Daily Cycling Facts 12.06.2013

The famous Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic, the oldest of the Monuments that make up the five most important cycle races after the Grand Tours, fell on this day in 1911 - the sixth edition, as the race skipped 1894-1908 and 1910. The winner was Joseph Vandaele (right), also spelled Van Daele, who would have been the second Frenchman to win the race as he was born in Wattrelos but had taken Belgian nationality prior to 1911.

The Vuelta a Espana began on this day in 1941. At 4,442km it was the longest edition ever (the exact distance is unclear, and some sources say 4,409km - either makes it the longest; though it fell far short of the longest ever Grand Tour, the 1926 Tour de France which was an incredible 5,745km). It also had the lowest ever number of starters, 32, partially as a result of the distance but primarily because this was the first edition since the Spanish Civil War and the country was still piecing itself back together. Julián Berrendero won overall (and again the next year) with a time of 168h45'26", while Delio Rodríguez (+29'17") won twelve stages but was fourth overall. His total of 39 stage wins in the five editions he entered remains the record today.


Félicia Ballanger

Félicia Ballanger

Born in La Roche-sur-Yon, Félicia Ballanger was born on this day in 1971 and named after her mother's favourite cyclist Felice Gimondi (her brother, Frédéric, was named after Federico Bahamontes). It seems likely, then, that her mother may have hoped to raise two successful cyclists of her own; and thanks to Félicia she got her wish.

Whilst still a child, Félicia joined the Vendée la Roche Cycliste and was immediately recognised as a serious track talent; the specialised training she received enabling her to win the Junior World Sprint Champion title in 1988. A year later she won the Sprint silver medal racing in the Elite category at the National Championships, then did so again in 1990; coming second on both occasions to Isabelle Gautheron who, seven years her senior, was by far the more experienced rider. She won the title in 1991 and 1992, then came second again in 1993 and might have won gold at the World Chmpionships had she not have been left with a broken collarbone and  a shard of broken wood embedded in her thigh following a crash. The next year, she won back the National Sprint title; then in 1994 she won it again and added the National 500m Championship and two gold medals for the same events at the Worlds. She won all four events again in 1996, then won another gold in the Sprint at the Olympics.

Ballanger retained her two National and two World titles all the way to 2000, then relinquished the World titles (she won the National ones for another year) so she could concentrate on the Olympics again - and this time, she won gold for the 500m and the Sprint. One of the most successful track cyclists of all time, she finally ended her reign when she retired in 2001 and took up the post of vice-president of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme. Today, she lives on the island of Nouméa in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia. She is married, had two children and works for the Ministry of Youth and Sport where she is responsible for anti-doping programs.

Bauer in the maillot jaune

Steve Bauer
Steve Bauer, who was born St. Catherines, Ontario on this day in 1959, joined the National Team in 1977 and originally specialised in team pursuit events. It wasn't long before he turned out to also be a very talented road racer, winning the National Championship in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and, after winning the United Texas Tour and coming third in the World Road Race Championships in 1984, he began to specialise in the discipline.

In 1985, he joined Bernard Hinault's La Vie Claire team and was entered for his first Tour de France. He took an impressive sixth place in the Prologue, then eighth in Stage 8, seventh in Stage 21 and fifth in Stage 22, which earned his third place in the overall Youth category and tenth in the General Classification - a very good finish indeed for a Tour debutante. This was the first of eleven Tours; his best overall result would be in 1988 when he was fourth in the General Classification behind Pedro Delgado, Steven Rooks and Fabio Parra. That edition also brought his only solo win ( La Vie Claire won the Stage 3 team time trial in 1985) - Stage 1, and after it he led the race for five days and was only the second Canadian to have ever worn the maillot jaune.

Bauer aboard the frankly plug-ugly "Stealth Bike" he rode to
second place at Paris-Roubaix in 1990

Bauer is remembered as one of the unluckiest riders in the history of professional cycling and his palmares would almost certainly shine far brighter had he not have been condemned so many times to runner-up places by punctures, mechanicals and crashes. In 1988, he was at the centre of a controversy involving Claude Criquielion. The two riders had collided during the final sprint at the World Championships; Bauer was able to remain upright but disqualified, while Maurizio Fondriest took advantage of the situation and won. Criquielion, who had been hoping to win back his 1984 title, refused to believe that it had been just another example of the sort of accident that happens in a sprint - indeed, it's far from certain from video footage if it was in fact an accident - and attempted to sue to sue the Canadian for assault, asking for an amount equal to £1.5 million. The case dragged on for three years before a court eventually found in favour of Bauer. In 1990, the finishing order at Paris-Roubaix was so close that judges examined photographs for more than ten minutes before deciding that Bauer had lost to Eddy Planckaert by 1cm, the closest finish in the history of the race.

