Since last year, the Melbourne Beach Race marks the start of the World Cup. 12 months ago, Dries Cornelis won the first edition in style and laid his groundwork for his World Cup title.
They said it would be a season for the uphill riders, without too much sand. But the Melbourne Beach Race brings us yet another sand race, making the start of this season all the more for sand riders. However, it might be the last chance for a few weeks, concerning those sand racers. After today, the climbers will get their terrain.
Race Information
Country: Australia
City/Place: Melbourne
Classification: World Cup
Starting Time (Elite Men): 09h30
Favorites: Dries Cornelis, Shay Gormley, Michael Bollinger, Christian Schiltz, Elliot Cook.
Record: 1x Dries Cornelis (2014)
Race History: The Melbourne Beach Race has had four editions, but only last year it became part of the professional milieu and immediately it opened the World Cup. Dries Cornelis won the first (official) edition, getting the race started with a big name.
Route Information
Technical: 4
Sand: 4
Uphill: 1
Cobblestones: 3
The Melbourne Beach Race doesn't offer us the most dramatic of routes. There are no obstacles such as stairs or jumping bars, but it is an overall route suited for powerful riders. With long, flat sections through dirt, sand and cobblestones, time trialist have the edge here. There are only a few bridges and almost no natural inclination.
We expect a fast race. It's the second day of the weekend, so we'll have to keep that in mind, too. There is one long sand section which will have a big impact. Good sand riders can ride it almost halfway there and then dismount, while making a single mistake there forces you to get off your bike instantly. Will the riders pick the high ground or below? The steep sand will give us an interesting race!
The route changed slightly from last years', with added sand sections and a whole new chunk of dirt, too. Overall, this should suit the sand experts even more. The next sand race will be in Rio de Janeiro, which is still a month away. So the sand experts have a good reason to put in one big performance, before simmering down to the background!
Expected Weather Conditions
Temperature: 12° C
Precipitation: Sunny
Wind: 1 - 2 Beaufort
The Melbourne Beach Race saw a nice setof tactics from our part last year. I remember how Sven Welling put in the heat early on and I followed in his stream into the sand. I won't change much to that tactic from last year, just try to be the first in the sand and the first out of it. I'm a decent guy in sand but others are much better than myself so the trick may be to drag them onto my level, you know.
I slept fairly good and did an early inspection on the course when only the staff was around and some runners who got lost on their way. The favourites are pretty easy to point out for the race; Bollinger, Cook & Gormley have each won a race this season and are the universally-recognized sand specialists in the crowd. Schiltz and I will try to give them a hard time though. Cornelis didn't ride at full yesterday, I have noticed that clearly. Of course he has saved himself, he got a reputation to uphold here and a World (Cup) to save.
The World Cup is an important goal to me this season too. It might not be the thing I dreamed about when I was a kid but it's the official UCI poster league and winning it may be the symbol in Cyclo-Cross that you are the best. Looking at Cornelis, each year he won the World Cup he got the Rider of the Year award. The World Cup is the World one might say, whereas Superprestige is Europe and, to a smaller extent, it's basically Flanders when I'm being honest. I noticed how a large crowd of Aussies here slowly got together, all to cheer on for Bollinger I suppose. He has quickly climbed up the ranks last season and this year he'll seems to only confirm it, having already collected a win. Franky, I welcome any sand specialist into the peloton since it means tougher competition for Cook and this may lead to lesser points for him. And that's well always beneficial to me I guess. See you in the sand then.
Edited by Shonak on 18-05-2015 20:15
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Welcome in Melbourne! Let's hope the riders made the trip without any problems for today's race. The crowd here is excited and has a real favorite in the race with Michael Bollinger.
Today we kick off the World Cup. Last year, it was won by cyclo-cross legend Dries Cornelis, as was today's race!
Expected Weather Conditions
Temperature: 12° C
Precipitation: Sunny
Wind: 1 - 2 Beaufort
Start line: The route has changed slightly and is a bit longer, so we'll probably have a lap less. Top favorites here are Gormley, Bollinger and Cook, who have already proved to be the strongest in the sand at the moment. But Schiltz is the man in form. The question is, is Schiltz allowed to go for his own chances, or is Vague the man to work for?
Lap 1: The lights turn green and so we're off! Eldfjallsson has not started this season in the best shape, but he's shooting away at the front anyway!
Dries Cornelis - what a formidable start from the ex World Champion! He's in third position, right behind Vague! With the first World Cup points at stake today, it's important to be here! Cornelis was slightly invisible yesterday, presumably to put in a great effort today!
The riders turn into the sand for the first time, now. Better get used to it, since a whole new chunk of sand has been added to the profile, making this a real sand race. After today, though, it's more up to the uphill riders!
We have Eldfjallsson, Vague, Cornelis, Cook, Gormley, Mazzarelli, Goldenberg, Lipawsky...
When we arrived here this morning, we saw a tractor making the sand a bit looser. This shows, as the group is splitting up completely. One rider, Van Drenthe, had to put his foot on the ground, and so he held up the rest of the peloton completely. This is why a quick start at these races is very important.
We have an acceleration! Cook has come to the front and increases the pace in the sand. Vague attempted to follow but couldn't quite manage Cook's pace through this sand.
Michael Bollinger is recovering a bit from a bad start, he's in 10th position, moving up now.
Bollinger has reached the front group and takes over the reigns. Cornelis follows easily and then we see a small gap appear. And where is Gormley? After a dramatic start, he's only in 25th position.
Lap 2: Cook crosses the finish line with 6 seconds on the first chasing group, containing Cornelis and Bollinger. Schiltz, pulling hard for Vague, is already 19 seconds behind, quite a time difference! Today we'll have 7 laps.
Now is an important moment, as Bollinger asks Cornelis to relay. What will he do? He's hesitating... Now he does relay, he has to!
Hira is trying to bring his team mate Gormley a bit further ahead. Now in the sand, Gormley is off on his own and tries to bridge the gap to a bigger group, containing Mazzarelli, Lipawsky and Power.
A crash! Muller has hit the ground pretty hard. He went down on the tarmac and looks to be in a great deal of pain. Race over for the Namibian!
Lap 3: With Cook already leading the first chasing group with 18 seconds, this race could already be over. You're never sure, but if you give Cook 18 seconds, usually that means you won't see him back until the finish line!
Let there be no doubt: today, Cook is the only master in the sand. He's impressing friend and foe here, riding around perfectly. The crowd, though, is still cheering loudest of all for Michael Bollinger, working hard chasing down the curious Brit. But the gap continues to widen.
