Hoogerheide Cyclocross World Cup & Jonathan Page Live Chat

Hello one and all to Cyclocross Magazine’s live coverage of the year’s eighth and final stop on the UCI World Cup tour, this time from scenic Hoogerheide, Holland

A thick cloud of fog has descended over the area, and there’s a chill in the air, with temperatures hovering around the 40 degree mark, farenheit

For all you progressive Americans out there, and for all your normal Europeans, we’re currently at 2 degrees Celsius, a solid 36 degrees Farenheit

Today is the first day that we’ll see a race in Europe featuring the entire American World Championships squad, with the addition of Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com’s Tim Johnson who is making his European debut for the season. He joins teammates Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll, Kona’s Ryan Trebon and Planet Bike’s Jonathan Page next weekend in Tabor, as well as today

After his strong showing at last weekend’s Roubaix World Cup, Zdenek Stybar has to be the odds on favorite for victory today. He’s got all of the form, and he’ll have an eye cast towards next weekend’s World Championships, so a good performance will reinforce his confidence

Stay tuned as we bring you results and comments from the previous races…we’ve got about 10 minutes before the men’s race.

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet – Colnago) will be looking to knock Stybar down a few rungs and reexert his hold on World Championships favorite status. Nys had an average race by his standards last weekend, but will look to improve ahead of next weekend

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb – Revor) had a fine race last weekend in Roubaix, springing out of an elite bunch of riders to take second. If he wants to convince the Belgian brass that they should rely on him, he’s going to have to win today

Dutchmen Gerben de Knegt (Rabobank) and Thijs Al (AA Drink) will both have to turn some heads here today in order for those in the cyclocross world to take the Netherland’s chances next weekend seriously. With the departure of Lars Boom, there’s been a void that de Knegt has been trying his best to fill, and today he’ll be out to prove that he can

Stybar will be helped along today by his Telenet – Fidea teammates. Kevin Pauwels already has a win under his belt in the World Cup series, and he’ll look to take home a second. Bart Wellens is still on the way back from a virus that knocked him out of much of the first half of the season, but a fifth place in Roubaix and his powerful riding that set up Stybar’s winning attack could show that he’s back where he wants to be

Neils Albert (BKCP – Powerplus) is a bit of a question mark heading into the final weekend of the World Cup after suffering a broken rib at the Belgian National Championships after being controversially taken off his bike by what he claims to have been a drunk Sven Nys supporter. This will be his last chance to prove that he’s well enough to make a World Championships defense

Looks like we have a famous significant other following. Hi Lyne – howzit going over there?

Earlier in the day we had dutch domination in the women:

And things have gotten underway!

Klaas Vantornout grabs the lead ahead of Czech Martin Zlamalik

Jonathan Page has himself tucked within the top ten, a great start for him

Dieter Vanthourenhout has slotted now onto Vantornout’s wheel as he continues to lead the race

Behind Vanthourenhout is Erwin Vervecken, Nys is there, Stybar is there, Albert is there. Vervecken is riding in his final World Cup of his career, so he’ll be out for a good result

Albert looks to be suffering a bit, as he’s hanging off the back of the lead group that is now led by Sven Nys with Jonathan Page in second!

The running order is Sven Nys, Erwin Vervecken, Kevin Pauwels, Zdenek Stybar, Thijs Van Amerongen, Page, Vanthourenhout, de Knegt, and Page

Nys is exerting himself at the front of the race, stringing everyone out and keeping everyone on their toes, while way back, Albert is working his way through a second chase group

Also in that front group is Klaas Vantornout and Francis Mourey, while Nys has worked a little gap in his favor

Nys has picked quite the early point to try his hand today. Vervecken is in charge of the chasing, while Page sits in fifth place

There’s not a lot of loose mud out there it looks like, as earlier races have carved a distinct track in the grass. Riders do seem to be laboring a bit though, so it looks like it’s sticky out there

Now it’s Pauwels doing the chasing, and the gap has come down to almost nothing. behind him is teammate Stybar, showing off some good teamwork