In 1994, Bauer was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his work in paving the way for future Canadian cyclists to compete at the top level of the sport, and there's a very good case to be made in support of Ryder Hesjedal dedicating the Tour de France victory that he'll probably win sooner or later to him. Having retired after the 1996 Olympics, Bauer formed Team R.A.C.E Pro, which would become Spidertech-C10. He remains the owner and a directeur sportif.

Andrea Guardini

Italian cyclist Andrea Guardini, who born in Tregnago on this day in 1989, holds the record for most stages won at the Tour de Langkawi with twelve from three editions, 2011 (five), 2012 (six) and 2013 (1). In 2011 he also won Stage 5 at the Tour of Qatar, Stages 1 and 7 at the Tour of Turkey and Stage 5 at the Volta a Portugal. Many consider him destined for great things, perhaps even a Grand Tour victory, pointing to his Stage 18 victory at the Giro d'Italia in 2012 and fourth place at Scheldeprijs is 2013 as evidence.


Philippe Bouvatier, who was born in Rouen on this day in 1964, became French Junior Road Race Champion in 1982 and joined Renault-Elf in 1984, then took thrid place at the Tour de l'Avenir. In 1986, by which time he was with Zor-B.H. Sport, he rode in the Tour de France - like the majority of Tour debutantes, he didn't finish; but 31st place on Stage 6 over 200km from Villers-sur-Mer to Cherbourg was respectable enough. In 1987 he did better, finishing the race and coming twelfth on Stage 24, a 38km individual time trial. He finished again in 1988 and improved his overall placing to 32nd; then rode his final Tour in 1990 for RMO, abandoning the race after Stage 6 when he came 190th, one place above Lanterne Rouge Thierry Claveyrolat. After three more years riding criteriums and smaller stage races, he retired in 1995 after failing to win anything that year.

Davide Viganò was born in Carate Brianza, Italy on this day in 1984. He has enjoyed some notable successes in the Grand Tours, including tenth place for Stage 21 at the 2006 Vuelta a Espana, fourth for Stage 12 and fifth for Stage 21 at the 2007 Vuelta, eighth for Stage 4 and third for Stage 21 at the 2008 Vuelta, eighth for Stage 2 and 9 and sixth for Stage 11 at the Giro d'Italia and fourth for Stage 6 at thee Vuelta in 2009.

Colby Pearce, born in Boulder, Colorado on this day in 1972, won the US Madison Championship in 2000 and held it until 2003 when he came second. In the intervening time, he also rode for the gold-winning Pursuit team. In 2003 he was National Scratch Champion, the once again rode with the victorious Team Pursuit squad in 2004 and a year later won back the Madison title. He retired from competition in 2005 to take up a position as coach to the National Track Team, but resigned and returned to racing in 2007. He won the Madison title for the last time in 2007 and 2008 (with another Team Pursuit gold in both years).

Charles King, an English cyclist born on this day in 1911, won a bronze medal in front of Hitler when he and the British team finished the Team Pursuit in third place at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He died on the 19th of July, 2001.

On this day in 1979, amateur cyclist Bryan Allen both powered and piloted the Gossamer Albatross - a human-powered aeroplane - over the English Channel. Designed and built by Dr. Paul B. MacCready, the Albatross consisted of a mylar skin stretched over a carbon fibre and polystyrene skeleton, unladen it weight 32kg. Inside was a modified bike frame, by pedaling the pilot drove a two-bladed propellor. MacCready died on the 28th of August 2007; Allen is now a software engineer at the Pasadena Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Other cyclists born on this day: Rafael Nuritdinov (USSR, 1977); Csaba Steig (Hungary, 1971); Bob Boucher (Canada, 1943); Ken Muhindi (Kenya, 1978); Buddy Ford (Bermuda, 1957); Jacek Bodyk (Poland, 1966); Bruno Monti (Italy, 1930, died 2011); Alla Vasilenko (USSR, 1972); Dawid Krupa (Poland, 1980); Emilio Falla (Ecuador, 1986).

Daily Cycling Facts 12.06.12

The famous Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic, the oldest of the Monuments that make up the five most important cycle races after the Grand Tours, fell on this day in 1911 - the sixth edition, as the race skipped 1894-1908 and 1910. The winner was Joseph Vandaele (right), also spelled Van Daele, who would have been the second Frenchman to win the race as he was born in Wattrelos but had taken Belgian nationality prior to 1911.

