CX World Championship Men Elite

Today I went to a friend together with a lot of cyclocrossfans and watched the Men elite World Championship. Great atmosphere but not so great race. Was a crash in the beginning. Mathieu Van der Poel attacked in the beginning and then everyone raced around 8 laps. Mathieu Van der Poel won. After it was a sprint with Wout Van Aert and Lars Van Der Haar. Van Aert came second, Van Der Haar 3rd.

The women elite was much more exciting.

So no pictures from the race but got a picture on the bike that was supposed to win. Zdenek Stybars Specialized Crux. Pink, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and FSA components like they are sponsored with this year. And Roval Rapide CLX40 wheels:

One thing is a bit strange. When Stybar raced for Telenet-Fidea he used a FSA Plasma handlebar, the same when he started in Omega Pharma-Quick Step on his Eddy Merckx. But now a regular stem and handlebar.

New: Tune Türnstange

New year, new bar, same name but straight and no riser this year. Got it from Tune Sverige as last time. A 750mm Tune Türnstange shortened to 720mm:

Shortening it 3cm only saved 2g så really light bar 🙂 And great looking. It’s really hard to find a lighter and better handlebar for 1500SEK as this one costs too if you want to have a wider handlebar than 700mm.

And a picture of the new men U23 CX World Champion, Michael Vanthourenhout:

CX World Championships Women Elite

Felt sorry for Eva Lechner today. Hoped that she would win but instead she crashed on the first muddy corner after Nikkie Harris changed line. Her derailleur hanger broke so had to run far to the pits and change bike. Then she showed her form with setting the best laptimes, ended 31st 😦 Impressive to not give up!

Lucie Chainel-Lefevre was in front in the beginning and sat the pace. After was the winning group chasing with riders like Sanne Cant, Marianne Vos, Katerina Nash, Nikki Harris and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. Became a group in the front after a couple of laps but it was two riders who had a bit more power and technical skills than the others. One that at least I didn’t expect.

Sanne Cant and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot showed the fight of the day and Cant showed that she really found the shape in the right moment. Usually she is at the top 5 when all favourites are together but never in front in the end. Today she was and showed a pure cyclocrossers skills.

But Pauline Ferrand-Prevot didn’t let Can pass on the finish straight and took another world champion jersey from Marianne Vos:

Behind there was a fight between Marianne Vos, Katerina Nash and Nikki Harris. Nash had to much pressure and pushed the limit a bit far on the last lap and crashed a couple of times. Marianne Vos raced like a legend does and ended 3rd. Would be odd to miss the podium on a World Championships.

Top 10:

The three fastest CX women in the world!

And did you notice Marianne Vos shoes? I was noticing her class with high white socks but she also got shoes I’ve never seen before. It looks like a pair of Specialized Stumpy II but on the outside it says LIV. That’s classy 😀 And what I’ve seen Marianne Vos is the women with highest class in cycling.

Don’t miss the men elite tomorrow at 14.00

Preview of the CX World Championship

Today the World Championship in Cyclocross starts in Tabor, Czech Republic. Women elite starts 14.00 and here is track preview with Eva Lechner who I hope will win:

The Queen of Hoogerheide

After following women’s CX and XC racing it’s great to see development. Really happy about the results CX results in Hoogerheide today. Eva Lechner has been the Italian champion for some years and done some CXraces, been top 5 in the end. But today she stepped up with her first World Cup win!

And not just a World Cup but the one with all the favourites and everyone wants to find their shape to next weekends World Championship. Everyone is aiming for a good result but just one can be on the top. Marianne Vos didn’t seem to have the legs today and Katie Compton had some problems breathing. Katerina Nash ended 2nd and Pauline Ferrand Prevot 3rd:

Sanne Cant also did a great performance today and ended 4th which helped her win this  seasons World Cup.

I’ve also been trying to find some shape today and was out training with CK Valhall this morning, Carl-Johan took a picture of the rest of us before we left:

Map and stats here: Movescount

Zdenek Stybar är världsbäst!

Nu är han verkligen bäst. Efter ha tagit hem världscupen förra helgen så vann han VM idag! På hemmabanan i Tabor. Grattis!

1. Zdenek Stybar

2. Klaas Vanturnout

3. Sven Nys

4. Martin Bina

Mer om VM på Cyclingnews.

Marianne Vos vann VM igen

Idag avgörs VM i cykelcross för eliten. Damerna har nyss kört och Marianne Vos tog hem det igen. Med 45 sekunder ner till Hanka Kupfernagel. Daphny Van den Brand kom in som 3a.

Klockan 14 börjar herrarnas tävling där jag hoppas Zdenek Stybar tar hem det före Magnus Darvell. Niels Albert 3a och Sven Nys 4a. Vem tror ni kommer ta hem det idag?

Sändningen finns att se på

http://bvls-feed.blogspot.com/2009/11/ch-5.html

http://bvls-feed.blogspot.com/2009/11/ch-3.html