Jens Dekker

I'm not going to go point-by-point but to claim there's hardly any team work in cyclocross is a fairly ignorant point-of-view. So many examples. You can't do as much as on the road but you can absolutely do something.

Final thought: What a way it would be to secure goodwill and therefore the help of your strongest team mate in the spring classics by doing your best to help him get a better result, maybe even a win in a World Cup. Instead this is an excellent way to destroy that goodwill

Missed out on a 2nd place in Benidorm though.

Yeah, the point is that in Benidorm he could have taken Del Grosso along to a second place. His actions don't make a difference to the win for the team but it has made a very clear difference for Del Grosso's results.

If I were Del Grosso I would not think twice about closing a gap to Van der Poel at Worlds next week. Not even if Nys were on the wheel, for instance. If you're going to ride against me why would I try to help you?

I am frankly puzzled as to why he would do this. He has the legs to be able to chill and help his team mates without sabotaging his own race, but right now he's riding like his team mate is his biggest competitor.

In Benidorm he attacked from the wheel of Del Grosso as though he was his biggest competitor. In Maasmechelen he worked very, very hard to drop Del Grosso when there was no one else on the wheel. In Hoogerheide Del Grosso has a gap and VDP attacks across, pretty much bringing a non-teammate across

Generally in cycling, in whatever discipline, team mates try to work together. If the team 'leader' has the opportunity to help their team mates they usually do it. In the last 3 races, Mathieu van der Poel has pretty much screwed over his closest team mate Tibor Del Grosso #CXWorldCup

Right, the lap where she was 'struggling' to the lap where she attacked was a difference of 35 seconds in lap time 😅

Aaaand Brand's gone anyway. It was fun while it lasted

If you had told me at the start of the season that halfway through the Benidorm World Cup women's race, 2 weeks out from Worlds, there would be 4 non-Dutch riders in the lead group with 3 Dutch women struggling to even hold the wheel I would be sceptical to say the least. Yet here we are #CXWorldCup

Just finished watching Dutch nationals. Amazed about the Belgian champion! Really unexpected return! @cyclocross24.bsky.social

Have to admit I'm a little freaked out by the emerging global conflict and the lack of ordinary people freaking out about it

What happened?

Jolanda Neff races Namur CX World Cup! Neff hasn't got the form she had the last time she raced 'cross but I always enjoy a race with her in it. Sure to bring some excitement even if it won't be for the win (probably)

That's some quality research. I stand corrected 😅

Not insane to be prescribed something age 13 and not think twice about it when going to international competitions. Wouldn't be the first time.

In my far-fetched explanation scenario this would be a 'clueless junior doesn't even realize he's committing a doping-offense' situation rather than a 'young athlete knowingly tries to cheat' situation. I don't know much about the state of mental health care in Azerbaijan

Now the issue is that as an athlete you should be up to speed with the doping rules so it really isn't an excuse, just an explanation.

I think some form of speed is legit prescribed to people with ADHD. Not a stretch to think it might be this. Of course it could also be good old-fashioned doping. Just saying there is a slight possibility there's a less shady reason for the positive test.

Contender for best off-camber section of the year at the VAM-berg Cross tomorrow. Only youth (up to u17) sadly. Hopefully we can get a UCI race again next year 🤞

The time of the year has come at which I'm checking 5 different weather forecasts to plan training sessions... 2 degrees and rain next week. 🥶

Er zijn Tweede Kamerverkiezingen en ik heb alweer, voor de derde keer op rij, gestemd op @lisawesterveld.bsky.social. Nog geen seconde spijt gehad, dus waarom zou ik iets anders kiezen?

CDA-leider Bontenbal: religieus onderwijs mag botsen met grondrecht van gelijkheid Dat religieuze scholen homoseksuele relaties afwijzen, is volgens CDA-leider Henri Bontenbal nu eenmaal een gevolg van de vrijheid van onderwijs. Daar wil hij niet aan tornen. "Een andere mening doet ...

Nou nee, dat mag niet.

Een school moet een veilige plek zijn voor álle leerlingen. Dat staat ook in de wet. Het afwijzen van homoseksuele relaties geeft de boodschap dat iemand niet zichzelf mag zijn.

Dat mag niet én is ronduit schadelijk.

nos.nl/nieuwsuur/co...

Oh man, 20 riders left and Widar is isolated. No way he'll solve this by himself, either some team mates come back and control it for another two laps or Widar will not win this race. Very complicated situation they've created for themselves.

The Belgian tactic seems to be 'if we make it controlled but hard race Jarno Widar will win in the final lap' and I fully respect the guts to send 4 guys to Rwanda just to support your one favourite. Don't often see that at a World Championship.

Given that you're in Norway I suggest a pair of ski's!

Yeah, obviously, but if Canyon choose not to speak out against this and therefore implicitly support this use of their bikes I'm happier without one of them

Obviously a brand has a right to support and sponsor anyone they like... Just like I have a right to not buy from said brand for any reason I like and I think this is a pretty good one

I'll be in the market for buying a new cyclocross bike at the end of this winter (my current one is over the hill in multiple ways). Canyon would be near the top of the list, but I probably won't choose to buy from a brand which supports racists.