This is the game thread. It means that in this thread, only role-playing is allowed. For questions, remarks or other, please direct yourself to me by means of PM or in the general thead.
Cyclo-cross is the name of the game. For those unfamiliar with the sport, here's a small overview of what it is. Cyclo-cross takes place off road. There can be sand, riding through a forest, cobblestones, dirt, mud, ice... Obstacles can be placed, which are mostly bridges and tree stumps to jump over (max 40 cm). The riders race with bikes similar to road race cycling. The terrain can be rough, but is not as extreme as with mountain biking.
Cyclo-cross takes place in the winter. In this fantasy game, there are races on the southern hemisphere, so it's not technically solely a winter sport. A race will last about 1 hour and is always raced on a closed circuit. After 1 lap, a jury decides how many laps the riders should complete to finish around the clock of 1 hour. If a rider gets lapped (by the head of the race), he is out of the race.
During the circuit, there are usually 2 places where you can change your bike. If you have any technical problems, you have to make it to that point.
Rules and Guidelines
This is the game thread. Generally, I'm giving you the freedom to do your own thing in this role-playing. However, to let this game run smoothly, a few rules/guidelines for this thread:
- Role Playing only! Questions or remarks are asked in the general thread.
- Only role playing as your rider(s).
- Always mention your rider's name. I don't look at the user of the site, only the rider.
- I advice you to create a banner with your rider's name on it. Open your post with that banner.
- PM me with eventual tactics/strategies before a race. You can use the presets (see below) or come up with your own. You can also choose not to participate in one or more races, either to save strength for a future race, to recover from an illness or to go training. You can share this through the role-playing, but I prefer a PM directed to me, too.
- Your rider's stats will evolve depending on your role-playing. If you are active (read: this doesn't have to mean you post every single day) and contribute interesting posts, your rider will become better. Inactive riders will eventually decrease and might disappear.
- If you need some inspiration how to role-play, some examples: press release, interview, race/season (p)review... You can be as creative as you want. Over time, I hope some real rivalry and real friendship can be found.
- If you are not in the game, but wish to contribute, you may role-play as a journalist or something more original. Please ask my permission first, though.
- No obscene language, no disrespecting each other. No spamming or breaking the above rules.
And then, the most important rule of all:
- Have fun! Keep it simple, keep it fun.
Preset Tactics
Follow closely: Make someone nervous by staying on his wheel as closely as you can. Enter name here. Follow when attack: Enter name(s) here. Who do you always follow? Passive/Aggressive riding: Enter number from 1 - 10. 1 being extremely passive, 10 being extremely aggressive. Start: Fast or Patient. Allies/Team mates: Will you ride behind team mates? Are there other riders you don't want to ride against, rather work with? Other: Anything else? Attack at a specific time? Make a special move? Work for the team leader?
If you have any more questions, message me or go to the general thead.
Let the games begin!
This is the only non-role playing post of this thread. I didn't want to hide this behind a spoiler because it's important that everyone read this.Edited by Ian Butler on 21-08-2016 13:28
Welcome to the summary of the official presentation of the cyclo-cross 2016 - 2017 season calendar.
Note that the UCI Classification is important for a team's sponsoring, as well as a rider's wage, start money and his start position in the race. In most races in the calendar, the riders start with 10 riders on each line. Their current UCI Ranking decides where they'll start.
Coming from 8 classics just two seasons ago, we are now down to 5. Great Hertford Classic has been removed from the calendar and so we are down to only five classics. Less classics only means a win in either one of them only gets more exclusive and more prestigious. Not too many chances around to be a winner of each one of these great races.
So we are left with 5 classics: Hobart Sunny Classic, Arenberg Classic, Christmas Classic, Duinencross, Dunkirk Classic.
The World Cup features races from all around the world. It's a very interesting trophy in terms of prize money, as well as the classification where the most UCI Points can be earned. Dries Cornelis won his last World Cup in his last season, taking away Vague's shot at cyclo-cross' holy trinity. But the young lad returns with a burning desire. Cornelis has left to sport and so the fight for the World Cup will be more open than ever!
There are 10 races, one more than last year. Cali is a new cross, hosted in Colombia. The race gives November an increased importance, as 4 of the 10 races will be held in the second month of the season. So an early season form is a must for any serious World Cup contender.
Favorites for 2016 - 2017: Francis N. Vague, Elliot Cook, Sylvain Lipawsky, Matt Mazzarelli, Hafthor Eldfjallsson.
The Superprestige is still seen as the most prestigious trophy on the calendar. It doesn't earn you the most UCI Points, neither does it offer you the biggest purse. But the Superprestige speaks for itself. Winning this Trophy is one of the highest things you can achieve in this sport. Ask Francis Vague, who won it last year. A title that can make your career.
Whakapapa is new, and is the second race in the trophy. Hosted in New-Zealand, in increasingly important country for the sport, but features the high slopes, where snow is a possibility. Alpe d'Huez was a big success and stays on the calendar.
But that's not all. Herne Hill returns to the calendar, giving Great Britain back one of the most historic races. We're happy to see it back, especially in the Superprestige!
The points/race for the classification are as follows:
Winner: 15 points.
2nd: 14 points
3rd: 13 points
4th: 12 points
5th: 11 points
6th: 10 points
7th: 9 points
8th: 8 points
9th: 7 points
10th: 6 points
11th: 5 points
12th: 4 points
13th: 3 points
14th: 2 points
15th: 1 point
Favorites for 2016 - 2017: Francis N. Vague, Elliot Cook, Sylvain Lipawsky.
Coca-Cola returns, stronger than ever. They seem set on their current programme and so we have no changes. Just more of the same fun. Their two first editions have been won by Vague and Cook, so it can't get any better than that for them.
Favorites for 2016 - 2017: Elliot Cook, Christian Schiltz, Milan Listerijn.
NES returns. Nothing much changes. Still three races, the same locations. 20 entries, but the UCI decides on who will ride it. They want more fight and less domination. A trophy for neopro's, mostly.
The three races will be Perth, Johannesburg, Kitakyushu.
Additionally, the National Event Series will be raced, not in the sponsor brands, but in national teams.
This year's Continental Championships are not that different from last year. Only the routes have changed, of course. Riders from all around the world will fight for either one of these jerseys:
Left to right: Africa, America, Eurasia, Oceania
Last year, we had some great races with as winners: Christian Schiltz, Lachy Bauer, Fred Markson and Adrian Van Niek.
See the race profiles below.
The World Championships go to the other side. The United States will host this year's World Championships in Chicago. The exact location is Montrose Beach, where the riders get a nice mix of sand, technicality and perhaps even snow. Not much climbing to be done, so Vague will not have it easy to defend his jersey, but we know he'll try everything he can to do so.
See the race profile below.
Races
Full Calendar
Calendar analysis:
The UCI has created a climbing-heavy sport but they're working on it. Less climbing this year and the new crosses reflect this. Cali is flat, Herne Hill as good as. The World Championships will not be decided uphill. It looks like the more all-round riders will get a better chance this season.
Overall, we think it's a nice balanced calendar. But it's the riders who make the race. So let's take a look at who we have in the peloton this season!
2016 - 2017 Peloton
The peloton counts 63 riders, which is 3 more than last season. What we notice is that the traditional countries are getting back in the saddle. New (and old) talents from Belgium, Germany and France join the ranks of the pros.
