Podium Cafe - 2015 Cyclocross World ChampionshipsYou can check out, but you can never leavehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/25744/podiumcafe_f.png2015-02-01T12:51:19-05:00http://www.podiumcafe.com/rss/stream/77175062015-02-01T12:51:19-05:002015-02-01T12:51:19-05:00Van der Poel Storms to First Elite Rainbows
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<figcaption>Van der Poel will be in Rainbow stripes for the year ahead. | Patrick Verhoest</figcaption>
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<p>On an again slippery course in Tábor, 20-year-old Mathieu Van der Poel took victory in the Elite World Championships. A very unfortunate Wout Van Aert was second, and Dutchman Lars van der Haar was third. </p> <p>Van der Haar and Meeusen were quickest away from the line, but Mathieu Van der Poel soon moved to the front to set the pace. Perhaps wary of an attack after Van der Poel's Hoogerheide performance, he was closely shadowed by Van Aert. When the inevitable first lap attack did come, Van Aert was ready, and right behind at the planks, with a small gap to Meeusen in third. Van der Poel had another got a small gap close to the end of the third lap due to a slight mistake from Van Aert, but the Belgian rider was on the case, until a mechanical had him impatiently pulling at his new blue bike at the entrance to the tarmac section. Van Aert was soon up on his bike, but the mechanical problem had cost him momentum, morale, and most importantly, ten seconds. Ant McCrossan, meanwhile, was talking about long socks.</p>
<p>Van Aert was soon up to the all-Belgian chase group, consisting of Meeusen and Pauwels, as Van der Poel stayed in the lead. The Belgian contingent caught Van der Poel as he made a mistake at the planks, and the riders regrouped, with Belgians Van Aert, Pauwels and Meeusen and Dutch riders Van der Poel and Van der Haar. Van der Poel then stepped on the throttle, and pulled Van Aert along with him when again, this time at the 500 metre point, Van Aert's blue bike broke. By the end of the lap, Van der Poel led by 5 seconds from Pauwels. Van Aert? 6th, looking furious, 16 seconds down.</p>
<p>On lap 3, Van der Poel started to build a larger advantage, as there was more trouble for Van Aert. Unseen by the cameras, he "took the turn before the first pit too fast. I fell on my shoulder, on the side of my fracture," reported <a href="http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20150201_01504656/" target="_blank">Het Nieuwsblad.</a> This left him a minute down. Too far behind? By this point, Pauwels was taking up the chase, as Van der Haar sprinted to catch up. Meeusen was beginning to look laboured. Van der Poel had an 11 second lead. Van Aert, back on his trusty black bike, was dangling ahead of the Nys group, 50 seconds back.</p>
<p>Pauwels continued to chase Van der Poel, dragging along Van der Haar, who'd promised not to work against him on Thursday. He was taking quite a chunk of time out of the Dutch rider, but was he beginning to run out of steam? He made a gesture to Van der Haar. Van der Poel was extending his advantage again. He had 17 seconds by the end of the lap. Van Aert had regained 3 seconds.</p>
<p>Van der Poel continued to lead, Pauwels continued to chase, Van der Haar continued to follow, and Van Aert continued to sprint, going into fourth at the pits. Finally, at the midway point of the lap, Van der Haar got out of Pauwels' slipstream, and stamped on the pedals in pursuit of his team-mate. He tried to drop Pauwels, and succeeded, and began to close the gap. He had taken 5 seconds back with three to go. Van Aert watch? 35 down.</p>
<p>Van der Poel started to look tired, and Van der Haar really came closer, coming to a closest of 7 seconds. However, then he got tired, and fell back a little. Pauwels was also falling back. With weakened rivals, it was really looking good for Van der Poel.</p>
<p>However, Wout Van Aert was chewing up the ground. He was within a stone's throw of Pauwels, sprinting, with a grimace on his face. Going through the checkpoint, van der Poel was 8 seconds ahead of Van der Haar, who was 10 seconds ahead of Pauwels. Soon after, Pauwels had been caught. Van Aert took up the chase on the tarmac, with Van der Poel desperately clinging to his slipstream.</p>
<p>Pauwels was dispatched, and Van der Poel led, coming onto the last lap. Shoulders rocking, Van der Poel led, as towards the end, Van der Haar was caught by Van Aert.</p>
