CX Season 2022/23.......

andyp

When was the last time three British men finished in the top 6 of a European C1 race?

exlaser

Never ?

webboo

It will be interesting to see how the lightweights who didn’t turn out today perform on New Year’s Day.

orraloon

Were there more riders than The 3 in (that v good watch) race, thanks tv director. But yes excellent spectate.

m.r.m.

*SPOILER* *KIND OF*




Really looks to me like MvdP and WVA were quite the same in terms of FTP in the past with MvdP being superior technically, so he could pull out gaps from taking more speed into corners and exiting with a higher speed as well as getting through sand or the planks quicker as well. Now it seems WVA has made a large leap forwards as could be seen at the Tour and MvdP's technical advantage is no longer able to overcome the power difference.

Really wonder how it will shake out in the classics.

andyp

m.r.m. said:

*SPOILER* *KIND OF*




Really looks to me like MvdP and WVA were quite the same in terms of FTP in the past with MvdP being superior technically, so he could pull out gaps from taking more speed into corners and exiting with a higher speed as well as getting through sand or the planks quicker as well. Now it seems WVA has made a large leap forwards as could be seen at the Tour and MvdP's technical advantage is no longer able to overcome the power difference.

Really wonder how it will shake out in the classics.

Van Aert has always been the better rider in the deep mud, like yesterday. Van Der Poel can cope with it, but he's not as effective as Van Aert at pushing a big gear through it. At the same time, muddy conditions limit technical advantages as the speeds are much lower.

I wouldn't read any more than that into it. It's been a wet December in Belgium so conditions are heavy.

tailwindhome

Eurosport has just dropped the first lap of yesterday's race entirely?

m.r.m.

andyp said:

m.r.m. said:

*SPOILER* *KIND OF*




Really looks to me like MvdP and WVA were quite the same in terms of FTP in the past with MvdP being superior technically, so he could pull out gaps from taking more speed into corners and exiting with a higher speed as well as getting through sand or the planks quicker as well. Now it seems WVA has made a large leap forwards as could be seen at the Tour and MvdP's technical advantage is no longer able to overcome the power difference.

Really wonder how it will shake out in the classics.

Van Aert has always been the better rider in the deep mud, like yesterday. Van Der Poel can cope with it, but he's not as effective as Van Aert at pushing a big gear through it. At the same time, muddy conditions limit technical advantages as the speeds are much lower.

I wouldn't read any more than that into it. It's been a wet December in Belgium so conditions are heavy.

Oh absolutely. Maybe I'm interpreting too much into it, but you are confirming my thought mostly. The wet mud requires more power and while WVA may have always been more powerful (he is a little heavier as well), maybe that gap has increased.

Pidcock being much lighter than both with technical skills on par with MvdP was struggling mightily in the wet mud.

I'm just wondering if maybe things have changed since the last Tour in that WVA has made a leap that MvdP has yet to follow if he can.

r0bh

MvdP would have won fairly convincingly yesterday but for a late error. And TP had no right to even be in the mix yesterday on a flat muddy course suited to pure power riders, it was an exceptional ride to stay in touch

m.r.m.

He has had two races almost back to back where he would have won had he not made an error. The point being though that the error might have been made because he has had to go way deeper than ever before because his technical advantage isn't sufficient to ward off WVA anymore.

pinno

Although MVDP's tactic is flat out from the off. He even admits that that is the way he rides.
If he left something in the tank then he would probably match WVA at the end.
If you are out in front all the time, you're doing all the pace setting - which is hard to judge. Let WvA set the pace, stick to his wheel like glue, put the pressure on WvA, use more tactics.
TP (with less power and weight than WvA and MvdP) follows wheels. How many times in a road breakaway is the winner in the group not necessarily the one with the strongest legs?
It fact, it can be a distinct disadvantage.

