back but not quite like this season. Last year she didn't have a single top 10 in a World Cup, while this year in all races she has only finished outside the top 5 once.

That's partly down to some previously top riders not racing or off their best (van Empel, Pieterse, van Anrooij until recently, Vas, Backstedt, etc.) but she certainly deserves credit for improving her level and consistency.