Official Cycling Thread

[El Guapo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1849892985992827278

 

[jeepers]

I missed Thready's post about Chris Hoy, but obviously had read it elsewhere. Very sad news. He is a decent guy by all accounts.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Tour route for 2025 announced. 100% in France. Ventoux and Hautacam stage finishes back on the agenda. Looks like quite light in the Alps.

Link here

 

[El Guapo]

Tour route for 2025 announced. 100% in France. Ventoux and Hautacam stage finishes back on the agenda. Looks like quite light in the Alps.

Link here


View attachment 37713

We unintentionally booked our holiday to coincide with the tour de France Femmes, Booked on Monday night and route announced Tues morning to coincide exactly with a stage finish in Angers.

I was bloody delighted.

 

[El Guapo]

Got the email from Flanders Classic about the cyclocross world cup in Dublin on 1st Dec

They've changed the calendar somewhat so chances of seeing any of the big 3 are slim enough, they don't bother their holes until around Christmas when they can get weekly races around Belgium without the travel but honestly it doesn't matter. One of the best live sporting experiences I've had in this country.

Dublin | Calendar | Flanders Classics

The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup returns to Ireland on Sunday, December 1! The rain turned the course into a real mud pit last year. Lucinda Brand was undeterred by the harsh conditions and led the race from start to finish. Pim Ronhaar and Laurens Sweeck turned their race into a thriller in the...

www.ucicyclocrossworldcup.com

Hard Recommend, €20 a ticket, kids are free

Tickets UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup at Dublin 2024

UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup at Dublin 2024 tickets - Flanders Classics NV

dublin24.tickets.ucicyclocrossworldcup.com

 

[don]

where would we find out if Wout or MvP are gonna show up for this?

 

[El Guapo]

where would we find out if Wout or MvP are gonna show up for this?

they'll announce their racing schedules in a few weeks and there will be zero hassle getting tickets.

Crowds were tiny last year.

But like i said chances of seeing either of them or Pidcock are close to zero. They'll pick up the cross World cup around Christmas for the big Belgian races they'll be on Camp in spain for Dublin.

The field should be stronger in general they designed dublin as a protected event this year so no superprestige in Flanders the Saturday before and Countries who want to enter teams for U23 worlds have to compete here.

Also seeing Pim Ronhaar, Thibo Nys and Eli Iserbet duke it out is better than seeing them blow up cos they are trying to get on MvPs wheel.
.
The mens race last year was a cracker

 

[El Guapo]

where would we find out if Wout or MvP are gonna show up for this?

Wout is definetly out

https://twitter.com/x/status/1852767476162953350

 

[El Guapo]

Decent preview for the Cross world cup in Dublin..

The fields are very strong ("big 3" excepted)

Better than last year so it looks like riders are doing Dublin and skipping the next one in Italy for whatever reason.

https://archive.ph/2024.11.26-071051/https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/the-star-riders-to-watch-at-the-cyclo-cross-world-cup-dublin-in-abbotstown/a1143286977.html

 

[El Guapo]

Just back from Dublin after the cyclocross world cup.

A great day, brilliant atmosphere with much better crowds than last year.

The weather helped that it was a lovely crisp autumn day plenty of sunshine with only a hint of rain. If I'm honest some of the racing could have used a heavy shower, they tweaked the course this year for the spectators but it's missing the big natural drops and hills so depends on mud as a leveller.

This year Lucinda Brand was able to turn on the after burners when Fem Van Empel had a puncture and turned the screw all the way home.

Mens race was class. A total arm wrestle, new leader every lap pretty much from a bunch of about 6. First ronhaar, then Eli Iserbet looked like he's storm it till he whacked a pole off a wide turn and Vangtougengat took it home. Thibo Nys fell early but battled way back up the field. Powerful men

Really encouraged by the crowd. Hopefully this event stays for a long time yet.

Here is a shot of my young fella and World Champ Fem van Empel