The chasing group is now only five, with Pauwels, Stybar, Page, Vervecken and de Knegt

Pauwels has now hauled in Nys, and there’s six in the front

Mourey leads the second chase group ahead of Vantornout, Van Amerongen, Vanthourenhout, Wellens, Aernouts, Martin Bina, Martin Zlamalik and Neils Albert

Well I take it back, that’s not Bart Wellens, it’s his Czech teammate Petr Dlask

They cross the line now and the gaps are starting to open up, there’s 5 seconds now from the front back to Mourey and Vantornout in the second group

Albert is now off on his own chasing Vantornout

Albert is chasing like a man posessed, while Stybar leads Page up in the front group

What a fine showing by Page…maybe he’s motivated to put on a good showing before our live chat with him after the race.

Vervecken’s ability to hang on to the front is being tested, and he’s falling off the pace a bit. That’s to be expected for a man in his final season as a professional

Stybar grabs a few bike lengths, as de Knegt makes his way around page, Mourey and Vantornout have almost made contact

Stybar is extending his lead, and some disorganization in the chase is helping him do so. Page retakes second

Nys has now moved into the pole position to chase, as Albert too has now made contact, and just in time if I might add

Nys and de Knegt have now pulled away from Page and the rest, off in pursuit of Stybar, who still has about 10 bike lengths

We just published brief women’s results, where we saw a Dutch sweep of the podium: 1) Vos, 2) Van Paasen, 3) Van Den Brand

But Katerina Nash finished in fourth, with Amy Dombroski in ninth.

Nys makes contact with Stybar, with de Knegt in tow, followed by Kevin Pauwels who went across teh gap strongly. Page, Albert and Vervecken will need to move now to get across the gap.

The front sits up across the line, logging 3 laps into the books, and Page and co. are able to reconnect

Mourey and Vantornout are next across

Albert makes his move to the front! I guess those ribs can’t be hurting too bad

Nys is glued to his wheel, followed by Stybar and de Knegt

Vantornout has left Mourey behind and is almost back with the leading group

Small gaps keep forming and closing, and it’s still a group of 8

Radomir Simunek is leading a second chase group chock full of Czechs, including Dlask and himself

Page, Vantornout and Vervecken have let a pretty good gap open up and it looks like their time in the lead group may be over

Albert and Nys are pulling away from the chase looking strong

Vantornout is riding like a man posessed! He’s gone across the gap from the second group, and is now with Pauwels, Stybar and de Knegt. Nys and Albert are pulling away inch by inch

It’s now the class of the season at the front: Albert, Nys, Stybar.

Page continues to roll along in seventh, and with the gap he’s got over the next chase group, there’s a good chance he’ll hold on to that top ten

up front Stybar has pulled Pauwels up to the leading duo, as de Knegt and Vantornout have fallen off the pace. There’s 4 laps in the books

Simunek is out of the following group, hoping to get up to Page and Vervecken

Vantornout is now coming across the gap to the leading group, as Vervecken is closing on a fading de Knegt

Albert continues to attack out of every corner, looking much better than he did last weekend. However, he did admit in Roubaix that he felt fine for the first half and exploded in the second.

Albert and Nys have pulled away again from Stybar, Pauwels and Vantornout

The leaders varied in their approach to riding or running the last muddy climb…Page rode it – he’s just hanging on to that lead group.

Nys is stuck to Albert like glue. Albert’s surge has been impressive, and it looks like Nys has a problem with his bike!

Nys’ pace is up, and he’s back in the chase again!

Nys can’t seem to put power into his bike, and he’s sitting fourth now, back in the chase group! He started to look down at his bike as he was right next to the pit!

Admittedly, I first thought he dropped the pace because he couldn’t hold it, and that looks like it could have been the case, as he now looks to be sitting comfortably on Pauwels’ wheel

Nys may be banking on Albert burning himself out and letting Stybar do the work. Albert’s form is anything but a question mark

Nys definitely has a problem, he’s faded back to the group with Vantornout and de Knegt and is fading back even farther. He’s already 8 seconds off the lead

There’s a long way to go before Nys can hit the pits, if it is, in fact, a mechanical issue

It’s now Pauwels, Stybar and Albert at the front of the race

Then comes Vantornout and de Knegt

Then it’s Nys followed by Page and Vervecken

From the looks of things, Neils Albert will be a factor in the World Championships next weekend!

