http://www.cxmagazine.com/2013-cyclocross-world-championships-video-keith-walberg

Nice 5 minute Video that takes it all in...

 look for sexy fans @ 3:15

Whole lotta sexy there...

I think its the hats

Hotlist is angry. Sort of. He finally got around to watching Elite Women's CX World's today on the YouBoob. And Katie Compton's finishing straight gesture to the crowd to get them to cheer her on really kind of irritated me. You know, in that way, when you know someone with a lot of talent who just wastes it one way or another.

I mean, Vos was unbeatable that day, but christ, K.C. should have been able to make her sweat for at least a few laps. But no...she gets some lazy-ass start, loses 30 seconds in the first lap, spends the entire race working her way up through from 8th or so, to 2nd. And then wants a big cheer from the crowd at her finish. I'm sorry (no I'm not) but hotlist doesn't cheer for you unless you've laid it all out there and done your very best.

It's like she's gone to the Jonathan Page school of self-sabatoge or something...

At first I thought she got caught up in the big pile-up...but no, I don't think so. Just another lousy start. Marianne f'n Vos is next to you on the start line...you better bring your mother f'n A-game. Vos did. She doesn't even race that many cross races and she new enough to be at the front, with just one or two folks in front of her before she dropped the Double Dutch Hammer.

Is that code for spending the month of December doping in S. Africa?

Watching the replay of Elite men's, I saw the start list.

Zoltan Tisza? Really? Local park racer. Dude did 3 races in 2012. Well, he didn't finish last! Go Hungary!

I s tempted top get Croatia to send me.

Bump! Remember the last time CX Worlds were held in the USA and the crowd booed the UCI President? 

Cross worlds is a zoo. So much awesome

here are some pics to wet your appetite for stories to come

The LVDH shot is Fire !

Kind of bummed in that I ended up cancelling the World trip .
But still enjoyed the racing all weekend , each race had its own tactical nuisances ,made for fun viewing, Great to See Pidcock win ( and whip the jump) and couldn't ask for more than LVDH getting silver also.
 

Guess who flew to NYC with us in coach? Yeah, Ineos is too cheap for First class and a comb! LOL

Mark Taylor said:

Kind of bummed in that I ended up cancelling the World trip .
But still enjoyed the racing all weekend , each race had its own tactical nuisances ,made for fun viewing, Great to See Pidcock win ( and whip the jump) and couldn't ask for more than LVDH getting silver also.
 

I feel you on that one! I had the plane reserved and up until about dinnertime on Friday it looked like it would be clear sailing. Damn the northlands' icy air!

Once the men's race got going, I want to see Venturini take the thing.  When Pidcock attacked, I was thinking he'd draw the Belgians out, and give LvdH an Venturini an opportunity to sit on the train and then attack the Belgians.  Alas.  

Great ride by Pidcock.  I bet LvdH was kicking himself for waiting so long.  

@PatrickGrehan  did you get an autograph?

Pidcock road the 1st couple of laps very smart, Belgium kind of self imploded ,with an on form Toon Aerts and Quentin Hermans it might of been harder to mark the moves , but you could see he was closing them well with in him self ,
I was happy !

PatrickGrehan said:

Guess who flew to NYC with us in coach? Yeah, Ineos is too cheap for First class and a comb! LOL

They spent the flight money on that sweatshirt 

PatrickGrehan said:

Guess who flew to NYC with us in coach? Yeah, Ineos is too cheap for First class and a comb! LOL

MAN OF THE PEOPLE!

The Men's race was super interesting, for many reasons I suppose... Pidcock attack as Eli was a few riders behind and with a foot down on that off camber moment. Lars showed incredible smarts by sitting in while the Belgians and Venturini chaotically chased. It is likely that Eli was actually stronger than Lars, but Eli burned so many matches in that fruitless chaotic chasing of Pidcock. 

 Curtis White was full hardcore racing the second group, he just looked amazing, he belonged among the Euros... Brummer worked too, but basically raced himself out of the group.