Further behind, Schiltz is doing a lot of work for Vague, but every time they get in the sand, Vague seems to hurt pretty badly. This Vague just doesn't ride through sand as well as last year's Vague. He's never been an expert but I have a feeling he went smoother through the sand last season...
Gormley attacks! He tries to break away from the group!
Nobody moves with him, he gets 4 seconds on the chasers, where Schiltz came to the front once again, pulling hard, working for Vague.
Lap 4: Cook is out of reach, but there are World Cup points at stake, so every position counts! Unless Gormley is starting a legendary comeback?
Doesn't look like it, Schiltz keeps Gormley within 5 seconds, so the Irish powerhouse isn't going anywhere soon. Cornelis and Bollinger keep the pace high and try to put pressure on Cook. Still, Cook isn't making any mistakes so far.
Another crash! Who's involved? That's the World Champion! The World Champion, Lipawsky, is standing at the side of the road, with his hand pressed on his ribs. He gives a sign with his other hand, his race is over. Let's hope the injury isn't too bad and that he can start in the Tekapocross on Wednesday.
Lap 5: Gormley is caught! It's not his day. Schiltz is doing an amazing job for Vague. Oh, wait, is he? Schiltz is now attacking himself! Another tactical move from BKCP-Powerplus, or has he gotten a wildcard today? Schiltz attacks!
Goldenberg makes a counter move!
Elliot Cook continues to grind through the sand, making no mistakes. He's a smart guy, really, as he now adjusts his pace to that of his chasers, riding a bit more safely.
Lap 6: Mazzarelli is longing for the hilly rides as he continues to lose places, now with Listerijn passing him.
And Mikel Hammarling is not doing too hot, either. This warmth must be killing him. He'll be wishing for a long and hard winter.
An attack! Bollinger tries to shake off Cornelis in the first chasing group! He wants to go for the most possible points here, and goes looking for Cook!
But Cornels is tough, you don't simply shake off Cornelis here, he moves through the corners with ease and doesn't let Bollinger go, and so the cooperation has taken a hit. This is all in the advantage for Cook, of course!
Lap 7: The final lap! Bar accidents, Cook is today's winner and the first leader of the World Cup. Cook wants to win the UCI Classification this season, he's still on schedule for that!
An impressive move in the background as Baris Dao rides away from Verboven, in an amazing fashion! The young rider is smart and knows to avoid sprinting against Verboven.
Speaking about young riders, Mutahi is not having his best day here in the sand. He's already went down three times, but he stays in the race, he's got will power, to say the least!
Gormley attacks! An attack from Gormley! And almost immediately he picks up Schiltz and Goldenberg, what a jump! He ups the pace, Schiltz and Goldenberg follow.
Now Schiltz tries to attack Gormley on the cobbles! But Gormley won't bend.
Goldenberg tries to ride away on the other side of the road, quietly. Gormley looks at Schiltz. Schiltz looks at Gormley, and so Goldenberg has got a gap!
Elliot Cook crosses the finish line first and raises one arm high. A second victory for Elliot Cook, who is on fire lately.
Cornelis wins the sprint for place 2 against a disappointed Bollinger. The crowd cheers him on loudly, though.
And there is Goldenberg, riding ahead of Gormley and Schiltz, sprinting against each other. Goldenberg takes 4th, Schiltz 5th, and so defends his UCI lead over Cook. Vague wins the sprint for place 7 against Etxeberdea and Power and thus his World Cup chances are still very much alive. Eldfjallsson completes the top 10.
Sweating from the race and the heat and with a whole lot of sand between gears and shoes, Vague gets hold up by two local journalists from cyclingtips australia.
So, not quite the race you hoped it'd be but 7th is a result you can live with?
No, I hoped for much more but I must admit that the changed course didn't suit me much. We tried a similiar tactic as last year but frankly I soon realized that I hit the race a bit too fast and was paying for it. I was then riding to secure a top 10 result to get enough points to stay in World Cup contention and then Schiltz was too strong for me in the sand and I couldn't follow him when he attacked.
You seem to have lost your espirt for the sand. Some saw you going unusually unflexible into the sand and quirkly getting out of it.
Uh, maybe I did a little bit too much cobblestone training at Kwaremont and too little sand training at Oostende? [laughs] No, it's... at Duinencross it was good, here today I was just not feeling it well enough. Maybe Australian sand does not suit me, like at all.
Speaking of Schiltz, don't you fear that he will be soon the new captain of the squad with these performances?
Uh... even if so, this is not cycling. It's Cyclo-Cross. We play tactical games now and then with our opponents but in the end, we race for the emotion of winning, and the result. Cyclo-Cross is at the core a one-man sport and we all know that. It's a long season and both of us will have plenty of chances to win. I know what I have in him and I hope he sees it the other way same. We can both only profit from a strong teammate and that we help each other in the races that matter.
At this point last year you were flying really high, this year the start seems a bit... slower?
Last year, I was burning to show my worth and get my name out there. Blaarmeesen was an amazing startline shot to a fantastic season which - despite the many downs, the crashes for example or the near misses - I enjoyed immensly. I have said I have goals this season and the season has just started. I'm well on my way and Blaarmeesen has shown that I've done right in the off-season.
Next up is the Coca-Cola trophy. You've already said that you don't plan on racing it fully many times. But things didn't work out like wished in Superprestige nor in World Cup. Is it possible you might change goals soon or mid-season?
Pff... I do not want to think about that honestly. I thought about it too much last year and in the end I crashed out of Superprestige. I've said that Superprestige and World Cup are my goals this season and I race to win those races. But yes, of course. It's possible for me to race Coca-Cola to win if.. if.. things fall through in other competitions. But uh, I don't want to race like that. This is too much hypothesis. The plan is clear for Tekapo. The team wants wins, and so do I. Schiltz is in amazing form right now and at Tekapo Lake we hope to be a dominating team again. He has said to target the Trophy and maybe we can find a great way of putting him in a great starting position.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
It's been a while since my last update. It's not that I haven't wantred to bu there have been a lot of racing and travelling. Generally I've had a surprisingly good start. Well except for the trip to Britain where I really didn't enjoy neither routes nor weather.
In the other races I have been blessed with a lot of small hills and sand - just what I like.
Getting started and finding my way up through the peloton have been very chaotic at times, but thankfully James agreed to help me find my feet in these sandy races as I'm much more fond of those than he is and then I'm dedicated to helping him whenever we hit rain and cobbles.
