Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/21/2021 11:04 AM |
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Lots of good racing so far...even if some of the big names have been absent on the men's side.
Wome's racing has probably been more entertaining as the groups last longer....and Vos is still the GOAT. takes 2/3 of the US races. She was also the only rider I saw who still steps through when she dismounts....everyone else (men and women) swing their inside leg behind their outside leg.
The Fayetteville race was an absolute mudfest...will be interesting to see how that course fares for Worlds in January if it is not muddy. Seems like it will be a very fast course.
Dale, did you got to Fayetteville or Jingle Cross? |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/21/2021 11:20 AM |
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Both Vos and Brand were commenting how Fayetteville changed from superfast in training laps to a muddy slog fest during race. No comparison. Vos clearly benefiting coming off hot road race form but will be taking some time off now.
There have been significant grumblings among Belgian racers about the costs and logistics associated with the American races (for most this is a net negative cost picture unless they are riding for a larger team footing the bill of travel) and the apparent lack of growth of public interest. In part this reflects that crossers have traditionally not been used to lots of travel unlike their road counterparts but on financial side some good points are being made. On flipside there is also lots of commenting about how everyone is enjoying the American scene.
On mens side mostly just waiting for van Aert, VDP and Pidcock to step in to see how things really stack up. BTW - I think it was Vanthorenhout who showed that wiring from the Fayetteville mats had become entangled in his drive train. Didn't affect his race but could have. Something to look at. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/21/2021 12:14 PM |
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significant grumblings among Belgian racers about the costs and logistics associated with the American races
asking them to be here for 4 weeks is definitely a challenge....while I am sure most of them have "race families" they stay with vs. hotels, just the logistics of moving from WI to AR to IA is tough. Seems like it would have made more sense to go from WI --> IA --> AR. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 10/21/2021 06:40 PM |
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| I'm wondering if CX growth has stalled for a while. I don't follow it as much as I used to for sure, but it also sounds like gravel has taken a bite out of CX? I dunno. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 10/21/2021 07:09 PM |
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I thought that was stupid when they announced the three races. Horrible logistics, and none of the places have decent airport connections, and as mentioned WI-IA-AR made a lot more sense.
I heard several say they look forward to being back home. Well, duh... for many of them a race is a couple hours from their home or they can easily get there in their motorhome and not fuss with hotels, crazy travel, or catsup on their frites.
Side note: while all this was going on I was hiking in Colorado and ran into Ellen Noble on some peak above Boulder. Had a brief but nice chat.
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 10/21/2021 12:14 PM
significant grumblings among Belgian racers about the costs and logistics associated with the American races
asking them to be here for 4 weeks is definitely a challenge....while I am sure most of them have "race families" they stay with vs. hotels, just the logistics of moving from WI to AR to IA is tough. Seems like it would have made more sense to go from WI --> IA --> AR.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/22/2021 09:09 AM |
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not fuss with hotels, crazy travel, or catsup on their frites.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 10/22/2021 08:06 PM |
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| Hahaha... glad you caught that. Somewhere there's a video of Sven Nys working in the cafeteria at Trek and all he serves is frites with mayo. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/22/2021 09:53 PM |
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Haha I caught that too but don’t have talents to post memes.
Proud to say the fam is 100% frites with mayo. Curious how long the tradition will live with the offspring. Of course frites w curry ketchup, mayo and raw onions (frites speciaal) is another way to go .
Couple weekends ago we had a Belgian beer and Bitterballen party w some other couples, one Dutch one Belgian. All w Brit/Canuck wifes. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/25/2021 09:11 AM |
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Good races yesterday in Zonhoven....man that sand just sapped the energy from their legs. The men's race was especially good, I thought w/ Toon Aerts making a late attack after sliding out a few laps earlier.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 10/25/2021 05:04 PM |
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OC can attest to the fact that Belgian sand is not like anything in the US, at least not that I've even seen.
A very fine grain and deep. It's like hitting a bog.
One of the guys I know raced Masters a couple times there and said when he trained specifically for Belgium his US results got worse but when it came to Worlds (with a last row call-up) he worked his way to the front and ended up 2nd or 3rd. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/25/2021 06:03 PM |
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Dale - I doubt you would encounter anything like that Belgian sand where you are.
But I can attest that type of sand is abundant in the Bend, Oregon area. Ben and I put our faces in it a few times on Day 1 of the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder (gravel? Hah!). Ben subsequently missed far more "fun" in deep sand sectors on Day 4. I stayed upright (mostly) but ultimately the sand killed the first iteration of my Diverge (sheered off top tube from too many slow motion spills those five days). I limped to finish on said broken frame, the bike making death sounds all the way those final 20 kms. I have no idea how the old Oregon Trail pioneers got their wagons through this vile stuff. Must have been hell. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/27/2021 02:45 PM |
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| Sounds like VDP and Pidcock have confirmed their intent to partake in Lafayette Worlds but van Aert is still in doubt as it may interfere with his road racing goals. Ironically, Lafayette has been deemed relatively suitable to Wout's strengths (power) and less suitable to VDP (course is not very technical). |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 11/04/2021 08:37 PM |
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| How did the US cross center of gravity end up in Arkansas? I get how the Road Worlds came to Richmond, VA 6 years ago: Tour DuPont had a very successful history, and a few pro races later did OK, the course was good enough, even pretty good. All in all the 2015 Worlds was a success. But northern Euro mud fettish meets US redneck heartland? WTF? Please fill me in. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/05/2021 02:39 AM |
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| https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2021/08/01/walton-foundation-adds-1-4-million-in-grant-funding-for-cyclocross-races-in-fayetteville/ |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/05/2021 06:40 AM |
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| In addition, Walmart is now the title sponsor for the World Championships in January. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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