And let me tell you, we’re all the better for it

Nys is still on Vantornout and de Knegt, and may be regaining some of his spark

Albert continues his assault on everyone, stretching the legs of his Telenet-Fidea companions at every chance

Page in front of Nys – that’s a rare sight!

Unfortunately, I don’t think that ever happened

Stybar hits the pits!

Albert is able to further extend his lead!

If it wasn’t clear then, it is now – Albert was being modest if not baggin’ when saying he wouldn’t be a factor at Worlds.

Nys skips the pits, but I think he grabbed a bike as he hit the pits on the other side. He’s back on the move

Vantornout, however, did not skip the pits, and picked up a second bike

Nys puts a foot down on a critical uphill corner!

I take it back, he went down entirely! Then he had some issues getting the momentum back!

Albert is pulling away at the front, Stybar’s rhythm took a hit when he went into the pits

Behind, it’s Vantornout, de Knegt and Nys just ahead of Vervecken and Page

Simunek is next on the road, then it’s Dlask and Zlamalik ahead of Vanthourenhout

Nys is gone, he’s dropped back behind Vervecken and Page now

Does Nys have one last surge in him?

Looks to me like, with the World Cup and the win out of the picture, Nys is packing it in and saving himself for next weekend

Vantornout has now made a bid to shed de Knegt

Albert continues at the front, a place he’s been for what has to be the last four laps

Stybar and Pauwels are just waiting in the wings

Behind Albert, Stybar and Pauwels, it’s Vantornout on his own, then it’s de Knegt on his own, before it’s Nys who has pulled Vervecken away from Page

Pauwels goes down and then there were two!

And it’s Albert who looks the stronger of the two, despite all his time at the front of the race!

Albert takes a look back and takes stock of the damage he’s done

Nys hits the pits to grab a spare bike, and sticks with his group for the time being

It’s eerily similar to last year’s Worlds at the same Venue – Albert is really liking racing in this little town close to his home.

Albert has another 10 bike lengths over Stybar

Nys just pitted again.

Albert can’t be comfortable with the gap he has, Stybar is still there, for all intents and purposes

de Knegt has now faded back to Nys and Vervecken!

Nys still seems to be on the gas, despite what appears to have been a ton of bad luck

They are running up the steep descent from last year. It’s where Zach McDonald was taken out.

7 laps in the books!

Stybar now hits the front!

Now it’s the Czech’s turn to stretch out Albert’s legs

He’s really giving it a go. Prediction Jake?

Pauwels is chasing desperately, but looks like it’s going to be third for him

I’ve got to go with Stybar for sure. Albert has burned too many matches at this point to be at his freshest, and Stybar is as confident as a man can get

Albert goes back to the front, picking out the best lines, trying to ride clean and fast

And again a small gap has gone out!

Stybar is working hard to close it up!

If Stybar can keep Albert close going into the final pavement, this one has to belong to him

Stybar shoulders the bike, Albert pushes his just ahead, they’re just a few meters apart.

Behind Pauwels and Vantornout, Vervecken is leading a group of four containing Nys, de Knegt and Page

They’re over the flyover – Stybar has connected.

Albert grabs a clean bike so there will be no chances for bike failure in the final laps

Stybar is in the lead after that pit stop by Albert.

It’s World Champion vs. World Cup leader. Albert can’t take over the World Cup lead unless Stybar crashes and fades way back. Stybar has probably done enough to win the World Cup at this point

Page continues to show good form – being the top rider from a “non ‘cross powerhouse nation” if you will.

Pauwels is still not that far behind, this has been a great ride for the young Belgian

Vantornout is next up

With de Knegt, he’s fighting for top Non-Belgian (many Belgians consider Czech Stybar one of their own).

