International Cyclocross Weekend Preview: Holy Week Kick-Off

Posted on December 23, 2011 by and

Photo by Luc Claessen | http://www.ispaphoto.be

It’s that time of year again, we are a few weeks out from the various national championships, and a little over a month away from the world championships. More importantly, it’s Christmas time, which means an action-packed week of racing, begging Friday, December 23rd and stretching into the new year. Here’s our usual weekend preview, stretched a bit to include next weeks races.

Superprestige – Diegem (C1)

After nearly a month off, the Superprestige series invades Diegem on Friday for some night time racing in the city center. Heading into the previous round in Gieten, Sven Nys and Kevin Pauwels were tied for the series lead and looking to throw down. Nys would get the better of Pauwels in an exciting sprint finish and take control of the series by five points. Despite Pauwels’ second place finish, he actually slipped to third, behind Zdenek Stybar thanks to an intermediate sprint. Pauwels is still a slim six points behind Nys.

After a pair of podium finishes last weekend, Niels Albert will be the man to watch in Diegem. Albert has won the past two editions of this race and looks to be right on track for a Belgian National Championship defense in a few weeks. Obviously, Pauwels and Nys will figure into the mix as should Stybar, who suddenly found his legs last Sunday. Klass Vantornout, Bart Aernouts, Rob Peeters and Tom Meeusen will all be looking to contend for victory as well.

GP DAF Grand Garage Engel (C2)

I tried my best with this race, scouring the internet for what felt like hours, with no luck. The best I can find are results from 2008 and 2009. Rob Peeters won in 2009 and Davy Coenen won in 2008. This race is up against the World Cup, which means it will be attended by those who were not selected by their nations and are not racing in Switzerland. If anyone has any info on this race, feel free to let us know.

Internationales Radquer Dagmersellen (C2)

Switzerland’s national series returns on Sunday in Dagmersellen. The big surprise is the scheduled appearance of last years winner, Francis Mourey. Mourey is on the start list and is absent from the Zolder start list. It’s surprising to see a rider of his caliber skipping a World Cup round, especially with the form he’s on. Look for Lukas Fluckiger to attempt to stay with Mourey and contend for the victory.

UCI World Cup Round 6 – Heusden-Zolder (CDM)

The World Cup heads to the Formula 1 tack in Zolder on Monday, the day after Christmas. The course itself utilizes portions of the track mixed with technical wooded sections to make for a challenging course. Lars Boom picked up the victory in Zolder last year on a course that was covered in snow. Boom returned to cross last weekend at Namur and despite a strong start, he finished in the middle of the pack. If anyone could suddenly pull off a victory, Boom would be that guy.

With all the heavy hitters in action last weekend in Namur, it was Sven Nys who came out on top, capturing the overall lead in the process. Niels Albert was hot on his heels and could prove to be a thorn in Nys side on Monday. Kevin Pauwels sits five points behind Nys and will be looking to recapture the lead with a victory. Zdenk Stybar seems to be returning to form and will be gunning for a huge victory in Zolder.

Look for young Tom Meeusen and fellow Belgian Bart Aernouts to mix things up and keep everyone on their toes. Klass Vantornout has been knocking on the door for a few weeks now and has to be in the discussion for a victory on Monday. Finally, there’s the French who came out of nowhere putting three riders in the top-ten in Namur. As previously mentioned, Francis Mourey will be absent, but France is still sending a top-notch squad.

GVA Trofee Round 5 – Azencross (C1)

Despite a poor finish in Essen, Kevin Pauwels continues to stretch his lead at the mid-way point of the series. Pauwels has a 22 point lead of Zdenk Stybar and a 31 point over Tom Meeusen. All three riders will be looking for victory in Loenhout on Wednesday. Standing in their way will be Sven Nys, who had the Essen round locked up until he suffered a mechanical on the penultimate lap.

Niels Albert won this race last year and would love to pick up another victory. With the overall a pretty much forgone conclusion, the tactical battle we have seen in years past will most likely not happen this year. The leaves room for other riders, including Klass Vantournout and Bart Aernouts, to have a shot a victory. The big surprise could come from 2007 winner Lars Boom, who began his cross season last weekend.

Versluys Cyclcross (C2)

Versluys Cyclcross takes place for the third time in Bredene, Belgium on the 29th. Last year Zdenk Stybar was able to pick up the win over Sven Nys and Niels Albert. Stybar and Albert stood on the podium in 2009 behind surprise winner, Dieter Vanthourenhout. Since we are a week out from this race, there’s no start list available, but Belgiums top stars are all expected to attend this race.

 
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International Cyclocross Power Rankings: Week 14

Posted on December 22, 2011 by

PHOTO BY BALINT HAMVAS | CYCLEPHOTOS.CO.UK

1. Sven Nys (1) – Remember that time a couple seasons ago when people were wondering if Sven Nys’s career was on its way down? Yeah. About that. Even Phillipe Gilbert could take How to Dominate lessons from Nys.

2. Niels Albert (nr) – Niels Albert’s apparently been a busy, hardworking racer while he was out with a broken wrist. He returns to competition with two hard-fought second places. 

