[guidemd]

He realized that he'd have to ride a lot more mtb races next year to get a good starting position to have a chance at actually being a factor in mtb. I don't think he wants to actually win or podium in Peking anyway, just wants to be there and have a good show. Oh and another tidbit about his mtb sidestep: he's working together with scientists in order to stop his excessive sweating. Because mtb is a summer sport (and because the Olympics are in Peking) this is very much a handicap for him. He doesn't have this problem in cross races obviously.

Looks like Nys made the Belgian Olympic MTB team, as they've determined that they will actually get 3 spots and not just 2 - presumably his "preparation" includes more hot weather training and dealing with the sweating problem mentioned above

While training in Mallorca, Nys said he was not surprised, but was still happy with the news of his selection. "It will be a true honor. My preparation can now start fully," said Nys to Belga. He will work hard to ready himself for the hot and humid conditions expected next August; the Olympic conditions are expected to be the opposite to the cold and clear conditions in which Nys so consistently excels throughout the 'cross season.

Oh yeah, and he won the 'cross World Cup today too ... is that even news?

[Burkni]

Take a close look at this picture of the Fidea team bus/lorry taken at the Koppenbergcross 2 years ago.
Take a close look at the front end of the trailer, there is a rather remarkable logo (at least for a Fidea vehicle)

[VdB]

it almost says USPS, right? But I think it's the Fidea cosponsor, who specialize in whirlpools. I bet the riders on the team get a handsome discount at their stores...some days I regret not becoming a pro cx rider more than others.

[Wheelclub]

it almost says USPS, right? But I think it's the Fidea cosponsor, who specialize in whirlpools. I bet the riders on the team get a handsome discount at their stores...some days I regret not becoming a pro cx rider more than others.

I think Burk was refering to the "NYS" logo on the trailer.

[VdB]

oh, haha, I didn't even notice it. Thanks for pointing that out!

[Burkni]

Nys made the Olympic team again!

Here is a looong broadcast of the entire race (last 2hrs or so)
That was one huge mudfest, no wonder it suited the king of mud!

[VdB]

Burkni, on 14 June 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

Nys made the Olympic team again!

Here is a looong broadcast of the entire race (last 2hrs or so)
That was one huge mudfest, no wonder it suited the king of mud!

Haha yeah, he was very pleased with that parcours and how it went! As was I

The Olympics course is actually very good for him...it's been criticized as a 'Sunday ride' by many MBK riders, by which they refer to the lack of real elevation and big climbs, which tends to be a staple of many MBK races. Instead it's a hilly but not very steep, winding parcours down dirt roads, through a forest and a meadow. And it's the UK, so rain is almost certain. No but seriously, while he's obviously not gonna win against 'real' MBK riders, this is a course for a cyclocrosser if I ever saw one!

[Burkni]

VdB, on 29 June 2012 - 10:04 PM, said:

Haha yeah, he was very pleased with that parcours and how it went! As was I

The Olympics course is actually very good for him...it's been criticized as a 'Sunday ride' by many MBK riders, by which they refer to the lack of real elevation and big climbs, which tends to be a staple of many MBK races. Instead it's a hilly but not very steep, winding parcours down dirt roads, through a forest and a meadow. And it's the UK, so rain is almost certain. No but seriously, while he's obviously not gonna win against 'real' MBK riders, this is a course for a cyclocrosser if I ever saw one!

Well my thoughts were, after reading about the course and checking out a video preview, that it would favour a MTBer with a strong road element, but that could easily mean a cyclocrosser.

[VdB]

Burkni, on 29 June 2012 - 10:57 PM, said:

Well my thoughts were, after reading about the course and checking out a video preview, that it would favour a MTBer with a strong road element, but that could easily mean a cyclocrosser.

Exactly! It's like they set out to make a CX course...well, with some crazy stuff like rock gardens in there haha!

[Burkni]

Does ol' Sven still got it?
Apparently he has

[Burkni]

Apparently Nys' recent claims that he is in the best form of his life seem quite true.
After last weekend's sweep in Gavere and Hasselt along with this week's claims of being weakened from illness and antibiotics, he started the Koksijde World Cup in the worst possible way and was lying around 12th in the first lap. All of a sudden he was on Albert's shoulder in 2nd place!
On the last lap, Albert made a small mistake but stayed upright, Nys just took the lead and Albert seemed to throw in the towel right there, even walking his bike in places. Amazing stuff from the old man.

[Burkni]

GROETE SVEN!!!

[bontempi]

Burkni, on 02 February 2013 - 09:13 PM, said:

GROETE SVEN!!!

