For his lack of understanding of the basic connection between level of professional conditions and level of performance and his shitty timing and general clumsiness in choice of words.
The riders seem to take it personally, when it’s not a problem with the racing per se. And that’s not entirely McQuaid’s fault. If it’s a bigger issue, then “our racing is not boring, McQuaid is a dick” misses the point.
Van den Brand, Cant, Harris. Housemate Gabby Day was 6th and very unlucky that she dropped her chain when in the lead group on the descent. She says she felt amazing and she’s a bit annoyed.
U23: Van der Haar, Teunissen, van Kessel. I spoke to Lars before and he said he felt ill still (he missed Loenhout due to a tummy upset) and wasn’t expecting much. He smoked them. The kid has crazy talent.
I always feel a little sorry for Albert in all this…he essentially lives in the same town as Baal is a ‘suburb’ of Tremelo, but it’s always talked of as Nys’ home race only. There certainly weren’t nearly as many Albert fans there as Nys ones…I tried to make up for this by bellowing my support. Fat lot of good it did :(
wooohooo
Willj - January 1, 2012
Yay!
Just this second Tweeted: #CX not the same without Podium Cafe chat… :-(
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
Nys is in a new team kit
singhstax - January 1, 2012
you worried me, there, but I'm glad it's still green
not that lovely dark green, but still nice
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
reminds me of CSF-Navigare.
UrlaubinPolen - January 1, 2012
It reminded me of a pixie. It really didn't do it for me in person!
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Heh, here's hoping he gets the Nat Champs jersey back... or Worlds stripes!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Bah. I do not wish for this!
Albertina - January 1, 2012
looks good and muddy
Willj - January 1, 2012
Albertina's wellies are now brown
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Yay! Thx Jens.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
+1
Willj - January 1, 2012
+1
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Thanks for starting the thread!
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
Loved Styby’s Big Pink Hat!
Love the chaos of those jumpy things so near the start!
Lovely and muddy!
(Hope you all had a fun NYE… I think I did, the neighburs invited us in for midnight karaoke…)
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
youtube link ?
Willj - January 1, 2012
it was in the preshow on live video this morning. Or were you referring to Sarah's karaoke?
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
the latter :)
Willj - January 1, 2012
dear god, I hope not
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Styby's hat was hilarious! The mechanics had them too!
Not so sold on the bike though. Rather liked that it said ‘Bunny Hopper’ on the chain stays thouigh :)
Albertina - January 1, 2012
I wouldn't want to do Stybar's kit laundry.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
He doesn't just have a new one for each CX race?? ;-p
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
Maybe this was a result
of somebody like you (or me) doing his laundry?
straw dog - January 1, 2012
it was actually clean at the start
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Good start from Styby
Usual start from Niels
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
the whole world changing bikes
Willj - January 1, 2012
chaos in the pit lane
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Chaos in the pit. DO they call it the pit in CX?
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Yes!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
see above. It seems so.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Happy New Year All!
Yay Mud!
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
HNY!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
And you Goat
(I thought you preferred gravel?)
Jens - January 1, 2012
I do.
But mud’s good too. :-)
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
"Leftie" Pauwels easy to spot
Jens - January 1, 2012
look just behind Sven’s wheel?
straw dog - January 1, 2012
Ha!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Did anyone catch why Styby's bike (& hat) is hot pink for 2012?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
leading theory is that the white hat went in with Pauwels' laundry
straw dog - January 1, 2012
ha!
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
if I understood Belgian I'd know.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Specialized first MTB was pink or something
It’s some sort of tradition with world champs on pink bikes since then (or something like that)
Jens - January 1, 2012
source
Jens - January 1, 2012
^ truth, sort of
The very first Specialized bke in 1983 was pink, and now it’s tradition that world champs ride a pink bike. So, T-Mart time trialing in pink too?
tgsgirl - January 1, 2012
But, but, lots of World Champs ride Spesh on roads, don't they?
