Yeah, she's just by far the best in terms of pure power, I didn't quite expect that. Meanwhile, her 'nemesis' in cyclocross Van Empel has had a nightmare of a MTB season so far (crash last week, DNF today) and I think she can forget about going to the Olympics.
During the CX season, Van Empel looks so good climbing whilst seated, I thought today might suit her........(Saying that, most CX climbs are short & punchy) I haven't heard the reason for her DNF.
And not a great day for Jumbo-Visma with Vader in 39th place......miles from his old form. Currently, he's not going to be gaining many points for the Dutch for the Olympics......
And not a great day for Jumbo-Visma with Vader in 39th place......miles from his old form. Currently, he's not going to be gaining many points for the Dutch for the Olympics......
- Aug 6, 2014
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A lot of pressure on Van der Poel in Glasgow, but first having to pass a bunch of Mexicans and Basotho is not a bet I'd like. Will he play it smart, or will he make the same mistake Pidcock (who had a much more favourable starting position too) made in Les Gets?
Vader and Van Empel seem to have had a training camp on altitude, and specific technique training by former pro Michiel van der Heijden, but so far it hasn't paid off at all. There's also nothing on the team's social media about their mtb races. I'm guessing Jumbo would rather see Van Empel just leave MTB and see if she can make something of the road season, which hasn't been successful either.
I've actually been a little harsh on Vader; he started in 111th, and finished 39th - that's actually pretty good. He did some interviews with GMBN during, and after Nove Mesto, and he mentioned lacking explosiveness.....and having to re-learn certain things after his horrific crash last year.
Well to be fair Pidcock picked up a bug that was going around at the time; there were other riders who also had disappointing races. I recall he said he was empty from early on....he did well to get 4th.
As for MvdP, it depends on what he's going for; if he's going for Top 10/20 he can take his time and with a bit of luck, then I think that is achievable. Back in 2017 at Nove Mesto he started around 80th, and finished 8th.....
- Jul 4, 2010
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Bart yesterday during the women's final lap or so PFP is about 50" back or so.
'Well, it's not over and Puck doesn't look at comfortable as PFP'
Then Puck puts in over a minute on her. I do like Bart, but he does talk pony sometimes. I did prefer to Red Bull of Rob & Bart as this new duo just end up interrupting each other.
'Well, it's not over and Puck doesn't look at comfortable as PFP'
Then Puck puts in over a minute on her. I do like Bart, but he does talk pony sometimes. I did prefer to Red Bull of Rob & Bart as this new duo just end up interrupting each other.
- Aug 6, 2014
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Whilst true re. Pidcock, he definitely started way too fast. He was posting fastest lap times as soon as lap 2, and was already leading the race 2,5 laps in. Not surprising he parked himself against a tree twice very late in the race, and as a result had the 23rd(!) fastest time on the ultimate lap.
I think he's learned a lot from it though, seeing how he won Nove Mesto XCC with an absolute masterclass.
European XCO Champs in Krakow, Poland on Sunday:
https://www.uec.ch/resources/2023 Events/mtb elite/entry_mtb_men.pdf
https://www.uec.ch/resources/2023 Events/mtb elite/entry_mtb_women.pdf
And in other news, Jenny Rissveds won the Swedish ITT title, her first time riding for her new road team.
https://www.uec.ch/resources/2023 Events/mtb elite/entry_mtb_men.pdf
https://www.uec.ch/resources/2023 Events/mtb elite/entry_mtb_women.pdf
And in other news, Jenny Rissveds won the Swedish ITT title, her first time riding for her new road team.
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Looks like a fun course to ride, not massively technical but not all courses need to be. And seeing as the UEC seem to have decided to align this championship to the Euro Games/European Championships, I think we'll see more of these type of courses, rather than the World Cup type courses.
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You can see them here
- Sep 28, 2014
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This has been confusing me as well as there was also that combined European Champs with other sports in Munich last year which doesn't seem much different from this.
As I understand it, some sports don't have Euros every year, so for example there's no Athletics this year. So for this year, the sports who have yearly Euros have combined and we get the 'Euro Games' as opposed to European Championships. The UEC, have decided that their Elite MTB championships are part of this. The U23/Juniors will take place elsewhere like last year.....So Puck is still the U23 champion, as well as now the Elite champion.
yeah, at least with last year it was the european championships which fitted in nicely with the mtb considering it's got the same name.
The European Games seems to have different organisers and is every 4 years (2015, 19, 23) In 2015 Nino/Jolanda won the games and Julian/Jolanda won the championships so clearly they are different. In 2019 there was no mtb in the games but MvdP/Jolanda won the championships and now suddenly they are the same event in 2023? it makes no sense.
But now the European Championships has a combined multi sport champs every four years as well (along with annual seperate events, starting in 2018 and continued last year. Because of this, I really don't see the point in the 'games'.
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There is an Euro athetics in these games, the team competition. Which I don't think many people care about, looking at the number of spectators in the stadium. And it's a somewhat ridiculous format, where simply starting gets you a point for your country, causing Belgium to field a shot putter in the women's hurdles because their hurdler was injured.
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