There’s still a group of four coming through next, with Page sitting on the tail

Here we go onto the last lap!

Pauwels has reconnected! The pace up front must have let up quite a bit!

7:08 lap time… Vos did a top lap time of 7:53 in comparison.

Stybar is giving it a go, as Albert doesn’t have the same power through some of the stickier mud

Albert draws him back, but Pauwels seems to have paid the price for it

Pauwels too a funny line just now, hugging the barriers on the left while the leading two stayed right. Looks like it was slower.

Despite Pauwels being close, this race is going to come down to the leading duo

This will be a more exciting finish than last year’s Worlds in Hoogerheide.

Albert makes a move around Stybar

Stybar is pushing it, with his typical head-bobbing style…they’re railing the corners. Does Stybar want to avoid a sprint?

But Stybar shuts him out!

Stybar just wants to stay on the front, he’s got the advantage if he hits that final turn on the front

Whoa! The two made contact in the last hairpin…Albert had to take a foot out.

Stybar pushes the bike this time…Albert got on sooner…maybe too soon? Lost another meter perhaps.

Now it’s Albert making his push! He’s got a gap now and Stybar may have just lost the race!

They’re hitting lapped traffic… Albert really saved something for this effort!

Stybar and Pauwels are together…Pauwels could take second. Albert looks gone!

Albert keeps the pressure on now! He’s way gone, Stybar just doesn’t look as fast as he used to!

Don’t we all wish we could ride so well with a broken rib?

Albert hits the run-up one last time. Now Stybar, Pauwels.

Vantornout just couldn’t get up to the front in time, but fourth is still a good ride for him

Albert raises his arms…

Stybar just looked back to Pauwels and made sure he knew that it was Stybar who would take second

Still it’s all about Albert, who crosses the line for the win!

And the two Fidea teammates roll in together…

No sprint coming from Stybar and Pauwels

Stybar grabs second while Pauwels takes third

Stybar had to make sure he was second, or else risk losing the World Cup overall

Vantornout will roll across for fourth

Not a bad ride for the Belgian

Nys pulls out fifth ahead of Vervecken and de Knegt

Farewell to a great champion, as Vervecken finishes the last World Cup of his illustrious career

Bart Aernouts is next across

then comes Simunek, followed by Vanthrouenhout and Zlamalik

Some disappointing results out there, as Francis Mourey faded way back

How could I have missed Jonathan Page, he was in ahead of Bart Aernouts

That’s good for 8th, a fine result!

Of course, don’t go far, as Jonathan Page will check in with us in a bit – however long it takes to change, recover, check doping control, and the usual. Get your questions ready…and you’ll have a chance to win a Blue Competition Cycles bike travel bag and a signed JP jersey!

I have to admit that that result was a bit unexpected! Once Stybar closed the initial gap up to Albert, I thought that things would be his for sure! Albert’s final attack was impressive, and Stybar had nothing left to close down

Jake, do you think anyone was saving something for Worlds?

Once Nys fell off the pace that first time, I think he started to focus on Tabor. Other than that, I think everyone was going full out

Thoughts on the women’s race? Dutch domination, and a good showing yet again by Vos in Hoogerheide.

If it was anything, it was a tire, He didn’t have to stop to fix anything so it wasn’t anything purely mechanical. I’m also not sure if he realized that he wasn’t going to beat Albert so decided that his energy was better directed to next weekend

Still I’d go with a flat, since he did change bikes subsequently

The women have been back and forth all year. That race is going to come down to course conditions. On any day, Daphny Van den Brand can bean Marianne Vos, who can beat Katie Compton, who can beat Hanka Kupfernagel. Only time will tell.

I’m thinking that it’s a good day for Daphny Van den Brand next weekend. If she can keep things together, she’s got the best mix of skills to win in Tabor. Katerina Nash would be a good choice too. If Katie Compton can get these leg issues worked out, she should be the number one favorite, but I’m a bit nervous about how she’ll perform after missing two World Cups

We’ve heard that Nys said he had bad legs today. Is that a similar statement to Albert saying he won’t be a contender? There could be some mind games going on…

Yes, Nash has looked good. First last weekend, fourth today. It’s definitely a goal for the Truckee, CA-based rider.

