Cyclocross in Veghel

[Willehond]

My first visit to a cyclocross event and I am hooked!  The atmosphere is great and there is no hiding in this race.  The pace was hard and the race split up right from the word go.  The race was in Holland, but loads of Belgians were here to support their guys and they are fanatic.

 

 

 

[Willehond]

Niels Albert is turning into the revelation of the season.  He has kicked the (previously) unbeatable Sven Nys' butt and did it in absolute style today.  He got a winning gap and simply rode away.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Behind him Sven and Lars Boom (The Dutch World Champ) were watching each other like hawks and they took turns to beat each other every lap.  In the end it came down to a sprint finish for second and Boom finally got Nys this season.  So Belgium 1, Netherlands 2, Belgium 3.  Everyone was happy.

Nys:

Lars Boom:

Fighting!

 

These guys raced the previous day as well in horendous muddy conditions, but just got on with doing it all again.  Nys had an excuse though, he rode with a broken finger!

Willehond2008-11-02 16:12:20

[APJ88]

should c this weekends race! never seen any1 covered in so much mud!!

[BrokeSpoke]

Just moved to the UK and the weather is typicayl miserable. The road calander is dead , but the cyclocross events seem to be the way to go. Looking at cyclocross bikes. . . what a wierd species of bike. Did you see anything you liked

[Willehond]

Cyclo bikes are cool, but I prefer my mtb.  Did a nice ride this morning in the forest before we went out and it was awesome!  Find a nice forest trail and go with the mtb.  Then buy a cross bike.  Just because you can!

[Willehond]

 

Also saw sime nice crashes.<?: prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />   HARD racing, nowhere to hide.

 

Willehond2008-11-02 15:04:12

[The Crazy German]

Go watch one in belgium over there the crowds are bigger . Maybe around christmas always hectic as most are on holiday or the world champs as they are just a few k' from the border.

 

Although I liked it better 5 years ago when the crowds where smaller in those days you could get better spectating spots and switch between them.

[Willehond]

I took little Willebrak along and he enjoyed it more than the track events (he can see without having to sit behind some big oaf).  Had to have some chips with mayo though.  When in Rome...

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...and the equipment was great!  Some guys rode carbon rims, others like Nys rode on Ksyriums.  The guys had groupsets from Shimano 105 up to Dura Ace.  Weird.  The tyre of choice was undoubtedly though the precious Dugast tubbies (these guys must have connections - literally EVERYONE had them). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great afternoon out with the little one and my old Strandloper temamate, PokerFace.  Will definitely go again!

 

 

The final podium:

 

[ASTANA]

Cyclocross is so weird.... but looks tough! Don't really see why one would like to ride a "road bike" in mud and dirt..

 

 

[Willehond]

Astana, I didn't either, but seeing these guys squirm all over the place and runnning with them over their shoulders, it makes it all real and I'm sure it's fun.  They do 10 laps on road and muddy bits, so the cyclo bike is perfect.

 

I did a mtb ride this morning with PokerFace and we got passed by two guys on cyclos!  Embarrassing...

[Willehond]

They do bits on road too. I promise...

 

[Bikalot]

looks super uber cool!

[Willehond]

more...

 

 

 

 

[TheLegend]

a discipline for real men!

[ASTANA]

Willehond - die sport lyk darm baie snaaks - maar ek glo dit is seker groot da bo. Sal nogal wil sien hoe dit lyk - glo dit is `n goeie spectator sport!

[Tumbleweed]

hey, willehond! nice reports and pics, as usual! thanks!