World Champs January 29th

[El Pistolero]

I don't expect anything from Van der Haar, in my view he lacks the pure power to really cut it among the pros, but once again, Niels Albert isn't a dominating rider. He always has his reasons for it, but he really isn't.

When Nys retires in a year or two there will be a power vacuum and Albert is most likely candidate to replace him especially now Lars Boom and Stybar will only do 6 races and Pauwels isn't nearly as good as the other's when it snows, is muddy and rains. He needs fast and/or hilly courses.

 

[Echoes]

I admit to not being a Pauwels fan. He seems to be a very boring rider. I watch interviews with Wellens and Aernouts and I see the excitement on their faces. With Pauwels, it's like taking a sleeping pill.

Yeah he's very shy. So what? If you met me irl, you would draw the same conclusion about me.

He isn't expected to make conferences but to perform on his bike. Everybody has his own personality. For once that you have a guy who is exactly the same on and off camera and not an attention-seeker.

On his bike he's as much exciting and aggressive as any of his colleagues, nobody can say otherwise.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

I don't expect anything from Van der Haar, in my view he lacks the pure power to really cut it among the pros, but once again, Niels Albert isn't a dominating rider. He always has his reasons for it, but he really isn't.

I admit that they I don't know a great deal about cx, but is there any reason why Van der Haar couldn't develop more power as he gets older? If he's only 20, that suggests that he could still develop physically as he steps up to the senior ranks? (please don't shoot me down, just asking!)

 

[Echoes]

Was my reaction too.

He will probably never be as powerful as Albert is. He isn't a TTist but cyclocross is not all about power and he's only in his second year as U23 and will probably already turn pro next year (while he in theory still has two year as U23 to do).


In Vegas he beat all the best US and a handful of Euro elite riders while he only had one year U23 behind him.

 

[theyoungest]

Of course, I could be wrong... but to me he doesn't ooze class like Albert, Boom, or Stybar did in their younger years. Of course he's also a different type of rider, can't really compare him to any of the current stars (Pauwels maybe). And yes, there seems to be lots of room to grow (literally ).

 

[Echoes]

It's true that the three you mentioned won elite races in their first year as U23 but I think the rules changed since then and the U23 aren't allowed race a lot against elite riders nowadays.

Also the pro standard is now higher than then, I think.

Lars still won Vegas though. And I really haven't seen such a talented figure in the U23 ranks since that great trio. Meeusen could only perform with the elite in his last year as U23. Walsleben got a 2nd spot in Overijse in 2007 but that's it. Jouffroy never really performed either (but he had injury problems).


I would also say he's another version of Pauwels.

 

[El Pistolero]

Of course, I could be wrong... but to me he doesn't ooze class like Albert, Boom, or Stybar did in their younger years. Of course he's also a different type of rider, can't really compare him to any of the current stars (Pauwels maybe). And yes, there seems to be lots of room to grow (literally ).

He's fast which will get him a lot of wins in his professional career. Niels Albert if he's good just rides up front from lap one till the final lap, Van der Haar won't have to do that.

 

[Mich78BEL]

Just as I'm sure many Belgians have celebrated Dutch-born naturalized Belgian Bart Veldkamp (Speed skating) and Elco van der Geest (Judo) in their successes.

i really doubt any Belgians cared about them having succes

 

[Mich78BEL]

Do I hate Belgians because I can't stand Kevin Pauwels? Nope, I just can't stand him. Just like I can't stand some Dutch cyclists, but that doesn't mean I can't stand Dutchies

How can you not stand Kevin Pauwels, a quiet and shy guy. And yet you idolize(?) a **** like Contador.

 

[Mich78BEL]

Well i hope some of the dutch talent coming up can do well in the pro's because otherwise there won't be a lot of competition for Albert, Pauwels and so on.

 

[El Pistolero]

How can you not stand Kevin Pauwels, a quiet and shy guy. And yet you idolize(?) a **** like Contador.

Why would I idolize someone that's quiet and shy? The guy is boring.

