Yet more cyclocross! GVA Azencross/Loenhout..... LIVE!!!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 8:45 AM EST
in Live Races
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Wednesday 28th December 2011, 15:00 CET, 09:00 US Eastern
Yep, cross on Wednesday. Boy, do I love the week between Christmas and New Year's. Cold outside, warm inside. Good drinks to enjoy and cx on tv, does it get any better than that? In true cross tradition the final week of the year is absolutely mental, with plenty of races to watch. In midweek there's the Azencross in Loenhout, in the north of the province of Antwerp. It's a workers' cross, where the speeds won't reach dizzying heights but the heartrates sure will. There's not too much natural height difference, but there are handful of bridges (one that saw Nys have a positively ridiculous crash in 2009, flat on the tummy), a big staircase and some really kick-ass washboards
Starttime: women 13h45, men 15h
Last three winners elite men: Niels Albert (2010), Sven Nys (2009) and Zdenek Stybar (2008)
Website: sport.be.msn.com/azencross/2011/nl/
Map
There's lots of mud, Marianne Vos won the women's race, Albertina is in the crowd, and it's important for the series!
Links at procycling and sports-livez, chat in the comments - and if you missed it live, check out the bottom of the comments for links to videos & photos
It's race 5 out of the 8 that make up the GVA Trofee, and here's the current standings:
| 1 (1) |  |
Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb Revor Cycling Team | 98 |
| 2 (2) |  |
Zdenek Stybar | Quickstep Cycling Team | 76 |
| 3 (4) | |
Tom Meeusen | Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 67 |
| 4 (3) | |
Sven Nys | Landbouwkrediet | 60 |
| 5 (5) | |
Bart Aernouts | Rabo - Giant Offroad Team. | 59 |
| 6 (7) | |
Niels Albert | BKCP-Powerplus | 57 |
| 7 (13) | |
Bart Wellens | Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 50 |
| 8 (6) | |
Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb Revor Cycling Team | 46 |
| 9 (8) | |
Joeri Adams | Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 36 |
| 10 (17) | |
Rob Peeters | Telenet Fidea Cycling Team | 34 |
So it looks like Kevin Pauwels has a nice gap to keep this series stitched up - but we're only half-way through - and this is a very heavy week, so hopefully we'll see some different faces up on the podium.
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Vos didn't even look tired as she won
How does anyone manage to be that awesome?
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
She loves it!
(Although I feel sorry for everyone else…)
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 8:53 AM EST up reply actions
Was Helen Wyman riding?
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 8:54 AM EST up reply actions
They mentiond her briefly
but didn’t see how she did
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Hope she's ok
That crash did look very hard yesterday – sure we’d have heard if she’d done any damage, but it must have been painful.
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
She said she'd live, on twitter
but yeah, that crash and her virus can’t be doing her any good.
Nikki’s having the season of her life, though – doing really well!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
Helen was way down
possibly DNF
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit, 0:43:06
2. Daphny van den Brand (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl, + 01:17
3. Sanne Cant (Bel) BOXX Veldritacademie, + 01:26
4. Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea, + 01:30
5. Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea, + 01:37
6. Gabby Day (GBr) Renner Custom CX Team, + 01:41
7. Sanne van Paassen (Ned) Brainwash Wielerploeg, + 02:40
8. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra) Lapierre International, s.t.
9. Paval Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea, + 02:45
10. Reza Hormes Ravenstijn (Ned) 03:33
Full women’s results
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
NOOOOO!
Poor Helen!
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 29, 2011 5:58 AM EST up reply actions
Styby's looking very happy
I guess deciding to drop cross has been a weight off his mind
(either that or he was just hugged by Abertina)
Aka Pigeons!
You would be correct, as it happens!
It's pronounced "Int-CHOW-stie"
by Albertina on Dec 28, 2011 12:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
'Ello :-)
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone see Albertina in the crowd?
Strava...? Mission accomplished.TOP 10..? I am not pushing it.. But....
Look out for the hat made of finest marmotte fur!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
Don’t know what she looks like, but I’m expecting a “Hello Podium Cafe!” sign.
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
She has lots of curly dark hair
and she’s likely to be hyperventilating with over-excitement!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
I know!
Albertina-power!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know if he fell himself
but he was badly positioned and held up in the first big muddy section
Held up behind Heulders too, no?
that dude who fell from the front, right at the start
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
are they called duckboards - I was thinking "whoopdedoos"
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 9:08 AM EST up reply actions
I have no idea what they're actually called
I usually call them “squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
I absolutely adore this course
It’s like crazy golf for bikes.
