Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/03/2022 09:38 PM |
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| Great story, Dale! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/05/2022 09:39 AM |
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that’s funny Dale.
No VDP and no van Aert at worlds this year. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/05/2022 09:47 AM |
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Did Wout confirm that? haven't seen that yet....
Would be a big mnistake, IMO, especially since MVP is definitely out now....golden opportunity to grab the rainbow jersey.
But if if his concern is COVID related, I would totally understand that.
ETA - Just saw Wout has confirmed no Worlds. Bummer. Looks like it may be Pidcock's for the taking.
https://cyclingtips.com/2022/01/wout-van-aert-wont-ride-cyclocross-world-championships/ |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/05/2022 10:02 AM |
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| Confirmed it today. Belgian Champs will be his final race then he’s focusing on goals on road. NM didn’t read all the way down, looks like it was translated and you found it. On a good day and suitable course it could be Pidcock’s to loose but he’s beatable by some of the Belgians. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/05/2022 11:35 AM |
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On a good day and suitable course it could be Pidcock’s to loose but he’s beatable by some of the Belgians.
Conditions will definitely play a big role....if it is dry and fast, team tactics could very well come into play on that course.
If it is wet & sloppy like the WC race in October, it definitely favors Pidcock. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/05/2022 12:01 PM |
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| I thought Pidcock faired poorly on a recent excessively muddy race (being a lightweight) but maybe I'm mistaken. I'd think what favors him is technical and/or climbing. What I read about Fayetteville is that irrespective of fast versus sloppy the course might have favored van Aert over MVDP if they had attended as it isn't particularly technical and more of a power course. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/05/2022 12:12 PM |
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Fair point...I was referring more to wet & sloppy equating to more running vs. riding through on pure power. For the WC race, Hermans isn't exactly a big numbers guy, but he essentially ran away from the field.
But I wouldn't under-estimate Pidcock's power, either....remember he came within a mm of beating Wout at Amstel in the sprint!
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 01/05/2022 03:37 PM |
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World Champions jersey this year --> *******
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/05/2022 03:53 PM |
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BTW....I am officially not going down to CX Worlds, Dale. Too risky with Mrs. CK's compromised immune system right now.
And w/o Wout and MVP, the race has lost a bit of its appeal. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 01/05/2022 04:59 PM |
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Figured that might be the case, CK. If I didn't live so close and have other stuff to do there that weekend I'd skip it as well.
My youngest daughter was at the Rose Bowl with her soon-to-be-husband and his family... diagnosed with Covid this morning. The whole group has been vaccinated but most are now showing symptoms.
Lemme see... 100,000 people crammed into a stadium where everyone is screaming at the top of their lungs, yeah, nothing bad could come of that.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/05/2022 06:09 PM |
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| Best wishes for a speedy recovery for all! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 01/27/2022 09:41 AM |
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Brook Watts on his roll as event-services director and course consultant, and subsequent firing from that roll over his statements on Arkansas's recently passed legislation.
Interesting that he was at odds with the trail builder and others over the course and his efforts to not have it dumbed down. He only partially succeeded, banked corners instead of off-camber turns, wide open and not very technical. Sure, it'll be a hard race but won't favor true cx skilled riders.
My experience with Arkansas CX has been horrible... I've raced there half dozen times and you can't get them to purge the MBT mentality out of their course layouts. Most are not USAC so they get to throw out the regulations and make up what they want-- 4' between fences, 1/2 mile laps, curb transitions without ramps so you have to bunny hop street crossings. When I complained to a buddy about flatting a tubular last fall on one of many sharp rocks jutting up he told me, "Shut up, you knew it was Arkansas when you signed up. You got what you deserved." True dat. BTW, the races are not by age or category, they're by time! Want to race 15 minutes? There's a category for that. 45? Yup, got that too.
Brook put on two races in AR that were legit but the locals can't grasp CX.
https://www.velonews.com/culture/commentary-how-i-brought-the-worlds-to-fayetteville-and-why-i-wont-be-there/?fbclid=IwAR2ZtjzbU_hOfIbt3CrsesPj0Zp8iBO0ajjvD_vhT-T05bKYrQFrGtx0ljk |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/27/2022 11:27 AM |
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Sounds like the conditions are hard pack and it will be fast races.
Reads like the course is an attempt at a bit of a mix of everything from various European races. Not a fan of that approach. You're in Arkansas, showcase it, be original. Even if that slashes Dale's tires, haha. As long as it remains CX and not MTB.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/28/2022 09:44 AM |
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The incredible story of Costa Rica’s entrant who has links to Portland. Came across it in Sporza today this is best English version I could find
https://bikeportland.org/2021/12/02/podcast-tragedy-and-triumph-the-story-of-felipe-nystrom-341744
Full transcript to get the entire story of a peace corps mom, native dad that he never knew, abuse, parties drugs 7 suïcide attempts and eventually a move to US and cycling
https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Felipe-Nystrom-Interview-Transcript.pdf
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/28/2022 11:53 AM |
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Mixed Relay races (which just a dumb concept, IMO, but I digress, start shortly.....at least it is live bike racing.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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