Or is it only the current WC?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
only the current one
I have no idea if this has ever happened before
tgsgirl - January 1, 2012
oooops
Willj - January 1, 2012
woops
straw dog - January 1, 2012
hay, he ran his opponents bike over , ha
Willj - January 1, 2012
who fell?
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Simunek riding straight over the bike
seems pretty like him!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Nice Oops by Simunek
Jens - January 1, 2012
You're doomed
Doomed, I say.
TheFigurehead - January 1, 2012
Styby lose all that in the pits?
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
pink power not working out for him.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
This race was over fast.
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
It's early yet
The pink is just warming up…. (I hope)
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
Startlist with numbers, for spotting comedy crashes & the like
http://sport.be.msn.com/gvatrofee/2011/nl/renners/
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
wow, this course looks tricky
Willj - January 1, 2012
And now Little junior Kevins seem unlikely too
Jens - January 1, 2012
KVT in 2nd?
Nys really isn’t playing any "let’s pretend it’s a duel’ games today, is he?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
hungover. Wants to get it done and go back to bed.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
I can relate...
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
No
Pretty much a “suck on this” game today.
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
This is his day
ain’t no one gonna be messing with Sven on his day
tgsgirl - January 1, 2012
Is Styby wearing sunnies??
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
even a minimal amount of light can hurt today.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Pauwels not enjoying the day out?
Uphill - January 1, 2012
not since the nutcracker at least
Jens - January 1, 2012
I would wear a cup if I had to 'ride' this
Willj - January 1, 2012
A cup, and a pillow strapped to the saddle?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
I didn't know Baestaens was Lanbouwkrediet - is that new?
(not surprised he pulled out, after that crash!)
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
New for this season. KDL last year.
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Crowd going crazy for Nys
Heh, he HAS to win his home race, doesn’t he? White helmet time!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Sven...
No one else in the picture.
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
The Colnagos were holding him back before
Jens - January 1, 2012
Yep, it was actually a bit dull by this point. Never thought I'd say that about being at a cross race!
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Do the organizers ever add water to help along the mud?
or is that forbidden?
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
I imagine no one can produce quality mud like mother nature does
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
I think gs said they did to a race last season?
I wish they had done, with the dry autumn Belgium’s had
(my mum said London’s now officially having a drought, which is weird, given it’s doing nothing but rain 100 miles away here)
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Certainly no need in this one
It poured yesterday.
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
And no need now
as Albertina’s tears for Styby keeps the course soaked
Jens - January 1, 2012
:-)
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
sadface
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
bwahahahaha!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
That was not amusing :'(
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Styby collapsing
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Are they gaining on Nys?
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
we need time checks more often!
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
especially for the non-Flemish in the crowd
Willj - January 1, 2012
no
singhstax - January 1, 2012
Did you guys see this?
Chloe Hosking calls Pat McQuaid a dick, after winning the first race of 2012! Aussie, so direct!
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/34115/Hosking-savages-McQuaid-after-Jayco-Bay-Classic-victory
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
…which earned her an immediate entry on my “People I’d Like To One Day See Become President Of The UCI” list.
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
love it.
“What can I say? Pat McQuaid is a dick”
You can say that several times, Chloë.
UrlaubinPolen - January 1, 2012
I wonder why an aussie never became sec. general of the UN?
Jens - January 1, 2012
sort of sets the tone for 2012
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Not to miss an opportunity to call McQuaid a dick
But was it really that relevant to what McQuaid said?
TheFigurehead - January 1, 2012
Well, she was asked about his comments about how women's riding isn't developed enough for riders to deserve a wage!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Yes
For his lack of understanding of the basic connection between level of professional conditions and level of performance and his shitty timing and general clumsiness in choice of words.
Jens - January 1, 2012
Plus the fact that if women's racing really isn't good, surely that's the responsibility of the governing body?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
But that's sort of the problem, as I see it
The riders seem to take it personally, when it’s not a problem with the racing per se. And that’s not entirely McQuaid’s fault. If it’s a bigger issue, then “our racing is not boring, McQuaid is a dick” misses the point.