In Duinencross and Hobart I finished alongside him after he had guided me through the peloton finding he right gaps and moments. Every race a little better than the previous and then in the first World Cup race in Melbourne it was tiem for me to try something on my own towards the end.
On a technical route with a lot of sand I managed to finish in 8th place. Even the cobbles downhere didn't actually bother me that much, but I think they also were much better laid than the ones they have in Belgium...
To me that result feels like a win and it really motivates me to continue pursuing this adventure. I have travelled a long way for a Basque kid already but the journey have only just begun...
Time to kick off the final classification! The Coca-Cola Trophy starts with the Tekapocross, just like last year. With Elliot Cook seemingly in top shape, he will be the man to watch on his hilly terrain.
Race Information
Country: New Zealand
City/Place: Tekapo lake.
Classification: Coca-Cola Trophy
Starting Time (Elite Men): 08h30
Favorites: Elliot Cook, Francis N. Vague, Christian Schiltz, Matt Mazzarelli.
Record: 1x James Carlisle (2014)
Race History: The Tekapocross was first introduced in the cyclo-cross milieu only last season. For a first edition, it was quite successful, as Coca-Cola made a real festival out of it. This year, it has moved up from the evening to morning, mostly to adjust to the warmth. At morning, the temperatures should be a bit lower.
But that won't discourage Coca-Cola from the festivities. Tekapo Lake is the place to be Tuesday evening for the festivities and Wednesday morning for the race! Bring it on!
Route Information
Technical: 2
Sand: 0
Uphill: 5
Cobblestones: 1
The Tekapocross takes us around the Tekapo Lake. Well, no, not around, because we'd have a cross of a few hours. But it offers a beautiful sight for the crowd and the riders to enjoy.
The profile is very hilly, and it's mainly about that. Some technical skill is required for the downhill, but they are rather straightforward and wide, unlike the Blaarmeersen descend. The big hill, dubbed unoriginally as the Coca-Cola hill, will offer a great spectacle. In dry conditions, most riders should ride it all the way to the top. But the slope just keeps going, and we will see big differences at the finish line, no doubt about that.
What else can be said. There is no sand, almost no cobbled ground. Hardly any road, too. The only road is the finish line, where we'll see an uphill sprint. Not the steepest slow, but it'll make for an interesting finish, where those who are already dead may lose a few more seconds near the end. This is not a profile for out-of-form cyclists.
The wind can blow harshly around this lake, especially on the mid-section of the race, which is between two larger tops. Sudden gusts of wind may surprise you.
I put one arm aloft over the line in Melbourne and too right it felt really good to get a nice win on the shyte. I still feel that old Champagne Bollinger is the guy on the sandy stuff but he came out of the traps a bit sluggish, so I thought I would give it a blast.
Without Champagne there, the others just didn't have it to follow which I was expecting after Hobart really. Yes this Shittz guy could have been there but I have the suspicion that this guy is nothing more than a glorified buttmunching wheelsucker - whose time in the sun is at an end. He currently occupies my position as UCI number one, I will be looking to nab that off of him as soon as I can.
The World Cup could be a bit of a thing this year, it is true what they say the superprestige awards consistancy but the World Cup awards panache. It was nice to take the SuperPressie award last year but actually I think there is something a bit more special about saying I won the World Cup. Almost being World Champion but hey I have to represent Blighty at that so chances of me ever wearing the bands are slim.
Tekapo next and one of these infernal Coca-Cola lets do it for the kids sponsor type of race. We all know what the UCI think of his comp - a bit of a joke but actually I really loved Tekapo last year and aim to give it a go. I really think Francis Vague could be the dangerman here and of course those Kiwi's they'll ve really up for this!
Hi, it`s me again. Being a professional cyclist is tough, this one I did know before. But as I still have lots to learn in cyclo-cross it takes even more time as I have barely no free time at the moment. Either it is a race event, training hours, transfers or as total newbie also a lot of route watching.
Last two races weren`t that good. Due to lots of training hours and transfers I had no time to check the routes before. Therefore the top20 result was really good and my good early season form surely was important.
Luckily the next event, the Tekapocross in New Zealand should be a better one again. I did travel to NZ earlier and have already seen the course. It`s a very hilly course and on the first look I love this race already. I like the climbing on the course and most important no sand here. I have the feeling that this course really could suit me and the top riders might have more problems to get rid of me than in the sand events.
I am going to train a bit until the event and then let`s see where I end this time.
Between Cook's tremendous start to the season, snatching win after win, points over points, and his teammate's Schiltz' rise, Vague has left a good impression. But is good enough for this talent, who was given 9.5 out of 10, called the season's favourite. Blaameersen was an amazing show of strength but before and since then, Vague has fallen short of his potential. Sticking to the team card, hanging on, bad luck, not good enough... there are some reasons why Vague hasn't reached the heights of last season yet but the young Belgian is said to be determined to force a change of luck at Tekapo Lake.
"Last year, Cook and I duelled us in an exciting way here, but Carlisle went away and took the victory from us", reminiscenes Vague in a small Coca-Cola press tent, where the first winner and defender of the Coca-Cola Trophy gave a little talk to his favourite people in the world, journalists. Vague is confident enough to admit that he eyes the win tomorrow at the lake. "It is what I am paid to do. I have the salary of a winner, they treat me like a champion. So I need to win to confirm this. It's what I am signed to do."
Will Schiltz lose sleep over such sentences? It may not sound like much, but if you listen to Vague's words there must be a change in his sentiment. Air is not getting thin yet for the Walloon but it's safe to keep everyone at bay. Cook. Cornelis. Even teammates like Schiltz. Vague has a hunger for wins and it has not been settled so far. Two podiums is a solid season start, for most. Compared to his amazing debut season, Vague is lagging behind. But not by far. "I'm fine with the results", he states begrudingly and looks sideways. The victory is what counts for this young Belgian. Anything else is not good enough anymore. It's Vague coming scaringly close to his idol Gasthuys.
"Tekapo Cross is one race I like to win. But it'll be difficult for me to race here. I want to be a good teammate and Christian had some difficulties last year when he lost too much time. So, it'll be important to juggle both demands; that he keeps comfortably in contention and has a shot for good placing and my own ambitions." But a moment of pause and Vague looks down to the ground. "But Schiltz is no child, neither he nor I need someone to guide our hands through a race. We were born and trained to perform on our own. That the two of us can help each other is just a bonus and we appreciate it."