3. Klaas Vantornout (5) – Vantornout’s gutsy ride in the mud at Namur is good for a bump in the Power Rankings. He’s capable of great results but is still waiting for that big win this season.

4. Tom Meeusen (3) – Eager Tom Meeusen might be slipping  a little bit. He races himself into imprecise riding when he’s at the front and though he’s shown an ability to be competitive, hasn’t yet shown an ability to defeat his compatriots. 

5. Kevin Pauwels (4) – K-Pau is on his way down and it’s hard to hide that fact. Another lackluster weekend for him and his November dominance starts to look like a well-timed peak rather than him being indomitable. 

6. Rob Peeters (6) – Peeters keeps riding solidly and respectably, though his third place in Essen might have cost him the following day in Namur. 

7. Bart Wellens (nr) – Where’ve you been, Bartje?! We loved seeing the two-time World Champion win at Essen after struggling all season – nay, for years. It was a dream come true, and his outpouring of emotion across the finish line was a sight to see. 

8. Zdenek Stybar (7) – Stybar’s season is looking more and more like a wash. With only one high-profile victory and difficulties staying at the front of the race in the last fifteen minutes, it looks like his week off two weeks ago didn’t help him out enough. 

9. Francis Mourey (9) – As usual, Mourey rides to a respectable World Cup finish. 

10. Bart Aernouts (2) – After a spell of podium finishes, Aernouts has a tough weekend and drops mightily down the rankings. 

Dropped this week: Dieter Vanthorenhout, Radomir Simunek

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Cyclocross Week in Review: The Americans in Europe

Posted on December 21, 2011 by and

Photo by Erik Mitchell

With a solid break in the North American schedule, the top American riders are spread out throughout the world right now preparing for nationals and worlds. Jeremy Powers is spending some time down in Georgia to enjoy the warm weather and get in some solid training before a pair of UCI races in Chicago (Dec. 31 & Jan. 1). Ryan Trebon is back on the bike preparing for what many hope is a strong return to racing following his leg injury. Other riders, like Adam Myerson, Justin Lindine, etc. are spread throughout the country as they prepare for nationals as well. The rest of the cross world is in Europe and spent the weekend racing various UCI races, including round five of the World Cup. Let’s take a look at how they’re doing:

GVA Trophy – GP Rouwmoer (C1)

The only American to receive a GVA Trophy contract is Jonathan Page, who rode to a solid 15th place finish on the muddy course. Thus far, Page’s season has been a disappointment for a variety of reasons. Perhaps he’s finally finding some form that could bring him another national championship in January.

A quick note about the contract, unlike in the United States, the major series in Belgium (GVA Trophy and Superprestige) negotiate contracts with the riders to race their events. Page has been able to secure contracts for both series for a number of years now, and continues to be the sole American representative at the bulk of these events.

World Cup Round 5 – Namur (CDM)

Tim Johnson made the trip to Namur as he begins another European campaign. He joined Jonathan Page and Jeremy Durrin, the later of which has been racing in Europe since the Iggore round of the World Cup. These three riders were joined by Troy Wells, who is part of the Euro cross camp, as well as Mitchell Hoke.

Page was the top placed American finishing 25th, nearly four-minutes down. Johnson finished 39th despite a strong start with the leaders on the first lap or two. The rest of the Americans finished, but were pulled to avoid being lapped by the leaders. For a unique persepctive on the racing in Europe, check out Durrin’s website and the Euro Cross Camp’s site.

A new trend this season has been to off “side-events” at the World Cup races that don’t feature U23 and Junior races. This was the case in Namur, allowing juniors and U23 Men to race in UCI races on the Namur course, though they weren’t part of the World Cup.

In the U23 race, Kolben Preble and Daniel Gerow got their first taste of European cross action. The field was less then 20 riders, and the pair did their best finishing towards the back in 16th and 17th place. Because the race is a CU rated race, UCI points only went 10 deep, but the experience they gained was invaluable.

The juniors race saw nearly 30 riders take to the course in Namur. The race was a CJ rated race, meaning points only went five-deep. However, like the U23 race, the experience the American riders gained goes further then any points they could have picked up. Andrew Dillman led the American charge, finishing in sixth place ahead of fellow American Logan Owen. Curtis White rolled across the line in ninth place, giving the Americans three top-ten finishes. The rest of the crew finished inside the top-twenty and all riders finished on the lead lap. Tobin Ortenblad was 13th, Richard Gorry 16th, Zane Godby 18th and Jordan Cullen was 20th.

