Race Thread

[TourOfSardinia]

Miss No crash - Alvarado!

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

This is not a course that is rewarding pushing too hard.

Lets hope this extends to the men's race, as I'd love to see Del Grosso beat both of his heroes this year.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Fouquenet and Backstedt without gloves. Why would you do that?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fouquenet and Backstedt without gloves. Why would you do that?

Clearly they must have Sven Fischer as their idol.

Nice win for Alvarado. Too many mistakes from Brand, but her podium streak lives on.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I don't think I have ever seen the pits so costly for time and so dangerous: those steps running on solid ice from one bike to the next...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Alvarado shivering so much on the podium she keeps her hat on for her anthem!

 

[proffate]

Do these riders use heated gloves? I think not, but why? There have to be ones that aren't that bulky these days.

Or at least the chemical warmer packs?

When I lived in a colder climate I found it useful to put extra layers over my wrists. Whatever the individual solution, it seems like frozen fingers are gonna be worse than any loss of dexterity due to bulk or extra weight or whatever. But I don't see anything beyond some seemingly normal looking gloves, and the riders are showing signs of being affected, so I don't think I'm imagining a problem that isn't there...

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm no expert... but I don't think Nys' bike is... easy to steer.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I'm no expert... but I don't think Nys' bike is... easy to steer.

No rear break either

 

[Barkintheeye]

The kids are pushing the envelope… to and through the limit

 

[CXXC]

Clearly they must have Sven Fischer as their idol.

Nice win for Alvarado. Too many mistakes from Brand, but her podium streak lives on.

Thank you! you really made my day, watching I gave up with Brand well ahead
now I learn a favourite of mine won. I will return to watch race end.

 

[theyoungest]

It's too bad Tibor missed his start, could have maybe put MVDP under some sort of pressure. I noticed he leaves a very large gap when he's following Thibau... and for good reason, it seems.

 

[KZD]

Happy that Alvarado won after her injury woes. She mastered the very tricky conditions.

Van der Poel winning as expected, his young teammate Del Grosso the rider that came closer. Too bad that Nys destroyed his bike's handlebar in that crash but at least he seems to be ok.

 

[Sciatic]

Great course this!

Agreed--really interesting mix of terrain and surfaces

 

[Sciatic]

Miss No crash - Alvarado!

Was interesting to watch as she lost traction several times, but they were rear-wheel sides, more possible to control than front wheel slips. The front wheel slide Puck had looked identical to Wout's yesterday.

 

[Sciatic]

Do these riders use heated gloves? I think not, but why? There have to be ones that aren't that bulky these days.

Or at least the chemical warmer packs?

When I lived in a colder climate I found it useful to put extra layers over my wrists. Whatever the individual solution, it seems like frozen fingers are gonna be worse than any loss of dexterity due to bulk or extra weight or whatever. But I don't see anything beyond some seemingly normal looking gloves, and the riders are showing signs of being affected, so I don't think I'm imagining a problem that isn't there...

I was wondering about that watching both days of racing this weekend. I wondered if they only wear team issued clothing and that doesn't include warmer gloves? Though more likely they don't want anything thicker so as not to lose feel for bike handling. But as you point out, how helpful can that be if the riders hands and fingers are freezing?
Harking back to what I've read about the famous Giro Gavia stage that led to Hampsten's win: his team was one of the few that seemed aware of the potential conditions and that morning went out and bought all the warm gloves they could find.

 

[jmdirt]

I was wondering about that watching both days of racing this weekend. I wondered if they only wear team issued clothing and that doesn't include warmer gloves? Though more likely they don't want anything thicker so as not to lose feel for bike handling. But as you point out, how helpful can that be if the riders hands and fingers are freezing?
Harking back to what I've read about the famous Giro Gavia stage that led to Hampsten's win: his team was one of the few that seemed aware of the potential conditions and that morning went out and bought all the warm gloves they could find.

Exactly, ever so slightly more feel of the lever for about half of a lap, and then much less feel for the rest of the race.

 

[jmdirt]

MvdP!
CDCA!

 

[logeardaddy]

What handlebars does T,Nys use? I've never seen any snap quite like that, almost as if they're designed to detach.

 

[Hugh Januss]

What handlebars does T,Nys use? I've never seen any snap quite like that, almost as if they're designed to detach.

Those posts are not designed to move, Ryan Trebon told me he broke an aluminum bar off on one when he was in Belgium at Worlds or World Cup.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I do wonder about those wooden posts - they're an accident waiting to happen. I'm not sure the XC/ DHI World Cup uses them........so why CX still uses them is anyone's guess.

 

[Bolder]

Tibor is one smooth rider, and love those tailwhips.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Do these riders use heated gloves? I think not, but why? There have to be ones that aren't that bulky these days.

Or at least the chemical warmer packs?

When I lived in a colder climate I found it useful to put extra layers over my wrists. Whatever the individual solution, it seems like frozen fingers are gonna be worse than any loss of dexterity due to bulk or extra weight or whatever. But I don't see anything beyond some seemingly normal looking gloves, and the riders are showing signs of being affected, so I don't think I'm imagining a problem that isn't there...

MVDP's gloves are nice and short to ensure both his watches get maximum sponsor exposure.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I do wonder about those wooden posts - they're an accident waiting to happen. I'm not sure the XC/ DHI World Cup uses them........so why CX still uses them is anyone's guess.

Well they do make the racers respect the outline of the course. When you use those little plastic step in stakes people just mow them down, nobody mows down the perimeter of a Belgie cyclocross course!

 

[jono]

Well they do make the racers respect the outline of the course. When you use those little plastic step in stakes people just mow them down, nobody mows down the perimeter of a Belgie cyclocross course!

I think the bigger issue with more flexible stakes at these Belgian 'crosses is the integrity of the course being threatened from outside the barriers, not between them.