CX Season 2021/22 thread...
Comments
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How dare the pre-race favourite, a seven-time former winner and greatest female cyclist of all time ride for herself. Outrageous.gsk82 said:
Was Vos sucking wheel, riding for herself, in an national team race again?andyp said:
Possibly this.rick_chasey said:
Anyone know what Sven is talking about?
Also, that’s how to apologise.0 -
Not sure why anyone thinks a team that put 5 riders in the top 6 should be riding team orders. If they did we'd be calling it a fix. The best riders are Dutch, they're racing each other.
As for Vos wheelsucking, it's only a complaint because of the speed and technical blandness of the course. Rode it like the road. I said halfway through that Brand needed a tactical change, either drop her or slow and let the others start to come back. It's not like the "cross specialist" doesn't know how to win a road race... Vos set up a game of chicken and Brand lost.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
As for the course, it's bloody horrible, though I think Pidcock will enjoy it today. I've heard people wishing for rain, but that just makes it slow and terrible. It's missing a long off camber and some hop boards, and maybe some of the ascent/descent could do with some narrow twisty sections with tree roots. The steps are brutal though, they can stay!
For the elite men what could be interesting is that the climbing and steps should favour both Pidcock and Iserbyt over Aerts. Wonder whether Pidcock's recent training camp featured stair reps on the hotel fire escape?Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
I've always had a dim view of team tactics in off road racing; I just want to see rider v rider, and the best wins. Leave the tactics for the road....
Two countries usually have strong teams, and can use tactics as a weapon. It's not something so common in MTB racing, even when there is a strong Swiss team.
It's possible Belgium will adopt tactics in the men's v Pidcock, like in the U23.....He has to race smart; trying to bring back any kind of gap on this course looks hard.All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."0 -
rick_chasey said:
Anyone know what Sven is talking about?
Also, that’s how to apologise.
From what I can tell he used an offensive word for someone with sub-standard mental capacities to describe some tactics.Twitter: @RichN950 -
What has happened to Sanne Cant? She appears to still be racing but pretty quiet on the results front. She used to be on the podium all the time....0
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Every time I catch the USA kit out of the corner of my eye I briefly think they've turned up to race in suit and tie
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Junior men's is (was) a good race to watch. Any one of those 3 could have taken it but power output wins.0
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Smith 3rd on a borrowed bike is a pretty decent result.
I know many people aren't fans of the course but that was a cracking race1 -
Not a fan of the course, but it's led to some tense tactical racing. Other than Zoe Backstedt has there been a solo win?
I see the Dutch u23 women also refused to race as a team and swept the podium...Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
She hasn't had a baby. @ddraver and I had this discussion elsewhere. She's still a top rider, but the level has definitely gone up in women's cross in the past five years, and she's no longer the force she was.dish_dash said:
Ah ok... thank you! Seemed odd that she just dropped off... now makes sense.ddraver said:Won everything and then had a baby I think.
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Commentary went all Fat Boy Slim for a minute then.0
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Pidcock right up at the front, gets bored with being swamped by Belgians and forces his way past on an awkward little climb. Race starting to fall apart behind now.0
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What should Pidcocks tactics be? Stay near the front, hope it stays together then ride off with 2 laps to go? I can't see any of these cross guys sticking with him"Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0
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Venturini is being quite useful for Pidcock. Pidcock positioning himself really well.0
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It seemed to quieten down for a while, the Belgians got back together, but Pidcock suddenly decides to try and rip it up again. Three Belgians behind if - if - they want to work together.0
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Big gap to Pidcock now. This course doesn't have a lot of technical stuff, but there's a long descent that makes him look very good indeed.0
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I'm feeling the lactic acid just watching this, some really big efforts as Tom extends his gap at the front0
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Feels like Pidcock is managing the gap right now - 20-odd seconds and just sitting there...0
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Can only follow it on twitter.
What is rather nice after many years of the opposite is that there is a lot of love for Tom.
Oh...and this guy
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
And just like that the gap goes out over 30 seconds - Belgians suddenly starting to look around instead of concentrating on chasing. Thinking of medals rather than the win...0
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Yeah, Belgies have given up looks like.0
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Yep, Venturini and Van Der Haar are making them nervous and more keen to get reinforcements than catching Pidcock0
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35 seconds at end of lap 6. Baring disaster he's got this.0
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BBC showing live if you can VPN.ddraver said:Can only follow it on twitter.
What is rather nice after many years of the opposite is that there is a lot of love for Tom.
Oh...and this guy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cycling/589476410 -
Van de Haar and Iserbyt go over the top of Venturini, but Pidcock still holds a thirty second lead0