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
Crossing the line for the first time
Boom & Styby
Albert & Meeusen + 7
Nys & a little group + about 9
Aka Pigeons!
I fear Styby & Boom are just being let go before being reeled in
Boom super-slow bike change…
Aka Pigeons!
was just thinking the same thing
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
his nats target is getting closer.
should be avle to hang on now perhaps
OK, I am very boring about how much I love the jumping
but did you see the height Nys got on that jump?
I prefer some more serious obstacles, but the jumping & washboards (little hills!) make me happy!
Aka Pigeons!
Nys about to Hulk?
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
It's a bit early
but hopefully!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
End of lap 2 - 6 laps to go
Styby Boom
Albert + 3
Nys + 5
Wellens, Duval, Meeusen, a VT + 18
Aka Pigeons!
6 laps in or 6 laps to go?
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
Never seen that
so I guess not. But it is allowed in road races, so maybe here as well.
"Beer helps." -- Ant1.
Yes!
Mugging as a tactic!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:21 AM EST up reply actions
so, we have mugging, water crossings (with sharks)...how about pits of glass?
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Yes, and you know I'm always in favour of releasing the hounds
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
(and the giant squid from Scheldecross)
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
I'd like to see the Patrick Safety Jogger squash random cyclists...
If your timing is off…you get the boot…
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
Ha, like a swinging pendulum?
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:27 AM EST up reply actions
Now Albert & Boom lead!
Styby chasing, then Wellens…. then Meeusen & Peeters & Nys & SVT?
Aka Pigeons!
Did Styby blow up?
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
I remember when Lance did this
just after his fall with the spectator on Luz Ardiden, when he was getting going again and his gear (or shoe) slipped.
It occurred to me that if he had been “fully equipped” he might not have gone on to win.
Which was the race last season
with lots of grassy hills, where Styby had a severe nuts-to-saddle unfortunate moment, & practically landed on a baby when he fell?
It was a fab race, looked like a MTB course, Pauwels fell about 3 times on the same steep, slippery, grassy slope
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:26 AM EST up reply actions
He had a fall, hit his, erm, gentleman's area
and seems to be still recovering
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Damn, I bet he does.
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
5 laps to go
Albert & Boom
Wellens & Styby +9
Nys Peeters Meeusen and 3 others + 20
Pauwels + 40, not sure if there’s anyone between Pauwels & the Nys-group
Aka Pigeons!
Nice battle between Pauwels and Nys for the GC
both had bad luck, both know they won’t win this race and yet they’re going full gas
Yes indeed
I am trying hard not to jinx the rest, but there’s been lots of bad luck so far today!)
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
what is the complaint? "purity" of the sport or something technical?
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
Manager said Nys had trouble putting his chain back on
because that’s more difficult with an electronic system, apparently.
"Beer helps." -- Ant1.
he's very conservative, so he doesn't like electronic shifting
he blamed Nys technical troubles from last year to the DI2, but he forgot lots of others were using DI2 too (without problems). He keeps going on about it and he has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about
Heh, Nys had problems with every part of his bike last year!
and a too-slack chain can’t be blamed on electircs, no?
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
4 laps to go
Albert, then Boom
Nys, Styby, Meeusen, Peeters = about 28?
DVT, Duval & another landbouwkrediet some more
Pauwels about +43, looks like he’s just cruising
Aka Pigeons!
for my surprise albertina is not running after styby yet...
Strava...? Mission accomplished.TOP 10..? I am not pushing it.. But....
Or leaping over the barriers to hug him!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
Does the Nys-group look like it's gaining on Boom?
It does to me, but I have trouble judging
Aka Pigeons!
Adam Myserson's twitter
It’s like Boom has to take a recovery lap mid-race again. Maybe he’s doing 2 × 20 intervals.
Aka Pigeons!
to be fair - Boom went out pretty hard with Stybar from the gun...
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah - but too hard, I think
And he’s out of practice with anything technical
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
Yours is much better than mine!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
much better
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
I am at work can't follow that much...!
Strava...? Mission accomplished.TOP 10..? I am not pushing it.. But....
It's exciting!
Can Albert stay away, or can Nys & Styby catch him?
Where will Pauwels end up? He’s working his way up, steadily
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
Damn you uphill...!
no quilmes for you…!
Strava...? Mission accomplished.TOP 10..? I am not pushing it.. But....
good morning folks
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
good afternoon!
PFP was 8th in the women’s race!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
Boom + 50
Pauwels a bit behind Boom
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
Alright, I've only got 15 minutes until a meeting here at "work"
These boys better finish this up before then.