<p>Van der Poel looked behind him, disbelieving, and punched the air in delight, with the realization that he was world champion. He crossed the line, emotional, tears rolling down his cheeks, and became the youngest ever world champion. Van Aert outsprinted Van der Haar for second. Van Aert banged his handlebars and shouted, frustrated. "I didn't win silver, I lost gold," he would later say.</p>
<p>"All race long I was in doubt," said the new champion. "But it will be awesome to ride in this jersey.</p>
<p>Belgium top the medal table with one gold and all four silvers, The Netherlands are 2nd, with one gold and all four bronzes, and France and Denmark are tied for third, with one gold each.</p>
<p>1: Mathieu Van der Poel <img alt="*nl" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Netherlands.png"> (20)</p>
<p>2: Wout Van Aert <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (20)</p>
<p>3: Lars Van der Haar <img alt="*nl" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Netherlands.png"> (23)</p>
<p>4: Kevin Pauwels <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (30)</p>
<p>5: Klaas Vantornout <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (32)</p>
<p>6: Tom Meeusen <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (26)</p>
<p>7: Gianni Vermeersch <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (22)</p>
<p>8: Marcel Meisen<span> </span><img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="German" alt="*de" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Germany.png"> (26)</p>
<p>9: Philipp Walsleben<span> </span><img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="German" alt="*de" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Germany.png"> (27)</p>
<p>10: Marco Fontana <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Italian" alt="*it" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Italy.png"><span> </span>(30)</p>
<p>____________________</p>
<p>13: Michael Boros<span> </span><img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Czech Republic" alt="*cz" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/Czech-Republic.png"> (22)</p>
<p>17: Sven Nys <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="Belgium" alt="*be" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/belgium.png"> (39)</p>
<p>21: Ian Field <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="English" alt="*uk" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/United-Kingdom.png"> (28)</p>
<p>23: Jonathan Page <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="USA" alt="*usa" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/usa.png"> (38)</p>
<p>32: Jeremy Powers <img style="vertical-align: bottom; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 20.1599998474121px;" class="smiley" title="USA" alt="*usa" src="http://velorooms.com/Smileys/default/usa.png"> (31)</p>
<p> </p>
<h4><span><i>Watch Mathieu Van der Poel in his rainbow jersey next weekend, at the Krawatencross and at Hoogstratem. </i></span></h4>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/1/7959419/van-der-poel-storms-to-first-elite-rainbowsConor Kelly2015-02-01T07:45:02-05:002015-02-01T07:45:02-05:00CX Worlds: Elite MEN
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<p>The granddaddy of races this weekend but can they match the women's race in quality? The chances for it are there with a great matchup of Kids vs. Grownups. Will it be a day for youthful pure power or will wily seasoned veterans win out in the end?</p>
<p>For an idea of who to watch out for check out our <a href="http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/29/7928143/cx-worlds-preview-most-likely-to-beat-the-kids" target="_blank">Preview</a>. <br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.uci.ch/cyclo-cross/ucievents/2015-cyclo-cross-uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships/172478015/widgets/entries-start-lists-results-168168/">Full Startlist is here.</a></p>
<p><b>Start time: 14:00 CET</b></p>
<p><b>Video: </b><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ucichannel">UCIChannel</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZw_NEs_0Mw"> </a>(If another channel has rights in your country this will be blocked)</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/1/7958913/cx-worlds-elite-menJens2015-02-01T06:47:26-05:002015-02-01T06:47:26-05:00Belgian Wins are Here Again
