Race Thread

[Dazed and Confused]

The "hills" seems to be doing some damage.

 

[theyoungest]

Might be a little tougher on Sunday, or not I guess?

Having watched the relay, I think at least most elite men will be able to climb it. That hill in Maasmechelen is more difficult.

 

[Barkintheeye]

The relay is fun to watch as it shows how large the differences are between riders and teams. Belgium surprisingly weak.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017304728380559396

View: https://x.com/UCIcyclocrossWC/status/2017304728380559396


Another glorified European (even Belgian Cup) .......they'll never get it right, will they?

 

[jono]

Another glorified European (even Belgian Cup) .......they'll never get it right, will they?

I agree but I'm not sure what the solution is. I don't think the days of multiple World Cup race weekends in the USA are coming back.

 

[jono]

My uninformed picks for the weekend:

Junior races: no idea

MU23: Winner - Aubin Sparfel. Podium: D. Haverdings, Y. Corsus. Tbh, I haven't watched a single U23 race this season

WU23: Winner - Celia Gery. Podium: V. Chladonova, R. Carrier. Probably some wishful thinking wrt the latter.

Men's elite: Winner - duh. Podium: T. del Grosso, N. Vandeputte. Another Alpecin sweep.

Women's elite: Winner - Puck Pieterse. Podium: L. Brand, C. Alvarado

 

[Pantani_lives]

Good luck, Puck!
Run amuck, Puck!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

What happened to Verstrynge? Anybody knows?

 

[Barkintheeye]

Weather forecast for tomorrow is light rain. If it happens it is really going to change the course and make for a very interesting and difficult day for the Elite riders

Ps. Verstrynge seems to have decided to end his CX season early not to overreach and have a too long season. Don’t know if there’s more to it?

 

[Wyndbrook]

Weather forecast for tomorrow is light rain. If it happens it is really going to change the course and make for a very interesting and difficult day for the Elite riders

Ps. Verstrynge seems to have decided to end his CX season early not to overreach and have a too long season. Don’t know if there’s more to it?

Because he can climb Verstryne is considered to have potential GT options and is prepping for summer.

 

[Wyndbrook]

My uninformed picks for the weekend:

Junior races: no idea

MU23: Winner - Aubin Sparfel. Podium: D. Haverdings, Y. Corsus. Tbh, I haven't watched a single U23 race this season

WU23: Winner - Celia Gery. Podium: V. Chladonova, R. Carrier. Probably some wishful thinking wrt the latter.

Men's elite: Winner - duh. Podium: T. del Grosso, N. Vandeputte. Another Alpecin sweep.

Women's elite: Winner - Puck Pieterse. Podium: L. Brand, C. Alvarado

Decent predictions, I'm usually wrong.
Junior women should be between reigning champ Lise Revol and Pellizoti.
Junior men likely to another Italian and French dust up, Pezzo and Bruyere.
Make the seniors from four, its much earlier then. I would not bank agaist Nys getting a medal again and Fouquenet being involved.
Head says Brand, heart Pieterse.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The women's junior race kicks things off today. I am looking forward to the battle between Pellizotti, Azzetti, Bianchi, Bukovská (who messed up the lap counting last year), Revol, Pichon, Versluis, Jochems, Nieuwenhuis, Roche, Huber and who else might be up there on a good day. Since I haven't really watched them race before I don't really know much more than what the result sheets have told me over the past couple of seasons, but some of them are also promising MTBers and road riders. I also know that Elisa Bianchi has trained with Silvia Persico a few times.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Revol has got a great start, Huber not so much, but at least that crash didn't destroy her race completely.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Bukovská's bad start has made this an interesting second half of the race. Grohová is also looking good behind so this could become a great Czech day.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So it did end up being like last year's race, but with the opposite outcome. No one celebrated a lap too early, but Grohová lost out on a small chance of catching Revol by looking behind and crashing as a result.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

A good race, and podium; and the reverse 1-2 of last year. Will be interesting to see were they go next; all 3 are also top Junior XC MTB riders......Probably won't stop CX/Road teams from showing interest.