UCI #
Name
Nation
Team
1
Elliot Cook
Great Britain
Randstad
2
Francis N. Vague
Belgium, Wallonie
Team BKCP-Powerplus
3
Christian Schiltz
Luxembourg
Team BKCP-Powerplus
4
Sylvain Lipawsky
Switzerland
Bauknecht-Author
5
Matt Mazzarelli
Italy (Apulia)
Team Mapei
6
Hafthor Eldfjallsson
Iceland
Team Odfjell
7
Eddie Goldenberg
United States, NV
Blue Bell CX
8
Milan Listerijn
New-Zealand
Team Lotto-Fidea
9
Michael Bollinger
Australia
Glasgow City Council
10
Shay Gormley
Ireland
Team Red Bull
11
Mikel Hammarling
Sweden
Team Odfjell
12
Baris Dao
Denmark
Randstad
13
Estifanos Mutahi
Kenya
NamDeb CycloX Project
14
Iban Etxeberdea
Spain (Euskadi)
Vittel
15
Naveed Alinejad
Iran
Team Lotto-Fidea
16
Tariq Faizullah
Afghanistan
Ittehad Chemicals
17
Fred Markson
United States, NY
Blue Bell CX
18
Sven Welling
Belgium, Flanders
Team BKCP-Powerplus
19
Guido Visconti
Belgium, Flanders
Team Lotto-Fidea
20
Max Power
United States, TX
Blue Bell CX
21
Lachy Bauer
New-Zealand
All Blacks
22
Rudy Verboven
Belgium, Flanders
Topsport Vlaanderen
23
Jan Soucek
Czech Republic
Bauknecht-Author
24
Gregory Bernard
Luxembourg
Torku Şekerspor
25
Mustafa Moli
Namibia
NamDeb CycloX Project
26
Arda Akdeniz
Turkey
Torku Şekerspor
27
Karol Konva
Slovakia
Bauknecht-Author
28
Ferdi Kloet
Netherlands
Randstad
29
Pierre Lipawsky
Switzerland
Vittel
30
Camilo Osorio
Colombia
Vittel
31
Thijs Van Lookeren
Netherlands
Glasgow City Council
32
Milan Vermeulen
Belgium, Flanders
Topsport Vlaanderen
33
Timi Kokkonen
Finland
Team Odfjell
34
Amadou Bakari
Gabon
Team BAKARI
35
Mohuti Sow
Botswana
NamDeb CycloX Project
36
Matthias Barthez
France
Vittel
37
Dirk Accostella
Netherlands
Team Mapei
38
Andrew McLaughlin
Great Britain
Glasgow City Council
39
Stan Van Overberghe
Belgium, Flanders
Topsport Vlaanderen
40
Nicky Van Drenthe
Netherlands
Randstad
41
Alfonso Munoz
Spain
Giant-Alpecin
42
Robert Wells
Great Britain
Glasgow City Council
43
Fabrizio Lorenzi
Italy
Team Mapei
44
Lars Lejeune
Belgium, Brussel
Topsport Vlaanderen
45
Pierre Lavigne
France
Vittel
46
Chris Young
Canada
Blue Bell CX
47
Lars Van Hennep
Netherlands
Randstad
48
Nic Hashir
Great Britain
Glasgow City Council
49
Arthur Ledoux
New-Zealand
All Blacks
50
Louis Listerijn
Belgium
Team BKCP-Powerplus
51
Paul Rosanski
Germany
Giant-Alpecin
52
Matt Payne
New-Zealand
All Blacks
53
Robin Huser
Germany
Giant-Alpecin
54
Daniel Bruggemann
Germany
Giant-Alpecin
55
Olivier Dubois
Switzerland
Team Red Bull
56
Alessio Forcellini
San Marino
Team Red Bull
57
Pieter Van Dyck
Netherlands
Randstad
58
Pépé Renoir
France
Vittel
59
Henry Georges
France
Giant-Alpecin
60
Mark D'Anvers
Belgium
Team Lotto-Fidea
61
Jens Van Eyck
Belgium
Topsport Vlaanderen
62
Toon Van Eyck
Belgium
Topsport Vlaanderen
63
Dirk Lombaerts
Belgium
Topsport Vlaanderen
Sixteen Teams
Below are the sixteen official teams for the 2016 - 2017 season of cyclo-cross.
#1: Team Lotto-Fidea
The team that made Cornelis' career, or was it the other way around? Either way, they go on their separate ways, now. With Cornelis retired, Lotto used their budget to get some new talents in their squad. Listerijn is the biggest name. Visconti has been offered a better contract and hopes to have his breakthrough victory this season.
Riders: Milan Listerijn, Naveed Alinejad, Guido Visconti, Mark D'Anvers
#2: Team BKCP-Powerplus
A powerhouse team. Francis N. Vague is the face of modern cyclo-cross. Christian Schiltz is the Eurasian Champion and a classics-specialist. Together they fight for victory just about anywhere. Sven Welling is an important piece in the team, too, especially mentally for the young riders. They've been joined by Louis Listerijn this season, Milan's brother.
Riders: Francis Vague, Sven Welling, Christian Schiltz, Louis Listerijn
#3: NamDeb CycloX Project
While their results have been amazing last season, the team had to let two riders go, leaving them with only three riders. Moli and Sow will fight for all they're worth, but their real talent is Mutahi. The Kenyan is a winner and will want to get even more out of this season.
Riders: Mustafa Moli, Estifanos Mutahi, Mohuti Sow
#4: Glasgow City Council
After a major boom in Great Britain, this is all that remains a few years later. Besides Cook, who is no ordinary Brit, this is all that's left of the nation's cream. Bollinger from Australia has left his team to become a leader, and he'll do it here in Glasgow. Should be good for at least a victory and a trophy top 10.
Riders: Michael Bollinger, Thijs Van Lookeren, Andrew McLaughlin, Robert Wells, Nic Hashir
#5: Vittel
No Carlisle. The Brit has retired from cyclo-cross after two disappointing seasons. And so the team had to reinvent itself. They have signed many riders and take a few risks, but we hope it pays out for them. Etxeberdea knew a fine debut season and we hope to see more from him soon.
Riders: Iban Etxeberdea, Tariq Faizullah, Pierre Lipawsky, Camilo Osorio, Matthias Barthez, Pierre Lavigne, Pépé Renoir
#6: Team Odfjell
Team Odfjell are becoming legendary at what they do. We see the same three names returning, but it'll be for the last time. Hammarling ends his career in cyclo-cross with Odfjell and hopes for a great final season. Eldfjallsson is a consistent rider and excels in the World Cup. The three riders love an icy challenge and when the temperatures drop, you can expect this team to be right up there.
Riders: Mikel Hammarling, Hafthor Eldfjallsson, Timi Kokkonen
#7: All Blacks
New-Zealand is growing more and more important to the sport, and now they're here with a fine team. The All Blacks hope to give Lachy Bauer a second start in his cyclo-cross career. Ledoux and Payne can learn the ropes while also supporting the Kiwi.
Riders: Lachy Bauer, Arthur Ledoux, Matt Payne
#8: Bauknecht-Author
Sylvain Lipawsky went in a different direction and chose to end up here, at Bauknecht. With Konva and Soucek at his side, he could be a very dangerous client in just about any race he enters.
Riders: Sylvain Lipawsky, Karol Konva, Jan Soucek
#19: Randstad
Besides the obvious Cook, Randstad can just be one of the strongest teams around. Besides the UCI n°1, they also have Baris Dao, who had an amazing debut season last year. Pieter Van Dyck is said to be the next big thing from the Netherlands. After taking his time to grow in the U23 league, he finally made the jump to the pro's. We expect a lot from this team and its leaders.
Riders: Elliot Cook, Baris Dao, Ferdi Kloet, Nicky Van Drenthe, Lars Van Hennep, Pieter Van Dyck
#10: Team Mapei
No changes for Team Mapei, but why change a winning formula? Matt Mazzarelli returns for the Italian team and hopes to do even better this year. The Italian is immensely popular and is known for his attacking style. When the road goes up, he's the one to watch.
Riders: Matt Mazzarelli, Fabrizio Lorenzi, Dirk Accostella
#11: Topsport Vlaanderen
Belgium is back, and Topsport Vlaanderen wants everyone to know it. Vermeulen, Van Overberghe, Lejeune, Verboven, the Van Eyck brothers and Lombaerts. They only want one thing: ride every race to the fullest. Getting a victory would be great for them, and not even that impossible.
Riders: Milan Vermeulen, Stan Van Overberghe, Lars Lejeune, Rudy Verboven, Toon Van Eyck, Jens Van Eyck, Dirk Lombaerts
#12: Torku Şekerspor
No big names, no big talents. The Turkish team does however survive and hopes to claim a few top 10 spots along the way.
Riders: Gregory Bernard, Arda Akdeniz
#13: Blue Bell CX
Blue Bell CX was new last season, and already they're a team to be reckoned with. Dao left the team for Randstad, but will they miss him all that much? With Goldenberg, they're going for the podium in the World Cup. Markson seems good for at least a victory this season. Power will ride a special programme and hopes to fly through the sand to victory. Chris Young is new and Canadian. Is he talented enough for the professional circuit? We'll find out this season!