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<p>Michael Vanthourenhout took under-23 victory from compatriot Laurens Sweeck in Tábor. That gust of wind you felt as he crossed the line? A sigh of relief from the country of Belgium.</p> <p>Clement Venturini was quickest off the startline, but was overtaken by home favourite Jakob Skala, who led for the majority of the first lap. No real selection was formed, but the lead swapped between Skala, Stan Godrie, and Joris Nieuwenhuis. Near the end of the lap, favourite Laurens Sweeck came to the front to set the tempo, but it was Nieuwenhuis, who I confess I'd never heard of, but has under-23 top 10s, led over the line.</p>
<p>Laurens Sweeck then moved to the front, and set a fast pace, taking immaculate lines through the corners which no one but Godrie could match, and they soon had a small gap of the rest of the field. It looked like they would continue to extend it, but Sweeck went down, and fell into the jaws of the chase group, led by Venturini. Godrie continued to lead, but he never had any more lead than a couple of seconds. By this point, a selection was finally made, containing favourites Sweeck and Vanthourenhout, Godrie and Nieuwenhaus of the Netherlands, French Clement Venturini and home rider Vojtech <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoS2BU6bbQ" target="_blank">Nipl</a>.</p>
<p>Godrie was finally caught at the steps, as Venturini put the pressure on, and Vanthourenhout, who'd looked like he'd been struggling, moved to the front. He set a tough tempo, and made his move towards the end of the lap, leading by 3 seconds.</p>
<p>Sweeck took up the chase of his compatriot, but crashed again at the beginning of lap 4. As the commentators said, "it's hard as rock when you fall on it, but it's very slippery." Godrie then moved to the front, dropping Venturini as Sweeck caught up. Sweeck then gapped Godrie. Over the line, Vanthourenhout led by 5 seconds from Sweeck, 8 seconds from Godrie, and 12 seconds ahead of Venturini.</p>
<p>By the next lap, Vanthourenhout started to extend his lead, getting a number of seconds at the planks, where he could bunnyhop, and Sweeck could not. With 500 metres left of the penultimate lap, Sweeck went down for the third time, falling back to Godrie. Vanthourenhout led by 16 seconds. Sweeck recognized that it was over, and gestured for Godrie to do the work.</p>
<p>Godrie complied, but himself crashed, and Sweeck was alone again. Venturini, half a minute down, was chasing Godrie desperately, but that is how it would stay. Vanthourenhout 1st, Sweeck 2nd, Godrie third.</p>
<p>"For me it was a fantastic race," said the new under-23 world champion. "For the first two laps it was not so good, but halfway through I attacked. The conditions were very good for me." I am very glad for Belgium."</p>
<p>The Netherlands will be pinning their hopes for a gold medal on Van der Poel and Van der Haar, they have specialized in bronzes, with Godrie, Gulickx and Vos taking all three on offer. Belgium will be relieved; they have at least one gold medal, with Sweeck taking their third silver.</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/1/7958975/belgian-wins-are-here-againConor Kelly2015-02-01T04:50:02-05:002015-02-01T04:50:02-05:00CX WORLDS U23 LIVE
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<figcaption>Bryn Lennon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>With the junior, and most of all the women's race, being hard acts to follow it's now time for day two of the championships. The U23 men first and then the men's race later this afternoon. The seemingly not-too-exciting course in Tabor provided spectacular racing yesterday with it's combination of frozen ground and slick, thawed out mud on the surface. Technical and treacherous as well as legsapping, this course makes for great racing.</p>
<p>For an idea of who to watch out check out our <a href="http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/29/7928353/the-young-uns-who-will-win-the-juniors-and-the-under-23s" target="_blank">Preview</a>. <br><a href="http://www.uci.ch/cyclo-cross/ucievents/2015-cyclo-cross-uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships/172478015/widgets/entries-start-lists-results-168168/" target="_blank">Full Startlist is here.</a></p>
<p><b>Start time: 11:00 CET</b></p>
<p><b>Video: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ucichannel" target="_blank">UCIChannel</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZw_NEs_0Mw" target="_blank"> </a>(If another channel has rights in your country this will be blocked)</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/1/7958889/cx-worlds-u23-liveJens2015-01-31T12:08:36-05:002015-01-31T12:08:36-05:00Ferrand-Prevot Wins Snowy Thriller
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<figcaption>Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was all smiles on the podium.</figcaption>