So, full throttle attack? Vague sees no reason why he shouldn't try it at least. Although Cook is seemingly close to a smashing train and riders like Mazzarelli and Lipawsky burn to proof their worth after some lesser results. The course suits Francis down to the ground, although he'd like it if there were some more challenges for the technical gifted. The many hills will make for another stunning season opener to the Coca-Cola Trophy, Vague admits he'd like to really test his legs and enjoy the attacking as well. On as many hills as possible. "It's important to mix it up. Last year, I was focused on the Coca-Cola hill but the variety is really what makes this race exciting to watch, and a joy for some tactical surprises.Maybe Tekapo Cross is best when you enjoy the thrill of racing and do what you do best: To race."
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
At least Van Overberghe smiles when he is asked about his first races in Europe. That the performances were solid and that they are something one can build upon. He doesn't hope for too much in Tekapo Cross or in the National Race Series coming up next. But he favors some of the courses in the Americas, where he hopes for some mud-spectacle. The Coca-Cola trophy could be something he might end up putting a focus on, his father quickly admits. Do it in the style Vague and Schiltz did it last year. Execpt that Van Overberghe hasn't reached this level yet. But the young Flandriennes was seen taking extra laps after the race finished in Melbourne's beach, determined to eradicte his flaws and favor his strengths. Like a true Flandriennes.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
It was the Great Hertford Classic, more a city crit than Cyclo-Cross race that year, when Rik Van Fleming came so close to winning like, well.. since the last Belgium National Championships once might say. That day he outsprinted Cornelis. This time, nobody outsprinted him. But he got outfoxed.
For Van Fleming it was one of the few races where he actually stood much of a chance to do the fast pace, low challenges and great sprint finish. Things worked out really good initially. Schiltz and Vague helped a long a bit and former arch-rival, now teammate Cornelis helped to pace the group. Van Fleming was aware of most action inside the group and kept his head cool even when attacks continued.
Unfortunately when Cornelis crashed alongside Cook, Van Fleming knew that sooner or later BKCP Powerplus and Icorda Racing would want to take advantage of their numerical strength. Van Fleming - certainly not a man glowing with initiatve - was alright with giving the responsibility to the other people and speculating onto a close finish. When Schiltz wasn't to be reeled in again, Van Fleming was forced to do some work since the others knew about his sprint legs but little did he invest. Van Fleming was keen on winning; but he was also keen on keeping up the appearance, to have sprinter legs. Not to be a worker for some group of tag-alongs. In the end, Van Fleming got what he raced for. A second place. In best Gerrans-style, he was upset with much and "could have cried" but well, what can you say...
Van Fleming has had in Great Hertford one highlighting performance and he will be sure to come to the forefront in some more races. Antogfasta may be of interest to him next, where a rather big group won last year and he made lots of work for his former teammate Verboven. Maybe this year he can get demand some working hours from others. But until then, Van Fleming is back to riding int he bunch, anonymsouly most of the time, shying away from the wind and duelling for a twenth place at the finish line at best. Just what he is paid to do.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Good morning, rise and shine! Last year, Tekapo was contested in the evening, but it's been moved to a morning cross now. We'll see how it works out, but the riders have applauded the decision. The temperature difference was the main factor. So let's see who takes advantage of it. Will Cook manage to win the third consecutive classification race and start the Coca-Cola Trophy with a lead? He's leading in the World Cup and the Superprestige now, let's see what's possible.
Start Line: It's raining, here. A very different situation from last year's race, where the evening cross was a place of celebration for a huge crowd of people. Now, in the rain, in the morning, it's much more desolate.
But the riders look focused. Schiltz - one of the main contenders for the Coca-Cola Trophy - is banking on his great form to take a much better start in the trophy than last season, where he lost over 3 minutes on this profile.
Lap 1: And the big Coca-Cola bottle is ready to kick off the trophy... The bottle caps blows off! And we're off!
Most races end this way, but this Tekapocross seems to start the race with an incredible sprint battle! Eldfjallsson and Vague fight for position, coming up on the first little climb.
Vague with a blitz start, and then the other favorites should know they have to be prepared. Schiltz, Vague's team mate, is in fifth position. BKCP with a great start here.
The first hill of the day, and Vague is not standing still at all! He's putting up a fast pace and then we see the entire peloton splitting.
There is Lipawsky. The World Champion is still waiting for his first victory in the Rainbow Jersey. Is today the day? Last year, he was 15th here, but today he should do much better.
[...]
The pace is not dropping at all. We're at the foot of the Coca-Cola Hill. Let's see what'll happen here. Elliot Cook uses the slopes to join the front group. Vague keeps the pace high and we reach the top with 4 riders, and then a big gap...
The four leaders are Lipawsky, Vague and Cook. Well, arguably three of the strongest climbers are at the front, this is an early attack that could very well stick to the end!
Lap 2: We'll have 7 laps here, just like last year.
Some riders have been caught behind and want to make the situation right. Schiltz is a bit unsure of what to do. He's caught behind but has a team mate up front. At the moment, he's letting Bauer and Mazzarelli do most of the work. Baris Dao has come forward fairly smoothly, too. A terrain to his liking?
Milan Listerijn, the Belgian rider from New-Zealand gets a lot of support here.
And now Mazzarelli attacks out of the chasing group! Nobody has an answer to this acceleration. He tries to bridge the gap in one big jump... And he succeeds! He just closed 10 seconds with one massive explosion of absolute power! We have four leaders. One hill was all Mazzarelli needed to get to the front, impressive.
Meanwhile, Jan Soucek is picking up riders left and right. He didn't have the best start, but he's coming into the top 20 now.
And Fred Markson is pulling hard in the background, to bring Dao closer to the front of the race. Markson must not have the best legs and decided to work for Dao today, let's hope it works out.
We're received a lot of mails from our viewers asking why the neopro's are not performing well at all. Well, the short answer is: they are. Last season was the big exception, with a reformed cyclo-cross, new leagues, a bigger calendar and we had a big influx of talented riders. This year, we're back to normal a bit, and it's not unusual that neopro's hang at the back of the peloton for a few weeks before they get used to the professional rhythm. Guys like Goldenberg and Dao are performing extremely well and are big talents, so don't let these results misguide you.
Talking about young talents, Francis Vague is declaring war on anything that moves and is destroying the entire field here! Mazzarelli, Lipawsky and Cook seem content to hang on at the moment.
Lachy Bauer has missed the cut and realizes this. He uses the Coca-Cola Hill to attack! He wants to bridge the gap and get to the front! What an attack! Finally we see a glimpse of Lachy Bauer as we got to know him last year.