Riders: Eddie Goldenberg, Fred Markson, Max Power, Chris Young
#14: Team Red Bull
Red Bull always had ties with the sport, and now they're back sponsoring a team. Dubois is one of the biggest names in trial, but decided to follow his heart and come to the field. A triple World Champion, it'll be hard to do just as well here, but he'll try, we know that. Gormley was also a perfect signing for Red Bull. Well, not 100% perfect, since Gormley is a Green Bull.
Team BAKARI returns, and with their successful formula: Amadou Bakari. The Gabonese isn't the best rider around, but he's no longer the worst around, too. His many struggles has left him hard-headed and he rides for every spot, resulting in UCI n° 34, far from the worst of the pack.
Rider: Amadou Bakari
Giant-Alpecin
Giant is a well-known road team, but now they're investing in cyclo-cross as well. And why shouldn't they? Bruggemann returns to the field after a nice road career. But they also have some new, young blood. Rosanski and Huser are Germany's next talents.
Riders: Paul Rosanski, Robin Huser, Daniel Bruggemann, Alfonso Munoz, Henry Georges
Season Protagonists
Which names can we expect at the top of the tables throughout the season?
Francis Vague
Francis N. Vague is cyclo-cross' billboard. A fighter, a winner, a Belgian. He'll be hard to beat and he wants the triple crown, especially after being so close last season.
Our Score: 9.5/10
Elliot Cook
The Cookie Monster is perhaps the only one even more impressive than Vague at times. He is relentless, powerful and isn't shy to use mental warfare on this rivals. Cook is a true mudrider and races all season long with the same fight in his heart.
Our Score: 9.5/10
Matt Mazzarelli
Mazzarelli has shown us his talent in the last races last season. When he's in form, he does what he wants. Winning doesn't come easy to him, but he hasn't outgrown it either. We expect him to finally target a trophy this season and show us what he can do.
Our Score: 8.5/10
Sylvain Lipawsky
Lipawsky went under the radar a bit last season. He never peaked as well as he could and had some bad luck. But still he ended up the podium of two classifications. Lipawsky is never bad, even when his form isn't good.
Our Score: 8/10
Christian Schiltz
Schiltz is becoming an expert in classics and still has his eyes on the Coca-Cola Trophy. Side by side with Vague, he can be quite dangerous.
Our Score: 8/10
Season Underdogs
These riders will be targeting a few victories, too. Watch out for them, they strike when you least expect it!
Hafthor Eldfjallsson
Eldfjallsson is still developing. The rider can handle many different terrain and has made the World Cup his specialty. A podium there isn't unrealistic for him this season.
Our Score: 7.5/10
Eddie Goldenberg
Much like Eldfjallsson, he targets the World Cup. A sand expert, a great bike handler. Goldenberg is ambitious and has the talent to back it up.
Our Score: 7.5/10
Milan Listerijn
The young Kiwi has known a great debut season. But now it's time to step up. He's got pressure on him, but can he deal with it okay? He speaks out great ambition and that's to his credit. He wants to let his legs do the talking, though, and so we expect him in quite a few races this season.
Our Score: 7.5/10
Mikel Hammarling
The Swede ends his cyclo-cross career with one last season. His big target: Torku. Can he win it a record third time? We'll have to wait and see, but he'll fight for the win, that we can tell.
Our Score: 7/10
Lachy Bauer
Bauer has chosen the field over the road again, but the transition won't be that easy. His talent is undeniable, though, so a victory isn't that impossible for him.
Our Score: 6.5/10
Who Should We Watch Out For?
Finally, let's take a look at the newcomers in the peloton. It's impossible to predict how debutants will do, but here's who our money's on. Keep in mind that this is a risky game and the step to the pros is different for each rider. We're not liable if you lose money betting on these guys.
Their scores are not comparable with the above scoring. They are in their own league here.
Pieter Van Dyck: 9.5/10 Robin Huser: 9/10
Arthur Ledoux: 8/10 Paul Rosanski: 8/10 Matt Payne: 7.5/10
Alessio Forcellini: 7/10 Louis Listerijn: 6.5/10 Toon Van Eyck: 6.5/10 Henry Georges: 6/10
Jens Van Eyck: 5/10 Dirk Lombaerts: 4/10 Pépé Renoir: 4/10
Lastly, we are curious what Dubois, Bruggemann and D'Anvers can bring to the sport. They have experience, albeit in different settings.
Season 2016 - 2017
There's not much left to talk about. It's about time to let the riders do the talking. Only one week left and we start the new season in the Duinencross in Belgium. Keep an eye out for some of the press conferences. But mostly, we hope to see the riders let their legs do the talking. We're ready for another great season of cyclo-cross!
UCI - RULES
World Cup
Spoiler
Result
Points
1
150
2
140
3
130
4
120
5
110
6
100
7
90
8
80
9
70
10
60
11
55
12
50
13
45
14
40
15
38
16
36
17
34
18
32
19
30
20
28
21
26
22
24
23
22
24
20
25
18
26
16
27
15
28
14
29
13
30
12
31
11
32
10
33
9
34
8
35
7
36
6
37
5
38
4
39
3
40
2
41
1
42
1
43
1
44
1
45
1
46
1
47
1
48
1
49
1
50
1
Classic
Spoiler
Result
Points
1
200
2
170
3
150
4
140
5
130
6
120
7
110
8
100
9
90
10
80
11
75
12
70
13
65
14
60
15
57
16
54
17
51
18
48
19
45
20
42
21
39
22
36
23
33
24
30
25
28
26
26
27
25
28
24
29
23
30
22
31
21
32
20
33
19
34
18
35
17
36
16
37
15
38
14
39
13
40
12
41
11
42
10
43
9
44
8
45
7
46
6
47
5
48
4
49
3
50
2
51
1*
* Every finisher from position 51 onwards receives 1 UCI point.
An unnatural high amount of journalists and cameras are crowded together in a small room. Everybody is belgian in this tiny room, about 20 guys in total. Though it's a nice room, it still has the smell of fresh mud.
Clearly, even the organization has underestimated the Internet’s and Newspaper’s interest of Belgium’s newest rising star. Francis N. Vague silently steps up to the press table. On his cap is the logo of his team. BKCP - Powerplus. That's him. And Sven Welling. He looks a bit pale in the sheer mass of popping flashbulbs.
His move to the elite ranks came not surprising to most. At the only tender age of nine-teen, Francis has felt that it was time to step up. Winning races against his peers wasn’t enough anymore. He is sure, he needs to grow as a rider and as such, it is vital to race against the best.
A spokesperson from BKCP – Powerplus takes a seat next to him. He doesn’t really know the guy, Francis spent most summer training and barely showed up at the Team Headquarters. He presumes him to be some Flandriennes.
“Francis, how are you feeling?”, asks the man for all people to hear. “I’m fine, a bit nervous. Very nervous in fact. But only for the interview now. I’m confident when it comes to the upcoming race. I’m just excited to see how I’ll be doing.”
The man from BKCP –Powerplus nods happily. He then appoints someone else to walk through the audience with the microphone. After some confusion in the crowd, eventually the microphone gets to the person where it should be and it’s smooth sailing from there on out.
What competition do you aim for this season?
“The Cyclo-Cross magazines have said that my best chances should be in the World Cup, but I actually had hoped to be more specializing in the Superprestige Classification. So, we’ll still have some planning to do when it comes to the race schedule. I’ll be definitely riding all Belgian races and just see how it goes. I’d love to be in contention for one of the three classifications and I definitely aim for two, three classics too. I love what Coca-Cola is doing with their own Trophy, I might get in for some races but I’ll be content to watch some of their races from home. I become homesick fast.”
Any offical goals on your part?
"Win as many races as possible, I guess. I don't care what races really, a win is a win. Maybe I'll see that different once I score the big ones. But right now it's about improving and getting my name out there. The usual stuff I guess."
Any names in the peloton you particularly look forward to riding against?
“Of course it’s great to be able to ride against Dries Cornelis. I was afraid I’d miss out on him but luckily, he is still active. He is a fantastic rider and sort of a national idol for you Flandriennes. For me as a Walloon, he is also someone to look up to. He has true soublesse on the bike. As the current World Champion, he is the guy to beat. I hope to be a challenge to him this season and make his last seasons as tough as possible. There are also some other names. Alongside me some other U23 riders like Schlitz, Visconti and Lavigne made the jump to the Pros this season, so it should be great racing against them again.”