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<p>On a snowy(!) course in Tabor, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot took the rainbow jersey from Marianne Vos. She has a knack for winning races with jerseys. She is now World Road Champion and World Cyclo-Cross Champion.</p> <p>The race began Helen Wyman getting the holeshot, followed immediately by Lucie Chainel-Lefevre. However, the main drama on the first lap were two great misfortunes for last year's runner-up, Hoogerheide winner and race favourite Evan Lechner. She went down in the second corner, colliding with Sabrina Stultiens. The camera panned away, but when it was back, she was jogging disconsolately towards the pits, frame in one hand, wheel and rear derailleur in the other. As Simon Burney said, "that's her race over."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in front, Chainel-Lefevre was leading, while Wyman had dropped back to the main group, a selection involving her team-mate Nikki Harris, Sanne Cant, Marianne Vos, Chainel Lefevre's team-mate Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, and home rider Katerina Nash. She led by seven seconds at the start of the second lap.</p>
<p>By the second lap, attacks started to be made, Wyman and Harris were dropped, but Harris rejoined, and Chainel-Lefevre was caught, as the group began the third. This is where hostilities were really opened, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot used Chainel-Lefevre as a slingshot for an attack, Vos had a go, but the attack that got the best gap was Ferrand-Prevot again, who Cant later tried to bridge up to, she was looking dangerous. This caused gaps, leaving one between Ferrand-Prevot and Cant, one between Cant and Nash, one between Nash and Vos, and one between Vos and Nikki Harris. Harris was at the back of the group with Wyman a bit further back. Wyman was trying to bridge back up after being dropped. Could she repeat last year's bronze? It wasn't looking brilliant for the British riders, but considerably better than it had all season.</p>
<p>Ferrand-Prevot was still in the lead, but within easily bridgeable distance, only four or five seconds at the beginning of the penultimate lap. Cant had been recaptured. Meanwhile, Eva Lechner was setting fastest laps. Oh Eva, what might have been. Nash took up the chase of PFP, setting a fierce pace. This pace was not enough for Cant, however, who clipped off the front. Ahead of her, Ferrand-Prevot went down, was quickly up again, but lost some of her hard-won lead. Ferrand-Prevot seemed to be having trouble, had her bike broken? Was she rattled? Likely the former, but a bike change straight away rectified that problem. Cant also went into the pits, along with the group behind, led for the first time by Harris, in form for the first time since late November.</p>
<p>Finally, at the planks on lap 4, Cant caught Ferrand-Prevot. They were followed by Vos, and then Harris, with Nash a second or two behind. Vos, out of the saddle, chased the leaders hard, as the Sanne Cant attacked Ferrand-Prevot. This attack propelled them still further ahead of Vos. Another mistake from Ferrand-Prevot gave Cant a good gap, as the Frenchwoman had to clip out, and lost her grip on the bike. The shouts from the Belgian supporters were...quite loud.</p>
<p>As the riders entered the last lap, Sanne Cant led by 2 seconds from PFP, who was 5 seconds ahead of the Vos group. It truly was all to play for. Vos knew she had to catch Cant and Ferrand-Prevot, who were now back together, and rode hard at the beginning of the lap. Ferrand-Prevot moved to the front. Vos moved to the back, as Nash and Harris accelerated and the snow got heavier. Nash was pushing hard, Cant was pushing hard, Vos was in the thick of it, the crowd were going crazy! You could see the fatigue of the riders, going over the planks, they could hardly raise their legs.</p>
<p>Vos and Nash were beginning to set an even harder pace, and Harris was struggling, she began to drop back. Up front, PFP and Cant traded attacks. Nash tried to drop Vos, to avoid a sprint. up the hill, Cant had to get off, but Ferrand-Prevot continued to ride, using the barriers.</p>
<p>There was drama behind. Nash crashed, handing Vos the upper hand.</p>
<p>With 500 metres to go, Ferrand-Prevot led by 2 seconds. Marianne Vos gapped Nash. Harris was fourth. Nash went down again, losing all hope of a home medal.</p>
<p>Going onto the tarmac, Ferrand-Prevot and Cant were back together.</p>
<p>Soon after, Ferrand-Prevot launched the sprint.</p>