Lap 3: Max Power with a steering mistake and he went down pretty hard! But the American has a good falling technique and gets up to continue the race, fortunately!
Meanwhile, Amadou Bakari seems to be growing this season, too. Riding for Team BAKARI, he's actually in 40th position at the moment, and is getting over the hills better than we're used of him. Good for him!
The World Champion Lipawsky now challenges Francis Vague. This is great to see, he's honoring his jersey with a nice fight for position. Neither is bulging and so they go into the corner side by side. Mazzarelli is still recovering a bit from his immense acceleration. Cook is watching things from afar, so it would seem.
Lap 4: Karol Konva is impressing us here. He's moving up places consistently today. He enters the top 30 and we wouldn't be surprised to see him move up a few places in the next four laps.
Bauer is now caught between the two big groups. He doesn't seem to be strong enough to make up time towards the head of the race, but he is strong enough to withhold the first chasing group, where Markson has now disappeared from the front. Bauer is stuck between the leaders and the chasers, too bad he couldn't make the jump!
Lipawsky attacks! The World Champion launches on to the attack! Mazzarelli is quick to react! Vague wants to draw out Cook and looks at him. But Cook stays calm and just keeps his pace. Vague waits... And then decides not to let Lipawsky and Mazzarelli ride. He accelerates. Cook follows.
Lap 5: We have four leaders again. And let's take a look at the time differences.
Soucek - what an impressive race! An incredible talent, that's for sure. But then what do we say about Dao? A podium spot in Hertford is one thing, but this profile is one for the big boys, with the amount of climbing meters!
And now Eldfjallsson wants to get rid of Cornelis and Soucek. He attacks on an uphill! Soucek gets out of the saddle and answers the attack. Cornelis is having a harder time.
Dao and Schiltz relay well together and Carlisle looks in trouble!
Cornelis is having his worst season start in 12 years. Let's hope he can bounce back once again and take a few victories this season. The old fox is losing a bit of his touch, though.
Another attack! Mazzarelli tries to break away! A couragous and unexpected attack on the flat! The others have been caught unaware and he's got a gap! Who will close it?
Meanwhile, Bauer keeps the pace high. He's not gaining a lot of ground, but he's not losing ground, too. What an effort from the Kiwi!
Lap 6: Two laps remain! Mazzarelli has got a four second gap on Lipawsky, Vague and Cook.
And now Cook is unleashed! What an acceleration, incredible! He gets out of the saddle and puts in an immense performance to ride away from Lipawsky and Vague on the flat, just like Mazzarelli did. Actually, Mazzarelli did it with a lot of cunning, while Cook did it on the power!
It's two against two, now, as Cook managed to catch Mazzarelli.
A fall! Osorio has gone down in the downhill. But he's on his bike again!
The Coca-Cola Hill. What can still happen here?
Vague increases the pace. Lipawsky follows. This is a high tempo! Can Lipawsky hang on? It seems so.
Cook reaches the top first and plunges himself downhill. Mazzarelli follows closely. Vague is three seconds behind, Lipawsky lost a bit of time here and is five seconds behind.
Vague with an amazing downhill! Very smoothly and skillfully, he is back at the front of the race! And now, the three leaders look at each other, and so Lipawsky manages to get back, too.
And he immediately moves on to the attack, using the confusion and hesitation to get away!
Lap 7: The final lap! Lipawsky, the World Champion, is three second ahead of Mazzarelli, Cook and Vague! Bauer is 15 seconds behind and is probably out of contention for the victory of the day.
We hear Soucek has powered away from Eldfjallsson in the background, that means he's probably going to conquer an 8th place, as Schiltz and Dao are more than 15 seconds ahead of him and are still going strong!
Mazzarelli uses a small climb to make the jump forward!
Cook and Vague follow. They catch the World Vhampion and we have four leaders!
The last Coca-Cola Hill. Who is the best climber here? They have all shown their strength today, and I can't pick someone who stands out...
Cook attacks! From the saddle, he tries to attack! Lipawsky - strong! He hangs on. Mazzarelli and Vague leave a little gap and they reach the top two seconds later. Vague and Mazzarelli are great descenders and can catch up in the downhill!
We're in the final minutes of this race, and the four leaders are equally strong, nobody can get away! It looks like we're headed for a four-way-sprint here! The last straight line is only 50 meters, but uphill! This is exciting!
They're sprinting to take the final corner first. He who gets out of the bend first has a good chance at winning!
Vague takes the upper hand and now turns onto the final 50 meters first, followed by Lipawsky, Mazzarelli and Cook.
He sprints! It's uphill here, so it doesn't look very fast on screen, but don't doubt it, they're going strong!
Lipawsky, the World Champion comes out of Vague's slipstream and comes up next to him!
But it's too late! He's left it too late! Vague wins his first cross of the season and it was hard fought over! Cook is third, Mazzarelli fourth. Vague is the first leader of the Coca-Cola Trophy, which he won last year.
Here comes Bauer. What a strong ride, he's fifth.
And now comes Schiltz. Baris Dao is still hanging on and outsprints Schiltz for place 6!
And here is Jan Soucek, 8th.
Eldfjallsson seems to be getting better slowly and is 9th. While Dries Cornelis outfoxes Listerijn for a 10th spot here.
It's been an amazing start to the Coca-Cola Trophy. This might be a very close call at the end of the ride!
Thought I would blast this out within an hour of the finish - I am pretty annoyed with myself getting out done in the sprint. But it felt like a proper battle out there, I don't think I am the only guy who likes Tekapo. Even though I have had my success on the shyte - the grains get everywhere and they also screw your tech up a bit. So it is swell just to go round and have a real dust up on the dirt. Today felt like the battle of the superstars.
Franny was all over this like his mothers teet and out us all to the sword. You felt as if there was well and truly plent of pent up spunk in him - he has had to suck off Mr Shiittz at his team and I can't imagine what that is like. No doubt his team have two nice powerhouses at the moment but I think Vague wanted to take team gayness out of the equation here.
The Coca-Cola classification thing that I quite enjoyed here I think was out of the window today - I don't think the French Lip or Mazarati care about it and I am damn sure me an the Maiden don't give a monkeys. Today though was about bragging rights and I don't think any of us can really claim the big climbing cajones yet. I think I can outkick em - of course Vague in particular can worm his way back on a descent - but no way did I really muller em on the climb. Going to try and put the hammer down again over stateside for sure.