 

[Spine Concept]

i really doubt any Belgians cared about them having succes

You went on and missed the point. Saying ''any Belgian'' cared is stretching it as well. Veldkamp put Belgium on the map as far as ice speed skating is concerned. Especially now that Bart Swings seems to have a future on the ice I hear more and more about Veldkamp. Moreover, Van der Geest won a gold medal in 2010 at the European Judo Championships and is Belgian national champ - all in his weight class of course. They're not just any athletes who were naturalized Belgians, they were/are champs. In that regard I can assure you that some Belgians care . Anyway, you have taken that statement out of context and therefore it deviates from the point.

 

[Spine Concept]

Why would I idolize someone that's quiet and shy? The guy is boring.

Have to agree with you here. He appears to be heavily sedated in his interviews, it's hard to be enthusiastic about him. Great cyclo-crosser, zero charisma.

 

[El Pistolero]

You went on and missed the point. Saying ''any Belgian'' cared is stretching it as well. Veldkamp put Belgium on the map as far as ice speed skating is concerned. Especially now that Bart Swings seems to have a future on the ice I hear more and more about Veldkamp. Moreover, Van der Geest won a gold medal in 2010 at the European Judo Championships and is Belgian national champ - all in his weight class of course. They're not just any athletes who were naturalized Belgians, they were/are champs. In that regard I can assure you that some Belgians care . Anyway, you have taken that statement out of context and therefore it deviates from the point.

Didn't Veldkamp just become Belgian to make it into the selection of big events like WC? I think I read that somewhere, but I don't follow the sport, so could be wrong.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes. But he still got an Olympic bronze medal for Belgium. I don't know how many medals you got at the Winter Olympics, but my guess is not many.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes. But he still got an Olympic bronze medal for Belgium. I don't know how many medals you got at the Winter Olympics, but my guess is not many.

My guess is not many people watch the Winter Olympics here. Unless he has a Belgian father or mother, he's Dutch. Could not care less about medals like that. Can understand his reasoning for changing nationality though, selection for Olympics can be unfair sometimes depending on where you live.

 

[theyoungest]

You'd watch it if you were any good at it. The rest of the world does.

 

[El Pistolero]

You'd watch it if you were any good at it. The rest of the world does.

You can't be good at something if almost no one does/likes the sport.

 

[Mich78BEL]

Why would I idolize someone that's quiet and shy? The guy is boring.

Who said anything about idolize him? Besides grown men shouldn't idolize anybody and don't say that Contador is the epitome of charisma because he isn't either....

 

[Mich78BEL]

Veldkamp put Belgium on the map as far as ice speed skating is concerned. .

come one, nobody cared about speed skating over here before Veldkamp and now after Veldkamp still nobody cares

 

[El Pistolero]

Who said anything about idolize him? Besides grown men shouldn't idolize anybody and don't say that Contador is the epitome of charisma because he isn't either....

Then I'd rather not be a grown up. Contador is a hundered times more charismatic than Pauwels. And that says something.

 

[Spine Concept]

come one, nobody cared about speed skating over here before Veldkamp and now after Veldkamp still nobody cares

There you go again, nonchalantly throwing the word nobody around. I've already made my point in that regard but I guess people will see what they want to see. I actually think Bart Swings has a future in speed skating, so don't be surprised if in the coming years you hear more and more about speed skating, Veldkamp, and Swings over there. Especially as the Winter Olympics closes in.

 

[Spine Concept]

My guess is not many people watch the Winter Olympics here. Unless he has a Belgian father or mother, he's Dutch. Could not care less about medals like that. Can understand his reasoning for changing nationality though, selection for Olympics can be unfair sometimes depending on where you live.

That much is true, especially in the Netherands of course; THE speed skating nation along with Norway.

 

[theyoungest]

come one, nobody cared about speed skating over here before Veldkamp and now after Veldkamp still nobody cares

Same goes for cross in NL... maybe Aernouts wants to take Dutch citizenship?

 

[Echoes]

Have to agree with you here. He appears to be heavily sedated in his interviews, it's hard to be enthusiastic about him. Great cyclo-crosser, zero charisma.

Rather easy to be.

I'll have to repeat myself. We - true cyclocross fans - are not enthusiastic about big mouths and attention-seekers (and crybabies), we are enthusiastic about the sport of cyclocross itself and not what goes around it.

KP would never trash his opponents or make provocation in interviews. He's only aggressive on his bike, period. That's why he's still so popular, here.