What are your thoughts on the most races?
“I think there’s a real interesting set-up of races. I’m mostly used to racing Belgian races, coming from the U23. The longest travels on the weekend were just a few hours of car-drive. This will be major different now. I have finished school and can travel from Dubai to New York, back to Belgium and forth to Russia. You know, this is mighty busy and I think my body will need some coping first until everything works perfect. My mom has actually offered to quit her job to follow me around… It’s also a reason why I’d like to keep a bit to the mainland for now, she really hates airplanes.
As for the races themselves: I think most are really thought-out and detailed with various challenges that suit different kind of riders. Of course I’d like to perform every weekend in a great manner on every terrain but when it comes to it, I’ll want to win races rather than race for some Top 10 overall classification. Maybe, I’ll be all over the place.”
Is the Ardennes Cross as your homerace your highlight?
“Sorta, yeah. I suppose it’ll be my season highlight and it’s definitely something I intend to peak for, alongside the National and World Championships. The many hills make for some real tough racing, demanding true punch each time. Seeing as Valkenburg hosts the World Championships this year, I definitely want to be in form there. I love the Cauberg. I’m not sure yet though if I’ll ride U23 or Elites at that time then.”
Any regrets the past season?
“No, I had the joy of riding an almost perfect U23 campaign. This put me into a real good place for negotiations. When BKCP – Powerplus said they wanted to sign me, it was a bit of a hustle since I had already agreed to a deal with Vittel. I don’t think they are mad but there might be some bad blood still, dunno. They have a great guy with Carlisle who easily will score many points for them. For me, it was more important ride for a Belgium Team obviously.”
You are a Walloon amongst Flandriennes, how does this feel?
“I speak fluently Flemish, so it’s not like I’m alone in the peloton. Add to the French, I’m all good. But yes, maybe it’s weird for some people at times. Still, for me, it’s all about the bicycle, the race and winning. I don’t care about mindgames, if it were up to me I could race all alone against the entire field. I’ll like to take on everyone.
But: It’s great to see fellow Walloons at more races each year. I remember seeing only my dad a few years back, last season it was already quite some fan club that turned up. It’ll be exciting to see how things develop further this season.”
And how is it for you as a Belgium to ride against so many new nations?
“We Belgians may like to see Cyclo-Cross as our sport, our privilege, but I think it’s very nice to see the sport expanding and broadening all around the world. I’m a bit surprised to see the USA not catching up to it so far. They have some great amateur scene overseas with a real friendly atmosphere. Maybe they join our wagon soon, especially with Coca-Cola inventing their own series of events.”
There’s actually Max Power from the USA, spits out another reporter from the back
“Really? Uhm, I didn’t know him. Is he a late addition then? We have lots of races in the USA so I’m sure he’ll have some great local support.”
“Well, anyway, we’ll see how we fare as a nation throughout the season, I’m confident though in our abilities. We have Cornelis, Van Fleming, Verboven… Great Britain certainly looks like our toughest opponents when it comes to getting the most guys in the Top 10. Carlisle looks to be their top man then but we’ll see how the other names perform in due time.”
There are many riders treating Cyclo-Cross as a way of keeping fit. It is also rumoured that you’ll soon aim for the road, what’s your opinion on that?
“Well, I don’t plan so far ahead in the future personally. I still have to take on my first Pro race this season, so calm down please haha. Cyclo-Cross is a wonderful sport, it’s natural that cyclists will want to participate in it. Especially when they have real special talents, for classics. No stage racer would aim for a CX season closing but classics rider like Verboven or that guy from Laos, it’s pretty great for them. But it also has to be said that most riders have their reasons to treat CX as an addition to their racing – and there are reasons why guys like me focus on it throughout the year.”
How do you handle the hype surrounding your person so far?
“It’s alright for now. I like it that people have interest in me, you always race for the audience too. I honestly think there's more hype and stuff going on in the newspaper and journalism than in general public. The public still loves Cornelis the most. But talk to me again, when I win my first race this year.”
Any words on your teammate Sven Welling?
“I’m very glad to have him at my side. We train together now and then and in a sport like Cyclo-Cross, experience is really necessary. You have to know so many things, so many details and just, small things you know. Like how to take this turn after the riding it five times before, because the mud, the race, it always changes and presents new challenges. A guy like Welling can you help with that. I have learned some things in the past weeks I was really surprised about.
We also share some good laughs and enjoy the training. But most importantly is that – I think – we really complement each other in our strengths. Together we should have some solid results for sure.”
Your only two riders though, how will you handle the pressure of larger teams like Lotto-Fidea, Topsport or the british teams?
"I don't worry about such things. This is stuff that has to be handled in the race. Of course there's strength in numbers but as a small, flexible team we also enjoy advantages that others may lack. Our sponsor and our team management can be sure that we'll look to perform in every race. And we feel their confidence in us, which helps us greatly."
You start your season at Duinencross, who’s your pick for the win?
“It’s a tricky parcour and a true classic, one where all almost your talents are tested. Oostende will be a spectacular location once more.
As it’s the season opener, it’s always a bit tricky to get the form right but I’m pretty sure that the top guys will be already in some contention. Don't get me going on the names, I could list 'em for hours.”
Can you give us one name?
"My teammate then, Sven Welling."
Edited by Shonak on 21-12-2014 13:05
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Well we are nearly there - I cannot believe the season is about to start and I am really pumped. I think we are going to see one crazy adventure as we tour the world showing off what I now believe to be the purest and most entertaining form of cycling.
It has been a hard journey in the last couple of months as I have relocated to Holland and hooked up with my amigo Lars van Hanne. Lars has been great he is a really funny dude to hang with and we have been enjoying our cycling too. We set each other crazy race challenges which usually involve some sort of forfeit and after losing most of our first challenges I am beginning to catch up with Lars now.
I am beginning to discover my strengths I can usually drop Lars on long climbs which is encouraging as Lars is a great cross rider. Lars is really good on sandy stretches too but these are not a problem for me, this is mainly about good steady cadance. However he is clear that I do need to learn crosses key dismounts and we have been on the treadmill a few times looking at my running speed.
Both me and Lars are ready to get our flight to New Zealand for the opener, I am told that I could have chances on a hilly course. We shall see how I am after the flight but I fancy seeing how strong the other riders are on the climbs. I am basically just gagging to race. Never since I was 8 years old do I think I have been able to say that.
After my first season on the road with Euskaltel, I had a few highlights with my biggest result a 9th place in Fleche Wallonne. But my first season was mostly marked by crashes, and that is the main reason why I'm starting my first cyclocross race tomorrow. While someone like Zdenek Stybar went from the cross to the road, I'm making the opposite move this winter, but I feel I'm not so different from him.
Yes, I was talking about my crashes, thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot about them. Quite a few, and quite a few at decisive points in the race. I remember the crash from the Continental Championships very well, together with Sagan and Van Avermaet. But the one that haunts me the most is the one from the U23 World Championships. With entire Team Belgium working for me, I went down in the final while I was in a winning position.
That crash was a huge wake up call for me. You can crash a few times during a season, but this was too much, I need to improve my bike handling skills this winter. Cyclocross was the first idea going through my head, and I decided to go with it.
The team management agreed, but they had a small problem. No Euskaltel riders could be found to assist me, as most of the punishments were used on the guy that went top support me in Paris-Roubaix. Luckily, a solution was found. My friends from Topsport Vlaanderen were launching a cyclocross project and I could tag along if I wanted. I didn't have to think about it twice, so tomorrow I will be making my cyclocross debut, wish me luck!
We're slowly approaching the opening of the season. Much has been said about the riders and the favorites of this year, but it's time to let the legs do the talking. In Oostende, Belgium, we'll kick off the season in style. The Duinencross is a real classic. What sort of race can we expect?
Race Information
Country: Belgium
City/Place: Oostende
Classification: Classic
Starting Time (Elite Men): 15h30
Favorites: Dries Cornelis, James Carlisle, Elliot Cook, Jannik Stolz, Ronnie Hira, Shay Gormley, Arda Akdeniz, Nic Hashir
Record: 4 x Jannes Vandewalle (1984, 1985, 1988, 1991)
Race History: The Duinencross is a real classic. The first edition was won by Daniël Maarschalk in 1923. The profile has changed a lot since then, though. The race has been cancelled a few times because of financial difficulties and - of course - during the second World War. The 2014 version will be the 81th edition.