<p>100 metres later, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was cyclo-cross World Champion.</p>
<p></p>
<ol>
<li><span>Pauline Ferrand-Prevot</span></li>
<li><span>Sanne Cant</span></li>
<li><span>Marianne Vos</span></li>
<li><span>Nikki Harris</span></li>
<li><span>Katerina Nash</span></li>
<li><span>Lucie Chainel-Lefevre</span></li>
<li><span>Helen Wyman</span></li>
<li><span>Ellen Van Loy</span></li>
<li><span>Christine Marjerus</span></li>
<li><span>Sophie de Boer</span></li>
</ol>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/31/7956041/ferrand-prevot-wins-snowy-thrillerConor Kelly2015-01-31T07:50:02-05:002015-01-31T07:50:02-05:00CX WORLDS Women LIVE
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<p>Second and biggest event of the day, the women's race.</p> <p>With any luck we should see a more open and uncertain race than we've had in many years. The big dominants Vos & Compton are perhaps weakened and there are a host of challengers in Cant, Nash, Ferrand Prevot and Lechner. Should be a great race on a tough course that created big gaps early in this morning's junior race.</p>
<p><b>Start time: 14:00 CET</b></p>
<p><b>Video: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZw_NEs_0Mw" target="_blank">UCIChannel </a>.youtube.com/watch?v=pZw_NEs_0Mw(If another channel has rights in your country this will be blocked)</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/31/7955785/cx-worlds-women-liveJens2015-01-31T07:01:53-05:002015-01-31T07:01:53-05:00Andreassen Beats Iserbyt to Junior Rainbows
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<p>The World Championships are the only time of year when they show junior racing, and from the looks of things, we've been missing out.</p> <p>The race began with a fast start from the two Belgian favourites - Jappe Jaspers and Eli Iserbyt. They continued to lead for part of a lap, but a selection was quickly formed containing Gage Hecht (USA), Eli Iserbyt (Belgium), Max Gulickx (The Netherlands), Jappe Jaspers (Belgium), and the giant 18-year-old, Simon Andreassen (Denmark). They were being chased by Swiss Johan Jacobs. Andreassen decided that this group was far too big for his liking, and attacked near the end of the lap.</p>
<p>That attack failed to propel him ahead of the group, but he went again near on lap 2. He was never seen again.</p>
<p>By now the racing was coming from behind, as at the beginning of lap 3 he lad by 9 seconds from Iserbyt, who looked like he was beginning to struggle, falling back to the group behind, now comprising of Hecht and Gulickx after the planks. It's interesting to note here that on the planks, Andreassen was able to bunnyhop them, and Iserbyt wasn't. Now, I doubt that Iserbyt would call himself tall, exactly, and he had trouble with them, losing a LOT of time.</p>
<p>As Iserbyt was caught by Hecht's group, he seemed to start struggling even more pronouncedly. Apparently, he had the wrong tyres. "It was my decision which tyres to take. Not the crew's fault," he later said. And struggling he truly was. With two laps to go, Iserbyt was dropped again, 44" down at the finish.</p>
<p>By lap 4, Gulickx saw his chance, and attacked Hecht, but unsuccessfully. Iserbyt was behind, but gaining. He caught the group by the final lap. Andreassen, you ask? Still perfect.</p>
<p>As they crossed the line for the penultimate time, Andreassen still led, by over 40 seconds, but it was starting to heat up behind. Hecht made a mistake, and so did Gulickx, but they stayed with the group, as Iserbyt had a go. He then had a mistake, going to the back to the group. Hecht used this opportunity to attack, but he didn't get a gap either. Iserbyt attacked again, and this one looked like sticking! He brought Hecht with him, but coming onto the tarmac, the America, who looked sure of bronze, lost his pedals. And with his momentum, down the drain went his aspirations. Andreassen crossed the line ecstatic, Dannebrog aloft, while Iserbyt came in second. Third was Max Gulickx, and fourth was a disappointed Gage Hecht.</p>
<p>"I rode the perfect race," said the happy Andreassen. "This surface suits me. Technically I had an advantage." Iserbyt said yesterday that he wouldn't be happy with anything other than a win, and he did look disappointed on the podium next to the emotional Andreassen.</p>
<p>The future of our sport is bright, my friends, oh so bright.</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/31/7955763/andreassen-beats-iserbyt-to-junior-rainbowsConor Kelly2015-01-30T18:20:09-05:002015-01-30T18:20:09-05:00Worlds Watch: Is It Time For Another Champion?
