WC Cyclocross 2004 picks

[email hidden] (Kenny) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

1. Bart Wellens
2. Mario De Clercq
3. Ben Berden

Wellens (and Nys and Berden) is past his peak but still is able to win given how great his form is
this year, but I don't think he will win worlds.

If the course is fast as predicted than De Clerq wins due to his sprint and smart tactical riding
(i.e. wheel sucking).

If the course is heavy due to the weather than Groenendaal finally spoils the Belgian party. He is
coming to form just at the right time following his slow start due to injury.

[email hidden] (Wayne) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Kenny) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

1. Bart Wellens
2. Mario De Clercq
3. Ben Berden

Wellens (and Nys and Berden) is past his peak but still is able to win given how great his form is
this year, but I don't think he will win worlds.

Hehe, don't believe that. On advice of his trainer he didn't touch his bike for a whole week and
still managed to win the WC-stage in Nommay last sunday. So he is definitely not over his peak.

Quoted message said:

Hehe, don't believe that. On advice of his trainer he didn't touch his bike for a whole week and
still managed to win the WC-stage in Nommay last sunday. So he is definitely not over his peak.

Sure he is, he's been saying so himself for about a month now. He's just that much better than all
the other riders this year that even on the down slope of his peak he's still winning. Plus his main
competition of Nys and Berden were also riding better earlier in the year. Wellens was winning races
by several minutes earlier in the year and is not nearly so dominant now.

(Kenny) said:

1. Bart Wellens
2. Mario De Clercq
3. Ben Berden

What's the difference between the Belgian Championship and the WC? Is there any sense in organizing
"World" contests about a specialty that is nowadays raced at top level in just one country?

[email hidden] (Davide Tosi) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Kenny) said:

1. Bart Wellens
2. Mario De Clercq
3. Ben Berden

What's the difference between the Belgian Championship and the WC? Is there any sense in
organizing "World" contests about a specialty that is nowadays raced at top level in just one
country?

Don't be so downbeat just because Pontoni is a has been, Franzoi looks promising for you Italians.
Unfortunately I don't think there is anyone on the horizon for us Americans.

Quoted message said:

Don't be so downbeat just because Pontoni is a has been, Franzoi looks promising for you Italians.
Unfortunately I don't think there is anyone on the horizon for us Americans.

How can you say the ITALIAN cross scene looks promising, but that the US does not? Franzoi is the
only rider they have who is any good. Page has beaten him before, and they usually finish near one
another in races, going back a couple years. Franzoi has had a couple great worlds/world cup results
and is younger then JP, for sure he is a big talent.

I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that himself. He has had alot of bad luck (seven broken
derailleur hangers this season) but he has alot more in him, and is progressing strongly each
season. He only turned 27 in September.

Then look at the other US riders, like Trebon, etc. who are coming up.
They can seriously challenge JP, and if they head over to europe and
get past the experience thing, Trebon in particular could easily be a
force in World level cross in say 4-5 years. He would only be 27!!!

Jesse Anthony, Adam Craig, if he focused on cross, Jackson Stewart, hell, we have a couple of realy
good looking Junior riders who, if in Belgium for a couple seasons, could likely be groomed into big
race winners.

Staying over here racing against themselves, yah, alot of talent wont develop to that level, but
steps are being taken by Proctor and USA Cycling, etc. to help the younger guys get over there. You
have to get them used to it at 17, 18, 20, whatever. It takes years to develop success in Europe.

We are not there yet, but things are pointing in the right direction. Give it a couple seasons
before you stick a fork in USA Cross. You may even still be surprised this season.

J

jerry said:

I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that himself.

I had a crew mate who really could do that. Well, carry on.

[email hidden] (Wayne) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Davide Tosi) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Kenny) said:

1. Bart Wellens
2. Mario De Clercq
3. Ben Berden

What's the difference between the Belgian Championship and the WC? Is there any sense in
organizing "World" contests about a specialty that is nowadays raced at top level in just one
country?

Don't be so downbeat just because Pontoni is a has been, Franzoi looks promising for you Italians.
Unfortunately I don't think there is anyone on the horizon for us Americans.

The french have some future with Gadret, Lefebvre and Mourey. I also count on Pospisil, Dlask and
Jezek for a top-10 place.

[email hidden] (jerry) wrote: "I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that himself.
He has had alot of bad luck (seven broken derailleur hangers this season)..."

mon dieu!!!!!!!!
<G>e-RICHIE

On 01/23/2004 12:26 PM, in article
[email hidden], "jerry"

Quoted message said:

I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that himself. He has had alot of bad luck (seven
broken derailleur hangers this season) but he has alot more in him, and is progressing strongly
each season. He only turned 27 in September.

Never would have happened on the steel frames he used to ride ...

--
Steven L. Sheffield stevens at veloworks dot com veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net bellum
pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti
ay aitch aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you double-yew double-ewe
dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

"richard sachs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (jerry) wrote: "I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that
himself. He has had alot of bad luck (seven broken derailleur hangers this season)..."

Dumbass -

The first one is bad luck. So is the 2nd.

The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are stupidity.

Use a stronger hanger. If there isn't one commercially available, then machine a stronger one.
Vertical mills are capable of more than just mitering tubes.

Or, even easier - weld on some gussets.

On 01/24/2004 05:21 PM, in article
[email hidden], "Kurgan Gringioni"

Quoted message said:

"richard sachs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (jerry) wrote: "I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that
himself. He has had alot of bad luck (seven broken derailleur hangers this season)..."