Looking over my shoulder at the finish I saw Lachy steaming up not so far back. It's good for him and his fans to see him not too far back - he needs to be on the wheel if he is going to respond to the attacks and he just wasn't there. The UCI's seeding system I think got him. One of the newer breed wasn't too far back either, this is impressive because Tekepo really is a course for men.
The newer guns will probably stay out here for that National Event thing over in Perth - I am defo going to miss that one. I have a bit of aclimatisation to do over on the States. We hit the West coast soon with some real climbing humdingers. Going to have to make a decision whether I go to Seattle - might as well keep the UCI points rolling in. God knows how but I am still wearing the number 2 bib. I probs have some sort of negative multiplier attached to my name.
Going to catch some sights here in New Zealand and get a flight to the US in a couple - got to say I am stoked how season is going.
Wet-soaken, full of mud. New Zealand saw in the morning hours Cyclo-Cross at its best and with an intense fight of the probably four best climbers. It was down to tactics and strength one might think but indeed, it was much more luck and maybe determination in the last laps that made it possible for Vague to triumph here today and cop off the first bottle this season.
An unbelieveable race today, despite the weather I'm sure all of have come here today didn't regret it...
It's Cyclo-Cross weather, eh? But yeah, it's really different to last year when you saw a lot of side stuff going on at the premiere. Maybe it has lots a bit its magic touch compared to last year, but the race made up for it. I think the rain really played in my favor, since I could get the maximum out in the downhills in the last few laps. That has helped me to reach the front in a good way and by that, I've managed to reserve energies for the final. I got lucky with my tactic today.
You didn't take any prisoners in the first few laps, when you stormed off and just kept going at an extreme pace.
Well.. uh thanks, yeah. Tekapo Cross is a race that suits me and I still had a score to settle from last year. I'm glad I managed well today and it's great to be on the top step again. I didn't want to wait any longer for my first win this season. Otherwise, you get in a bit of a mental drag and ask yourself questions, doubt your own performance... the sooner you start the winning, it's really the better for your confidence and your racing really. And with that attitude I started today; I went out and wanted to win at all cost. I think everybody knew it, since I've talked about it a lot before. I also think that it was a good way to honour my classification win from previous season. Show that I love these events by Coca-Cola, the races are always a pleasure to ride.
Your fast start certainly didn't help your teammate Schiltz. Any thoughts on that?
He's really close in the competition and from the looks of it, he did a great job. Over the whole period of the season those few seconds won't matter this much. I've hoped he'd be up with me at the front but it didn't work out so much. That was unfortunate but I had to keep Cook, Mazzarelli and Lipawsky in check too. And for me, it was important to keep going since I was gunning for the victory.
Some words on your competition; Lipawsky and Mazzarelli have highlighted their presence today whilst Cook is currently a certain podium finisher in almost every race he participates. Your take on that?
I think today it was a special race because it's not often that we race in such an extreme way on very, very muddy hilly ground. Lots of attributes to describe this race really; exhausting might be the way to put it. Not only for the legs but also the mind was challenged at times because you had to be incredibly aware of the course, of your surroundings. the slippery mud, and three other riders who are all always a danger. I was lucky that Lipawsky and I managed to cooperate well the few times we got dropped on the hills. In that way we both could rely on each other; that both of us wanted to win and we rode like that. It's sometimes more difficult to ride with Cook and especially Mazzarelli because I've come to known them as much more reluctant and dodgy when it comes to working together and getting back to the front of the race. But I don't care right now about that, I'm very happy about today. In the end, it's all what makes this sport so great and why I love it. It makes victory all the sweeter. I'm glad I can leave to the Americas with my first win already in the bag.
But it won't take the pressure away from you in any way?
[smiles] No, no of course not. I've big goals this season and Tekapo Cross was hopefully just the kick-off.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Tomorrow, we'll be watching the very first edition of the National Event Series. Young riders get a chance to score some valuable UCI points and race in their own mini-classification.
The NES hosts 3 races throughout the season. There are 20 participants. At the finish line, the first 5 riders will receive points: 10, 7, 5, 3 and 1 points. Moreover, every race will count 8 laps and at the end of the 4th lap, there are another 6, 4 and 2 points to be earned.
This competition is the perfect way for the cyclo-cross fans to get to know the new names before they rise up to the top. We're bound to see an action-packed race, with a shorter parcours and points to be earned halfway.
Race Information
Country: Australia
City/Place: Perth
Classification: National Event Series
Starting Time (Elite Men): 08h30
Favorites: Tariq Faizullah, Eddie Goldenberg, Baris Dao, Milan Listerijn.
Record: New
Race History: Perth gets to know cyclo-cross and hosts this first event in the new competition.
Route Information
Technical: 3
Sand: 3
Uphill: 2
Cobblestones: 1
Perth offers a relatively fast and exciting parcours. It's similar to Hobart, but all a bit toned down. The sand is the biggest obstacle for the riders, so it should suit experts. The course isn't extremely long, so we might go the 8 laps within the 50 minutes.
The ground is rather hard all around, so besides the sand, the pace will be quite high, offering many riders a chance at victory.
Expected Weather Conditions
Temperature: 10° C
Precipitation: Dry
Wind: 1 Beaufort
Participants
Eddie Goldenberg
Baris Dao
Karol Konva
Estifanos Mutahi
Fabrizio Lorenzi
Iban Etxeberdea
Jan Soucek
Camilo Osorio
Stan Van Overberghe
Dirk Accostella
Amadou Bakari
Ferdi Kloet
Milan Listerijn
Fred Markson
Pierre Lipawsky
Tariq Faizullah
Mustafa Moli
Frederick Muller
Guido Visconti
Mohuti Sow
Will do Hammer Time and Radio after Perth and before Twin Peaks.
Goldie
This season is going great so far. I didn't think i came in with this good level of form and fitness but here we are 6 events in and i've picked up some nice results, consistent results that have put me in striking distance of the UCI Top10 and front row starting place. 4th in the Melbourne World Cup event definately the highlight of the opening month.
Next up is an appearance in the all new NES in Perth. Victory? Damn right that's the target! I doubt i'll race all three events but this Perth course really suits me so well. It's got a nice bit of everything and i really think i can come away with the victory. At the very least i hope to be able to take enough UCI Points to get that front row start for the American races. Might need to get Radio to give me hand...
I'm buzzing for the American races. Seeing how well i went in Melbourne the idea is being floated of focusing on the World Cup races. The Portland course should be a good one for me. Give full gas in Perth then rest up in Twin Peaks and pounce in Portland. Sounds like a good plan!
