Race Thread

[jono]

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?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Lucy risking her continuous podium run

 

[Samu Cuenca]

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.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

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.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20260123-Cyclo-cross-stars-to-represent-Great-Britain-at-the-UCI-Cyclo-cross-World-Championships-0

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).

 

[jono]

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.

 

[jono]

Can Nys pull an EF and win from a group of 3 teammates?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

NIce bit of "tactic" from Nys.

 

[jono]

NIce bit of "tactic" from Nys.

Haha, not sure whether or not to give him credit for tactics as he's botched that section 3 out of 6 times. But it worked!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

4/7....

 

[TourOfSardinia]

puncture 2

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nys just gotta go all in here....

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Go Orts ffs....

 

[KZD]

1-2-3 for Alpecin

Van der Poel takes the win after overcoming two punctures, he really earned this one. Nys made too many mistakes once again.

 

[theyoungest]

Turns out two flat tires aren't enough to beat MVDP. Just insanity. I think he could be behind half a lap and still win.

All Tibor has to do to beat Thibau is to simply keep on riding.

 

[awavey]

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).

Well why would you bother with CX in the UK anymore even if you had the talent, the nat trophy series gets zero promotion or help, winning nationals is meaningless because Mason would still have been picked even if he'd been beaten the other week and Zoe doesn't even bother turning up for them anymore.

Of course riders are going to go elsewhere because they're more likely to make a career of it.

BC get given money to promote sport and activity, and I think sending riders who have won national champs to world championships is part of that, thats the pathway to show if you perform on a national basis, thats the reward for it. they arent given money only on the basis of winning stuff, and fwiw neither Cam or Zoe are going to win, so why send them if its just about winning?

 

[theyoungest]

Well why would you bother with CX in the UK anymore even if you had the talent, the nat trophy series gets zero promotion or help, winning nationals is meaningless because Mason would still have been picked even if he'd been beaten the other week and Zoe doesn't even bother turning up for them anymore.

Of course riders are going to go elsewhere because they're more likely to make a career of it.

BC get given money to promote sport and activity, and I think sending riders who have won national champs to world championships is part of that, thats the pathway to show if you perform on a national basis, thats the reward for it. they arent given money only on the basis of winning stuff, and fwiw neither Cam or Zoe are going to win, so why send them if its just about winning?

Even in the Netherlands the national championships aren't a benchmark. Of course this is a purely theoretical situation since the Dutch champion tends to be one of the best international crossers as well, but winning the championship itself doesn't get you anywhere.

 

[Sciatic]

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.

I had the same thought about the van--it was parked SO close to the riders on that turn. I thought that was a very exciting women's race. Puck and Fouquenet going wheel-to-wheel in the front and Alvarado chasing back from far behind. Fouquenet getting gapped and then fighting back. Don't know what the hiccup was when Fouquenet lost time going into the pits.