Saw the race on the UCI Youtube channel. It was an exciting race that went down to the wire. I was happy to see Nys prevail and crown his career. Albert must of had an off day as he never really looked in it from the start, constantly hanging a few seconds off the lead group. Pauwels looked dangerous, but his race was ended by a stuck chain. Nys and Vantornout seemed pretty evenly matched, with both neutralising mini-digs from each other. But, Nys always seemed like he'd have the edge if it came down to the last lap as he was jumping the small fences, while Vantornout was running. Ultimately, the key moment was Vantornout catching his pedal on a barrier in the closing moments, but personally I think Nys would have taken it even if that hadn't happened. Overall, well worth staying up until 4am to watch it

Oh...the other thing worth mentioning was Pat McQuaid getting booed when he presented the medals.

[Edited to remove the image I accidentely quoted.]

This post has been edited by bontempi: 03 February 2013 - 07:18 AM

[Burkni]

bontempi, on 03 February 2013 - 07:16 AM, said:

Ultimately, the key moment was Vantornout catching his pedal on a barrier in the closing moments, but personally I think Nys would have taken it even if that hadn't happened.

I think too much is being made of that incident. Nys was already in the lead at that point and he had a hiccup of his own on a small hill where he seemed to lose a few moments of his own, while Vantornout rode straight up.

Quote

Oh...the other thing worth mentioning was Pat McQuaid getting booed when he presented the medals.

x 1000

[VdB]

Late to the party, but I did see the Worlds live and was extremely happy to see Sven win his second rainbow jersey!!

What a way to do it too...remember, after last year's worlds and his disappointing performance there, Nys openly questioned whether he'd even go to Louisville or other world championships anymore. It turned out to be nothing more than severe disappointment of a winner, and Nys did line up. Then there was the "put all the races on Saturday" hiccup from the organizers when the water in the nearby river was rising rapidly, which couldn't have helped the riders in their concentration either.

In the end it was an old-fashioned, hard race and Nys is still the man to beat in those even at his age. It's no coincidence that another hardman survivor type like Vantornhout managed to hold on the longest. I agree that Pauwels looked quite dangerous during the race, but he said afterwards that he didn't feel like he had the legs to actually win...I assume he was doing the things he did to increase Vantornhout's chances.

Nys adding a second world title (finally!) to his otherwise amazing career, if anyone deserves this it's him. Always professional, always classy, considerate, responsible and a great example for everyone. And, I'm pretty sure, clean.

Funny epilogue: when he crossed the line the VRT commentator Michel Wuyts asked a rhetorical question if we were looking at the greatest cyclocrosser of all times. This sparked a minor controversy in Belgium, where Roger de Vlaeminck (himself one time world champ CX, but speaking for his brother Eric, 7 time world champ) and Roland Liboton, 4 time world champ, appeared in a talk show to point out that this was a stupid question. They felt that there is no doubt that Eric De Vlaeminck was the best cyclocrosser of all time, saying that "even if Nys won another 5 world championships he still wouldn't be the best".

Roger was very emotional in his defense, saying that "Nys isn't even the best of his generation" (referring to Boom and Stybar who chose the road) and that he didn't even rate Nys among the top 3 of all time. Liboton was a little calmer and stated that De Vlaeminck was the best, with him and Nys on a shared second place.

You can see the entire interview here if you can understand it, and even if you don't you can see the fervor in De Vlaeminck's eyes.

http://www.sporza.be...laeminck_Reyers

Nys' response to these two old men? Classy as always, two tweets saying

"I really don't need to be the greatest cyclocrosser of all time. I'll leave those honors to Eric De Vlaeminck and Roland Liboton. I am happy to be nr. 3"

"Honored to be named along two great champions like them."

Chapeau!

[Burkni]

VdB, on 21 February 2013 - 04:27 PM, said:

Roger was very emotional in his defense, saying that "Nys isn't even the best of his generation" (referring to Boom and Stybar who chose the road)

Boom and Stybar?? Better than Nys all-time? Those sound like the words of a bitter old man with a (envious) grudge against Nys.
I'd rate Stybar very similarly to Wellens, was he even mentioned? How about Vervecken and Groenendaal?
Utterly ridiculous.

Quote

"Honored to be named along two great champions like them."

Chapeau!

+1

[N.B.O.L.]

VdB, on 21 February 2013 - 04:27 PM, said:

Nys' response to these two old men? Classy as always, two tweets saying

"I really don't need to be the greatest cyclocrosser of all time. I'll leave those honors to Eric De Vlaeminck and Roland Liboton. I am happy to be nr. 3"

"Honored to be named along two great champions like them."

It sounds like of everyone involved, it is Nys who has taken the high road. Some of the people are reacting like it was Nys who proclaimed himself "Greatest", instead of some announcer he had nothing to do with.

[VdB]

As an afterthought: I was watching the (always amazing) Belga Sport series about the famous world championship in Yvoir where the Belgian super team* failed to unite and lost De Vlaeminck the race. In it De Vlaeminck mentions his emotional reactions sometimes, and said that he never said anything less than the truth - except when he said Nys wasn't even the best of his generation. And that he aplogized to Nys afterwards, who of course accepted the apology.


* Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Maertens, Van Impe, Verbeeck et al