Route Information
Technical: 5
Sand: 3
Uphill: 3
Cobblestones: 3
Based right at the sea, the Oostende Duinencross Classic offers an interesting profile, using the dunes (the famous 'duinen') to make the race an extremely tough start of the season. Luckily, once the riders get out of the sand, they can recover a bit. But not too much, because cobbled roads form the second part of the race. The 200 meter final straight line offers a sprint, but can easily be used as a victory march by the solo winner.
Sand experts can make the difference riding on top the famous 'Cornelisduin'. The dune has been named after Dries Cornelis, who will appear at the start as one of the favorites. The dune thanks his name to Cornelis after he won his third Belgian title there years ago. With Dries Cornelis returning there tomorrow, the question is: can he do it again?
Besides being able to ride through sand, uphill and on cobblestones, it is expected that power will be the most determining factor. Riders lacking power might fall back in the final 10 minutes, with dramatic consequences.
Without having to worry about a classification, the Duinencross is always good for great spectacle and aggressive racing.
Expected Weather Conditions
Temperature: 13° C
Precipitation: Rain, light
Wind: 3-4 Beaufort
There are some songs about Van Fleming by the fans. Songs that joke about Van Fleming. He himself hums a song now and then at the startline or even during a race. Motivation through those haters, he said.
For years his move has consisted of the same devilish, dickish move: Hang onto the wheel and simply outsprint ‘em. With little chances in harder crosses, Van Fleming still collected a great deal of wins. Even managing to score the World Cup one time.
Van Fleming’s recent years have been quite a struggle though. He failed to adapt to new strategies and hasn’t developed further. The decline of a nemesis, or will he yet return? He still holds his old philosophy of riding dearly. And like Van Fleming says, he will not change it. His only win has been the triumph at the Belgian Nationalchampionships in the past years.
You’re currently reigning as Belgium’s National Champion. With the new addition of the Continental Championships, how does it feel to be (for now) the last Belgian NC for some time?
It’s an honour of course. When you’ll look up Wikipedia, Belgium, it will be my name that’s last to see. For some time. Maybe it [the championship] will get back when we have a stronger competition again but I look forward to racing the Continental Championships as well. In the past, Belgium’s NC oftentimes had a stronger competition than various normal races. It’s good to try to get back to this level of competition by providing the Continental ones.
How does the calendar look to you? Some races you are really excited about?
Nice, really nice calendar. It's diverse and a great mix. I plan to be part of most races, score many points and be up there in the classifications. I still have the sprint of my younger years, so that should help me in any group. We’ll see how the racing goes, we have new set-up in the team so this will be a change.
Speaking of teams, you ride for Topsport Vlaanderen this season, a fairly new team. Some talented guys are on your team.
Yeah, great guys really. Rudy Verboven is a real top-class puncheur with a strong, strong finish. I’d watch out for him. Milan Vermeulen is an upcoming talent with a whole lot of potential. But he should really stop eating so many french fries, especially in Off-season. And there’s Bert Vos: I thought he’d skip this season and make a pause. Maybe help Marianne on her travels, but there he is, still here. It’s definitely a new team that people should watch out for.
It’s also a very popular team that he is reknown for a very attacking attitude in the road races. And there’s you, in Cyclo-Cross.
I know what you want to talk about. Frankly, I don’t care what people think of me. They find it boring the way I race. Well, they should know I don’t ride to entertain them. I ride to win, I always have. All the other riders understand that in the peloton. Sure we don’t always get along but this is not some friendship contest. When people want to present me as some dick… it ain’t gonna happen.
But there have been various occasions where you had arguments and even fights with competitors due to your riding.
It’s all in the past. Sure, me and some other guys – who are still active - will never be best friends but we can race all along on the same trails. Cyclo-Cross is a small, familiar sport. It’s a bit like family. You don’t have to like your cousin or your creepy uncle, but at the end of the day we hold together. Say, if there’s someone caught doping in CX, that would be thousand times worse for the sport than any wheelsucking I do and did throughout my career.
What are you goals for this season?
I want to return to my former level. The one of old. If I ever get there again, I become a real threat.
How possible is it for you to return to that level?
You want an honest answer or some illusion of grandeur? Looking at my results, the downward spiral may stop for now but it's really hard for me to improve, phyical-wise.
What’s your race tactic for Duinencross?
Why’d you even bother to ask? I look to be upfront all the time and hope to claim a nice result in the final straight. There are lots of youngsters around in this season, so I hope I can take advantage of them. Use their confidence and eagerness for a solid result. After all, they too should learn to dislike me [laughs]
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Hello lads,
my name's Shay, Shay Gormley. I might be new to top level cyclocross, but maybe some of the hardcore followers know me anyway. I primarily came here to do two things: Drink Guinness and kick ass, and it seems like I'm all out of Guinness. I signed on for the newly formed Bank of Ireland - Guinness team, which is a bizarre experience, because I'm the only rider. I'm not too worried though, as it means I can just ride my race and not worry about anyone else.
I start my career at the top at the Duinencross in Oostende, just as most of my competitors for the Superprestige classification. Luckily it's about nothing but the win and some form building here, so I can get in some very agressive racing, which is exactly what I like. I hope I can make the difference here with my sheer power, allthough the sand will definitely be a help too. It's already late here, so I better get some sleep before the big race tomorrow, so see you there. I'll think about you all when I get the flowers.
Honestly, I never really saw my self in this situation. I got my big break that I never expected on the road last season at Caja Rural through the formation of the EPIC UCI scheme. In 2014 not only do I find myself riding for Dutch road World Tour outlet Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team I also decided to take another step, this time into Cyclo-Cross.
I was given the opportunity to take part in CX at a more professional level behind closed doors through Dutch cycling after I found my self pretty lost at the end of 2013. I'm reasonably decent on the harder terrains, cobblestones being my specialty and my decent kick uphill gives me some decent attributes for the sport an I believe I can make the switch for the winter and be competitive.
I'm aiming for the World Cup competition, I will dabble with the others but I feel the competition suits me best. I'm use to travelling the world and I handle the summer heat well. The season is about finding myself, what I can do, what I can't do and see how things go. I am to do well in the dutch races and in Belgium however CX has gone global and I really want to show myself well down under for instance.
I start with the opening classic, Duinencross in Belgium. It's a very technical route, fair amount of sand and cobbles with some ascending. I'm not going to lie, I'm a tad nervous. It's a first for me, I just plan for a quick start and keep myself up at the top for along as possible.
I will be riding for Koga Cyclo-Cross Team for 2014 and maybe beyond. We have a press conference after the race to present the new team and you will also get to know me, Blazej and Max a bit more.
Interview with Swiss cyclo-cross talent, World Cup and Coca Cola Trophy Contender, Sylvain Lipawsky
Salut, Sylvain, You recently found out your squad for next season, what are your thoughts on the team?
Well, it's great to be on a Swiss team, I speak the same language as the management, which really helps us. It's also great to be racing with my brother, as he'll always put in 110% for me. I also met Jannik and he is a nice guy, although I haven't really met Phillipe yet. I think this team will have a really great season and I look forward to riding with them. A great thing is the rider diversity, Phillipe is fast on the climbs and both Jannik and Pierre are strong, but Jannik is more suited to sand while Pierre is for cobblestones, so it will be great.
How about the upcoming season, what are your goals?
This season I'll target the World Cup and Coca-Cola trophy, I think I can podium in them, but I'll decide later to target one more specifically for the win, I may leave that up to my performances in Oceania at the end of the month. I also want to target becoming the Continental champion and race the world looking for a podium as those routes suit me, my home race in the Christmas classic is a must as well.
What about the firs couple of races, any plans?
I'm thinking about skipping Ghent and Hertford this week as they aren't really important races for me, I think I'll race Duinencross and I'll support Jannik there, it'll also be good for me to meet the other riders and just to get to know the competition and who to look out for, then I'll got down to Australia to prepare in the heat for Melbourne, Hobart and Tekapo, as I think I'm capable of performing well there, we'll have to see how it all goes though.
How about the cobblestones, you don't seem to like them.
Yeah, that will take me out of contention in a lot of races and I'll have to avoid the Duinencross cobbles there. although this year Pierre is there for me and he is very good there, so hopefully he can help me if I need it on the pave.