Internationale Centrumcross van Surhuisterveen (C2)

Tuesday’s race saw Gerben de Knegt take his third career victory in in Surhuisterveen. The race featured a solid mix of international riders, but was dominated by the Dutch on their home soil. Tijmen Eising finished a surprising second a head of Lars Boom, who was roughly a minute off of de Knegt’s pace. Belgian Ben Berden marked his return to European racing with a 10th place finish. Only two Americans, Daniel Gerow and Kolben Preble took the start in in Surhuisterveen. The two U23 continued to suffer the growing pains of racing with Europe’s top riders and failed to finish.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Rapha Pro Team Thermal Bib Shorts

Posted on December 21, 2011 by

I’ll never forget my first pair of thermal shorts—I still have them, in fact. Traditionally a pro-only garment, fleece lined bibs are slowly gaining a foothold in many companies’ product lines. A new addition to their own autumn/winter line, Rapha’s Pro Team Thermal Bib Shorts offer a high-end option for those looking to take the thermal plunge. I’ve been pairing them with the new Merino Knee Warmers (and a little bit of an embro) on days when I previously would have worn tights. (Folks who ride in winters more “cool” than “cold” should grab a pair.) If my wallet makes it through the holiday relatively unscathed, I might even pick-up an extra set for myself, as I have a feeling I’ll wear these out by April.

And best of all, they come with a tiny tub of Rapha’s Chamois Cream—a nice little sample of a quality product (and a perfect TSA-approved travelling companion).

Pros: As you’re likely to wear them in foul weather, there’s nothing more appropriate than black.

Peeves: Me, for posting this after the passing of Rapha’s pre-Holiday shipping deadline—but order anyway; you’ll be glad have them when the New Year rolls around.

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International Cyclocross Week in Review

Posted on December 20, 2011 by and

Photo by Erik Mitchell

GVA Trophy – GP Rouwmoer (C1)

Niels Albert made good on his promise to go hard and see what happens at the fourth round of the GVA Trophy in Essen. Albert’s move looked solid as he rode away from the field with Bart Wellens in tow. Only Sven Nys was able to come across the gap and join the two leaders. A few laps later, as Albert began to fade, Nys took complete control with two laps to go. A mechanical with one lap remaining cost Nys a certain victory and allowed Wellens to pick up his biggest victory in years. Wellens’ victory marks his fourth win in Essen in the past decade.

Kevin Pauwels, who dominated the first three rounds of the GVA Trophy rolled across the line in fourth, putting more distance between the rest of the field and himself. World Champion Zdenek Stybar finished a dismal 14th and had begun to question if his cross season may be over. Rob Peeters had one of the surprise performances on the day, crossing the line in third place. Finally, Gerben de Knegt, who hasn’t come close to the form he had last season, showed some signs of life with a ninth place finish.

Cyclo-cross International Ciudad de Valencia (C2)

José Antonio Hermida soloed to victory against a solid Spanish field on Sunday in Valencia. Hermida crossed the line 27-seconds a head of Oscar Vazquez Crespo and Issac Suarez Fernandez. The only non-Spaniard in the field, Belgian Matthias Ongena finished over six minuets down in 22nd place. This was one of the few races in Spain this season, where a contingent of young Belgians didn’t make the trip, allowing the Spaniards to shine on home soil.

World Cup Round 5 – Namur (CDM)

Perhaps the most exciting race of the season took place on Sunday around the citadel in Namur, Belgium. The challenging course was made even tougher as days of rain and snow turned the course into a muddy mess. In the end, Sven Nys showed that he was the strongest man on the day, bettering Niels Albert in the final few hundred meters to take the win. Klass Vantornout came across the line in third place after becoming detached from Nys in Albert during the final lap. Kevin Pauwels, who was leading the World Cup, overcame a flat front tire in the final laps of the race to finish fourth. He now trails Nys by five points in the overall.

World Champion Zdenk Stybar, who proclaimed he was close to ending his cross season on Saturday, finished fifth in Namur and was satisfied with his performance. One of the more interesting stories of the day was former World Champion, Lars Boom, who made his debut in Namur. The Dutch National Champion looked extremely solid and nearly made contact with the lead group. He would eventually fade dramatically and wound up 28th.

Beyond the Belgian battle up front, the French had a surprisingly strong showing in Namur. Francis Mourey continued to show his strength by taking control of the race early on. He would hold on for a solid seventh place finish just a head of surprisingly solid Aurelien Duval. John Gadret finished tenth, putting three Frenchmen inside the top-ten.

As previously mentioned, Nys now takes control of the World Cup with a five-point lead over Pauwels. Zdenk Stybar sits third in the standings, 60 points behind Nys. Vantornout and Meeusen are fourth and fifth respectively, nearly 100 points behind Nys. With three rounds remaining, it has quickly become a two-man battle between Belgiums two best riders this season.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Bicyclepaintings

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

Dave's Masi | bicyclepaintings.com

Taliah Lempert is the artist behind Bicyclepaintings.com. She has been focused on bicycles for a long time, and her work encompasses far more than just paintings. She also does sketches, prints, t-shirts, and a host of 

Her work is warm and personable, with just a hint of nostalgia. I’m sure we’ve all had a bike that makes us smile fondly. 

We recently ordered a small something something for a special someone in our life, and it came wrapped in a house-printed wrapping paper. It was a personal touch that warmed our hearts. In addition to her paintings, many different prints are for sale. She also has a wide array of soft goods – t-shirts, caps, baby onesies, and more – available at her Etsy shop.

Price: Varies – there’s something for everybody.

Pros: Great artwork from a one-woman shop that communicates a clear passion for bikes of all types. 

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