CX Season 2021/22 thread...
Comments
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Yes, I agree about using natural features on a course; if you need to ship in that much soil, sand, etc you probably shouldn't use that venue.
I've said before, that only a few courses really suit Pidcock. A lot of CX courses tend to favour brute power, and are relatively flat. He'll win some nice CX races, but he's far better on the MTB; which is why he's the Olympic champion.All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
In contradiction, he won at Rucphen.andyrac said:Yes, I agree about using natural features on a course; if you need to ship in that much soil, sand, etc you probably shouldn't use that venue.
I've said before, that only a few courses really suit Pidcock. A lot of CX courses tend to favour brute power, and are relatively flat. He'll win some nice CX races, but he's far better on the MTB; which is why he's the Olympic champion.
I think Pidcock is way below his peak/full potential; he's only 22. At his current trajectory, there is a WC in him.
It's obvious (or someone has decided) that he has the engine to do 3 disciplines. Perhaps one of those diesels that need to have those sort of miles and training in the legs.
These guys are rare.
I presume that if he started getting results in the classics, something would have to get dropped. Who know? Watch this space because I think he could be a superstar.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Put the Eurosport player on for today's races, was showing a 1215 start time. No visual feed but I reckon the blokes on the commentary mikes didn't realise they were live, given some of the bantz comments I heard. Is that Marty getting cancelled?
Pictures now on.0 -
Good course to watch the races at Zolder. WvA so impressive, again.0
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Listen to the crowd as MvdP goes over the ramp.
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cyclo-cross/superprestigio-finish-men-and-victory-for-van-der-poel_vid1274491/video.shtmlseanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
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Men's race at Baal today well worth watching, lots of plot twists and turns. No spoiler here.
Commentary team saying women's race also good, off to catch up.0 -
Can you just let us know if the commentary is all there? Almost of the cyclocross I've tried to watch (especially the women's) has had seriously poor audio setup. 1-sided conversations, no audio on interviews etc etc.orraloon said:Men's race at Baal today well worth watching, lots of plot twists and turns. No spoiler here.
Commentary team saying women's race also good, off to catch up.0 -
Yes there was commentary from Hatch and someone called EllenJimD666 said:
Can you just let us know if the commentary is all there? Almost of the cyclocross I've tried to watch (especially the women's) has had seriously poor audio setup. 1-sided conversations, no audio on interviews etc etc.orraloon said:Men's race at Baal today well worth watching, lots of plot twists and turns. No spoiler here.
Commentary team saying women's race also good, off to catch up."Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago1 -
I use the Eurosport player app on iPad casting to the tv. Always have to double check the language setting is correct, sometimes shows as English and it's not, it's running ambient or whatever. And can have the live picture feed running for a while before commentary starts.
But yes today Rob Hatch plus the USAnian on both men's and women's, though men's race would still be a good watch sans verbals.0 -
Ellen Noble - former Focus & ex Trek Factory Racing rider......gsk82 said:
Yes there was commentary from Hatch and someone called EllenJimD666 said:
Can you just let us know if the commentary is all there? Almost of the cyclocross I've tried to watch (especially the women's) has had seriously poor audio setup. 1-sided conversations, no audio on interviews etc etc.orraloon said:Men's race at Baal today well worth watching, lots of plot twists and turns. No spoiler here.
Commentary team saying women's race also good, off to catch up.All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
Yes, I can (and have got used to) watching without commentary.orraloon said:...though men's race would still be a good watch sans verbals.
Rob Scratch is so bloody irritating.
Van Empel is impressive. What a future she may have.
Interesting to see if Brand holds her form for the Nationals and the WC or will Alvarado hit form at the right point?
It would be ironic if Brand starts to wither at the pointy end of the season. I mean - she cannot sustain this form surely?
Poor Tom - caught by a freight train but good effort.
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Any news on Amy Pieters?seanoconn - gruagach craic!0
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Tom rode a good race, was good in the technical sections, but wasn't as good in the heavy mud, which is no surprise. However, when Wout can deploy mega watts to catch and pass, there isn't anything anybody can do.
Similarly, Lucinda has loads of power, and on those courses can use it to dominate - however, it was great to see Ceylin coming back to form, and one hopes this is not a one off.
Today is another World Cup, this time Hulst, Netherlands on the town centre course with the windmill; looks quite fast, so maybe a bit more open in the womens, will need a crash/puncture for Wout not to win....All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
Looks like he was reading this thread and has nicely slipped his chain on the 1st lap.andyrac said:will need a crash/puncture for Wout not to win....
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The windmill makes this look like a crazy golf course.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0
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One wonders why more Shimano teams don't use GRX 1x on some courses.......alan_a said:
Looks like he was reading this thread and has nicely slipped his chain on the 1st lap.andyrac said:will need a crash/puncture for Wout not to win....
All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
What a crazy course today - really fast. Vos just didn't get into any sort of rhythm surprisingly. Brand superb again. Good to see the effervescent Pieters get a podium and Worst as sparkly as ever with a result.
What a descent!
Tom vs Iserbyt vs WvA for the WC's? Toon Aerts just died at death at the end. Must have felt 2 foot tall when WvA passed him.
Really enjoyed todays spectacle.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Yes, a nice course, and as usual quite fast, but with enough technical parts to be a challenge; and this is were Puck shines, and as usual jumps the hurdles. Eventually Brand caught her and won. However, her only relative weakness is her endurance, she is only 19, that will come, and then she'll be the complete package.
Tom was impressive on a course that suited him; and so was Eli who kept him honest; Wout was unlucky, but mechanicals are a part of racing - do they run chain catchers? As I said earlier Shimano do have a 1x system out there, but CX teams seem reluctant to use them, as opposed to MTB were it's almost universal.
As for the Worlds, if he goes (and he must know, he just isn't saying) Wout is a strong favourite; if conditions are anything like the World Cup round, then the rest are looking at 2nd place.
Similarly, Brand is favourite especially in those conditions, though Honsinger if on a good day (though she has far too many anonymous days) is a possible.
One caveat, if conditions are relatively dry, and fast, it opens it up......All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
Honsinger really needs to work on her start. She just gets stronger and stronger as a race goes on but is perpetually doing catch up. Is it the avoidance of going into the red early or lacking the initial power or both as they might be intrinsically linked?
Alvarado was presumably resting given that she has been suffering from fatigue and no chance of a WC series overall win.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
She strikes me as a pure diesel, with very little explosive power; so on fast courses with short punchy climbs she's not going to do much. Her best results are on heavy/muddy, longer climb courses......She is only 24, so may improve further, and she also has a road programme.
In horse racing terms she'd be described as a 'soft ground plodder'; staying on when the others have faded; occasionally winning a big one - and she is capable of winning the WorldsAll Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
It's strange but CX and jump racing have lots of similarities......the 'lesser international smaller' autumn/ winter sport, with only a few countries were it's taken seriously.....and takes place in similar conditions.
The one difference, CX courses are unlikely to water if it's too fast/ dry.......
All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
More shitz n giggles:
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cyclo-cross/watch-katie-compton-gets-stuck-in-the-mud-during-the-cyclo-cross-world-cup_vid1397646/video.shtmlseanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
That's from Dendermonde 2020. There's a rumour in Belgian CX circles that a backmarker is still out there in the mud somewhere.pinno said:0 -
I am liking the commentary of Jez, Ian and Ellen I have to say.0
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But not Hatch I presume? I think Mr over pronunciation over dramatic is a tw@t.jimmythecuckoo said:I am liking the commentary of Jez, Ian and Ellen I have to say.
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0
https://youtu.be/dn8UrhLdAA4