Here’s a neat little fact:

I hope that’s true, but you don’t want to skip your last two tuneups before Worlds

Gotta play mind games with that Stybar fella too

I do hope that Katie Compton is able to bounce back, but I fear for her sharpness and snap in Tabor. Missing a week to rest and recover is one thing, but missing two weeks, being completely off the bike and missing your final chance to get race intensity in, that’s a whole different matter. I’m worried.

It’s going to be all-out for the win next weekend. Albert said teammwork won’t be a factor. And actually, last year after the Worlds…he even admitted to us that he was always going to race for the win…while the others worked for him, he didn’t have plans to do the same if he found a teammate off the front.

Roro, stick around. In 30 minutes or so, we should be able to ask him directly!

Looking at the overall World Cup titles that have just gone final, we had Zdenek Stybar squeak into the overall win thanks to his second place today

Stybar made sure that Pauwels didn’t try to sprint past him, because he needed second today to make sure he won the overall, which he managed to do in fine fashion

Jake, it was pretty close though right? 4 Points after a whole season?

Albert comes up in second place overall, while Sven Nys should finish up the day in third

Hi Everybody. I’m just in from the finish line here in Hoogerheide where we saw a very exciting race.

So, the top five should remain the same based on today’s results.

Yep, that’s ridiculously close after such a long season. Albert managed to get four World Cup wins to Stybar’s Three, but Stybar was never far from the top three, and pulled out the overall win

Hi Dan…give us the word from the field….

We’ve had the chance to chat with Jonathan Page, Tim Johnson, Jeremy Powers, and Jamey Driscoll, all of whom told us they were very happy with their results.

Jonathan is getting cleaned up and will join us here in a bit.

Thanks to her third pace today, Daphny Van den Brand sealed up the overall victory in the Women’s World Cup, despite a strong final weekend by Marianne Vos. That race was pretty close too, in the end

The room where we’re sitting will also host a press conference with the top finishers in a little bit, so we’ll get you updated on their reactions as well.

Dan, we’re thinking maybe 30 minutes until the Page chat?

That sounds about right. Everybody is completely covered in mud today, so Jonathan needed a few minutes to get cleaned up.

As for the other Americans, we don’t have exact results yet, but Tim Johnson was the first behind Page, a few minutes back. Jamey Driscoll was pretty close behind him, then Powers.

That’s true. Kevin Hines managed second in the Men’s 50+ event with Jonny Bold third in the 40+ I believe

45+ that is

We didn’t see Wells or Trebon finish — it looked like Trebon went out pretty early in the race, but we don’t have details yet. Wells was in there, but we’re not sure of how he ended up.

Dan, quite a nail biter compared to last year, yeah?

Last year unfortunately Trebon got taken out by Boom – not Lars Boom but a TV camera boom. One one would hope he could overcome that bad luck this year.

A very exciting race for sure. Maybe the best World Cup we’ve seen all season.

We watched the women’s race with Katie Compton, who was checking out the competition for next week. As you guys know, she’s still having trouble with her legs.

The good news is that, while she was disappointed to miss today’s race, she seems to be improving, and is optimistic about next week.

For the other Americans, Tim Johnson finished 32nd.

Jamey Driscoll finished 40th.

Joachim Parbo, who often races in the States, finished 43rd.

Jeremy Powers was 51st.

We’re sitting across the room from two of our top Cyclocross Magazine photo guys, Bart Hazen and Joe Sales. We’ll try to get you guys a few photos from today if we can get our network here to play nice.

Dan, how were the U23 and Junior races? Any overall impressions? Of course we have your excellent reports already on cxmagazine.com

With Worlds next week, the press corps is much bigger than usual, even for a world cup, and it seems like the electronics are a bit overwhelmed.

