Diegem - the floodlit 'Cross............................... LIVE!!!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:20 AM EST
in Live Races
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PrintMonday 27th December, 17:30 CET, 16:30 GMT, 11:30 US Eastern, 8:30 Chris-time
So you're running a 'Cross race in the week between Christmas and New Year.... You've missed the opportunity to have it on a major holiday, when most people are feeling the after-effects of SOME kind of over-indulgence (too much food, booze, family...), so how do you make your race stand out? You hold it after dark, under floodlights! And late enough for most of our American friends to be able to watch it LIVE! And show it on a free-to-view proper website, courtesy of the fabulous VT4 tv station, so there's no scrabbling for streams that work. It's Diegem, the 6th race in the SuperPrestige series, and we love it! The gs-calendar description of Diegem?
Now this one is easy to recognise: Diegem is the race raced in the dark, under artificial floodlights. There is one big-ass sandpit turned into mud turned into gravel road and some hills. The race is partly in the field and partly in the forest; but the biggest challenge is the lack of natural light.
And that was written long before Belgium was covered with a blanket of snow!
More info below, but here's the Vt4 advert for the race!
Remember, you can watch all the action live on http://superprestige.vt4.be/ and chat through the race here! Prizes for anyone who spots our very own Albertina in the crowds!
So, what first? Well, the parcours are here:
So planks, sand (frozen sand), some short climbs to run up, some steep little descents and a little bit of forest... Possibly a mini flight of steps, from the advert? But really, the biggest obstacle the riders will be facing is sneeuw, and lots of it. Running on ice, carrying a bike, or on ground that's been rutted by the previous races on the course, and then frozen solid? Under floodlights? I LOVE this sport!
The current SuperPrestige standings look like this:
1. Sven Nys 68 points
2. Kevin Pauwels 56
3. Zdenek Stybar 51
4. Bart Aernouts 49
5. Niels Albert 46
6. Bart Wellens 45
7. Tom Meeusen 39
8. Klaas Vantornout 35
9. Gerben de Kneght 28
10. Rob Peeters 23
And you may remember that the first 15 across the line gain points, starting with 15 points for first place, then reducing by 1 point increments - 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 - so 1st=15, 15= 1!
Nys looks pretty comfortable up at the top there, and he DOES like snowy races. Looking down the startlist, so does World Champion Zdenek Stybar - but we've no clue what his form will be like, after his recurrent knee problems. Usually at this point I'd be talking about Radomir Simunek, but poor Radomir broke his collarbone in the Zolder World Cup race which twins with this one, so he will be out for the rest of the season... Niels Albert was superb in Zolder, but generally when he's done well one day in the weekend, isn't so strong the next day (I am prepared to be proved wrong). Lars Boom won in Zolder (after his many chaingates...) but isn't on the startlist for Diegem (I think, but am not sure, the riders for the SP series are fixed at the start of the season). Pauwels and Meeusen did well in the snow too, but were invisible at Zolder... but really, in these icy races, skill is important, but luck - and mechanicals - play a big part. Last year Nys should have done much better, but lost his podium spot due to mechanical issues and ended up running over the line with his bike over his shoulder... and it wasn't anywhere near as bad weather last year....
I'd tell you more about the past winners, but it's only been a floodlit race since '07 - Nys won it then, Styby in '08 and Albert last year. 2007 was "only" Nys' 4th win here - and de Kneght and Wellens have also won here, in the daylight, so it's a fairly open course... But Sven was holding himself back at Zolder for this one, because he really, really wants to win his 10th SuperPrestige title. He'd had 5 consecutive wins until Styby won the series in 2009... so with 2 more rounds after Diegem to go, will he go all out crazy to win this race, or will we see the cagey, tactical Nys, who doesn't mind where he comes, as long as it's in front of Pauwels and Stybar?
And STOP PRESS! Nys may not even ride! Apparently he rode Zolder with massive back-pain, and will be at an osteopath first thing on Monday - yikes! Hope he's ok (thanks Marques for the link) - so really, anything could happen...
