Race Thread

[AmRacer]

With the VDP cross races and Pogacar road races the plan is usually to go off and do something else but leave it on in the background once they're ahead, usually the right play but 1 in 100 times like this or in Amstel something actually happens.

What happened today 🤔

 

[KZD]

First win for Alpecin-Primier Tech.

Verstrynge deserves a lot of praise for trying and actually managing to follow Van der Poel for a bit. Expected a bit more from Nys.

Filippo Fontana again in the top10, he has been a nice surprise on these last races.

 

[Tim Cahill]

What happened today 🤔

It was good for about 5 minutes after he stuffed up I promise.

Anyway at the very least it was nice to see some mud, sick of this woke sunny outside in winter nonsense.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

First win for Alpecin-Primier Tech.

Verstrynge deserves a lot of praise for trying and actually managing to follow Van der Poel for a bit. Expected a bit more from Nys.

Filippo Fontana again in the top10, he has been a nice surprise on these last races.

Fontana has been rather impressive in some of these recent races - and 8th at the XCO Worlds show he's a top rider; probably doesn't have the power of the other CX riders, so Top 10s are good results.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Close. The Poets Bureau was established during the Cold War, to propagandize behind the Iron Curtain. Rumour has it they wrote the lyrics to Wind of Change by the Scorpions.

Bit of a change of gear to become a cleaning company...

 

[Hugh Januss]

I'm assuming you're watching with British commentary.

I've just tuned in to the replay. 3 laps in and my first take away on the race is Backstedt Backstedt Backstedt.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Bit of a change of gear to become a cleaning company...

Money laundry ?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

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

The kit that David Menut (also on AS team) wore today is the same as Gery wore on Boxing Day: she was back in the blue with white sleeves for Dendermonde on Sunday. Inadvertent use of the 2026 kit at Gavere?

 

[Hugh Januss]

The kit that David Menut (also on AS team) wore today is the same as Gery wore on Boxing Day: she was back in the blue with white sleeves for Dendermonde on Sunday. Inadvertent use of the 2026 kit at Gavere?

Her 2025 kits were all in the wash.

 

[theyoungest]

Bit of a change of gear to become a cleaning company...

It's a clandestine operation.

But yeah, the Dutch verb "poetsen" means "to clean, to polish".

 

[theyoungest]

I know only an imbecile such as myself would return each time, hoping for a different outcome. Again Brand lacks instant acceleration from the start giving me hope as she is swamped by quicker riders, that lasts about 20 seconds as she breezes by everyone with little apparent effort, there was no b1tch face grimace of effort that I usually see.
Lucinda did not even have to barge riders out of the way at corners.

I take it you're not Brand's biggest fan...

Brand has no competition at the moment. The only one who can match her watts is Van Empel, and she's basically retired. Pieterse is improving though, I still think she can give Brand a proper run for her money at Worlds. Certainly if it's slippery and muddy, Puck loves that, and it makes the race less about pure power.

 

[pastronef]

It's a clandestine operation.

But yeah, the Dutch verb "poetsen" means "to clean, to polish".

-putzen- in German (almost the same asi n Dutch -oe- is pronounced -u-)

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Not taking anything from Verstrynge, but Mathieu does not seem to be as sharp as last year. He doesn't need to be, but it feels like that's a 91% Mathieu.

That is probably calculated, because he is going to be the only competition for Teddy this spring, and hes going to need to have eaten all of his Wheaties for that.

 

[AmRacer]

Not taking anything from Verstrynge, but Mathieu does not seem to be as sharp as last year. He doesn't need to be, but it feels like that's a 91% Mathieu.

Pogi hoping Mathieu stays that way on the road too.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Pogi hoping Mathieu stays that way on the road too.

Mathieu may end up feeling a lot like Wout, this spring. I think Pog is going to destroy everything and everyone this spring. Godzilla is coming.

 

[theyoungest]

Mathieu may end up feeling a lot like Wout, this spring. I think Pog is going to destroy everything and everyone this spring. Godzilla is coming.

Yeah, Pogi was a bit average last year.

Last year MVDP was a bit too good too early on, and then at cyclocross worlds he didn't feel that great anymore (still won of course). I think this time around he's taking it easier.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Yeah, Pogi was a bit average last year.

Last year MVDP was a bit too good too early on, and then at cyclocross worlds he didn't feel that great anymore (still won of course). I think this time around he's taking it easier.

I think youre being sarcastic, so what i meant is that I think Pog is going to destroy Mathieu in every race they're in. That was not the case last year, obviously.

