Evie gone early... Bold move...!
Tough race to call. Some seriously good riders going for it.
I don't think Tom Pidcock will be on Luca Schwarzbaur's (Sp?) Christmas card list this year...
Well that was all rather exciting.😁
The atmosphere on the star finish straight was brilliant.
Enjoyable that. Both bronze medalists left another rider lying in the dirt 😀
PFP seems to be on a different level.
PFP seems to be on a different level.
That was one hell of an attack she did on the final climb. I reckon if I'd have been riding that, starting at the same time, I'd just about be finishing now.
Para-cycling TTs were good today. Sarah Storey got another gold!
The tandems were absolutely flying. SO quick. Cracking course on some really nice little lanes out to the NW of Dumfries.
Can’t believe how dull and non tech the short track course is. Watched the team relay so saw the longer course. surprised they didnt have some of the more interesting bits included. Yawn fest other than some of the star names taking part.
Is that typical for short track to basically have it more a sprint without much technique/tech/risk involved?
other than pidcocks late ‘move’ wasn’t much the course offered to add to challenge/spectacle.
On other hand Xco ought to be interesting. More riders on course than team relay and bound to be more action and incident.
TP dropping back on lap to go and when Gaze went over the top on the last lap, it was clear that it was over. PFP rode a perfect tactical race in the women’s - only put her nose in front once, the last lap , and it was over for everyone else.
In response to earlier question about GT shuttle buses, used the park and ride from Inners today and it went smoothly - did leave the venue promptly, so may have got stacked up for others.
Is that typical for short track to basically have it more a sprint without much technique/tech/risk involved?
XCC was originally conceived to facilitate gridding for the XCO, so not meant to be technical - too much risk ahead of the main event.
Still pretty entertaining for 20mins though.
XCC was brilliant to watch.
Not technical agreed, but absolutely flat out and stood in next to the berms in the trees it was spectacular how they came through them - don’t know if the speed came across on the pictures. The noise of the riders grabbing every ounce of breath they could. A different top five nearly every lap.
Would I want an hour of it? No, but for 20 minutes, wow.
(Saying it a bit flat / non-technical / just a sprint, is like a steeplechase fan complaining that the jumps aren’t big enough in the 110 hurdles)
Don't really know much about XC racing but I'm pretty certain watching this that MvdP will win:
https://twitter.com/GoZwift/status/1689641243574411264?s=20
PFP seems to be on a different level.
I always find it funny how she peaks for the Worlds.
I don’t think Tom Pidcock will be on Luca Schwarzbaur’s (Sp?) Christmas card list this year…
I don't think so either:
Schwarzbauer added that he had confronted Pidcock at the finish. “I said it was a very bad move in my eyes,” the German rider said. “At first, he said: ‘It’s part of the racing,’ but then he realised I had crashed. But he’s so aggressive, you can really see he’s the most aggressive rider, no one else rides like this.
“But when he rides like this, I’m going to crash because he was straight into me and he used me as a barrier. I think no mountain biker would do this at all, like a pure mountain biker, [of] the community.”
I thought the move was fine. Or at least, it would have been fine in 4X so it should be fine in XC.
Strong move... but hey, you don't get medals without pushing limits. Schwarzbuaer should have seen it coming and kept a slightly tighter line. But XC at times is quite a gentelmanly sport, you often see gaps and think "why didn't he take that one", but they wait instead. Pidcock made places up 3-4 times on the tight bits, where the other riders sit behind...
It didn't look from the clips i saw like TP made contact, but that may be wrong from that quote above.
Whilst Schwarzbauer might complain that no pure mtber would ride like that (Pidcock) I'd argue that pure mtbers would have ridden all of the corners, rather than creating all of those Strava lines you see from the overhead shots.
The commentators of GCN+ even said that Pidders moves through the pack like no-one else and is so comfortable in tight situations due to the amount of road racing he's done, they did also say he has the sharpest elbows out there.
In my opinion it's sour Grapes from Luca, there's no way man who is 20kg heavier and 10cm taller should not be able to "lean" on someone the size of Pidcock in a situation like that and stay upright. Pidcock has out sprinted both him and Gaze this season in XCC also.
"I think no mountain biker would do this at all, like a pure mountain biker, [of] the community.”
I think Luca has mixed up going for a ride with mates with the race for medals in the World Championships. Maybe if he spent more time on the road and in the close battles of the peloton rather than on the dirt he'd be better skilled up to win something.
I don’t think Tom Pidcock will be on Luca Schwarzbaur’s (Sp?) Christmas card list this year…
there's no room for his card anyway, there's a WC medal or two taking up space
Hi All, I am going to the XCO on Saturday, and I was wondering, did anyone already went to some of the races in Glentress? In the past with world cup races I was able to bring my dog with me. When I read the track info PDF it says that it is not recommended to bring dogs, but on another page it says you can't.
When I was watching the XCC yesterday I wasn't able to see any dogs in the crowd.
I hope that someone can possible shed some light on this. There is no phone number you can call for more information.
Many thanks,
TJ
I had an email yesterday stating no dogs on site
Is that typical for short track
Yeah, it's supposed to be flat out around a fairly easy track.
@weeksy We're back home after heading up for my son to compete in the BMX - he finished 56/101, and achieved his goal of getting out of the motos and into the knockout stages - even got a 2nd in one race which is nice. He's pretty happy with that, The standard was incredible and in his category no brits made it into the final 16.