Are any of your competitors particularly intimidating?
Some riders look very strong, Dries Cornelis, especially, I've watched him for years and he is the world champion, Matt Mazzarelli and Jamer Carlisle are also big competitors.
and how do you feel you stack up against them?
I have no idea and that's what I want to learn at Duinencross, how I compare to the rest, but I also want the win.
and what about your growing fan-base anything to say to them?
I have a fan-base? ok, well I would like to thank them for supporting me and tell them that I'll try not to disappoint them.
The famous Gabonese rider has a cobblestones ability that is unheard of on the African continent. What makes this most remarkable is his lack of ability on any other type of terrain.
A modest character, finishing a race is the most important aim. He will not aim for any big results, but if a course features cobblestones in abundance then you had better watch out.
Favourite song lyric: "What's that coming over the hill, is it Bakari? Is it Bakari?"
Born on the small island of Heimaey, which was once nearly destroyed by a lava flow, the strong Icelander excels at the start of races and is no stranger to Icy conditions. His power can sometimes come at the expense of good bike handling, however.
Teamed up with Mikel Hammerling and Timi Kokkonen, this is certainly a team for the cold weather. Dark Scandinavian magic may be in order to ensure all of that pesky sand freezes up, to be replaced by sweet lovely ice.
The Luxembourg youngster looks up to Jempy Drucker as an inspiration, with the latter now adept on the road at cobblestones and sprinting, having previously focused on the cyclocross discipline. As such, Schiltz hopes to follow in his footsteps. There is also a slight Schleck inspiration too, viewed in his deceivingly useful climbing abilities.
You might think that being teammed up with fellow Luxembourg Gregory Bernard would be a good thing for Christian, but this is not the case. The only 2 riders from their nation on the circuit, they are fierce rivals. Bernard is older, more experienced and for now, stronger. But young gun Schiltz has high ambitions of dethroning his teammate, and what more motivation do you need?
Favourite saying: "I hate Bernard"
Edited by SportingNonsense on 23-04-2015 11:10
Hello! I'm William Burbank, and this is the start of my 2nd season in professional cyclocross. I'm really excited to start my season, but sadly Duinencross isn't the best route for me. I'll be happy to work with the sand and mud, but I'm not the best of climbers out here. I'm really hoping I can get a good run, maybe even beat my new teammate Hashir to a leader position. Ultimately, I'm predicting I'll fall somewhere around 25-30th, as I'm not on form 100% yet. See you all after the race! -
#31 Jack Smith
Season 15, The Final Countdown
It's about time I start my 15th year of cyclocross. This is now my 5th year at BP, and I've yet to say I should have stayed here. We've got some new guys here; Hashir looking really good from what I've seen of him. Of course, I'm not looking for anything less than a good show, but a win or two this season would be a good way to end my career. I can feel the aches in my bones, feel the years ticking on me, even though some consider me a bit young to feel such things. They forget what lot I've been through, really, 15 years of jumping, sliding, falling, pedalling, they add up. I'm ready for my last year. Ready to be a legend.
Duinencross - Expectations and Thoughts
Still a favorite of mine, even if I've never taken a victory here. I'm no expert in the sand, but I'm looking at a great route for what I think I can do, and I'm ready for some fun on the "duinen". Overall, I think BP has a shot at finishing all 5 in the top half of the field, but no guarantees. I'm aiming for 10th or better, and I think I can do it so long as I stay out of trouble in the early race. -Jack Smith-
#32 Robert Wells
My Outlook - Duinencross
I can't say I like the circuit too much. I'm not great with hard bends and difficult roads, so I probably won't give maximum power around every lap. I'll be shooting for a top 20, but even that may be out of reach for these clumsy appendages.
Looking at BP
We have a great squad--most of us haven't been to BP before, but we are happy to ride under the Union Jack, especially with someone like Smith as a mentor. Man, 2 championships and over 70 race victories is quite the track record. I'm grateful for the chance to ride with these guys, and I hope we take some victories home this year.
The Field - An Outlook
James Carlisle is the man to beat this year. Calling it now. I've never seen him look stronger, and he blew away most of the competition as it was. If he doesn't win 10 or 11 races this season I'll be shocked. Cornelis may be good, but he's starting to fall off in form in my opinion. This is the year he gets dethroned. I can tell you now that those two are the two consistently on top, but most of the field is a toss-up, based purely on the routes.
Until Next Time...
#35 Nic Hashir
Duinencross
I'm looking at the course here, and thinking that BP has great chances, myself and Smith in particular. Smith has experience on this setup, and I think I'm well suited to everything but the steep climbs. The final sprint suits me quite well, as I can power through the cobbles, then put myself in decent position for a final launch. I'm on form, and ready to ride.
A Side Note, Flinch
I don't see why everyone says Flinch has such potential. He's bloody silly, and has no knowledge about anything cyclocross related or even the slightest idea of how to change a tire! Honestly my one problem with this year's team, but I hope it won't turn into something worse.
#36 Marcus Flinch
Hey folks! I'm brand new to this, so hopefully I won't seem too off-putting. I got signed to BP for my first season of cyclocross racing, well, professional cyclocross at least. I'm looking forward to racing at Duinencross, and hopefully I won't make many mistakes! I'm not used to real cyclocross peletons, but rather 15-25 riders that widely vary in skill range. Smith is teaching me lots already; and boy have I learned lots! He taught me how to change tyres, how to straddle cobbles, even how to ride snow track. I feel ready for the season--here I come world!
"America. Show a nipple on television and the whole country goes ape-shit." -DubbelDekker
Met my team at a hotel in Oostrede today, well met isn't the right word, they don't speak Dutch. So I couldn't so much meet them, the manager hired a translator and went to the effort to learn a few words, I'm hoping to ride as an experienced team captain and maybe go on the attack once or twice, but unfortunately I can't be the captain-on-the-road unless they understand me.
As for my season goals, I would like to see my team win a race or two and maybe take a win or a podium in a race for myself but I don't think I can reach the levels of previous years, especially those road seasons.
As for Duinencross I'll most likely ride in support of my teammates, although I may make an attack, we'll see how it goes.
I still hope to enjoy a great season with my team, although I may have to learn some Afghan.
See you later, Sven
Edited by trekbmc on 22-12-2014 01:26
Mustafa Moli is the next big thing in African Cyclo-Cross. The 20 year old from Namibia spent a few months a couple of years ago in South Africa where he was introduced to cycling and discovered to be a good talent. But he did not want to live in South Africa and so he returned to Namibia to train. He is very strong on the sand which is easy to explain as he spends all his time training on the dunes on the Skeleton Coast of his home country. He is relatively tall but quite light and has a good explosive sprint which could be very useful for him. His targets this year include the Great Sochi Circuit (RUS), Rasterhoffpark (NED), Abu Dhabi Sand Circuit (UAE) and the Rio Cross Challenge (BRA). All of these have a lot of sand and aren't too technical.
Moli understands that he will be riding as the leader on sand for the NamDeb CycloX Project. He is very excited to ride for and lead a team from his own country with fellow countrymen.
Namibian German ready for return to Ancestral home
24 year old Muller is of German descent and he cannot wait for the chance to ride in the country where his great grandparents came from. Frederick is one of few people of German descent still living in the town of Luderitz. He feels ready for the uphill courses this season, he lives on top of a hill and would ride up and down the hill every day multiple times. He knows he will not be leader for NamDeb CycloX but looks forward to the challenge of riding against the World's best.
Sow- The Cyclist who could have been a runner
Mohuti Sow of Botswana is only 19 years of age and could be a world beater. During his childhood and early teenage years he thought he would become a long distance runner following in the footsteps of other great African and Batswana athletes. But at age 16 he rode a bike for the first time and fell in love with it. In the first year he would continuously fall over on the hot sand due to his poor bike handling ability but 2 years later he is now a pretty good on sand and is fast and strong so running with a bike is easy for him which gives him a good advantage. He does not yet know his strengths on the bike because he is still developing but Sow is a name not to forget.
TT Tembi
Tembi saw in the papers that Sow had taken the step up to International CycloX at age 19 and so at age 22 Tembi decided he should as well. He is a strong rider alone because that is how he trains and is also good on sand because there is an endless supply of it in Botswana. He looks forward to the chance to ride on the international circuit and hopes that people will know him before his career is over.