[Slightly on a tangent - Evenepoel will have that problem]

webboo

Pidcock manages to throw to days race away by showboating and crashing.
A bit of throwing your hands in the air too early type moment.

seanoconn

webboo said:

Pidcock manages to throw to days race away by showboating and crashing.
A bit of throwing your hands in the air too early type moment.

He’s a crowd pleaser. Don’t think or want him to change but that section was far too tricky to try a whip. Next time he has a 13 second lead maybe a wheelie across the line would suffice.

Anyway,Shame, had it in the bag.

webboo

He was doing them during the warm up and I think he did one in last years race. I wonder how bothered he is about riding cross these days. Is it just part of his training rather than he has things he wants to achieve.
I suppose the start money makes it worth turning out.

RichN95.

webboo said:

He was doing them during the warm up and I think he did one in last years race. I wonder how bothered he is about riding cross these days. Is it just part of his training rather than he has things he wants to achieve.
I suppose the start money makes it worth turning out.

Well, he’s not doing the Worlds

seanoconn

webboo said:

He was doing them during the warm up and I think he did one in last years race. I wonder how bothered he is about riding cross these days. Is it just part of his training rather than he has things he wants to achieve.
I suppose the start money makes it worth turning out.

CX isn’t his priority but if he’s on the start line he wants to win. Tried to give the crowd something but didn’t pay off.

andyrac

The mini whip was okay, it was the next take off he got crossed up; it might make him think, especially when he only has a 10-15 sec lead.

I had to laugh at the over reaction from some people on social media; most of the top MTB-ers do it every race; Nino always does them, and Koreztky does a one handed whip....

However, as already said, CX is the definite third choice of his disciplines; and he wants a proper crack at the Spring classics, after last year he wasn't totally healthy.

And after that he wants that MTB World title that went wrong last year; he lost a kilo in the week before due to sickness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSaRQJh756Q

daniel_b

Do we know if he sustained any injuries yet?

orraloon

Nasty off that for Pidders. And he wasn't the only rider doing those whips. Looked like his leg was bleeding as he finished.

Edited to add: just saw the post race interview with him, clearly shaken up, more concerned with the bruising under the bleeding.

Meanwhile Fem being Fem.

andyrac

Remarkable how she's kept her form for so long; you'd expect a young rider to drop off. Maybe the time off the bike since Val di Sole was a blessing in disguise. And first time on the Cervelo-Sram bike - but appears to be still wearing Shimano Sphyre shoes....

pinno

TP: Add the pressure of expectation, maybe a bit of frustration at not riding the CX worlds, the desire to be liked by Dutch and Belgian fans, a desire to please fans full stop and just maybe... he wants to have some fun.
I remember when Sagan was getting a whole load of stick for mucking around and doing wheelies and apparently not taking things seriously before his potential was realised and then look what happened.

Tom: you just carry on being Tom.

webboo

As much as I enjoy his skills on a bike, I prefer it when he beats the pd.

andyp

He's missing the X20 race at Herentals tomorrow due to the injuries sustained in the crash yesterday.

I'm all for showboating, but do it when the win is in the bag, not before.

andyrac

andyp said:

I'm all for showboating, but do it when the win is in the bag, not before.

I'm guessing you don't watch much MTB racing; quite a lot do it....look for Danny Hart's famous 2011 Worlds run.....

seanoconn

andyrac said:

andyp said:

I'm all for showboating, but do it when the win is in the bag, not before.

I'm guessing you don't watch much MTB racing; quite a lot do it....look for Danny Hart's famous 2011 Worlds run.....

Did he crash too?

flite

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when TP's coach or his boss at Ineos had a word...

pinno

Remember to switch the sound off. Those commentators will irritate the pants off of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q

gsk82

flite said:

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when TP's coach or his boss at Ineos had a word...

I doubt any of them really cared. It isn't like he threw away a road race.

seanoconn

Wout unimpressed with his bike today. Teething problems with SRAM maybe.

webboo

I thought he had a rear wheel puncture just as he passed the pits.