Race Thread

[TourOfSardinia]

Yay Ceylin!
I just watched a recording of the Dutch Women NK.
(I couldn't follow the dutch commentators much)

What was wrong with Brand?
She seemed to take it easy - doing the minimum to extend her podium record.
Was she ill?
Was the course with that mud wall climb so unsuited to her?
It is not a good time to lose your form - in the run up to the Worlds.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Yay Ceylin!
I just watched a recording of the Dutch Women NK.
(I couldn't follow the dutch commentators much)

What was wrong with Brand?
She seemed to take it easy - doing the minimum to extend her podium record.
Was she ill?
Was the course with that mud wall climb so unsuited to her?
It is not a good time to lose your form - in the run up to the Worlds.

Training through Nationals to be 100% for Worlds?

 

[CXXC]

I thought the same about the Belgian NC crowds--small compared to the throngs at some of the races over New Year's

Thanks! the event was rather 'underwhelming' no fast food outlets, no beer tents, no loud music even TV coverage seemed lacklustre.

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Good Men's racing in Belgium and an interesting one in the Netherlands.

Very questionable tactics from Pim that may have cost the team the title. When del Grosso made it back after his crash, Pim sat up in the finishing straight and let del Grosso take the lead. On a course with little opportunity to pass, the best tactic seemed to be to lead from the front and control the pace and rhythm. Pim let del Grosso lead the next lap and he rode away. If Pim had stayed in front he could have slowed things down and even let van der Haar catch back on. Maybe del Grosso was strong enough to win, but Lars looked incredible the last two laps and if he had used that strength attacking instead of chasing, maybe he wins?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Good Men's racing in Belgium and an interesting one in the Netherlands.

Very questionable tactics from Pim that may have cost the team the title. When del Grosso made it back after his crash, Pim sat up in the finishing straight and let del Grosso take the lead. On a course with little opportunity to pass, the best tactic seemed to be to lead from the front and control the pace and rhythm. Pim let del Grosso lead the next lap and he rode away. If Pim had stayed in front he could have slowed things down and even let van der Haar catch back on. Maybe del Grosso was strong enough to win, but Lars looked incredible the last two laps and if he had used that strength attacking instead of chasing, maybe he wins?

It’s Cyclocross, not road racing - and Nationals are meant to be raced one v one, not as teams.

 

[Sciatic]

Thanks! the event was rather 'underwhelming' no fast food outlets, no beer tents, no loud music even TV coverage seemed lacklustre.

No beer tents!! The Horror!

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

It’s Cyclocross, not road racing - and Nationals are meant to be raced one v one, not as teams.

Pim also threw away his chance of winning. I race as a low level amateur and know that leading on a technical course is the best tactic when you are not the strongest rider. It reduces the amount of hard efforts or technical issues you may face. That course maybe had 2-3 spots where del Gross could pass and Pim only needed to defend those area. Instead he let the better rider in front and watched del Grosso quickly ride away.

 

[theyoungest]

Good Men's racing in Belgium and an interesting one in the Netherlands.

Very questionable tactics from Pim that may have cost the team the title. When del Grosso made it back after his crash, Pim sat up in the finishing straight and let del Grosso take the lead. On a course with little opportunity to pass, the best tactic seemed to be to lead from the front and control the pace and rhythm. Pim let del Grosso lead the next lap and he rode away. If Pim had stayed in front he could have slowed things down and even let van der Haar catch back on. Maybe del Grosso was strong enough to win, but Lars looked incredible the last two laps and if he had used that strength attacking instead of chasing, maybe he wins?

Instead of sitting up, you wanted Ronhaar to ride full gas with Del Grosso on his wheel?! How would that help his team.

 

[jono]

Instead of sitting up, you wanted Ronhaar to ride full gas with Del Grosso on his wheel?! How would that help his team.

Nobody was riding full gas at this point in the race. Baloise Lions' best chance to win was keeping the tempo as slow as possible and that is best accomplished by having Ronhaar ride on the front until van der Haar is able to re-join.

 

[theyoungest]

Nobody was riding full gas at this point in the race. Baloise Lions' best chance to win was keeping the tempo as slow as possible and that is best accomplished by having Ronhaar ride on the front until van der Haar is able to re-join.

Wouldn't have worked. Del Grosso is not stupid.

Ronhaar didn't do much wrong. It's Van der Haar who needs a better start to be able to challenge for wins. He used to be Van der Holeshot, but toward the end of his career he's the complete opposite.

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Wouldn't have worked. Del Grosso is not stupid.

Ronhaar didn't do much wrong. It's Van der Haar who needs a better start to be able to challenge for wins. He used to be Van der Holeshot, but toward the end of his career he's the complete opposite.

There were very few opportunities to pass on that course, and as we've seen del Grosso doesn't mind taking it to a sprint. Being in front and controlling the pace and rhythm of the race is a good option if you are not the best on the day. Every tactic is a gamble, but Pim played the worst set of cards that he had and paid for it immediately.

 

[jono]

MVDP sitting out Benidorm.

Could set up some drama in the World Cup overall competition. Assuming van der Poel wins in Maaschelen and Hoogerheide, Thibau Nys would need to do no worse than 1-3-3 or 2-2-2 in the three remaining World Cups to finish level with Mathieu. Not sure what tiebreakers are in place after that.

 

[Sciatic]

MVDP sitting out Benidorm.

Could set up some drama in the World Cup overall competition. Assuming van der Poel wins in Maaschelen and Hoogerheide, Thibau Nys would need to do no worse than 1-3-3 or 2-2-2 in the three remaining World Cups to finish level with Mathieu. Not sure what tiebreakers are in place after that.

Given that there are a lot of cross races outside the World Cup events, how much status/gravitas is there in winning the WC overall title? I know in some sports like FIS Alpine Skiing, winning the globe for the overall is a big deal. But the points for that trophy come from all of the races those pros complete in across 4 disciplines. For Alpine elite, There are no separate events for outside the WC schedule, whereas cross has things like the Superprestige series (and I forget the other one) where top riders also participate. I'm not trying to minimize the achievement of the cross racers who win it; just trying to get ideal of the scale.

 

[Hugh Januss]

MVDP sitting out Benidorm.

. Not sure what tiebreakers are in place after that.

rochambeau

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Given that there are a lot of cross races outside the World Cup events, how much status/gravitas is there in winning the WC overall title? I know in some sports like FIS Alpine Skiing, winning the globe for the overall is a big deal. But the points for that trophy come from all of the races those pros complete in across 4 disciplines. For Alpine elite, There are no separate events for outside the WC schedule, whereas cross has things like the Superprestige series (and I forget the other one) where top riders also participate. I'm not trying to minimize the achievement of the cross racers who win it; just trying to get ideal of the scale.

I don't think the CX World Cup is as important in CX, as the MTB World Cup is in the MTB World......Super Prestige, X20 Badkammers Trophy also see the top riders racing......riders will target different series. And there is the travel outside Flanders......It's not popular, so a rest, or training camp in the sun is an alternative.

Its one of the reasons the UCI wanted to make changes so CX racers have to prioritise the CX World Cup. You'd never see a XC racer miss a World Cup to race a Swiss Bike Cup, or French series race......as they don't clash. A CX World Cup should really take up the whole weekend - and the other series fit around it.......but that won't happen.

 

[awavey]

Thanks! the event was rather 'underwhelming' no fast food outlets, no beer tents, no loud music even TV coverage seemed lacklustre.

No beer and no frites and no euro disco in Belgium at a cycling race !!! 🤯

Are they governmentless again 🤔