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Pretty impressive that Nathan Smith got third in the junior mens on borrowed bike!
Thought it was a good course which made for exciting racing/intersting watching. Although I did get a bit bored towards the end watching Pidcock cruise for the win. Watching the first few laps with place changes, corner overtakes and so on was brilliant.
This coming from an avid follower of mtb racing that very occasionally will watch some CX or 1 day road races. Only watched this because of Pidcock and his aim of getting the triple rainbow jersey.
Watching a load of mud covered people run through ankle deep sand or attempt to get a bike that has been crippled by the bizzare historic rulebook down an offcamber corner doesnt really thrill me.
Watching a load of mud covered people run through ankle deep sand or attempt to get a bike that has been crippled by the bizzare historic rulebook down an offcamber corner doesnt really thrill me.
And conversely, I think that that is what makes it interesting. Virtually all sports have their rulebooks setting out what are typically artificial constraints and it's the succeeding within, or overcoming of, those constraints that makes them challenging. Running is pretty the only pure one that I can think of but even then you can't knobble your opposition.
But i would agree with you that it's more interesting to have closer racing for a lot longer in the race. Some of the Pidcock / Iserbyt duels have been great to watch where they battle it out to the end.
I just watched the u23 women race over lunch having managed to avoid the result. That was a crazy good race.
And conversely, I think that that is what makes it interesting.
Very true, I'm certainly not asking for a complete rule change just to make me - an occasional viewer - happy.
Just as somone who enjoys other forms of bike racing, this particular race made the CX more, not less, interesting for me. There was drafting and teamwork/blocking, and some excellent off road handling on display. Plus a couple of what I would describe as motocross passes.
Not sure I fully agree on the equipment ruling. Yes some limits or standardisation is good fo ra whole host of reasons, but watching the likes of TP and MVDP go from an world cup XC race to a muddy CX race the month after you can see how much the tyres and bars hinder them in a number of places.
Yesterday however the CX set up seemed ideal and I enjoyed watching the riders fight it out on them - still in some cases right on the edge.
Photo finish
I really enjoyed the course. I usually find it hard to get into cyclocross races and I think it might be the pace of them that turns me off. I found myself watching this thinking 'wheeeeee that looks fun' which I don't think you get from many cross races.
A couple of things stood out to me
- the womens races had the best racing despite it being a case of 'which lady in orange will win?'
- being able to ride like Tom Pidcock must feel like having a tailwind all the time.
Yesterday however the CX set up seemed ideal and I enjoyed watching the riders fight it out on them – still in some cases right on the edge.
I get this. That track and those bikes looks like a better bet for those on the UK amateur scene that want to road race than some of the road circuits I used to race on of a Sunday morning. Subbing in a course like that (maybe minus the running up the steps lark) would reward many of the same skills with less hassle with unsuitable courses/hassle with public etc etc. I'd have loved a bit of that when younger and fitter. The traditional mud plugging CX had less appeal (but still wish I'd done more of it than I did).
I thought it was an interesting course - and something different to the norm; fast, dry, not too technical, but with a decent length climb. There aren't too many CX Worlds courses with long climbs.
Endless muddy, mainly flat Belgian courses isn't great for the sport. I know some people think that 'CX is mud' but if it wants to grow, then it has to have more variety in courses. My one criticism would be it tends to favour raw power over technique, especially when courses are just mud.
Pidcock is in a short list of riders who is 'world class' in CX & MTB.....and has won in both.