Role of teams and team-mates in cyclo-cross?

[hmronnow]

Do team-mates work together in cyclo-cross or is it mano a mano?

 

[Eric8-A]

I've also wondered this. Right now, Universal Sports passes several cyclocross races. I do see that some riders have several teammates but I don't see that they shelter their main rider like in road racing.

Who knows, maybe i'm not paying close attention

 

[DirtyWorks]

Yes

Look at JPow and Tim Johnson. They cooperate constantly riding to defend their position together. Nothing like one of them launching an attack to wear out their solo competitors.
To be fair, they are about as good as it gets in the U.S. Putting them together is smart.

In the World Cup fields, the racers are not as closely matched in fitness. So, a few guys are always at the sharp end of the race while the slower are doing their own thing further back.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

mano a mano, without any doubt

 

[TheDude]

Cannondae/Cyclocross World may be a bit unique, but they play it like throwing a man off the front, forcing others to chase him down. You don't see that as much in Europe.

 

[TexPat]

Maybe slowing in a sandpit to keep the guy behind from chasing down your team mate? Anyone else see the Stybar/Pauwels move on Sven Nys?

 

[Echoes]

mano a mano, without any doubt

Definitely agree.

I feel strongly about it.

Only when the weather conditions are dry, when the soil is hard and the route flat, in other words when it looks like road, can team strategy prevail (see JPow and Johnson in Sun Prairie).

Within the Fidea team, there aren't team orders. There have never been. I have several examples in mind to illustrate this (all of which can be found on YT).

In Koksijde 2008, they were 4 Fidea's against Nys (Wellens, Vervecken, Stybar and Pauwels) and they each made their attempt to split the field. At one point, Wellens in front with Nys was angry with him because he did not take the lead and let his two team mates come back. In the post-race interview, Nys said: "they did not ride together. They could have been nastier. It just shows how ambitious these men can be."

In Asper Gavere 2009, Wellens had the same virus as Ballan just sat in the commentary box. Stybar and Pauwels were mixing it up for 3rd place. The commentator asked him if their could be team orders to let Stybar get the point because he's presumably the leader. Wellens responded: "Nah they can both take the 3rd place. Kevin knows it. Styby as well."

In Hasselt 2009, Stybar and Pauwels were sprinting against each other for victory. Kevin did not gift it to Styby. Styby said in the post race interview 'Iedereen mag winnen' (Anybody can win).

In Hamme-Zogge 2010, Stybar was struggling in the last 2 or 3 laps and was overtaken by both Wellens and Peeters (team mates) by Pauwels. It made him lose to Superprestige leadership. A roadie would have arrogantly gathered his troop round him. But Styby said "I think anybody has the right to ride for himself and this 5th place was very important for Rob [Peeters] in the hope of a selection by the national coach for the World Cup events (which he and Meeusen finally got) . I still think he was very humble then.

Only last year in Hoogerheide did Pauwels let Stybar take the 2nd place to insure him of the overall World Cup win. But Kevin had nothing to gain or lose by then and it was just calculation. Not a whole team putting on the sprint for his leader to take advantage of it, as they would do on the road. The circumstances were so exceptional that Styby offered Kevin a Play Station to thank him.


Albert explains it all here in his excellent (sic) English. (at 2.45)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3wM-tLTRzc


Angry Frenchmen argued that the Belgian team favoured Albert's Worlds win in Hoogerheide. Then they would have explain to me why these Belgians let Stybar chase him.

Albert launched a controversy before that race: "Rather a win for Simunek than another Belgian."

Vervecken's response: "In Hoogerheide, the strongest always wins."

Stybar's quote from last week: "Worlds are just like any other races. The best always wins."

Pauwels about whether he dared to challenge Stybar: "Sure, the best should always win."