While it took seven Belgians to dominate the Men’s Cyclocross World Championship race on Sunday, it only took a single Dutchwoman to dominate the women’s race. That’s seven times more dominanter, if my math is correct – which it always is.
Cyclocross fascinates me, mostly because it is completely insane. But I admit: I like the idea of combining Cycling and miniature golf. Put some canti’s on your road bike, take to the mud and woods, add some water hazards, sand traps, man-made climbs and jumps, and now you’ve got a sport for people who hate the way their faces look.
Marianne Vos took her fifth World ‘Cross Championship (a record) to further crowd here palmares with rainbow bands. She’s been World Champion in every discipline involving drop bars, many of them multiple times. She’s also won La Fleche Wallone more times than I can count (I can only count to three), National road and time trial championships, and the Giro d’Italia Femminile. She was even World Champion in Mountain Biking as a Junior. One could easily argue that “V”os is the best active cyclist in the world, bar none.
To that point, we don’t pay close enough attention to Women’s cycling. I’m as guilty as anyone; if I was going to pick the winner of a Women’s race, I’d likely pick Vos or Cooke (if she’s not broken, which she often is) or Teutenberg if the race is likely to end in a sprint, which I wouldn’t be able to tell you without first doing some research. And that pretty much exhausts my knowledge in terms of naming riders, which is disgraceful. After all, if one is to understand the great mystery, one should study all its aspects. (Yes, I just quoted Darth Sidious.)
With the ‘Cross season coming to a close, we’re ramping up to start the 2012 Velominati Super Prestige and with it, we are dragging ourselves into paying attention to Women’s Cycling: the 2012 competition will include women’s races with the points amassed counting towards the overall title.
We are also making some coding changes to the backend system in order to fix some problems which means we’re probably only introducing new problems without necessarily fixing the things that needed fixing in the first place.
We’re also adding more races like the Strada Bianca, changing the scoring model, and eliminating certain things such as free DNF swaps. Stand by for further updates and keep a weather eye on the VSP Page for the updated schedule and rules.
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@frankThanks for posting that. The VMH and I were at that race and it was incredible to see how she dominated the field. It was a cold, cold day with a frozen hardpack track, except for where they sprayed to introduce some mud.
Here's a pic I took on one of the brutal uphills (you can get an idea how steep it is by looking at the racer still riding at the bottom): http://www.flickr.com/photos/billsabub/5402098796/
@brianc
Agree on the Kona. My Jake is my daily commuter and my bash through the forest steed. And an unpleasant surprise for those in their fully aero tri-bikes when I'm out on the road.
@Buck Rogers
not allowed by some official UCI rule: she is a woman and has to compete against other women. however, I think she would humiliate a lot of men...
@frank
poor Joey... ok, so it s becoming more and more popular in the States.
but I see only Dutch, Belgians (actually Flemish, in Wallonia not popular at all) and an occasional Czech or Frenchie competing for first place at pro level. I suppose there are enough means to support promising American riders, or do they only focus on road racing? Or is it just the idea of getting dirty in European mud and earning way too little money for your efforts? I would love to see some more foreigners covered in dust and mud...
@Buck Rogers
The UCI released a staement within hours, saying she can't ride with men.
have you seen this:
http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1207956
I mean, come on! you didn t expect to win like this?
A cross thread! I have a Carbone!
I want to add that US Nationals in Madison this year was a blast. And the women were just as intense any guy on that course but more fun to watch! Excited Madtown gets to host again next year. I was in more pictures heckling and doing handups than racing, & that needs to be rectified. Oh and to counter all you Kona boys, I love my Redline so I gotta give the BMX boys some props.
Finally, since I don't post much:
@ Wiscot - any Ochowicz'n happening on that Wisconsin/Chicago Cogal??
@frank
so when do we get to see this cross rig of yours?
@JC Belgium
@Netraam
Ahh, thanks guys. Yeah, man, would love to see her bring it to some of the men on the course.
@JC Belgium
Here it is
She probably will be allowed to start in some local races not organised by the UCI.
Of course, watts per kilogram say more about efficiency than reaching the finish line as first. It will still be hard for her to finish in a criterium, because of the lack of brute force to accelerate after the corners, but maybe she can drop a big part of the pro men peloton uphill.
@JC Belgium
He didn't expect to win.He doesn't like cyclocross any more.He's getting ready for the Giro.
Thanks for the link,awesome!