Home Forums Bike Forum Christmas Cross (CX)

  • This topic has 15 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 4 hours ago by IHN.
Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
  • Christmas Cross (CX)
  • 2
    crazy-legs
    Full Member

    For anyone who wants something else to watch on TV other than the string of Christmas films, there’s a series of CX races across Belgium almost every other day throughout Christmas and New Year screened on EuroSport (mix of ES1 and 2).

    Yesterday was Zonhoven (and a 2nd place for Zoe Backstedt!), on TV right now (23rd, lunchtime-ish) is the Women’s race from the Superprestige (Zilvermeercross) with the Men’s race to follow at 2pm.

    Race calendar here: https://www.uci.org/calendar/cyclo-cross/3H7WQ3LWt6yTH3oqeNJxdn?discipline=CRO

    And on Boxing Day is a round of the UCI CX World Cup from Gavere.

    2
    steve_b77
    Free Member

    Ah, the period all ‘cross racers love, MvDP rocks up in his Lambo of choice, makes them all look shit and whips his way to the win 😀

    1
    13thfloormonk
    Full Member

    Joy, only another 10 MVDP processions to get through, just as the season was actually getting interesting again (imagine not actually being sure who might win a race! 😆 ).

    scaredypants
    Full Member

    That VdP performance was almost literally unbelievable … if he headn’t done it mulitple times before.

    It is ruining the racing but it’s not his fault.  I think it’d be worse if he just sat in & pretended to be at their level

    leffeboy
    Full Member

    He makes a huge difference to the number of people going to watch though.  Overijse felt almost empty but Zonhoven looked packed.  If you ignore him the race for the lower positions was great

    Prophet2
    Free Member

    This season has had great races, both in the womens and mens. I have managed to watch them all on Discovery + this year. And yeah MVDP has just made everyone all the mens elite riders look “ordinary”. It is like watching Tadej win stages in the Grand Tours and one day races. Very impressive but also very boring.

    2
    ton
    Full Member

    amazing yesterday.  and what a course.

    heading to Belgium early feb for a week. based in Bruges but taking in 3 races in the week.  cant wait.

    1
    anagallis_arvensis
    Full Member

    MVdP yesterday was bonkers, starts on third row, takes the lead after about 90s then has a 20s lead after first lap. I think it’s amazing to watch. Although I prefer watching the women’s races in general.

    13thfloormonk
    Full Member

    I think it’s amazing to watch

    Why though? Would watching a Premier League team put 5 past a second division team be amazing?

    I appreciate watching raw power and ability, but it needs context otherwise it just looks weird and crap, watching one rider completely demolish the field of riders you’ve been enjoying watching for most of the start of the season isn’t fun it’s just a mis-match. CX clearly isn’t in the same league as World Tour road so when these guys get access to the top professional road teams they should just gracefully bow out of CX.

    scaredypants
    Full Member

    I reckon VDP might quit cx if he wins his 7th world title and equals the record

    steve_b77
    Free Member

    Why should he bow out just because he’s better than the rest, it’s not exactly a new thing, he’s dominated ‘cross since he made his competitive debut at 14 literally winning everything in site from there on in.

    scaredypants
    Full Member

    Why should he bow out just because he’s better than the rest

    Can’t be hugely satisfying, I’d have thought.  Unless Wout turns up on form he’s a shoo in

    2
    13thfloormonk
    Full Member

    I think Wout’s form was three years and however many crashes and illnesses ago 🙁

    I was starting to root for Sweeck and Van der Haar this season, depending on the race, loved Van der Haar’s Kopperberg Cross victory two years ago against the Beloise Trek Lions, a proper three up duel until the last climb, not all done and dusted in 90 seconds…

    7
    butterbean
    Free Member

    Just got back home from watching 3 days of racing (Hulst, Zonhoven & Mol).

    Hulst was a great race to watch, as the banks in real life are really quite impressively steep, racing was good & the course was super easy to watch a lot from various points.

    Zonhoven was nuts, if you are into CX then I would put it on the list to go & see, along with soaking up the atmosphere. In the bowl is a great experience, and watching VDP humble the rest of the field was impressive. There was a few key points around the course yesterday which he looked like he was just cruising around & everyone else was buried in the cave. The race for 2nd was pretty good, at one point there was about ~10 of the field taking chunks out of each other for 2 or 3 laps until it blew apart.

    Today was also another VDP display of dominance – the first few laps it looked like he was just chilling in the pack & then got a bit bored, Sweek tried go go with him but the real time blow up was spectacular.

    Ate too many frites & mayo, drank too many beers, went a bit hard in the party tent in Zonhoven, but had a great 3 days. Belgians know how to do cross.

    anagallis_arvensis
    Full Member

    Why though? Would watching a Premier League team put 5 past a second division team be amazing?

    No but watching once in a life time greats like….Messi or whoever play football was.

    CX clearly isn’t in the same league as World Tour road so when these guys get access to the top professional road teams they should just gracefully bow out of CX.

    Should Thibaut Nys bow out now then?

    Should Pog not be allowed to ride World Tour races as he is too good and wins too much…maybe you should make him ride cross.

    Butterbean that sounds awesome, must do it one day!!

    IHN
    Full Member

    Christmas Cross eh? I bet they ride like the wind.

Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.