Nijs Triumphs

Nijs started out the new season right where he left off ealier this year. He took his first scalp in Erpe-Mere without trouble, riding away from the front group just over half-way to win by 30 seconds or so.
Many of the big riders were present although some top riders like Groenendaal, Dlask, Vannoppen and Wellens were not there.

Some of you might remember Wellen's trying to take off a drunk annoying spectator's head last year in Overijse. Apparently they got around to suspending him and he won't be racing until October.


It was the Czech former U23 World Champion Stybar who opened the festivities on a dry, fast course and gapped the other runners. Nijs easily closed the gap to him in one effort bringing up othe riders like De Kneght, Arnouts, Albert. They were shortly joined by Vervecken, Heule and Vanthourenhout. Nijs and Stybar took turns setting the pace until Nijs' decisive attack with 4 laps to go. In the chase group De Kneght crashed heavily on the hard ground and had to withdraw from the race with back pain but no broken bones. Stybar was able to outsprint Vervecken for the minor podium places. Page wasn't able to make the front group and eventually finished 10th.

I found these on Nijs' website. This is how the best crosser in the world rolls.

Notice that symbol in the corner of those pictures. It's Sven's new symbol. At least he's keeping his name and not just becoming a symbol like Prince.

The Euro cyclocross season proper opens this weekend in Erpe-Mere. Will Nijs dominate the season again only to royally fuck-up at worlds as he has a history of doing? Will Wellens regain the super-form he had a couple of seasons ago and at least give Nijs a run for his money? Last year was the first time since I started following cross that it wasn't all Belgiums all the time. Well maybe that is an exaggeration but other than Pontoni and Groenendaal I can't remember too many non-Belgiums riding at the front of big races on a regular basis. Last year the resurgent De Knegt and Dlask were there most of the time, and some of the usual Belgium suspects like Vannoppen and Commeyne and to a lesser extent Vanthourenhout seemed to be in search of the plot most of the season. Franzoi will carry the Italian flag but like last year he again has spent a long season on the road and his cross season may well suffer as it did last year. Hopefully Gadret's success at the Giro this year won't pull him away from cross. He along with Mourey and Chainel could probably further cut into the dominance of the Belgiums and make a name for France in cross like the Czechs have done if they would go north and race the big races regularly. I wrote Page off a few years ago as always being second tier, but he has continually improved by small amounts. He appears to be poised to finally ride at the front of big races regularly if he can just find that little bit extra.

Unfortunately they extended my favorite cross racer's doping suspension from the original 18 months he was originally given to the normal 2 years, so he won't be turning any pedals in anger until January. He was an angry guy before he should be really pissed now. Looks like Berden has been spending most of the forced lay-off due to his indiscriminate use of EPO getting some ink.
What is it with Euros and not wearing helmets? I'm no helmet Nazi and will ride without one when I think the chance of crashing is small but no one over there ever wears one unless the UCI is forcing them to. Looks like Berden has been working out with the Rabobank crossers.

You'd think those guys would be pissed at him for cheating, seeing as to date he's the only cross rider to run afoul of the UCI doping rules. That is, unless you count all the shit they found in De Clerq's house. Maybe the other riders aren't pissed at him because he wasn't doing anything that they're not doing themselves?

Good talk from Vinokourov

What a Vuelta! Yesterday Vinokourov attacked repeatedly trying to shake Valverde but to no avail. He even had Sastre dropped at one point but then refused to cooperate with Valverde. When Valverde asked him to work so that they could gain time on everyone else Vinokourov refused afterwards saying, "Valverde asked me to make the pace, but I said to him that I would not and that I was only interested in attacking him." That's good shit, no riding for second only for the win.

Today was one of the better races I can recall seeing. The final mountain top crested some 18k from the finish, too far to really shake up the GC. That is, unless the favorites threw caution to the wind and attacked the piss out of one another. Sastre fired the first salvo, Valverde even went on the offensive, but it was Kashechkin and Marchante who escaped. In the closing kms of the climb Vinokourov was finally able to land a body shot and get away from Valverde to join his teammate and the Spanaird in their escape. Valverde wasn't tailed off by too much and made a great descent on the upper technical slopes of the mountain. Just as he was about to rejoin the 3 escapees however Vinokourov went away, or at least Kashechkin opened a gap and let him ride away. No worries, they were on big wide roads now, going downhill, how much time could Vino gain? How about over a minute and half to take the Gold jersey. Unreal! Somehow Vino was cranking out so much power he was gaining 5-10 seconds per kilometre going 50-70 kph downhill. No skill involved just pure power riding downhill. Seemingly inexplicably Marchante refused to help Valverde in the chase until it was too late. I'm sure the Spanish press are going to rip him a new asshole tonight.

It didn't help Valverde's cause when Vinokourov caught Danielson who had been in the day-long break and Danielson cooperated, ensuring his first big stage win in Europe as Vino didn't contest the finish. Finally the last two stages Danielson has shown that he can play his part in big time European races. Valverde looked knackered at the end and was sucking down what looked like Spanish Red Bull after the finish. Now only 9 seconds separate the killer V's with one big mountain top finish tomorrow and a short TT on Saturday to decide the winner.