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<figcaption>Patrick Verhoest</figcaption>
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<p>Marianne Vos has an unprecedented run of world championships, but chances of yet another repeat win are looking slimmer this year.</p> <p>Seven gold medals. Six consecutive world championships. Wrapping one's head around the achievements of Marianne Vos is a challenge, especially in a discipline so fraught with opportunities for bad luck, untimely flats and crashes, as cyclocross. But as Vos lines up to defend her title yet again, the odds that the world champion's stripes will adorn another rider next year are creeping up.</p>
<p>Vos certainly isn't slowing down - she is only 27, after all, and took wins at the World Cup round in Zolder and the Superprestige race in Diegem. But, since returning to cyclocross with her customary bang, Vos' results began to drop. She finished an uncharacteristic 12th in last Sunday's World Cup finale in Hoogerheide. A hamstring injury was acting up and cutting back her power output a mere six days from the biggest race of the season.</p>
<p>The battle for the top step of the podium was already getting tighter than usual this year with Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Katarina Nash, and Eva Lechner throwing their names into the hat as possible winners. What was often a presumed two-person battle between Vos and American Katie Compton now appears a five person shootout. And, with Vos' injury not completely healed, the odds of someone taking the title from her look increasingly good. Who, then, is likely to win?</p>
<h3>Katie Compton</h3>
<p>Every year is Katie Compton's chance to finally dethrone Vos, but maybe not this year. Compton is probably the most consistent racer on the cross circuit and has twice convincingly won the World Cup overall and has over 100 UCI victories to her name. Her record is even more impressive when one factors in the poor starts that plague most of Compton's races, leaving her to make up ground in the first two laps before striking out on her own. This year, however, has been a rough one for Compton, who has struggled with asthma for much of the season. Even when the condition has kept her from racing <i>au bloc</i>, she has managed to finish on several World Cup podiums. If she shows up unhindered, she could surprise and has to be a favorite to win on the power course in Tabor. However, her 21st place finish last Sunday isn't promising at all. Get better soon, Katie.</p>
<h3>Katarina Nash</h3>
<p>Of the four non-Vos contenders, Czech native Katarina Nash is the best poised to take a win. Nash's background as a mountain biker means her technical skills are phenomenal; she was noticeably faster than Vos in several tricky sections in Namur just over a month ago. But, she's raced few international cross events in the past few years, racing a low-key and sparse schedule of UCI races in the United States. But, with Worlds in her home country, she raced a few World Cup events and is holder of the most convincing victory over Vos this season with a dominant solo win in Namur. Bonus: of the five favorites, Nash is probably the most experienced on snow and has top-four finishes on partially frozen tracks in Sankt Wendel (2011) and Tabor (2010) to her name.</p>
<h3>Pauline Ferrand Prevot</h3>
<p>Vos' heir apparent on the road could very well usurp her reign in the mud-slickened world of cross too. At only 22 and already a world champion on the world, Ferrand Prevot is an astounding talent across nearly every discipline. She is the reigning French champion in road, time trial, cyclocross, and cross country mountain biking. Phew. Oh, and she won Flèche Wallonne and finished the Giro d'Italia Feminine in second overall this year. But, this year has been the year PFP really made an impact in cyclocross. She took second in Hasselt, Overijse, and Diegem in December and also notched third place finishes at the World Cup events in Zolder and Namur. Though an excellent mountain biker - often the only woman in a race to bunny-hop the barriers - she has seemed to slip up technically a little more than her competitors. Nash looks stronger now, but PFP does look better than Vos and a slick, frozen course will favor her power.</p>
<h3>Eva Lechner</h3>
<p>A full-time cross country racer, Lechner appears in January every year to take a few high profile results. Last year it was leading for most of the first lap at Worlds before finishing second; this year, Lechner hit the front in the first lap at Hoogerheide last Sunday and rode to a convincing solo win. She's superb technically, though I'm guessing she will not fare quite as well in Tabor on a flatter, less challenging course. Though she'll surely shred the descent, I'm not sure if she will have the power to distance Nash on a faster course.</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/1/30/7954077/worlds-watch-is-it-time-for-another-championDouglas Ansel