TDF
I took advantage of the hot weather and sand in Melbourne. A World Cup Top10 is a great achievment for me and is a nice vindication of my off-season work and that i continue to move in the right direction. The next big sand race is Rio in a couple of weeks time. Underlined on my calendar i'm building to it nicely thus far.
Did take a tumble in Tekapo. Made a mistake early in the lap and went down. Not hard or fast and escaping real injury. Got a nice couple of bruises but absolutely nothing to worry about. Hopefully i can stay upright in the States. The races should be too tricky for me to contest and this year i don't have to go out and show off.
I'll slip into teammate duties. Start fast to try and get into a position to help Goldie or Dao, or Radio if he's there. Take the pressure off them to work in the opening half of the race and then drop back as things heat up. We'll see how things play out. I'm having fun and riding well so i'm going to keep doing what i'm doing!
Now I'm off the continent it's been easier to find my rhythm, gain consistency, which I found lurking outside the top 10.
In Hobart I just wanted to ride my own race whilst Mikey tried for victory up ahead . I rode round from 20th, slowly hoovering up people. In the end I put in a big attack halfway through but I couldn't quite reach the chasers, before catching then dropping Eldfjasson. In the end Mazzarelli was too far in front and I had to settle for 11th.
In Melbourne again I rode my own race, in the end I was 12th, a decent result and one which just put me in the zone now, I know whereabouts on a sandy but still fairly diverse course I am on that kind of average day and I'm looking to build on that. Puts me in contention for a possible World Cup Top 10.
Tekapo was interesting, I wanted to impress my home crowd but be ready for NES, in the end I found something else, they took me in as one of their own and they saw me riding with Dries Cornelis, of course New Zealand stick to their favorite old talents as well as supporting fresh blood, he's got a good standing Down Under despite usually being the one ruining the Kiwi and Aussie plans. Anyway they were so supportive, they gave me the strength to stick with, and even attack once, Dries frickin Cornelis! In the end the experimentd guy put in an experienced sprint and bettered me for 10th. I'm only 1'25" down so overall anything could happen, I'd be stoked with a top 10 here.
Perth tomorrow, I've been training hard, I've got no support to take on the Blue Balls trio so I've been talking to guys Faizullah and Osorio about unhinging them. They may have strength in numbers over me but I want a good result and I'm going to push them as far as I can in search of a podium, perhaps even more. I'm on the verge of second row and so the NES is my chance to get in there, and cement my place there. Now I just need to actually do it.
Edited by jandal7 on 23-05-2015 22:13
Apologies that I have not written for nearly two weeks now, but I have been having some major internet connection problems. I am not the best with all this technology stuff, and hadn't been able to fix my computer without help. We've been in Australia now for a few dyas, and my team-mate Tariq has shown me how to get online in a hotel when they don't provide internet connection by ripping the wires out of the room phone and hot-wiring it like a car .
Anyway, racing has started now and its been both mega, mental and scary. We've just been moving continuously from race to race, its all like a blur. The first two races in Belgium were real hard, I struggled to avoid being lapped, and had a few dodgy moments. I had my first big stack in the 2nd race, on the descent of a big sand dune-hill thing, and its really embarassing because they are using the footage of my fall as part of the opening credits to the tv coverage now. I guess it helps you get noticed though, as more fans seem to recognise me, and they are always really supportive if you are far back but they can see you are still trying hard. I finished dead last in that second race after the fall - my elbow was hurting real bad, but it turned out just to have a massive bruise and no worse than that. We also raced in the UK in town called Hertford. I think that was maybe my best race, as I was a lot closer to the front runners at the end - still over 3 minutes down, but a big improvement over the 5 and 6 minutes of the first two races. Even although it was only a couple of weeks ago, my memories of these races are all jumbled up, and it is hard to remember exactly which was which - it is all bodged together in my brain!
I only had a couple of days back at my Belgian home after the Belgian races. From UK we flew straigh out to Oz - Heathrow airport is a scary place, I was glad I was with other riders, as I am sure I would have got so lost and still be stuck there without other people to work out what was happening! I was kind of excited about the flight and got a window seat and watched out for so much of the long journey. We had to stop in Singapore to refuel and stuff, then on to Australia. But since then I have been feeling dreadful, I can't seem to sleep although I am soooo tired all the time, and I keep waking up in the middle of the night and then can't sleep amymore. At the first race we did here, I was even worried about falling asleep on my bike, just so tired! I don't know what it is, but my body is just acting real weird, and I don't seem to have much appetite. The racing continues though, there has been two races already here, and another tomorrow, then we fly away again - it feels like I am only just getting used to being here!
So I struggled round the first race and managed to finish 32nd, although there are not quite as many starters here as in the races in Europe. Then in the 2nd race I was 39th and back to nearly 5 minutes behind the winner - I did fall off again, but the cameras seem to have mised it this time at least - i had to bang my bars back into shape, but apart from that, everything was fine. I have been collecting some UCI points in these races which the guys in the team seem to be pretty happy abput, although I still don't really undersand what the heck they are saying to me all the time - I just nod and smile, that seems to keep them happy .
Well, I better get some sleep before tomorrow, and Tariq wants the wires from the phone back so he can get online, so I'll sign off. If there are no technical issues, I should be back to more regular messages, although after tomorrow's race, we jet off somewhere else again. I don't even know which country we are going to!! At least the manager seems to be good with paperwork as he keeps taking my passport away and coming back with all these extra fancy stamps and pictures stapled in which I need to get into differnt countries at the airport!
Well, it's the kick-off of the new NES Trophy, a competition for young and inexperienced riders. While most of the peloton is already on the West Coast of the United States, 20 or so have left behind to compete in the first manche of three in the National Series Event Trophy!
Weather Conditions
Temperature: 10° C
Precipitation: Dry
Wind: 1 Beaufort
Start Line: The weather is great for cycling. Though some riders might suffer from the "warmth" here, as it is 10 degrees Celsius.
The top favorite for today is Goldenberg. He's already impresses with the pros and we expect great things from him, starting today.
Lap 1: We have a brutal start, here, with a fight for the first position going into the first lap. It's Soucek leading over Goldenberg, Listerijn and Kloet. Accostella is in third.
Oh and drama from the start, as Soucek hit his pedal on the concrete and goes down! Goldenberg and Listerijn manage to avoid him, but Kloet has come to a stop to avoid crashing into Soucek. Accostella hits Soucek's wheel and goes down, too!
