Prior to the start of the season, Niels Albert has retired from professional cyclocross. The Belgian former National and World Champion has cardiac dysrhythmia and he deems it too dangerous to continue professional sports. He will continue in the sport, though as coach of the Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace team, a team including U23 World Champion Wout Van Aert.
That same Van Aert will miss the start of the season. He broke his collarbone during a crash on training. Therefore it will take a while for him to be able to take on Mathieu van der Poel again. Let's see if the both of them are ready to shake the Elite Men category. Both of them have had a pretty good road season, especially Van der Poel, who won the Belgian 1.1 race Ronde van Limburg against the pro road cyclists. I don't know about Van Aert's schedule, but I've read somewhere that Mathieu van der Poel has decided to race the Superprestige races with the Elite Men instead of the U23.
Lars van der Haar will be present in more races, as he will be riding the bpost Bank Trofee races, too IIRC.
Who do you think will be the most succesfull rider this season. Niels Albert isn't there anymore so the closest challengers will be van der Haar, Pauwels and Vantornout. What will the outsiders do? Mourey, Peeters, Walsleben, Bina, Meeusen?
Which U23 rider will be best? Van der Poel or Van Aert?
First cross of the season and Nys shows everyone how it's done. As usual, some of the big names will ride some races in the United States prior to moving back to Europe (Belgium) to ride the big races.
Excited. Probably travel to Belgium for 1-2 races, so heads up boys.
Van der Poel is probably the rider I'm most excited for in the coming years, so it's very nice to hear that he joins some elite races. Hope he causes some fuss there. Still I think that Van Aert is a few steps ahead.
Probably Van der Haar to be toughest challenger to Nys. Actually think he'll take the throne for good this year but we'll see.
Definitely sad situation for Albert but luckily, he can stay in the sport he loves. Maybe this way, as a coach of Van Aert, he can stick it to Nys' one last time.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Well Walsleben won me the inaugural fantasy betting "season" so he has my infinite support
Van der Poel really has to deliver to justify his further focus on at least both cross and road or fully cross, he should be hard to beat.
Contrary to Walsleben, van der Haar has my infinite hatred as long as Lucy Garner is his girlfriend, so there you go concerning that...
Can Nys do another season? People have said he will delcine for years now, and he proved them wrong again and again. Without Albert (never liked the guy, but I do feel very sorry for him), there's no real contender in the real crosses. On the harder surfaces with more speed, Van der Haar will score again. He'll probably be the main challenger of Nys throughout the season. Though if anyone can hurt Nys badly, it will be Kevin Pauwels. He was crap last year, but if he returns to his 2012-2013 form, he'll be getting wins on all terrains.
Ollfardh wrote:
Can Nys do another season? People have said he will delcine for years now, and he proved them wrong again and again. Without Albert (never liked the guy, but I do feel very sorry for him), there's no real contender in the real crosses. On the harder surfaces with more speed, Van der Haar will score again. He'll probably be the main challenger of Nys throughout the season. Though if anyone can hurt Nys badly, it will be Kevin Pauwels. He was crap last year, but if he returns to his 2012-2013 form, he'll be getting wins on all terrains.
Pauwels really good season was 2011-2012
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan' Gracias Alberto.
Powers wins an american cross, as usual. Trek CXC Cup
1
Jeremy Powers
58'00”
2
Timothy Johnson
10”
3
Shawn Milne
15”
4
Allen Krughoff
17”
5
Ben Berden
01'25”
6
James Driscoll
01'48”
7
Jeremy Durrin
02'05”
8
Tristan Schouten
02'34”
9
Isaac Neff
02'44”
10
Zach McDonald
03'07”
First Belgian cross of the season last sunday was won by Vantornout. Nys in 2nd and Walsleben in 3rd. Dissapointing results for van der Haar, Meeusen and Mourey. Steenbergcross
niconico wrote:
Can anyone who speaks the language tell me what Niels Albert and the interviewer is talking about in this small fragment of an interview?
Obviously the topic is comeback and operation, but it'd be cool with some specifics without someone having to do a complete transcript
He obviously didn't like the wait he had to say goodbye. They also consider the idea of him having major surgery and make a comeback. He's afraid of risking it all and then realising he can't get back on his old level.
ProCyclings Stats have launched their spin off site - ProCXStats and to no surprise, it's all about cross. Finally a great site for cyclocross with quick results. Should be a gem.
Clif Bar CrossVegas
EKZ CrossTour - Baden