Worth note, the USA USA USA USA USA chants while anyone with a USA kit rode by were stunning -- this was for every field obvs. For us spectating it was easy to tell when an US rider was approaching, but imagine this from the perspective of the racer!!

Hardcore cheers for literally everyone regardless of where they were on the field, Vincent Baestaens clearly hit the deck and likely one of the wood poles, he was visibly shaken and bloody around his left eye but kept racing -- the cheers for him were possibly louder than for Pidcock.

Worth note: Felipe Nystrom from Costa Rica, who knew would be dropped and lapped and just enjoyed every moment, prioritized fun, and, pre-post race, said hi to every rider and possibly every fan out there, still pedaling full blast balls to the wall during the race... etc... etc... etc...

Post race, Felipe was having dinner in the same bbq spot we were, recommended by local Max Thorn, Felipe heard us talking about the race and came over to say hi in the most hilarious way... etc... etc... etc...

turns out Baestaens got a concussion and had to be told the race was over.

James Reeder said:

turns out Baestaens got a concussion and had to be told the race was over.

I can't find the Chris Horner video but it sounds identical.

So many great stories form the CX Worlds trip. Here are a few highlights:



The fans were in full force. Clear hardcore Belgian and Dutch fans everywhere. Now you know what to do with your old carbon wheels!



I would not have recognized Thibau Nys if Dan MacMahon hadn't pointed him out to me




At one point during the men's elite race I commented to this couple that Venturini was making "Voeckler" pain faces. We started chatting in French and it turned out they were Belgian fans whose son Joran Wyseure had won the U23 race the day before! Proud parents



This guy is apparently a 9 time world champion. People were enthusiastically wanting to have him do tricks over them. Having seen him make a few mistakes before hand added to the drama




I originally saw this "hillbilly" on the jumbotron and thought he might be a cardboard cutout as he didn't move. When I saw him live I saw he would maintain the pose for the television cameras. I notice he is wearing a RIDE wrist band which is a local organization that supports Trans kids. Subtle protest?



Jim looks worried that Beasteans is racing with a concussion. We didn't see the crash, but he was riding so well that you couldn't tell anything was wrong



Hard racing didn't stop racers from having fun



The vibe at the stair area was amazing, especially as you came though the tunnel into it



Guess even the pros roll tubulars! This German racer rolled her front tubular on the top of the stairs and was bracing herself to run down the steep  descent to make it back to the pits



The American riders were on full display warming up before the mens' elite race. Most of them looked a little uncomfortable



With no parking at the venue we had to take shuttle busses back and forth to the County Fairgrounds. Each trip was an adventure in itself. This one was in a Party Bus with neon lights and blacked out windows in what had once been a school bus



We didn't wear any funny hats or outfits, but we had an awesome time (along with the Feehan brothers) and are already planning on going to Worlds in the Netherlands next year

A few of my favorite race photos from Sunday



Swiss coach screaming at eventual Junior Men race winner



The Junior men were impressive



Maddie Munro was on fire



Shirin stuck to Puck like glue



Puck made one of her few errors but was later able to overtake van Empel



The French had a strong showing this weekend and 4th place Burquier was the first non-dutch racer in U23



Always step ahead



Pidcock ran the stairs SO FAST



Not a step wrong



Curtis White was clearly giving it his all Sunday and put on a great show

Guys…great weekend but some unfortunate info to share. I tested positive for Covid today. Sore throat and cough. Doc said unlikely to get any worse given that I am vaccinated and boosted but in theory all who interacted with me were exposed. My symptoms started Monday night/Tuesday am? So far my brothers have had no problem- hoping the same for all of you. Please share with anyone who was at Penguin Ed’s, in car etc. Sorry. Jim Feehan

Jim - no worries. No one else is positive (yet) that I know. Hope your symptoms remain minimal

A few more photos:

I will contribute some more Arkansas specific content.

Ghosts of cyclocross past at the venue

And day beer