"...my reverse cyclelogy has paid off." -ant1
They should do it just in time!
super-fast laps, now, boys!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
looks like
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
and they're back together again
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
bedankt!
I thought mud= modder – or is it like eskimos have 100 words for snow, Belgians have 100 words for mud? :-D
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
I love Dutch, those words feel lovely to say
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
hurry up before someone shows up at work...!
Strava...? Mission accomplished.TOP 10..? I am not pushing it.. But....
Styby reaction!
Wellens & Peeters lost in the pits!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
Nys, I think.
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
Styby smoked him
"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay
Perfect timing.... thanks boys!
Off to the meeting I go.
"...my reverse cyclelogy has paid off." -ant1
Pauwels finishes 6th
That’s a damn good placing, considering where he started
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:00 AM EST reply actions
yup - the winner without his problems.
(of course…that is cx)
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Phew!
You never know with Niels
(Ah Niels, he’s lucky he rides over winter, so he can hide his receding hairline under woolly hats and look pretty!)
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
NTTAWW receding hair
it’s just funny on Niels, as he seems like he likes looking pretty, and all those fun hairstyles don’t work so well these days
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
I can tell you that is person he looks quite exquisite :-)
It's pronounced "Int-CHOW-stie"
by Albertina on Dec 28, 2011 12:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That Sven-&-bike somersault
is fun to watch, but not fun to do, I’m sure
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:04 AM EST reply actions
Fun race
Not the most spectacular in recent weeks, but very enjoyable!
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 10:07 AM EST reply actions
GVA standings with 3 races to go
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:07 AM EST reply actions
Albert:
I’ve got a bad cold, but I’m in good shape so I managed to win anyway. I had to dig deep though.
I had a bad start again, but managed to ride to the 3rd position in the blubberzone.
About Boom: I don’t care. If Boom wants to act like that, he can do so
Bedankt!!!
What did Boom do that was bad? Help Nys when he realised he was fading?
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
"I had a bad start again"
His starts are always bad – with or without Czech cameramen in his way.
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Nys
I Hit the pole, but had some trouble putting the chain back on. Never managed to close that 20 seconds I lost there. No physical problems, I’m fine. Two crashes in a row now If I manage to stay upright, I’ll win races again.
Ha!
Thanks for the translations, i appreciate them!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
Awesome moment in the Nys interview:
“And then you can’t get the chain back on manually, you have to do it by hand.”
"Beer helps." -- Ant1.
This one now? Rob Peeters
(he looks too young to have a baby, but his little daughter is very cute)
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
Peeters
Felt really good, especially in the mud. I was afraid to arribve alone on the aspahalt though, it costs a lot of enery here. I wantede to avoid having to start thye muddy sections tired, so I waited every lap just before the asphalt. I wanted to try to stay away in the last lap, but I made an error, so Nys and Styby got the podium.
I found this interesting
He was stronger in the mud, but he decided to wait for the others so he didn’t have to do the asphalt section alone.
Well Rob, you can’t win races with that strategy
I was trying to figure this out in my head too - but I am either too dumb to understand it or it's just a bad idea.
by JustJoshinYa on Dec 28, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
Ha!
I still don’t get why gs says he whines a lot – his interviews seem very honest
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks, broerie, for the translations!
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:17 AM EST reply actions
Yes, thanks
I can generally pick Dutch/Flemmish apart and understand it when it’s written down, with some degree of accuracy; but at “native spoken” speed it’s completely unintelligible to me.
I saw a baby that looked like Cadel Evans the other day...
by John Cyclopunk on Dec 28, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
Videos!
Junior, u23 & women: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1185636 (anyone know what the u23 arm-waving was all about? and doesn’t the 3rd placed u23 look 10 years older than the others? and what were they saying about Wyman in the women’s?
That Sven Nys somersault crash: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1185643
The final lap of the men’s race: http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1185652
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 10:56 AM EST reply actions
Helen defo DNFed but I didn't see her afterwards so don't have the full story
It's pronounced "Int-CHOW-stie"
by Albertina on Dec 28, 2011 12:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
She's still ill, apparently
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 28, 2011 3:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Omroep Brabant clip of the women's race
with interviews with Marianne Vos & Daphny van den Brand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX8mKv2A2CU
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 29, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
and if you missed it from a few weeks ago
Inty with Katie Compton after Namur, on her CX and MTB ambitions, and with Compton & Vos on how they’ll be team-mates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3CZmcxY4DE
Aka Pigeons!
by Sarah Connolly on Dec 29, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
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