Pro-cycling thread

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Fuck I hate twitter

Ethias cross Essen today (Eurosport, at least in NL) Pidcock seems to not have digested his Namur exploits yet. For MVDP it's looking like business as usual again.

Yep. Looked as though it might be spicy to start but like you say, business as usual now.

Herentals Badkamers tomorrow. Anyone know where you can find the start list?

wielerflits.nl might have a full preview including lists tomorrow, they do for 99% of the races (although it's a bit busy now with 10 races in 14 days)

The men’s race seems to have been aggressively removed but they haven’t bothered with the women’s

After Namur 2 days ago this was rather boring in comparison.

I was watching MVDP spitting the whole time and I was thinking either:

1. He has got a very good spit aim
   
2. His top tube and shoes must be covered in spit
   
   

Then this happened and I lolled hard (look at the right knee):

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Someone tell the Pauwels Bingoal kit people to redesign their mask, please. I can’t look at any more of this mutant mouth shit. It’s even worse during interviews.

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Go to 1:08:22

https://youtu.be/xIUY_mOjS8I&t=1h8m22s

Fortunately managed to catch the men’s already and will try to watch the women’s tonight.

Another day, another cross. Herentals X2O trophy. WVA vs MVDP vs Iserbyt most likely, and in the women's race Marianne Vos will be up against all the strongest competitors who didn't ride yesterday.

Preview and start lists here

Thanks!

Looking forward to this one. That ski slope/hill/"mountain" will be interesting.

Interesting article by Joe Laverack, young British rider who will be moving from AG2R's development team to Hagan Berman Axeon next season, on rider safety and the UCI's resistance to change;

https://cyclingtips.com/2020/12/does-pro-cycling-have-a-safety-problem-a-riders-perspective/

He was interviewed on the latest The Cycling Podcast, too. He seems quite media savvy.

I found the men’s race around that bleak train yard pretty boring. Will the women’s or men’s be more entertaining for this race?

Pidcock sitting this one out, looking forward to see MVDP vs a fresher WVA and Iserbyt

On the whole, midweek races are less spectacular than Sunday races.

The women's start list is pretty stacked compared to yesterday. The racing tends to be a bit tighter in the womens I'd watch that, then the first lap or 2 of the mens and is MvdP goes off the front then you can head off just get on with your day

I have no idea about the course, it's the 1st time ever this Herentals cross is on the calendar.
There's more stronger competitors racing compared to yesterday in both men's and women's races. And what @fredtc says.

Normally I'd agree with that but Eli pulling him back last week made for a good race!

mad love for Eli, but he needs to learn to stop chasing Michael Vantorenhout down

in other points, I've been watching some earlier races recently - in particular this from 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2fg0AZRELM

A nice prelude is some coverage of the u23 race of Wout vs MvdP when they were children.

But my main observation was how aggressive Stybar races in the elite race. crazy stuff and very entertaining

Ha so true

BUT I AM LEADER

Looking at the quite technical Herentals course (of course superbly designed by Erwin Vervecken) I think VDP will have the edge over WVA

It’s one helluva course, makes Frylands* look tame.

*London League course that everyone complains about year after year because it’s so hard on equipment.

*because of the flints

to me Wout actually looked better than MVDP technically overall at Namur. Lovely and smooth

It’s definitely not the four minute slog up the hill.

I like it, always seem to do well there.