What more information do you need? There's the who's who from gs, which reminds you how to tell the difference between riders, there's more info on the official website.... including videos of Nys' problems last year, and post-race interview, interviews with the other main players, and this great highlights video
See you later for the race!
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There's a floodlit race in my backyard, too
2008, with Lars Boom in World Champ colours.
Part of the course in 2010
Oh, I posted this article early, so that the Americans could see it and set their alarm-clocks!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 26, 2010 11:36 AM EST reply actions
Morning! Leaving at about 1.30 in a van with riders :)
I’m tagging along with Shaun Adamson, Craig Richey and Davy Yeater. Pinkish Etxe Ondo hat, silvery coat with furry collar ;)
De cross gaat door!
oooh, hope we see you!
better yet, hope someone screenshots you there!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 8:04 AM EST up reply actions
Plus what'll you DO for all the time before the race?
Watch the earlier races? Sample frites? Drink some jenever? mmmmm! Chat up riders? I’m sure you’ll find something to do!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 8:13 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, he crashed during training earlier this week
And he was crooked on the bike yesterday he said. No balance, no power in his legs, felt like a newbie. But he went to the osteopath this morning and he put everything back in line “from my jaw over my neck to my foot.” The pain’s gone, and the power should be back as the lack of power came from not sitting symmetrically on his bike. He doesn’t know how well he’ll do, but he’s good enough to start.
By the way, did we know Kevin Pauwels hit a pole yesterday? (probably not the only one, mind you).
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
I didn't know that, no!
I watched the race last night with some people who rode it…one of them said he crashed six times. There were lots of bruise comparisons over breakfast this morning!
De cross gaat door!
The commentators counted at least eight for Compton
And she still won!
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
With his best underground (ice, ice baby!) just getting started
I would imagine that to be the case, yes.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
This sounds pretty scary
Kevin sprinted to the seventh spot for Dieter Vanthourenhout and Christian Heule.
Kevin had not much luck, he would say to their own cases and twice once in the audience are driven. In one of his traps his pelvis tilted so that the spreading of the cross was quite an achievement.
Kevin permanent physiotherapist David Bombeke was unfortunately not in the country, he can happily go to the football team physiotherapist of Antwerp FC.
But perhaps that’s just google translate! In proper Dutch, last 2 paragraphs here
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
Kevin sprinted to a seventh place, ahead of DVT and Christian Heule. Kevin didn’t have much luck, he – in his own words – crashed twice and drove into the audience once. One of his crashes caused his pelvis to tilt, which made finishing the race an achievement in itself. Kevin’s regular physio David Bombeke was unfortunately not in Belgium. Luckily he received treatment from the physio of soccer team FC Antwerp.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
It's a myth spread by physiotherapists
(joking, mostly). It means something is quite right and it needs to “click” back into place. Most people are able to do that by moving around, a bit of twisting and bending, sometimes it’s blocked by muscles.
you checked in at the right time for normal cross!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
It's icy out there
looks like snow that has frozen, rather than fresh snow – showing the youth races, lots of crashes….
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:05 AM EST reply actions
silver coat, fur collar, pink-ish hat...
…as she leaps over the barriers and hugs Styby!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
does he ever race select road races?
"Race radios in Cat 4?"
by gravel road on Dec 27, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Used to do Tour of Belgium too
But now he does mountainbike in the summer
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
Love watching Niels interviewed - he seems a little sarcastic
was that little laugh at the start in response to a stupid Q?
Or am I making it all up? ;-)
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:28 AM EST reply actions
Kevin answering in sentences!
Sentences that start with “yoah”, but still!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:29 AM EST reply actions
Aernouts looks so smiley, always
and Wellens HASN’T lost the face forestry – I am relieved!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Wellens thinks it's more dangerous than yesterday
Crashes were soft yesterday, hard today on rock-solid frozen surfaces, according to him.
I'm here, I made it
Excellently timed commute, if I may say so myself!
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
Morning (barely) all!