Goldenberg and Listerijn profit from the peloton being held up and get an early lead this way.
Osorio takes charge of the peloton and brings back the peloton to 4 seconds by the first sand section. Osorio probably working for his team mate Faizullah. The NES is raced in countries, not in teams, but you know how it goes.
And Faizullah makes good use of his team mate's efforts and attacks in the sand! He closes the gap to Goldenberg and Listerijn. Dao, and Etxeberdea followed on his wheel and so we have 5 leaders!
We hear Soucek is back on his bike.
Lap 2: Stan Van Overberghe is riding hard on the flat and brings Mutahi with him. He's closing the gap slowly. Markson is on Mutahi's wheel and will also make the connection to the front of the race.
Right on time before the sand section. Markson moves to the front of the race and now sets the pace for his team mate Goldenberg.
Riders having missed the cut in the background try to make something of this race, still. We see Accostella increasing the pace and attacking out of the chasing group, but Markson keeps the pace so high, it's almost an impossible task.
Visconti and Konva seem the strongest in the chasing bunch and break away with the two of them. They will be hoping to make the jump forward, where Listerijn is studying everyone closely.
Lap 3: An attack! Stan Van Overberghe takes the corner wide and accelerates! Mutahi tries to go with him. But Goldenberg doesn't want to let anyone ride away and closes the gap. This puts a stop to the attacking motion and allows Markson and the others to return.
A crash in the background! Accostella is down! Apparently Sow tried to cut him off at the corner and both riders went down. Only a 20-men peloton but a lot of crashes here. This illustrates the fight that's going into the race. It's very high paced!
Baris Dao is content to keep this situation, he has an amazing sprint and will be keen to picking up those 6 points in one and a half laps.
Lap 4: We're one lap from the intermediate sprint. 6, 4 and 2 points are at stake.
Our 8 leaders are approaching the sand. Will we see an attack for the intermediate points?
Markson is still pulling the bunch. He looks behind, at Goldenberg, to see if his team mate is still there. Goldenberg seems to nod at Markson. Is something going on here?
Yes there is, Goldenberg leaves a little gap. What a display of team work! Markson has a gap, and now Goldenberg looks at the other riders. It's their move, now!
Listerijn gets out of the saddle and accelerates! Goldenberg has anticipated this and moves with him. Baris Dao has to go deep, but he's hanging on, too!
The three reach Markson just when they get out of the sand. Listerijn gets out of the saddle again and attacks a second time! He wants to get rid of the others.
Goldenberg and Dao follow. Markson has been caught by surprise and falls behind. He's sitting up now and looks completely cooked.
Listerijn looks behind and sees Goldenberg and Dao. He probably hadn't anticipated this, now what? The intermediate sprint approaches...
Dao starts his sprint from far out. Listerijn tries to react, but it's no good, Dao is too fast!
Dao picks up the 6 points, Listerijn takes 4 and Goldenberg 2.
Lap 5: With the first points earned in this NES Trophy, let's take a look at the time differences.
Markson seems completely empty as the chasing group now catches him and leaves him behind immediately. His work is done, apparently.
Neither Listerijn, Dao or Goldenberg seems keen to keep this pace up and so the chasing group manages to catch the trio. We have 7 leaders!
Lap 6: Three laps remain, and the pace has dropped a bit. We're just waiting for the next attack.
Who's not waiting, is Dao. The situation is perfect for him, right now. He can just await the sprint.
Faizullah tries to break away! Goldenberg knows Faizullah has experience with riding a finale and decides to follow!
Listerijn and Etxeberdea can't match the acceleration, but they up the pace and find themselves chasing the duo with two. In the background, it's Dao that has to do the work. But as we head into the sand, the punchy sprinter doesn't find his favorite terrain to make up ground.
Lap 7: Visconti and Konva continue to work together to try and find contact with the head of the race, but it's not looking good. Their top 10 seems safe, but the head of the race is here, with Goldenberg, Faizullah, Listerijn and Etxeberdea.
Mutahi, Van Overberghe and Dao seem to have wasted most of their energy already. The pace isn't high enough to bring back the attackers. And in this situation it's 3 against 4.
I think the race winner is among these four riders.
Listerijn attacks! He tries to use the sand to get away! Goldenberg - always quick on the draw - has no problems answering the attack. Etxeberdea digs deep into his reserves and hangs on - barely. Faizullah is the biggest victim of this attack and is trailing.
We're heading towards the final lap with 3 leaders.
Lap 8: Just one more lap remains. Who will end up on the top step today?
Listerijn and Etxeberdea are preparing for an attack from Goldenberg in the sand. He's the strongest in the sand and has the explosivity to attack. Goldenberg keeps the pace high enough to discourage Listerijn and Etxeberdea from attacking themselves.
A surprise attack! Goldenberg with a sharp turn and an acceleration! Nobody expected an attack on this spot, before the sand! Listerijn and Etxeberdea have been caught with their pants down - so to say. They have been fooled by the American completely!
Goldenberg - now on a rush of adrenaline - ploughs through the sand and finishes off his competitors entirely. He's gone, what a show of the American!
Listerijn doesn't have much support from Etxeberdea, who seems empty and happy to hang on at this point.
And so Goldenberg reaches the finish line first. He's our first leader of the new NES Trophy. He takes the 10 points.
Listerijn has no problem with Etxeberdea at the finish line to take 2nd place and 7 points. Etxeberdea takes 5 points.
Faizullah crosses the line 4th, disappointed, picking up 3 points.
Dao wins the sprint for place 5 against Van Overberghe and Mutahi. He takes the last remaining point.
Konva and Visconti make it 8 and 9. And Markson has kept his pace high enough to defend his top 10. What a race, what a winner!
The season has started quietly for Dries Cornelis. A few podiums have been reached, but the Belgian legend is still awaiting his first win. 'Of course, it's a bit disappointing I'm still empty handed so far. Last season started off much better and I had hoped to copy that. I'll try to focus on my other goals for the season now, mainly the World Cup and more importantly the World Championships.'
The causes of the worse start are clear to Dries. 'The field around me has developed a lot. My rivals are younger than me and grow every season. I currently have to rely on experience, but the older they get, the more they get it as well.'
Contrary to his team mate Cornelis Naveed Alinejad has had a great season start. The young Iranian seems to become a regular in the points already. He himself seems very pleased. 'Things have started fantastically for me. I feel I did very well, but I hope to get even better this season, maybe picking up my first victory already.'
Melbourne Beach Race - Preview
Tekapocross - Preview
Goldie
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
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