TheFigurehead - January 1, 2012
Well, the ones who are articulate & intelligent about it don't get very far,
I can see why, when asked post-race, a rider might say something like this
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
…and the simple fact that he was dick in saying what he said, of course.
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
that muddy descent is treacherous
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
So Nys miles ahead and a 4 way race for second?
Willj - January 1, 2012
yup
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
Nys still looking good, but Pauwels is hanging in there.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
the chasers look dejected
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Neils starting to stretch them out
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
Now Albert "invites" KP to the front
Jens - January 1, 2012
3 laps to go
and Sven looks likely to lap the chasing 4!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
so everybody got the flu except Nys?
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Leffe flu?
Willj - January 1, 2012
waste of good beer. at some point one needs to switch to really cheap stuff.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
most of them claimed stomach bug on Friday
but that could’ve been more about not wanting to race 5 races in 10 days! Xmas week = Grand Tour for cyclocrossers!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Plus the course at Leuven was rather meh.
None of the riders I spoke to liked it. We were speculating that some of them might have had prior knowledge and called in ‘sick’…
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Nys called them on that, btw
‘How the fuck is this sport supposed to progress if riders keep backing out of their previous engangements?’ was the general thought;
tgsgirl - January 1, 2012
Good on Nys
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Niels is still a bit ill I think
Albertina - January 1, 2012
I wonder how many minutes the mud adds to each lap time. Leg sapping
Willj - January 1, 2012
is that Albert that struggled there?
Willj - January 1, 2012
Albert struggling
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Now Neils looks blown
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
he didn't do that descent very well
Willj - January 1, 2012
Nice ride from Wellens
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
Nys looks like a zombie. And he's winning.
Jens - January 1, 2012
Wellens flat?
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
maybe
got off bike way too soon on that change
Willj - January 1, 2012
Put his hand up on the pavement
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
Feels like this race has been going an hour and a half already...
I’m exhausted just watching
straw dog - January 1, 2012
good times last night?
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Main excitement was dodging drunk people on street corners
whilst driving around streets of Manhattan looking for semi-lost teenagers.
But no mud, at least.
straw dog - January 1, 2012
Freakonomics had a podcast the other day on the dangers of being a pedestrian on Dec31/Jan1st
Willj - January 1, 2012
i mean being a drunk pedestrian
Willj - January 1, 2012
Drunk walking is more dangerous than drunk driving
At least to the drunk person…
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
I believe it.
Probably safer to just get so drunk that you can’t walk.
straw dog - January 1, 2012
Oh happy times!
Losing teenagers in NYC must be a special joy!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Nys has 2 laps to go
everyone else wishing they hadn’t got up this morning!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
especially Albert
he’s in a lonely place
Willj - January 1, 2012
He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. I wanted to hug him.
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Gap almost 1 min to Nys
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
1:17
singhstax - January 1, 2012
i saw :52
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
maybe I had too much fun last night
singhstax - January 1, 2012
:52 Nys to Pauwels etc
:56 Nys to Wellens
1:17 Nys to Albert, I think
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Nice bunny hops over the log things!
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
Only one pink bike -- and changed it?
Willj - January 1, 2012
he's been going back and forth
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
Bah, that's no fun!
Speaking of no fun…. Albert is REALLY not happy!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Nys on the other hand...
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
popping wheelies and signing babies.
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
ha!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
the two mechanic bike hand-off is a thing of beauty
Willj - January 1, 2012
so how many spare bikes for Nys?
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Considering how little Pauwels likes these conditions he is doing pretty well.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Nys could probably now run the last lap if he has a mechnical
and still win
straw dog - January 1, 2012
J. Page shout out
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
yay!
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
He had a really good race
Albertina - January 1, 2012
another Belgian painting his face black?
Willj - January 1, 2012
Happy new year everyone...! I am awake...!!!
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
Good morning! You missed the race.
ZoeRochelle - January 1, 2012
But I don't have a hangover... ?