Time to save up for the Cyclocross Magazine private communications satellite, I guess. Could come in handy for 2013 Worlds in Louisville, right? Not that it’s official or anything…

Folks, Zdenek Stybar just walked into the room, so I’m going to try to get you some reaction from him. Here come Niels and Pauwels as well.

Thanks Dan.

While we’re waiting for rider reactions and Jonathan Page, let’s geek out on some lap times…

Anyone want to guess who had the fastest lap? And which lap (of 9) that was?

I’ll take anyone’s $ now that Louisville gets it. We think it’s a lock…but you never know!

any other guesses? one interesting fact is that Page had the second fastest second lap.

And our almost-retired racer Vervecken had the fastest first lap.

Albert impressively had 7 of 9 fastest laps, and 3 times he clocked a 6:49, the fastest lap overall.

He did that on laps 2, 3 and 7.

We assume Yannick is talking about JPage, not JPowers. Lots of JPs in the States.

It’s a true sign of how consistent Albert was.

Stybar had only the sixth fastest last lap – he really was gassed. “Really” being relative of course. Page was fading, with the 14th fastest lap at the end.

Ok everybody, Jonathan should be here in just a minute. We need to switch some things up on our network here and will be right back. Thanks for staying with us.

I’m not sure I’d call that fading. I think he saw that he lost the wheel in front of him and was safely in 8th, so he called it a fight and took home his 8th place

Okay everyone, grab your friends, frienemies, enemies and get ready for some private time with Planet Bike’s Jonathan Page!

Good point Jake.

Looking at the other racers, Klaas Vantornout too sat up towards the end with his position solidified. 13th fastest lap.

Okay everyone, just a quick note…to keep things simple, we’ll be turning off comments for 10 minutes or so while we chat with Page a bit about the race, and then we’ll open it up to everyone. So don’t worry, you’ll be able to chime in.

Looks like Jonathan is just about ready. Just another minute.

Jonathan Page has been the face of American cyclocross for the better part of the last decade, and is arguably the most decorated cyclocross rider of his generation. Page ascended to the top of the heap in 2007 when he rode his way to a second place at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium. For Page and for the United States, this was uncharted territory against some of the world’s best cyclocross talent. Page has won six US National Titles, with a three year unbeaten run of elite titles starting in 2002. Page also has won two Espoirs titles and one junior title. Page also has a litany of fantastic results on the ‘cross circuit, with numerous victories both domestically and abroad.

Hi Jonathan, thanks for joining us. First of all, congrats on a great race!

Thanks!

How did it go out there?

You looked great, had a very fast start. 2nd fastest lap on lap 2!

It was good. I didn’t have any major problems and I definitely had to dig deep

There were some sections where I wasn’t the best and others where I could gain time and somewhat relax

With your technical skills, were you gaining time in the mud?

We noticed you were riding some sections that others were running…

It was really nice to have a lot of Americans here, including my 2 major sponsors, Bob from Planet Bike and Chance from Blue Bicycles

Yes. That was where I could stay in contact and grab a couple of breaths

If I can stay on my bike it’s better for me. saves energy. I don’t have long legs like Vervecken

With all the support, it must feel like you finally have the crew that most other top racers enjoy in Europe. That must be nice.

Yes. There was a constant big group of people surrounding the mobile home. Laughs and smiles and support

That’s great. Hopefully we can continue to have Americans over there with such support.

With such a good result, it seems like the form must be good. Has your training and lead-up to Worlds been smooth? Looking forward to Tabor?

I have been training the whole season for these 2 weeks

People think I am full of it sometimes but this is my focus

It’s a risk because if it doesn’t work out, my whole season is screwed but so far it seems to be working out

One thing we’ve definitely noticed is that you put less pressure on yourself for Nats this year – which is different than most American-sponsored riders.

I am looking forward to Tabor.

Thanks to my sponsors, I have no pressure at nationals

Was that something you needed to persuade your sponsors of? Or Worlds is more important to them as well?

They understand and support my decision to focus on worlds and not nationals

How does Tabor suit you?