The Vuelta a Espana began on this day in 1941. At 4,442km it was the longest edition ever (the exact distance is unclear, and some sources say 4,409km - either makes it the longest; though it fell far short of the longest ever Grand Tour, the 1926 Tour de France which was an incredible 5,745km). It also had the lowest ever number of starters, 32, partially as a result of the distance but primarily because this was the first edition since the Spanish Civil War and the country was still piecing itself back together. Julián Berrendero won overall (and again the next year) with a time of 168h45'26", while Delio Rodríguez (+29'17") won twelve stages but was fourth overall. His total of 39 stage wins in the five editions he entered remains the record today.


Félicia Ballanger

Félicia Ballanger

Born in La Roche-sur-Yon, Félicia Ballanger was born on this day in 1971 and named after her mother's favourite cyclist Felice Gimondi (her brother, Frédéric, was named after Federico Bahamontes). It seems likely, then, that her mother may have hoped to raise two successful cyclists of her own; and thanks to Félicia she got her wish.

Whilst still a child, Félicia joined the Vendée la Roche Cycliste and was immediately recognised as a serious track talent; the specialised training she received enabling her to win the Junior World Sprint Champion title in 1988. A year later she won the Sprint silver medal racing in the Elite category at the National Championships, then did so again in 1990; coming second on both occasions to Isabelle Gautheron who, seven years her senior, was by far the more experienced rider. She won the title in 1991 and 1992, then came second again in 1993 and might have won gold at the World Chmpionships had she not have been left with a broken collarbone and  a shard of broken wood embedded in her thigh following a crash. The next year, she won back the National Sprint title; then in 1994 she won it again and added the National 500m Championship and two gold medals for the same events at the Worlds. She won all four events again in 1996, then won another gold in the Sprint at the Olympics.

Ballanger retained her two National and two World titles all the way to 2000, then relinquished the World titles (she won the National ones for another year) so she could concentrate on the Olympics again - and this time, she won gold for the 500m and the Sprint. One of the most successful track cyclists of all time, she finally ended her reign when she retired in 2001 and took up the post of vice-president of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme. Today, she lives on the island of Nouméa in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia. She is married, had two children and works for the Ministry of Youth and Sport where she is responsible for anti-doping programs.

Bauer in the maillot jaune

Steve Bauer
Steve Bauer, who was born St. Catherines, Ontario on this day in 1959, joined the National Team in 1977 and originally specialised in team pursuit events. It wasn't long before he turned out to also be a very talented road racer, winning the National Championship in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and, after winning the United Texas Tour and coming third in the World Road Race Championships in 1984, he began to specialise in the discipline.

In 1985, he joined Bernard Hinault's La Vie Claire team and was entered for his first Tour de France. He took an impressive sixth place in the Prologue, then eighth in Stage 8, seventh in Stage 21 and fifth in Stage 22, which earned his third place in the overall Youth category and tenth in the General Classification - a very good finish indeed for a Tour debutante. This was the first of eleven Tours; his best overall result would be in 1988 when he was fourth in the General Classification behind Pedro Delgado, Steven Rooks and Fabio Parra. That edition also brought his only solo win ( La Vie Claire won the Stage 3 team time trial in 1985) - Stage 1, and after it he led the race for five days and was only the second Canadian to have ever worn the maillot jaune.

Bauer aboard the frankly plug-ugly "Stealth Bike" he rode to
second place at Paris-Roubaix in 1990

Bauer is remembered as one of the unluckiest riders in the history of professional cycling and his palmares would almost certainly shine far brighter had he not have been condemned so many times to runner-up places by punctures, mechanicals and crashes. In 1988, he was at the centre of a controversy involving Claude Criquielion. The two riders had collided during the final sprint at the World Championships; Bauer was able to remain upright but disqualified, while Maurizio Fondriest took advantage of the situation and won. Criquielion, who had been hoping to win back his 1984 title, refused to believe that it had been just another example of the sort of accident that happens in a sprint - indeed, it's far from certain from video footage if it was in fact an accident - and attempted to sue to sue the Canadian for assault, asking for an amount equal to £1.5 million. The case dragged on for three years before a court eventually found in favour of Bauer. In 1990, the finishing order at Paris-Roubaix was so close that judges examined photographs for more than ten minutes before deciding that Bauer had lost to Eddy Planckaert by 1cm, the closest finish in the history of the race.