I dont think there has ever been a cyclist who has ever thrown a leg over a top tube, that could stop what Pog is about to do to the spring classics. I think we will see the most dominating cycling season anyone has ever seen.

 

[jono]

Not taking anything from Verstrynge, but Mathieu does not seem to be as sharp as last year. He doesn't need to be, but it feels like that's a 91% Mathieu.

That is probably calculated, because he is going to be the only competition for Teddy this spring, and hes going to need to have eaten all of his Wheaties for that.

I have not seen a single moment in a CX race this year where MVDP appeared under pressure or the least bit worried about his ultimate result. You are surely right that Mathieu is looking to the spring (as of course he should, he can sweep the CX season in second gear) but I wouldn't draw any conclusions about what he will look like in March and April based on his form at Christmas.

I think perhaps we underrate Verstrynge as well, who is not a technician but probably has the best climbing motor of the current CX peloton aside from Mathieu and Wout.

 

[awavey]

They were talking about Zoe improving from race to race......not in this particular race.

No they were doing both as the bit I paraphrased came from the same bit of comms from them.

But even the improving race to race thing, she broke her wrist, its not like that big an injury in cycling, , and how many races has Puck raced this season anyway ?

I dont mind a bit of Brit bias occasionally, but not when its at the expense of commentary on the actual race we are watching, and not the one they're imagining in their heads.

Xan Crees and Anna Kay were also racing today, but not that you'd think anyone other than Zoe did CX anymore for Britain, at one stage im sure they were saying Zoes reduced schedule means she has a better chance at the worlds than Brand because she's had more rest. 😲

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

at one stage im sure they were saying Zoes reduced schedule means she has a better chance at the worlds than Brand because she's had more rest. 😲

In fairness to the commentators (not that I am usually in the habit of defending them), I think they were saying that Backstedt's chances were improved by her light schedule, and Brand's were lessened by the high volume of racing she has done: I don't think they directly compared their chances.

P(Backstedt winning as things are)>P(Backstedt winning as things might have been)
and
P(Brand winning as things are)<P(Brand winning as things might have been)

does not equate to
P(Backstedt winning)>P(Brand winning)

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I have not seen a single moment in a CX race this year where MVDP appeared under pressure or the least bit worried about his ultimate result. You are surely right that Mathieu is looking to the spring (as of course he should, he can sweep the CX season in second gear) but I wouldn't draw any conclusions about what he will look like in March and April based on his form at Christmas.

I think perhaps we underrate Verstrynge as well, who is not a technician but probably has the best climbing motor of the current CX peloton aside from Mathieu and Wout.

You read into what i wrote, what you wanted to see, and I stand by my assessment. My ultimate point is that I think Pog will me on a level that a 110% Mathieu will not touch, nor will anyone else.

Im starting to think, by your every reaction to my posts, that if I said black you'd say white.

 

[jono]

You read into what i wrote, what you wanted to see, and I stand by my assessment. My ultimate point is that I think Pog will me on a level that a 110% Mathieu will not touch, nor will anyone else.

Im starting to think, by your every reaction to my posts, that if I said black you'd say white.

Perhaps words mean different things to us. I thought it was pretty clear I was agreeing wholeheartedly with this:

That is probably calculated, because he is going to be the only competition for Teddy this spring, and hes going to need to have eaten all of his Wheaties for that.

As for Pogi, he is already on a level neither MVDP nor anyone else can touch, and has been for two years. What remains to be seen is if he can play that to his advantage in two races that don't particulary suit him, Roubaix and MSR.

 

[RedheadDane]

Random question:
Are riders allowed to take off jackets while riding, or do they have to in pit to do so?
Is it even possible to take off your jacket while riding? Unlike in road cycling, there aren't a lot of long stretches where you are just pedaling, and even there taking off a jacket can be... complicated... as Kelderman showed us a few years ago.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I'm not sure why Pogi has entered the chat; I thought this was the CX forum - unless he starts racing CX, then he's an irrelevance. Not everything in cycling has to involve him.......

 

[CXXC]

Random question:
Are riders allowed to take off jackets while riding, or do they have to in pit to do so?
Is it even possible to take off your jacket while riding? Unlike in road cycling, there aren't a lot of long stretches where you are just pedaling, and even there taking off a jacket can be... complicated... as Kelderman showed us a few years ago.

I don't even think that this is a question due to the short duration of CX races, riders shed their jackets before race start then just endure to the finish, I can't recall riders taking off anything more than gloves/glasses.
Earlier at Namur Issebyt almost succumbed to hyperthermia in the cold, then he should have put on a jacket!