Dumbass -

The first one is bad luck. So is the 2nd.

The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are stupidity.

Use a stronger hanger. If there isn't one commercially available, then machine a stronger one.
Vertical mills are capable of more than just mitering tubes.

Or, even easier - weld on some gussets.

Dumberass!

"Jerry" (JP's webmaster) wrote the above attributed quote, not Richard Sachs. You should learn to
edit better.

JP used to ride one of Richie's steel frames, and never had a frame-related mechanical. Now he's
riding for Selle Italia-Guerciotti ... So if anyone is a dumbass, it's Signor Guerciotti for not
designing a better frame.

--
Steven L. Sheffield stevens at veloworks dot com veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net bellum
pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti
ay aitch aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you double-yew double-ewe
dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

"Steven L. Sheffield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 01/24/2004 05:21 PM, in article [email hidden], "Kurgan

Gringioni said:

"richard sachs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (jerry) wrote: "I am not trying to blow JP's horn, he can do that
himself. He has had alot of bad luck (seven broken derailleur hangers this season)..."

Dumbass - The first one is bad luck. So is the 2nd. The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are
stupidity.

Use a stronger hanger. If there isn't one commercially available, then

machine

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a stronger one. Vertical mills are capable of more than just mitering

tubes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Or, even easier - weld on some gussets.

Dumberass!

"Jerry" (JP's webmaster) wrote the above attributed quote, not Richard Sachs. You should learn to
edit better.

JP used to ride one of Richie's steel frames, and never had a

frame-related

Quoted message said:

mechanical. Now he's riding for Selle Italia-Guerciotti ... So if anyone

is

Quoted message said:

a dumbass, it's Signor Guerciotti for not designing a better frame.

Guerciottis are extremely light in order to be competitive in a modern European CX. Broken hangers
are all part of super light construction. Though I have to agree with Henry that by the third time
you'd stop tripping over the barriers and landing on the bike.

Tom Kunich said:

Guerciottis are extremely light in order to be competitive in a modern European CX. Broken hangers
are all part of super light construction. Though I have to agree with Henry that by the third time
you'd stop tripping over the barriers and landing on the bike.

If you're breaking frames, that costs a lot more UCI points than shaving a pound or so off the frame
gains over the course of a season, I suspect, even in CX, where weight matters (in principle) even
more than in road racing.

Dan

Quoted message said:

"How can you say the ITALIAN cross scene looks promising,"

I didn't, I said Franzoi looks promising.

"but that the US does not?"

JP has found his level, it's between about 15th and 25th (on a good day) when all the top crossers
are there. I highly doubt he's going to have a big jump in ability all of a sudden and be riding at
the front of big races.

All the other riders you name only have good results vs. other Americans, not at international
competitions. In fact their international results have not been particularly good. Kelly and Johnson
were the last guys that looked like they might have a future as top crossers.

As Kenny points out the French and Czechs look like they are moving up in the world of cross (while
the Dutch seem to be on the downswing). It may be that USA cycling has taken steps to up the level
of cross, only future results will prove it was effective or not.

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dumbass -

The first one is bad luck. So is the 2nd.

The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th are stupidity.

Use a stronger hanger. If there isn't one commercially available, then

machine

Quoted message said:

a stronger one. Vertical mills are capable of more than just mitering

tubes.

Quoted message said:

Or, even easier - weld on some gussets.

People might not like the messenger but this sounds about right. Break 1 or 2 derailleur hangers, OK
bad luck. To keep using the same ones after two break doesn't seem like the right course of action.

Wade

Quoted message said:

The french have some future with Gadret, Lefebvre and Mourey. I also count on Pospisil, Dlask and
Jezek for a top-10 place.

Replying here, but comment is to thread -

Number one, Gucci does not make a steel hanger for that bike. JP is not in a position to have some
hangers made up on a vertical mill, please. That is a dumbass thing to suggest. Same as welding on
gussets? How are you going to weld on a gusset to an aluminum der. hanger? He has been [censored]
about it, but beyond having custom parts machined on a CNC or something (ever actually LOOKED at a
bolt on der. hanger before?) his hands are tied.

Number 2, Levebre is banned from racing for France for repeated drup related charges, I believe.
That is why he is never on the WC or Worlds teams, or ever races in France (think he is banned).
That and the stupid helmet.

J

"jerry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The french have some future with Gadret, Lefebvre and Mourey. I also count on Pospisil, Dlask
and Jezek for a top-10 place.

Replying here, but comment is to thread -

Number one, Gucci does not make a steel hanger for that bike. JP is not in a position to have some
hangers made up on a vertical mill, please. That is a dumbass thing to suggest. Same as welding on
gussets? How are you going to weld on a gusset to an aluminum der. hanger? He has been [censored]
about it, but beyond having custom parts machined on a CNC or something (ever actually LOOKED at a
bolt on der. hanger before?) his hands are tied.

Dumbass -

You are ignorant.

Don't need a CNC - any old hand operated mill will do. I have a 1958 Bridgeport, it's worth maybe
$2000, less than the cost of a bike.

Any bike builder has one of those - that's what they miter the tubes with.

"Wayne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JP has found his level, it's between about 15th and 25th (on a good day) when all the top crossers
are there. I highly doubt he's going to have a big jump in ability all of a sudden and be riding
at the front of big races.

I suggest that this is exactly what it looks like when some unknown comes up through the ranks.
Lance came completely out of nowhere.