Hey guys, my name is Nathan Starc. I've signed for the MTN-Qhubeka CycloX team. We have 4 riders, including Arda Akdeniz who is one of the sport's best sprinters/punchers. Hopefully he can provide the team with some wins this season. Personally, I'm not exactly a star, but I still consider myself to be quite a powerhouse. Despite growing up in South Africa, I'm actually quite poor on sand, and my technical ability isn't that good. However, I am really good on flat roads and I'm a really strong guy, so hopefully that will mean I can be a real asset to my whole team. The first race of the season is the Duinencross, where Arda is among the favourites, so I will work really hard for him and try to deliver a top result.
I learnt something pretty interesting today, that weird white stuff, you know, like rain, I learnt that it's called snow and that it is slippery and scary and I have to get off and walk if I ever come to it, the same with ice. I never saw snow back home, but it's quite common here in Belgium, where I'm preparing for Duinencross. at least it's forecasted to not be too wet on the day and no snow.
Aside from that it's great to meet the team, Arda is a strong rider but we are friends and I will enjoy supporting him in future races, including Duinencross, where he is a favourite.
This season I will target a victory in the continental championships, although I will still go for results in other races, such as the Hobart classic, I'm really looking forward to racing in the Southern Hemisphere but I also think Arda and Alfonso will take victories, so I hope to help them do so, I'm really happy in this team.
I also met our manager, but he is very annoyed at my difficulties on descents and how I always walk on snow and ice, but it scares me.
Anyway, I've got to get out training, the track is dry for now, so maybe I can get some good training in.
To follow up our interview of Sylvain Lipawsky, we have convinced his younger brother, Pierre Lipawsky to come speak to us
Salut, So, racing with your brother again, how do you feel about that?
Great, my brother seems to be a real season favourite, so I'll support him for most the season, I really think he can win the a league and maybe the worlds, anyway, I'll be ready to give my all to help him win.
What about your other teammates?
Yeah, I really get along with them, Jannik was great to meet, I think I've seen him at a few junior races before, but this was the first time I've spoken to him, Philipe is also pretty friendly, although sometimes he is a little awkward.
How about your season goals?
Help Sylvain win a league, we'll see which one he targets, on top of that, it would be nice to win a few classics, our sponsors want to see us win the Christmas classic and Sylvain and I are really motivated about that, we also will try to help Jannik win a few races, he looks pretty good as a favourite for Duinencross.
That's our next question, what do you think about Duinencross
I really think Jannik can take it out. We'll all be putting all in to help him win, there is some strong competiion, but Jannik is strong. Anyway, it depends on the day.
How about the management?
Yep, great to meet, we all speak the same language and they seem pretty excited about our team and their season plans are pretty good.
Well yesterday morning the Randstad coach pulled into the drive, I thought where are they taking me for the next training session? Next thing I know we are here in Belgium for this first race of the year. Lars swears he wasn't in on this, though it is difficult to know for sure he is such a trickster. The head boss said he felt it was best for my training if I didn't focus on when the season start was proper.
Anyway here we are for the proper opening race of the new cyclo-cross season and despite seeing much of their usual cross calender reduced the Belgians have been partying all night in anticipation for these opening rounds. Lars and I were tempted to join but the sight of a few ghosts from our past have sobered us up somewhat. I didn't realise how much Lars had fallen out with his fellow Dutchies - I thought best not to pry hell I have enough demons of my own. The other British guys smirked at me as our two man outfit walked by, to be honest I felt like giving them the finger as they went through team plans.
This opener looks fairly good for me with a lot of it being on sand with a really nice hill in there. This is going to catch Lars out, he really cannot keep my wheel on climbs these days, particularly ater a long session. I am concerned about the cobblestones - any rain and I could be in trouble they are going to take some skill to traverse them successfully. Not sure what my tactics going to be early on I am certainly not going to think about my competitors - I will probably feel my way in a bit and then give it a real go on later laps and see what I can do.
In an exclusive interview with us Dries Cornelis has made his ambitions for the new season clear. He is confident he will still be good enough to ride at the crème de la crème of the cyclo-cross. 'I feel very strong so far. After a fantastic last year I feel like my preparations are even better now. Hopefully this season will go even better than my previous.'
After the departure of Dries' best friend it seems like his team is severely weakened though, and maybe this could hurt the Belgian champion. 'Of course it's sad to see Mark (d'Anvers, red.) go. However, Lotto did some extremely good investments. I've seen some very talented guys in my squad. They may lack their experience so far, but as far as I can see the guys manage to compensate that with a lot of talent and bravoury. I expect them not only to be useful to me, but also to get some results themselves.'
The first race of the season will be held in Dries's home region, Flanders. In Oostende he is considered the top favourite on the surface. 'I feel glad the bookmakers have so much confidence in me. The race really suits me and I feel confident to ride for a victory though. I've got all Belgians behind me for the race, and even though the race should not be too important for the rest of the season, I'm really eager to show off I've still got it.'
As Dries just said, the audience behind him is very supportive. 'In Belgium the cross lives like nowhere else. The audience still goes crazy when I pass. However, that for me brings the risk of riding around to show off. My objective is not to ride around to cheer the audience as much as possible. You won't see me having a chat with anyone in the audience during the race. No, my objective is to win as much as possible. My goal is to win as much as possible, I don't want to ride around like an artefact.'
Dries has already been clear about his general targets, but turned very enthousiastic when we asked him about any specific targets. 'Of course, there are always races that I really love. One of the greatest targets is obviously the world championship. To earn the rainbow jersey for another year would be an absolute dream for me. Furthermore, I will definitely go for a good result in Lisbon. After last year's illness it meant for the first time since 2005 someone that wasn't me managed to win. I've turned into a legend in Portugal and want to show them why I'm always the top notch in the race. To win there for the 7th time in 9 participations would be absolutely perfect.'
Cyclocross has globalized a lot for the last few years, and this also meant new rivals to Dries. 'It's obvious I won't be as dominant as I used to be. James Carlisle seems to have had some extremely good development and there's no way I can underestimate him. Elliott Cook is another danger for me. He's not the oldest yet and if he doesn't beat me this season yet, I think he'll be fully ready to do so next season.'
We're very glad we've managed to get an interview with such a legend, and we'll all definitely support him in this season.
'My Tactics? Finish As High As Possible
With Naveed Alinejad cyclo-cross will never be the same again, as he will be the first ever Iranian to race in the so far predominantly Belgian sport. Even though he has lived in Belgium for a few years, he'll ride under an Iranian license. 'That's correct. Even though I have been very critical at the government, Iran is still the country of my roots and I still want to race under an Iranian license.'
This season might be his season of breakthrough, although it's only his first year at the pros. 'Woah, slow down! Man, I'm a first year and in a team with the greatest of them all. Do you really expect me to win races immediately? Anyway, I hope I can still get some results. With Dries as mentor that should definitely not be impossible, and if not, oh well, next year there's another year.'
His first race with the pros will be the Duinencross, a classic which isn't important for the points. 'I like the way the season has been set up. I'm glad I can already gain tons of experiences with my first race with the pros before it really starts to matter. In Oostende I'll try to set a good result already though, but I bet you had already expected that. My tactics? Finish as high as possible.'
An ambitious Iranian, as we can see, who isn't too shy. As a Belgian inhabitant, surely the public will have its role. 'That's right. I may not be known yet to the cyclo-cross audience yet, but I doubt they'll cheer against any member of the greatest Belgian team of them all, Lotto-Fidea. I hope this season can help me get a reputation, to next year be able to deliver.'
Welcome to the opening of the season!
Usually, the entire nation is excited for the first race of cyclo-cross. But much has changed in a short time. Never before have there been so few Belgian riders and such a righ international peloton. We can only applaud these changes and embrace this new dawn of cyclo-cross.
The weather conditions are perfect for a first, exciting race. It doesn't look like it's going to rain, the sand is perfect, very loose. We might see some people struggling to get up the dunes. The wind is blowing very hard, so they'll have to be careful.
Weather Conditions
Temperature: 11,5° C
Precipitation: Dry
Wind: 4 Beaufort
Start Line: We're at the start line here. The highest riders in the UCI Classification are always at the front line. Dries Cornelis is shining in his World Champion jersey. Notable are the many, many new faces. I think this is one of the youngest pelotons we've ever had. It'll be an interesting year. We wonder if the young generation can already overtake the old. I guess we'll just have to see.