As is the case with most sprinters, his madness is also his genius--Vincenzo Nibali, on Mark Cavendish
Do you think they've salted the sandpit
so it’s sand-not-frozen?
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:37 AM EST reply actions
Meeusen hopping over the planks on the ice!
Little Tom is my new favourite! Even after stitching Pauwels up the other week!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:38 AM EST reply actions
@cyclocrosslive says
Stybar/Nys/Pauwels >> Wellens/Peeters/Albert/D. Vanthourenhout
Or it was until Styby crash! Nys leads!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:39 AM EST reply actions
Is that every Fidea boy in the front group?
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:41 AM EST reply actions
ah, all except Zdenek...
…. ah Cross teamwork!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
Simunek had surgery yesterday
He can’t ride for 4 days, then hometrainer, he should return in two to three weeks. Holy something, that’s fast.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
(patch job, with proper fix after the season is over?)
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
even Nys doesn't hop in the snow!
Tommeke always seems like he loves those jumpy bits!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
He's young and eager
It’s not really giving him an advantage, but it sure is fun to watch
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
He has problems
when it’s a slippery, icy difficult technical race. But he’s doing very well now.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
(and you know, problems is relative. he’s a superb rider either way, it’s just that his power is his main weapon)
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
Yup, I know!
Just saying he definitely looks better right now. He doesn’t even miss the start anymore :p
Imagine how far ahead he'd be if he didn't have problems with it.
As is the case with most sprinters, his madness is also his genius--Vincenzo Nibali, on Mark Cavendish
Peeters and Pauwels decide working together is for wimps....
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions
Eh, I only caught the end
Eva, your turn! It was a we-don’t-wanna-see-Styby-go rant, mostly.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
And: "I know to what his manager and I agreed."
In response to: “Stybar says now that he wants to go to Quickstep. What do you think about that?”
Nah, it's just that nothing's happening
Positions seem fixed, and it’s status quo.
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
It was cool for a lap or two, watching them race at night.
But then the novelty wore off.
As is the case with most sprinters, his madness is also his genius--Vincenzo Nibali, on Mark Cavendish
Christophe Roodhooft yes
Niels has to get away from Nys if he wants to win, it’s a weird sprint… Only 3 meters
Hey look!
Bikes in the snow at night
slow race but still cool!
Anyone spot Albertina yet?
He's all custom carbon fiber, EPO and the Olsen twins. I'm more Surly Crosscheck, pot and the girl working the morning shift at the Circle K.
You jinxed him.
As is the case with most sprinters, his madness is also his genius--Vincenzo Nibali, on Mark Cavendish
Ah, the old dropped chain trick.
He's all custom carbon fiber, EPO and the Olsen twins. I'm more Surly Crosscheck, pot and the girl working the morning shift at the Circle K.
Bummer for Nys.
He's all custom carbon fiber, EPO and the Olsen twins. I'm more Surly Crosscheck, pot and the girl working the morning shift at the Circle K.
yeah, Sven didn't sound too happy on the radio
Pretty fed up with the mechanicals
Death before decaf! :D
- gavia
There will be - race & interviews
On the race site (2009 at mo’)
On the SuperPrestige site – it’s got a few up, and the interviews – that page has all the 2010-11 SP races but elsewhere on the site it has some from previous years too
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
Albertina was a soigneur today...get me!
She also fangirled majorly in front of Styby, who is…striking.
De cross gaat door!
Soigneur???
As in…. touching riders???? God help us all!
POst your Styby pic here!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 27, 2010 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
Sadly not! Hahaha!
I was in charge of ‘the rucksack’ , meaning that I got to stand at the start line, on the course, and take their jackets/legwarmers just before the off, then be at the finish to re-dress them. Unfortunately though, all our guys got lapped and were pulled before the even got to the finish line, so I stood there while everyone else looked after their riders, looking sadly alone :( It was super fun strutting about with my ‘soigneur’ pass on though, and being amongst all the team staff on the line..different perpective on the whole thing!
De cross gaat door!
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