Sleep is the mother of all medicines..!
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
what race?
Uphill - January 1, 2012
You remember, right at the start
shortly before Nys dropped everyone.
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
It was that bad...?
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
Yeah, he wasn't even pretending to give anyone else a chance today!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
There was a fight for the rest of the podium at least?
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
ahh yes, what are we talking about, 2-3mins?
Uphill - January 1, 2012
Well that's a good start...
:-)
HNY
ELVISGOAT - January 1, 2012
Pink bike is back!
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
Nice to see a good, muddy race!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
+1
singhstax - January 1, 2012
Willj - January 1, 2012
Ha!
I wish i’d got a shot of him riding in his Big Pink Hat before the start!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Anyone else familiar with pepto bismol???
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
My thoughts exactly!
VirtKitty - January 1, 2012
Just to make sure anyone was sick or something...
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
Pauwels looked like he was sprinting for 2nd
to get the race over with as fast as possible!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Vos style win.
One man show.
Uphill - January 1, 2012
reminded me of Vos in the Czech Worlds
where she was so far ahead, she was high-fiving fans on the last lap
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
stud
Willj - January 1, 2012
Stybar in fourth?
Where did that come from?
Jens - January 1, 2012
He hulked it on the last lap.
He was 7th coming past me just after the straight with one to go! Plus, Klaas fell over.
Albertina - January 1, 2012
so i missed it?
gravel road - January 1, 2012
the one man show? yep you did...!
pablo777 - January 1, 2012
so sven hulked it at the start gun and never looked back?
got it
gravel road - January 1, 2012
I think that agogic pause at the bottom of the steps on the last lap
summed up the race…
straw dog - January 1, 2012
That's Nys Junior
still a very cute kid!
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Pinkbike
It can only be a matter of time…
John Cyclopunk - January 1, 2012
Photos!
Lots of shots of Styby’s new bike, and others’: http://cyclephotos.co.uk/2012/01/2012-new-bikes/
Cyclephotos’ shots from Baal: http://cyclephotos.co.uk/2012/01/gva-6-gp-sven-nys-baal/
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Love love love this pic of Styby looking super-bling before the race!
http://cyclephotos.co.uk/2012/01/gva-6-gp-sven-nys-baal/2012-gva-baal-gp-sven-nys-28-zdenek-stybar-pink-hat/#!prettyPhoto[slides]/0/
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
here
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
FYI, women's result was
Van den Brand, Cant, Harris. Housemate Gabby Day was 6th and very unlucky that she dropped her chain when in the lead group on the descent. She says she felt amazing and she’s a bit annoyed.
U23: Van der Haar, Teunissen, van Kessel. I spoke to Lars before and he said he felt ill still (he missed Loenhout due to a tummy upset) and wasn’t expecting much. He smoked them. The kid has crazy talent.
Albertina - January 1, 2012
Videos!
Here’s the men’s race highlights: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1187585
Last lap men’s race: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1187490
Styby’s pink bike & pre-race (& pit crew in Big Pink Hats) http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1187490
Fans playing (and drinking) in the mud: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1187609
Sarah Connolly - January 1, 2012
Late to the show...
Man, that was one gnarly cross. I guess when you give Sven a free hand to design a course, that’s what you get.
Chris Fontecchio - January 2, 2012
Yep, ideally suited to homeboy!
I always feel a little sorry for Albert in all this…he essentially lives in the same town as Baal is a ‘suburb’ of Tremelo, but it’s always talked of as Nys’ home race only. There certainly weren’t nearly as many Albert fans there as Nys ones…I tried to make up for this by bellowing my support. Fat lot of good it did :(
Albertina - January 2, 2012
It's called 'GP Sven Nys' you know
what did you expect?
tgsgirl - January 2, 2012
Perhaps we should set up a rival GP Niels Albert up the road
Albertina - January 2, 2012
we?
tgsgirl - January 2, 2012
Ok, I. Or maybe Niels and me.
Albertina - January 3, 2012
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