There are 2 races that are important. Nationals and worlds

But because I don’t travel well and need to focus on making money in Europe, I’ve chosen worlds

let’s talk about travel a bit – that’s such a hard thing for American cx racers. Do you think some people travel better than others? Or it’s just darn hard and stressful for anyone racing a bike for a living?

I haven’t ridden well in Tabor before because it is always one of my first races back from America and so I think and I hope it is going to be good for me because I have a 1 hour flight as compared to a 9 hour flight to get there

1 hour flight certainly is easier on the legs and body than 9 hours!

I think travel is hard for everyone but maybe some are better than others

How’s the equipment working out for you so far? What tires/pressure did you ride today?

We heard you might have something new cooking with Blue this year…

We have chance from Blue here. No mechanicals today. Bikes worked really well especially considering the conditions today

The geometry that we have worked on makes the bike quick handliing and incredibly stiff when you put real power to the pedals

Yes, there is more news to come but in addition to the salary that I get we are going to put a portion of sales of the 3 signature cross bikes toward keeping Jonathan racing in Europe

So go buy BLUE

Wow, that’s a unique deal.

So a signature ‘cross bike that directly benefits your salary. Does it differ from your current bike?

Yes. I am really lucky. I have Blue supporting a future and Planet bike supporting a future. Pretty good feeling.

A few tweaks to the Norcross

Can you share what those are?

After a full season on the bikes, we’ll make a few tweaks and it will make a great bike even better

We’re going to open it up to questions shortly, so get them ready!

Carbon dropout in the fork

Better mud clearance in the chain stays

Hah, so with more mud clearance we take it we’ll see you on one of your own bikes soon? When will they be available?

July

Well, we’ll line up to ride and review one for sure.

They are going to do a full carbon price point bike (2150 usd) that will be a replica of the Norcross

Cool. Thanks

We’re going to bring in some reader questions now…

Dugast Rhinos

Pressure?

Fast but slippery

I don’t know. I used my thumbs 🙂

Thank you very much appreciate the support

Yes. I hope for better than top 10

Finally feel I am getting back to stronger than pre-nationals. Hi to you too.

Today I didn’t feel super to be honest. No magic. But still managed 8th, so not bad

was part of your plan to start as fast as possible and see how long you can hold it? jump on that train?

Do you ever think I gotta let these guys go to make the hour, or you race to win?

Yes. I wanted to start well and hold it and not make mistakes. The 1st lap was probably the easiest for me

I always race to win or at least win the group I am in

I am more than happy to represent planet bike because they are the biggest reason I am here racing

For special prep, I will have all new cables

We’ll fly out, including the whole family and Bob, on Wednesday to give me plenty of time

That’s it? Just cables? You must have everything else dialed if that’s it…

Here’s a common question among fans that we’re getting. – do you drink at all during the season? Have a post-race beer in the mobile home?

Nys doesn’t touch alcohol he says, Stybar enjoys a few…

Well, i have to glue a couple of tires too but Franky Vanhaesebroucke and Ronny Couliez keep my bikes running really well throughout the season

No. I would say I have a max of 2 beers per season. Maybe more if my season isn’t going well …just kidding

I do like wine though from time to time

Hah, well there you have it. Two per season. Some readers have already passed that limit just this morning!

Jerry?????

Jerry, you were called out.

Yes, because no one wants to have to pull and waste energy on the road. A few pedal strokes can make a big difference at this level

I was already at the limit and then I had to switch a bike.

No I didn’t feel super. Good but not great.

any hopes for the conditions? want it muddy or icy?

I am from the ice and cold! I grew up biking on snowmobile trails in sub zero Fahrenheit temps!

I will be happy with mud, snow, ice, anything

No. I like your buffalo picture

I have my own mobilehome and travel alone

As long as my awesome sponsors will continue to support us …and it depends a bit on when you ask us …:-)

The longer we stay, the more friends we meet, the more support I have

Any thoughts on a post-racing career?

For instance Franky couldn’t come today so Ronny came and I had plenty of people willing to help with anything I needed

Garbage man?

I would love to be a ski instructor or a landscaper