In 1994, Bauer was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his work in paving the way for future Canadian cyclists to compete at the top level of the sport, and there's a very good case to be made in support of Ryder Hesjedal dedicating the Tour de France victory that he'll probably win sooner or later to him. Having retired after the 1996 Olympics, Bauer formed Team R.A.C.E Pro, which would become Spidertech-C10. He remains the owner and a directeur sportif.

Andrea Guardini

Italian cyclist Andrea Guardini, who born in Tregnago on this day in 1989, holds the record for most stages won at the Tour de Langkawi with eleven - all of them from just two editions, 2011 (five) and 2012 (six). In 2011 he also won Stage 5 at the Tour of Qatar, Stages 1 and 7 at the Tour of Turkey and Stage 5 at the Volta a Portugal; in 2012 he won Stage 5 at the Giro d'Italia. Many consider him destined for great things, perhaps even a Grand Tour victory.


Philippe Bouvatier, who was born in Rouen on this day in 1964, became French Junior Road Race Champion in 1982 and joined Renault-Elf in 1984, then took thrid place at the Tour de l'Avenir. In 1986, by which time he was with Zor-B.H. Sport, he rode in the Tour de France - like the majority of Tour debutantes, he didn't finish; but 31st place on Stage 6 over 200km from Villers-sur-Mer to Cherbourg was respectable enough. In 1987 he did better, finishing the race and coming twelfth on Stage 24, a 38km individual time trial. He finished again in 1988 and improved his overall placing to 32nd; then rode his final Tour in 1990 for RMO, abandoning the race after Stage 6 when he came 190th, one place above Lanterne Rouge Thierry Claveyrolat. After three more years riding criteriums and smaller stage races, he retired in 1995 after failing to win anything that year.

Davide Viganò was born in Carate Brianza, Italy on this day in 1984. He has enjoyed some notable successes in the Grand Tours, including tenth place for Stage 21 at the 2006 Vuelta a Espana, fourth for Stage 12 and fifth for Stage 21 at the 2007 Vuelta, eighth for Stage 4 and third for Stage 21 at the 2008 Vuelta, eighth for Stage 2 and 9 and sixth for Stage 11 at the Giro d'Italia and fourth for Stage 6 at thee Vuelta in 2009.

Colby Pearce, born in Boulder, Colorado on this day in 1972, won the US Madison Championship in 2000 and held it until 2003 when he came second. In the intervening time, he also rode for the gold-winning Pursuit team. In 2003 he was National Scratch Champion, the once again rode with the victorious Team Pursuit squad in 2004 and a year later won back the Madison title. He retired from competition in 2005 to take up a position as coach to the National Track Team, but resigned and returned to racing in 2007. He won the Madison title for the last time in 2007 and 2008 (with another Team Pursuit gold in both years).

Charles King, an English cyclist born on this day in 1911, won a bronze medal in front of Hitler when he and the British team finished the Team Pursuit in third place at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He died on the 19th of July, 2001.

On this day in 1979, amateur cyclist Bryan Allen both powered and piloted the Gossamer Albatross - a human-powered aeroplane - over the English Channel. Designed and built by Dr. Paul B. MacCready, the Albatross consisted of a mylar skin stretched over a carbon fibre and polystyrene skeleton, unladen it weight 32kg. Inside was a modified bike frame, by pedaling the pilot drove a two-bladed propellor. MacCready died on the 28th of August 2007; Allen is now a software engineer at the Pasadena Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Other births: Rafael Nuritdinov (USSR, 1977); Csaba Steig (Hungary, 1971); Bob Boucher (Canada, 1943); Ken Muhindi (Kenya, 1978); Buddy Ford (Bermuda, 1957); Jacek Bodyk (Poland, 1966); Bruno Monti (Italy, 1930, died 2011); Alla Vasilenko (USSR, 1972); Dawid Krupa (Poland, 1980); Emilio Falla (Ecuador, 1986).

Emakumeen Euskal Bira

The Race - The Stages - The Start List - Following The Race

Women's who's who at the 2012 Track World Cup

Complete women's start list with details here.

GVA-Trofee Lille 04.02.12

Click to enlarge

Results below

The World Cup is done and dusted, the bikes cleaned up and kits laundered after last weekend's  Koksijde World Championships; but the GVA Trofee still has two rounds to go and the penultimate race, the famous Krawatencross, takes place on Saturday the 4th of February near the Belgian city of Lille and not far from Turnhout and Antwerp - with excellent road links to the several towns and cities in the area, a good attendance is guaranteed.

