LukeG

The Radio 4 report this afternoon of the 5 month old Palestinian being starved to death by Israel’s siege was too much to bear. Harrowing.

EU may accept 12-month work visas for ‘youth experience’ scheme with UK Exclusive: Post-Brexit plan would allow British and European 18- to 30-year-olds to travel and work freely

This is an outrage. 17 million of my compatriots voted to worsen the lives of our young people. How dare they consider broadening their cultural horizons & enriching their existence www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

From £40 a year with GCN+ to £371 within the space of a year, this is going to be absolutely terrible for the sport in the UK

“It can’t just be about medals”: British Cycling under fire for “disgraceful, sexist” failure to send elite women’s squad – including national champion Xan Crees – to cyclocross world champs, but gove... No British riders will represent Great Britain in the elite women’s and men’s U23 categories in Liévin, France, sparking a debate about inclusivity and representation

“Don’t even mention budget. Send our national champion”
road.cc/312265 #cycling

Avoiding the cash float I get, but surely the pre-pay card scanner is the same as a card machine. Sneaking suspicion is that nobody ever finishes their card & many can’t be bothered with queuing to have it credited back (if this is even possible)

Why do you have to queue up and buy an annoying little card to buy beer at CX races?

Standert Kreissage RS. My crit bike but set up for a long day out in Mallorca

Fairlight Holt XC bike

Rock Lobster. Columbus Max and lightweight bits.

Standert Pfadfinder, gravel bike

Here’s a few of them. Missing an Enduro bike, couple of fixed gear bikes and a commuter

Another Thibau Nys pick here, should be pretty motivated after losing out in the final corners at Diegem

A bit overwhelmed with love for the NHS. Our little boy has been a bit unwell and they’ve got him out and home on Christmas Eve. They’ve even given him and his brother a present for Christmas Day

Strange how it doesn’t quite seem to translate sometimes. Puck’s results on the road are ahead of Fem’s (so far) despite how strong the world champ was all last winter season

Wout’s sitting at home with a pack of mince pies very glad that he called in sick for work on Monday #cyclocross

Worried that Thibaut was going to do an Alaphilippe there but still had plenty by the line. Great battling from Toon Aerts & Wyseure for the podium

Ah great, MVDP hasn’t started doing intervals yet so should be lapping the whole field by worlds #cyclocross

Namur was the right race to pick to go watch last week, grim in Hulst yesterday and hail in Zonhoven today. Conditions on the sofa are perfect #cyclocross

Zoe Backstedt absolutely flying in Zonhoven today but Brand keeps getting quicker

Cam Mason must have been flying at Hulst today, every time his name popped up he was up 3 places. Shame we didn’t see him until the end #cyclocross

We were at Namur last weekend, it’s a great day out

Namur or Zonhoven. Will probably go to Benidorm next year because it’s warm though

I’d heard that they were hamstrung in the transfer window by some legacy contracts plus performance related contractual increases in TP’s contract. Most of that will be solved now but there’s nowhere to spend it unless Van Gils hasn’t signed on the dotted line yet

Lots of speculation about where Pidcock will end up but how do Ineos Grenadiers win in 2025?

A quiet transfer season & both TP and Narvaez off at the end of the season. This must free up a fair bit of budget but who is left without a contract tie this late in the year?

But what does this mean for the Christmas CX period??

Pidcock has been elsewhere in Spain further north this week. Source: my mate that spotted him 😂

Cheers, followed both & your Hackney starter pack. Thanks for the hard work!

An advent calendar, for an adult

😬

Have just read that back and didn’t mean to imply anything dodgy, once she hits form she’s a step above. Marie Schreiber also super strong today, absolutely flying particularly in the opening of the race

Fem Van Empel’s been on a training camp & is head and shoulders above everybody else once again. Think we have to wait until Namur to see if anyone can challenge her this season

A fine glass of Beaujolais Nouveau

Been feeling under the weather for a few weeks. Couple of glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau last night and I’m feeling way better today. I’m not saying it’s an elixir for what ails ya but might as well mark 20th November 2025 in your diary just in case

Happy Beaujolais Nouveau day to all those who celebrate

Enjoy, Namur CX is quite the party!

We loved Cafe du Centre opposite the Christmas market after last years race in Namur. Very, very old school (one beer on tap) but the locals and patrons were super social and hugely welcoming. Great to see some of the other recs here for this years trip