And a vid of his best race, finishing second to world number 8
https://www.glentress2023.com/spectator
FAQ
"ARE DOGS ALLOWED?
Please note that no dogs are allowed on venue, with the exception of assistance dogs. Assistance dogs should be kept on a lead and under control at all times."
I always find it funny how she peaks for the Worlds.
Not just that... she peaked for the last lap! Brilliant tactical riding. Hard to beat on Saturday I think. Looking forward to seeing how much brute power is needed for the full XCO lap, that might make a difference as to the result.
Luca Horsepower - if you watch the angle from the outside, Pidcock is waaay ahead miles before the apex of the corner. Luca left it open like a barn door in the wind. Its the World Bloody Champs! Note Koretzky on the finish straight getting it right - didnt give up, nearly nicked it fom Gaze on the line.
Or at least, it would have been fine in 4X so it should be fine in XC.
Yeah, it’s supposed to be flat out around a fairly easy track.
Exactly the thoughts on our whatsapp group last night - its 4x racing, but they have to go back up to the top. Its brilliant.
I always find it funny how she peaks for the Worlds.
The French love their Champion Du Monde though, I think if you offered the choice of World Cup overall or World Champs to a French rider, they'd take the latter every time...See for example; Loic's win in Les Gets last year.
A commenter on IG, on the clip of the XCO drop linked last page:
What's happening to XC racing!?, some of these features wouldn't have looked out of place on the downhill course at Fort William!, even there I noticed crash mats on the face of some of the landings. I know these Guys and girls have the skills, but watching that 1400 gram fork G-out there's gonna be a lot of lightweight parts not designed for this snapping mid race 😫 Are we gonna see 140mm travel next year and protective gear? Just wondering rant over, I'm just getting old and remember when XC was riding Cross Country and less Enduro 😏
just... what? why does this guy want to a) gate keep what XC is, and b) do so in such a stupid way? Its like deciding the pinnacle of men's fashion were the new romantics.
I'm camping just outside Glentress and it's been great atmosphere and well supported. I've not been to a big event before so even the team support truck were interesting (to me!).
Transport has been good, parking seems ok to. Regular park and ride but obviously busy at peak times but nothing to stress about and cycle parking is free and didn't fret about security, with separate parking and because lots of people comin and I'm sure the cycling community would challenge anyone with a set of cutters.
Venue is easy the access but im still not sure best viewing spots (beside the drop) for Saturday racing. Maps are good but still need to walk the XC course to see from a few places during the race. The the XCO single track was quite good to watch and even the climb on last 2 laps when riders try to make a break was excellent. Main XC race is longer track so plan to get around a few places on Saturday.
If anyone is around Friday tea time 4/5pm and wants to meet up and ride what's open on Red Glentress trail give me a shout.
I rather like the ‘new’ XC. The 90s version was pretty uninspiring stuff - I remember watching it at Nevis, and being surprised that some of the competitors were struggling on Nessie. Contrast that with the stuff they clear now on SIDs and a softail…
Just wondering rant over, I’m just getting old and remember when XC was riding Cross Country and less Enduro 😏
And for you sir, may I recommend the XCC
Just out of interest did anyone else have any commentary on Discovery+ with the short track yesterday as we didnt?
Just started watching the mens xc U23 play back Discovery + and the commentary has disappeared on this too. Am I doing something wrong?
Little box at the bottom for the audio - you have it set to 'ambient' audio only. For some reason it sometimes switches/defaults to that.
Yes, there is full commentary with Ric and Oli (beckinsale) for all the events, much better than the BBC crew!
Enjoyed the men’s U23 this morning, but the huge gaps in the programme meant I’ve not bothered staying for the women’s.
Heavy rain forecast for tomorrow means that it could be carnage in places.
Heavy rain forecast for tomorrow means that it could be carnage in places.
The para-cycling in Dumfries is on quite an exposed course, reckon it's going to be split to pieces if it's wet and windy!
ganna passing pogacar. funny stuff
hilarious - pogacar trying to pass back
We really enjoyed Thursday at Glentress. First up Junior XC races, hung out around a few fun spots on the track - drop, gap, climb into the "arena". Standout performance here was Albert Philipsen in the junior men. Absolutely bossed the race. Great to see riders from all over the world represented and looking like they were having fun regardless of how challenging they found the course and where they were in the race. Crowd on the drop section was great and the atmosphere on Saturday should be immense for the elites. It also has the benefit of a big screen/DJ/commentary and a couple of toilets etc so will likely be even busier.
For the XCO we too headed to the descent in the woods - slightly disappointed the features immediately after were used only in the XCO. Again a good crowd in here, especially for the home riders, and could watch a decent part of the end of the lap, some of the start/finish straight, the main climb at a distance and a good view of the big screen to see everything else. Highlight for me was Isla Short's performance - coming through to 13th with a lot of local support, really pleased for her. Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Sam Gaze put in very controlled rides and once they made a move never looked likely to be troubled. Should be many more spots where riders can make moves on the XCO course, which will be good.
Organisation wise - everything seemed to work well, arriving earlyish had no queues but at the end of the day did have to wait for buses - not too long though. Food and drink didn't seem to be too much taking the piss prices but we didn't really use them. A few people had dogs (which was a bit of a surprise - didn't look hugely fun for them) but not sure what the policy was.
Regardless of the weather saturday should be a great day if you're lucky enough to be going - enjoy!
I need to get my camera out - I have seen about a dozen 'pro' looking cyclists meandering the streets in foot or bike on the way home.
