Worlds

[Astrid Wingler]

While it would be nice to see Vos and F-P in a few more CX races, I see no reason why the strongest riders shouldn't be allowed to compete at the end of the season. Nor having the strongest possible field for the women's race in the worlds may be more damaging to the sport than a world champion who misses some of the world cup races.
Nikki Harris seems to be perfectly OK with having been beaten by Vos and F-P. She knows that she's no match for them on the road, so was pleased to have been able to mix with them in a cyclocross race. If Cant, as a CX specialist, doesn't win, maybe that's because overall as a bike rider she isn't quite up there with F-P. It wasn't as if F-P used road tactics to beat Cant. F-P was at the front coming onto the tarmac section, so Cant had the better position for the sprint.

[StevenDrew]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cant-hi ... art-timers

Was this her "rant"? If so, I have sympathy for her view. Not to detract from the efforts of Vos, PFP, etc but the Euro CX season starts somewhere like Ronse in September, not Namur in December. Obviously, it would be difficult (read impossible) for the road riders to race a full CX season, I accept that. But if the sport is to grow then it would be helpful to see the rainbow bands a bit more often whether it be in Europe (Belgium) or the US.

PFP rode a great race so chapeau to her. But I was cheering madly for Sanne and disappointed she didn't take the win.

They are clearly entitled to do whatever they like. But I still subscribe to the above view that it would help the sport grow if more riders (and the rainbow bands) were seen at more races.

[Astrid Wingler]

They are clearly entitled to do whatever they like. But I still subscribe to the above view that it would help the sport grow if more riders (and the rainbow bands) were seen at more races.

Sorry I'm in an argumentative mood today. This is what I think the options are:

1. The best female (and male) road riders do a full road season (plus maybe mtb), followed by a full CX season. In this case, they may end up too fatigued to be good at any discipline. A great waste of talent and not good for competitive cycling in general.
2. They decide that they really love CX above everything else and cut back on road racing. Not very realistic as they get much more exposure on the road (believe it or not, CX is a niche interest of Belgians and weirdos like us).
3. They decide that, even though they like CX and are bloody good at it, they shouldn't interfere with anyone else's chances at the world champs. That would reduce the publicity CX gets and would make the race much less interesting as there would be less competition at the top end.
4. They do a full road season, have a bit of time off and then come back to see how they compare against the CX specialists, and thereby give the sport a bit more exposure. What's so bad about this?

[Chris Clague]

At the risk of being controversial, do we think cycling has too many world champions? I think that cheapens the rainbow jersey more than anything else.

[Astrid Wingler]

I don't think it's a problem to have world champions in different cycling disciplines. However, I don't think national or world champions jerseys in various veteran age groups help, especially not for all the different track races.

[StevenDrew]

It's absolutely fine, Astrid. They are absolutely fine to do whatever they want. If PFP had arrived in the Dovetail on Thursday evening I'd have happily treated her like royalty and bought her a Tripel Karmeliet. I'd have bought her two of I'd thought it would have got her to the start line in Lille today but should didn't even bother doing that so I'd be asking for it back.

Her achievement is incredible and I doff my cap in her direction. However, in terms of creating further interest in cyclocross, it is my opinion that it could help to have the rainbow bands on the start line at Ronse in September and a few other races throughout the season. I wonder how many people turned up to watch in Lille today and went back to the beer tent during the women's race because the world champ wasn't there. She's a great cyclist but I don't think she and a few others are helping.

[Chris Clague]

I think the veteran thing probably nails it. Maybe one champion per discipline would be ok, but it's crazy the number of jerseys there are. This year as much as any highlights it when the elite champ is younger than the U23 world champ. Add in the World Cup to that and it's a whole lot of 'worlds'. Who's the best?

[Astrid Wingler]

Agree that the world champion should definitely do a few post-champs CX races (or at least show up in the Dovetail)!