Race Thread

[pastronef]

what a race WITHOUT VDP. I pray his last CX race ever is the Worlds so he wins it for the 32846493 time time and adieu

 

[theyoungest]

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

Van Aert just didn't have it. He couldn't create a gap, and he's not going to take all these corners faster than Nys or Del Grosso, or anyone really. So then there's no opportunity for him.

Nys rode like Iserbyt. Which gets you the win on a course like this.

 

[jono]

what a race WITHOUT VDP. I pray his last CX race ever is the Worlds so he wins it for the 32846493 time time and adieu

I understand the sentiment but this race wouldn't have been much different with MVDP. In dry conditions like this, the course is like Benidorm. Fast and nowhere to make a difference. It would still have been group racing.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Van Aert just didn't have it. He couldn't create a gap, and he's not going to take all these corners faster than Nys or Del Grosso, or anyone really. So then there's no opportunity for him.

Nys rode like Iserbyt. Which gets you the win on a course like this.

To be fair, Nys did it without having Vanthourensleestack getting in 2nd position, and then soft pedaling to let Iserbyt get a gap. Nys used his strength, only.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why do the Men not take off their hat for the anthem?
The Women always seem to do.

 

[RedheadDane]

I understand the sentiment but this race wouldn't have been much different with MVDP. In dry conditions like this, the course is like Benidorm. Fast and nowhere to make a difference. It would still have been group racing.

Which would have been quite different from how it usually is when MVDP is racing...

 

[Barkintheeye]

Amazing speeds! Almost hard to understand how they manage to keep traction in those corners at those speeds.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Even random belge teenagers home from university for Christmas are toying with van aert now.

 

[jono]

Unless he adds a race to his calendar, that was Wout's last of the year without MVDP present aside from the Belgian national champs.

Could we see a winless season from van Aert?

This has never happened before. The closest was 2019-20, when he add to wait until after worlds to pick up his only win.

 

[theyoungest]

To be fair, Nys did it without having Vanthourensleestack getting in 2nd position, and then soft pedaling to let Iserbyt get a gap. Nys used his strength, only.

His strength, and a bit of pushing and shoving. Which is what you need to do when it's basically a crit race like today, but it's what Iserbyt is very good at.

 

[awavey]

Unless he adds a race to his calendar, that was Wout's last of the year without MVDP present aside from the Belgian national champs.

Could we see a winless season from van Aert?

This has never happened before. The closest was 2019-20, when he add to wait until after worlds to pick up his only win.

well he doesnt look like winning, and especially not if it comes to another sprint out, even if his thighs appear to have ballooned in size over this winter.

 

[Hugh Januss]

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.

I think this is a mediocre course without mud.

 

[jono]

I think this is a mediocre course without mud.

I find it is a boring course with the mud as well. But today was like a Temu version of a Benidorm race.


Top North Americans today: Rafaelle Carrier (Canada, 14th -- will be interesting to see what jersey she is wearing on 1 January) and Tyler Clark (Canada, 28th).

 

[Hugh Januss]

When the women's race is 9 laps and 40 riders are lapped it's quite possible that the course is too short.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Unless he adds a race to his calendar, that was Wout's last of the year without MVDP present aside from the Belgian national champs.

Could we see a winless season from van Aert?

This has never happened before. The closest was 2019-20, when he add to wait until after worlds to pick up his only win.

He'll win the Belgian championship.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think this is a mediocre course without mud.

A generous assessment...