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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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pastronef said:
isn't it a bit sad? I mean, I know the sport needs stars to reach the big public, but dear me, after 1 lap he was gone. it says a lot about the reach of cyclocross. obvs the Spanish race owners loved to have VDP at the start. and the camera staying on him after the finish while Nys and Orts are crossing the line. IT SUCKS. thank god they showed the last 4 seconds of Nys and Orts crossing the line. madness. I don't know, it's a bittersweet feeling.
ok now Spain has Orts, and GB holds hopes in Mason. but looking it from another angle, CX could survive without stars and keep being strong in BEL-NED.
I hate VDP but it would be good for him to race a whole season of MTB World Cups. that discipline needs visibility and sponsor like mad. it needs clicks and marketing EXPERTS not those brainrot and brainless web marketing people.
so for the sake of XCO it would be good marketing to have VDP there, and him leave cyclocross alone
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To be fair, XCO has issues, but is a global and an Olympic sport; look at the World Cup Top 10/ Overall Top 10.........current World champions from South Africa/ Sweden, Overall winners from NZ/ USA.........Never going to happen in CX.

MTB as a whole (not just XCO) suffers from ignorance from the road biased cycling media - and as a result gets very little coverage. Just look on here or Wielerflits, for example............whereas CX benefits from it's road background, and the road off-season, so gets more coverage; and can make you think it's bigger than it is.
 
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Armchair Cyclist

Armchair Cyclist

Moderator
Mar 22, 2010
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Hugh Januss said:
Also it's patently against the rules.
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It would very much penalise the riders at the front. But could they have raked it between races?

I guess the only conclusion is that not all sandpits are equal in their influence. Just like not all grassy banks, off camber traverse, or any other feature from one course to another aren't equal (and a thread on the best and worst features is one I've been thinking of starting for ages)
 
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P

pastronef

Aug 19, 2011
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Axel Hangleck said:
To be fair, XCO has issues, but is a global and an Olympic sport; look at the World Cup Top 10/ Overall Top 10.........current World champions from South Africa/ Sweden, Overall winners from NZ/ USA.........Never going to happen in CX.

MTB as a whole (not just XCO) suffers from ignorance from the road biased cycling media - and as a result gets very little coverage. Just look on here or Wielerflits, for example............whereas CX benefits from it's road background, and the road off-season, so gets more coverage; and can make you think it's bigger than it is.
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what I mean is CX in its cradle BEL-NED, so that means where the racing that matters happens, is safe and secure. thousands of people on the ticketed circuits, good tv views, sponsors, etc
XCO is way more international, yes, and it0s great, but it costs way much for the sponsors and teams, and I believe it's a wonder that the brands still splash the cash. in 10 years CX will still be going strong, XCO I don't know, will it still be profitable?
 
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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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pastronef said:
In 10 years CX will still be going strong, XCO I don't know, will it still be profitable?
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CX will be fine in Belgium - elsewhere it will remain as it is; unless the man from the IOC says yes. XCO will be okay, look how many manufacturers are involved.......
MTB is constantly evolving, and progressing new tech, which is what bike & component manufacturers want. CX is stuck with 33mm tyres and what else? Tubs.....yesterdays tech.....
 
harrybo

harrybo

Jan 11, 2016
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RedheadDane said:
Okay... I hate the first race after national championships! So confusing with some people wearing NC jerseys, and others... not...

For example; I didn't recognise Fouquenet at first. Of course, also doesn't help that I'm still thinking of her as an Arkea rider...
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took me a few laps too
 
harrybo

harrybo

Jan 11, 2016
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awavey said:
I was actually thinking they should do it every lap :p
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even I knew could of rode the sand and i,m 67, tell you what the vip area was beside it, bet those people were cheesed off as everyone seemed to be going thru single file. I took myself off the top of the course and the finish area and it was a brilliant day
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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If Backstedt was in good form I would say this opens up the U23 for some other riders, but would she even have been favorite for that race this year?
 
Samu Cuenca

Samu Cuenca

Sep 26, 2020
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Puck wins. I am not sure Fouquenet could have beat PP anyway as she also made too many small mistakes throughout the race, but that puncture, or whatever forced her to switch bikes on the penultimate lap, definitely made it impossible for her. Alvarado came fast from behind at one point, but couldn't quite close the gap. Brand's podium streak is broken, but that doesn't mean she won't win tomorrow instead or next week.

I hope someone rides into that Mercedes and destroys it without hurting themselves.
 
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Axel Hangleck

Jan 7, 2017
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awavey said:
BC announce their team for the World champs, and are again not bothering to send the latest womens national champion, at least theyve put Zoe in the elite race, for what little good it will do.

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I don't have too much of an issue with their selections; a British champion who will struggle to get Top 20, so why select them? A bit different for a youngster who may gain experience for the future.
But it's another warning at how little talent we have in CX.....only Mason, Backstedt are World class.....and even they aren't going to win their races.
In the last 10 years we've had plenty of Worlds success (mainly Junior/U23), but most of those riders have left CX for Road (or XCO for Evie).
 
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jono

Jan 31, 2021
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Well, this should be fun for the VDP haters. He'll have to ride half the course to the pits and will actually have to ride hard in the second half of the race for once.
 
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