The wind is blowing very hard here. I think it'll be an important factor in the race. Let's hope it stays dry for now. So who are the favorites for the day? Let's keep a special eye on Dries Cornelis, who took a Belgian title here few years ago. We're also very interested to see what the young Elliot Cook, Arda Akdeniz and Shay Gormley can do here. But also Carlisle is a very young and promising rider. Besides that, we'll have to see what Nic Hashir can do today. He's been very close here before, with a 2nd place two years ago and a third spot last year.
Finally, we'll see who's any good this year, and who's not ready yet. All we know is: we're ready!
Lap 1: The clock reads 15:32. The lights are on red, now they're blinking. Green! And we're off!
A very fast start by some of the riders from the 2nd and 3th line, with Rudy Verboven in leading position! Jannick Stolz has taken a dramatic start, drummed away from the first lines completely. Dries Cornelis with a decent start for him. Francis Vague is being held up by the slow start of one of our Africans today. I think it's Ketso Tembi who's keeping him with a slow start.
We're ready to turn into the sand. Who will turn first? What an explosive start of the season, every wants to win today! And it's Hafthor Eldfjallsson who wins the sprint, he turns into the sand first. Second is Rudy Verboven, third Rik Van Fleming. Dries Cornelis is in about 10th position, Sylvain Lipawsky right behind him. Gregory Bernard not with the best start today.
After the first sand section, Eldfjallsson has dropped dramatically. Rudy Verboven is the first out of the sand, with Van Fleming in his wheel, seemingly relaxed. Max Power with an impressive ride through the sand, in fourth. And we have our first technical, too. Lars Van Hennep has a flat tire. It's a long way to the technical zone. What a bummer!
A lot of turns here. This is a real tough profile to catch up. If you try to move up 5 spots, there aren't a lot of places to do so, except in the sand or in the final straight line. We're headed towards the real sand now, with the Cornelisduin, with Rudy Verboven still at the front. A nice start from the Belgian.
And we hit the sand again. Max Power with a perfect ride so far. He's taken the lead now, with Verboven struggling hard. He's holding up Van Fleming, too.
(...)
Halfway through the lap, now. The only American in the peloton is riding solo. A big group is 5 seconds behind. We're headed for the cobbled streets of Oostende now.
And Max Power is brought back in the cobbled streets of Oostende. We can start again as we're headed towards the finish.
Thijs Van Lookeren crosses the finish line first. The jury is quick on the decision: we'll have 9 laps today.
Lap 2: A group of about 10 riders is loose from the peloton. Among them are Dries Cornelis, Elliot Cook and Jack Smith. Behind them we see another group, but they need to get organised, you can't let these guys get away.
Even further behind is Arda Akdeniz. His entire team is working hard to bring him back. Stolz is right with them.
Right before the Cornelisduin, we have an attack! Sven Van Vliet, Nic Hashir and Philipp Smart take the lead.
Pierre Lipawsky shoots to the front of the chasing group and puts himself to the front, onmistakingly for his brother, Sylvain.
Lap 3: Lipawsky does a great job keeping the break at 6 - 7 seconds. Smart is not riding smoothly through the sand today. Meanwhile, Bakari is cheered on by the many fans who came here today. He really is one of the most favorite riders. As he crashes for the third time today, it seems he won't finish today's race.
Lap 4: Nic Hashir impresses on the Cornelisduin today. Pierre Lipawsky has disappeared from the front of the race. Who will step up to catch Hashir now?
And it's Dries Cornelis himself. On the dune of his own name, he accelerates. James Carlisle and Matt Mazzarelli are the first to react.
Lap 5: Naveed Alinejad is the first rider to throw in the towel today. After a third mechanical, he is forced to give up. Bakari is close to being lapped and won't finish the race, as expected.
Nic Hashir has been caught. We have a 8 man group now. The cards can be shuffeld again. The situation is as follows: Dries Cornelis, Shay Gormley, Sylvain Lipawsky, Jack Smith, Matt Mazzarelli, Nic Hashir, Francis Vague and James Carlisle are at the front of the race. 10 seconds behind them are Gregory Bernard, Thijs Van Lookeren, Michael Bollinger and Elliot Cook.
Stolz and Akdeniz are slowly coming back, too. Their slow start have cost them a lot of energy already.
Lap 6: Vague looks to spice up the race as he attacks out of the front group. There is no immediate reaction. With 3 and a half laps left, is this the ultimate attack?
James Carlisle and Dries Cornelis do most of the chasing. Nic Hashir drops out of the front group now, obviously he's given his best already with that attack.
Meanwhile, Michael Bollinger jumps forward to the chasing group with a formidable ride through the sand. Thijs Van Lookeren follows.
Lap 7: Vague is still in front as he crosses the finish line. 3 laps left. He's got a 16 second gap on Dries Cornelis, Thijs Van Lookeren, Michael Bollinger and Jack Smith.
In the sand, Shay Gormley and Sylvain Lipawsky connect with the chasing group, too.
In the final straight line, Vague is caught. We have a rather large group 2 laps from the finish. The winner will probably be one of these riders: Sylvain Lipawsky, Shay Gormley, Dries Cornelis, Thijs Van Lookeren, Michael Bollinger, Francis Vague and Jack Smith.
Lap 8: Francis Vague makes a terrible mistake in the sand and goes down! It's probably a sign of fatigue. We're already in the final 10 minutes now.
Sylvain Lipawsky attacks! Dries Cornelis follows. Shay Gormley tries to bridge the gap on power instead of explosiveness.
The three leaders are looking at each other now, that gives Jack Smith the chance to catch up. We have four leaders now.
In the background, Elliot Cook is looking better and better, After a weak 2nd half of the race, he's got his eyes on a top 10 place again.
On the cobblestones, Thijs Van Lookeren cracks completely, with his sights on a top 5 place, he can surely forget about that now. We have one lap to go!
Lap 9: We're going into the final lap of the day. Dries Cornelis, Shay Gormley, Sylvain Lipawsky and Jack Smith will battle for the victory of the day. Half a minute behind them, we see individual riders or small groups of 2 riders. It's been a very demanding start of the season. Gregory Bernard is on course for a 5th spot after a bad start, James Carlisle is catching up on him, with Matt Mazzarelli closeby. Elliot Cook has found Francis Vague now. They're in about 10th and 11th position.
Dries Cornelis tries to slip away in the technical section. Shay Gormley is hanging on, barely! He's using his power to keep up now. We're headed towards the Cornelisduin, what will Cornelis do there?
No sign of fatigue on their faces, both riders are using their poker face perfectly. Nothing separates these two. Lipawsky and Smith are struggling behind them, we can't see them coming back now. We'll see a real duel for the victory of the day!
Marcus Filch gets lapped as he's running through the sand where Cornelis and Gormley can ride through it. After this descent, the only thing left to make the difference are the cobblestones and the final sprint.
Meanwhile, Michael Bollinger is falling behind more and more, the final 8 minutes are too much for this young boy today. He's looking distraught.
Now we turn our attention towards the duel of the day. Gormley tries to shake Cornelis loose on the cobblestones, but he doesn't give him an inch. What a beautiful clash!
Meanwhile, Sylvain Lipawsky has managed to shake loose Jack Smith on the descent of the dunes, if he can keep his 3 seconds gap, he's going to finish on the podium here!
We head into the final 200 meters. Shay Gormley forces the lead on Cornelis. Cornelis makes his move with 150 meters to go. We don't know about Gormley's speed, but Cornelis is not known as a fast rider. Gormley passes him with 40 meters to go!
And it's Shay Gormley who takes the victory in a sprint with Dries Cornelis! What a race from the Irishman, he is the first Irish rider in history to win this race, too!
Sylvain Lipawsky completes the podium, with 3 seconds on Jack Smith.
Gregory Bernard, Matt Mazzarelli and James Carlisle sprint for the 5th spot. It's a close sprint... And Bernard takes place 5. What a race from the rider from Luxembourg, after a slow start!
And we're ready to end the broadcast as other riders start to roll in now, too. We See Thijs Van Lookeren win the sprint for place 8th.
Duinencross - Preview
Nicky Van Drenthe, #17
Moli ready to surprise on the World stage 
Sow- The Cyclist who could have been a runner 
