Race Thread

[Hugh Januss]

I wouldn't put much stock into any rider's post-race interviews. They're not going to give any important information away, especially right in the middle of this busy period. Was MVDP on the back foot? Perhaps, but if Nys was really putting him under pressure I wouldn't expect the other 5-6 guys in the group to also be able to hold on.


I do agree Nys didn't ride smartly. Even if he gained a 5 second gap on van der Poel with one of his frequent, punchy attacks, he is never staying away, but he is spending bullets. Even on a course like this one where it's difficult to apply consister power, MVDP's advantage is when he makes an attack he will stay on the gas for a half lap or more. Nobody came close to touching the 6:42 lap he put in when he finally went away.


Re: Strohmeyer, he's posted about some issues he feels he has with fuelling, but I think he is racing foolishly. His strategy might be good for getting a few moments of TV time in the first lap or two, as he did today, but he should realize that if he is riding with guys like Cameron Mason or Laurens Sweeck or Lars van der Haar, he will soon blow up. He is not on their level. Compare that with a guy like Tyler Clark, who Strohmeyer beat in every race on the American calendar. Clark has ridden nearly every European cross sitting between 30th-40th from the first lap to the end of the race, and has finished ahead of Strohmeyer in each of the 4 races where they both participated.

I think Nys would be smart to just glue himself to VdP's wheel for the entire race. He's got the handling skills which Wout lacks but he doesn't have the power and stamina of Van Aert. Biggest matches he should burn before the last 500M is to hang on to VdP's attacks.

 

[Sciatic]

Nys was not winning that anyway, whereas Pieterse in the women's race definitely would have had a good chance against Brand today if she hadn't crashed, but it would have been nicer to see it being decided by a proper attack rather than a mistake.

It looked like Fouquenent was outclimbing Puck each time up the longest climb and that still wasn't enough for the Frenchwoman to stay with Brand. So not sure Puck could have done it either. But it would have kept the result in doubt for a while longer.

 

[stonerider]

What is up with Tibor Del Grosso's back? He's stretching it out all during the races. It's the same way MvdP used to stretch out his back during CX races when he was having back issues a few years ago.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Re: Strohmeyer, he's posted about some issues he feels he has with fuelling, but I think he is racing foolishly. His strategy might be good for getting a few moments of TV time in the first lap or two, as he did today, but he should realize that if he is riding with guys like Cameron Mason or Laurens Sweeck or Lars van der Haar, he will soon blow up. He is not on their level. Compare that with a guy like Tyler Clark, who Strohmeyer beat in every race on the American calendar. Clark has ridden nearly every European cross sitting between 30th-40th from the first lap to the end of the race, and has finished ahead of Strohmeyer in each of the 4 races where they both participated.

I like his ambition, but he's not, and is never likely to be a Top 10-15 rider.....We would have seen glimpses of it.....and it's likely bigger teams would have noticed by now.
As I've said before, the biggest US talents are in other disciplines - not CX.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm struggling to see how Lucinda doesn't win the Worlds....... However, if all the racing catches up with her (which is unlikely) or, she makes a bad start and another Dutch rider is takes advantage......Shirin is cable of winning, I wonder if Hulst really suits Backstedt.....
We haven't seen the best of Puck since the summer on the MTB......the Tour, and MTB World Cups/World championships were underwhelming.

Puck will be the underdog in Hulst, on a course that really suits her. I wouldn't count her out just yet. All pressure will be on Brand, who basically has to win without Van Empel there. Puck can just go all in without worrying too much about the outcome. That's a perfect situation for her.

 

[jono]

I like his ambition, but he's not, and is never likely to be a Top 10-15 rider.....We would have seen glimpses of it.....and it's likely bigger teams would have noticed by now.
As I've said before, the biggest US talents are in other disciplines - not CX.

Strohmeyer finished 21, 12, and 16 in his first European races of the calendar so there is some reason to have self-confidence, but even he has to know that he can't repeat those results by trying to ride in the top 10 at the start of a race.

 

[Wyndbrook]

On a slightly separate note it was good to see so many young US women riding impressively at Gavere.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Strohmeyer finished 21, 12, and 16 in his first European races of the calendar so there is some reason to have self-confidence, but even he has to know that he can't repeat those results by trying to ride in the top 10 at the start of a race.

He started those races the same way but they were somewhat faster more straight forward courses. His struggles seemed to start with Namur, maybe he's just getting *** slapped by the really tough Belgian courses. I think he has the skills but maybe not the horsepower for courses without much recovery opportunities.

 

[jono]

I'm very curious to see what a dry Dendermonde looks like tomorrow. I enjoy a mudder now and then, but past editions have really stretched the definition of what is a bike race.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Puck FTW, but an Anrooij win would be pretty cool too.

Wout should have raced 2 days ago. Based on his racing so far, he will have a very hard time dropping anyone today, and evidently, anyone has a chance to beat him in a sprint, these days.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

How come Celia Gery is in a different kit from 2 days ago?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Puck is flying right now. Big split for her to close though.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Puck was 8 seconds faster than anyone else that lap, but Lucinda is pushing hard now.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

What happened Zoe?

 

[awavey]

What happened Zoe?

was wondering the exact same somehow she got stuck in the late 20 positions and just kept losing time, I assume she got pulled on the last lap maybe if theyre only showing positions 1-20 now

 

[jono]

was wondering the exact same somehow she got stuck in the late 20 positions and just kept losing time, I assume she got pulled on the last lap maybe if theyre only showing positions 1-20 now

Backstedt 27th, 3:45 down.

Fouquenet will race cross for the Pauwels Sauzen team starting 1 January.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Pitch isn't doing much is it, Belgian weather isn't what it used to be, they should hold the next one at the MCG.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm very curious to see what a dry Dendermonde looks like tomorrow. I enjoy a mudder now and then, but past editions have really stretched the definition of what is a bike race.

The answer was... fast.

Now, that brings me to something I've been wondering for a while.
Let's say after the organisers had reached the verdict of 12 laps... and then Thor and Zeus had started a pissing competition... then what?

 

[jono]

A mechanical on this course is game over. Too bad for Del Grosso.

 

[Berniece]

A mechanical on this course is game over. Too bad for Del Grosso.

Yeah, just hoping for a moment of hesitation at the front for him

 

[jono]

Yeah, just hoping for a moment of hesitation at the front for him

Wout staying on the front is the best chance those riders in positions 6-8 have of coming back. A Nys attack at this point would really close the door.

 

[KZD]

The battle of the future, Nys vs Del Grosso, great race.

 

[Berniece]

Good race and deserved win from Nys. No clue what WVA was doing those last rounds

 

[jono]

Good race and deserved win from Nys. No clue what WVA was doing those last rounds

On the last lap, at least, he couldn't handle the technical sections at the same flat out speed as everyone else.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Wout got whiny with 2 laps left (flicked his elbow at Nys, and then let everyone go by), and that was it, though I don't think he could have out sprinted Nys today, anyway.

Chapeau Thibau! A well deserved win for the only guy who has any shot at challenging Mathieu.