Krawatencross is one of the most popular among spectators as the majority of the 2.8km route can be seen clearly, with several points along the length offering a good view of two or more sections. The unusual parcours consists of a little bit of everything, with sections on sand, grass, tarmac, woodland and loose pebbles along a roughly G-shaped track around a lake just to the north-west of the E34 motorway (51°17'3.17"N 4°50'39.50"E). Riders need to be able to perform well on the several very different types of terrain to be in with any real chance of a podium place; and just for good measure it looks as though they're going to have to contend with snow as well this year. In other words, it's a race that favours the very best of the all-rounders.

Elite Men at Krawatencross 2011
(image credit: Ronnes CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The race begins with a 230m sprint down a forest road that intially dips, then rises a couple of metres before a slight dip and rise towards the end (51°17'3.44"N 4°50'27.18"E), then turns right onto grass and heads back the way it came. A few metres beyond the start line, the riders turn left and onto sand; immediately entering a tight S-bend which, on sand, will require first-rate bike handling skills. Once through it, they remain on sand as they follow the banks of the lake for 200m on their way into the first woodland section.

A wide loop curves to the left through the trees, then emerges for 50m stretch across more sand before heading once more into the woods and following a curved track leading to a bridge. Having crossed it, the race arrives at a road and passes straight over. A sharp left into a second tight loop on sand - another tough test of handling skills. Afterwards, a 220m sand section leads past the pits and via a right/left combination and into a grass section of similar length. This is followed by 280m in woodland and up the steepest climb of the race - immediately after turning right, the riders begin an 8m ascent in around 55m; with a maximum gradient of 9.4%. The rest of the section takes the riders to the pebbles (51°17'0.06"N 4°50'45.98"E) - a difficult surface which, at 270m, will be one of the most challenging parts of the parcours.

A right turn leads back onto the sand and through a tight Z-bend around the pits, then back over the same road as earlier and across a second bridge. A long woodland section, technical in part with some tight loops, then leads for 549m back to the start line and back along the first track. The finish line will be located just before the first right turn onto grass.

Altimetry (click for enlargement)

Results (more to come)


Elite Women

  1 Marianne Vos Rabobank Ladies Team
  2 Daphny Van Den Brand WV Schijndel
  3 Sanne Cant Boxx VeldritAcademie
  4 Sanne Van Paassen Brainwash 
  5 Nikki Harris 
  6 Arenda Grimberg 
  7 Helen Wyman 
  8 Pavla Havlikova 
  9 Sabrina Stultiens Brainwash 
  10 Sophie De Boer WV Schijndel 
  11 Joyce Vanderbeken 
  12 Reza Hormes Ravenstijn 
  13 Nicolle De Bie Leyten 
  14 Nancy Bober 
  15 Nikoline Hansen 
  16 Gabriella Day 
  17 Lana Verberne 
  18 Karen Verhestraeten Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 
  19 Amy Dombroski Crank Brothers 
  20 Iris Ockeloen 
  21 Christine Vardaros Baboco - Revor Cycling Team 
  22 Anja Geldhof 
  23 Katrien Thijs 
  24 Kim Van De Steene 
  25 Nathalie Nijns Lotto Belisol Ladies 
  26 Caren Commissaris 
  27 Shana Maes 
  28 Janice Geyskens 
  29 Caitlyn La Haye 


Elite Men

1 Tom Meeusen Telenet Fidea Cycling Team
2 Zdenek Stybar Omega Pharma Quickstep
3 Kevin Pauwels Sunweb Revor Cycling Team
4 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet
5 Niels Albert BKCP-Powerplus
6 Radomir Simunek BKCP-Powerplus
7 Marcel Meisen BKCP-Powerplus
8 Sven Vanthourenhout Landbouwkrediet
9 Vincent Baestaens Landbouwkrediet
10 Francis Mourey Francaise des Jeux
11 Klaas Vantornout Sunweb Revor Cycling Team
12 Dieter Vanthourenhout BKCP-Powerplus
13 Jim Aernouts Sunweb Revor Cycling Team
14 Thijs Al AA Drink / Pro Leontien.nl
15 January Denuwelaere Style & Concept Cycling Team
16 Twan Van Den Brand Orange Babies Cycling Team
17 Thijs Van Amerongen AA Drink / Pro Leontien.nl
18 Joeri Adams Telenet Fidea Cycling Team
19 Gerben De Knegt Rabo - Giant Offroad Team.
20 Kevin Cant Van Goethem - Prorace - cycling team
21 Bart Aernouts Rabo - Giant Offroad Team.
22 Rob Peeters Telenet Fidea Cycling Team
23 Tom Van Den Bosch AA Drink / Pro Leontien.nl
24 Patrick Gaudy The Barracuda Company
25 Patrick Van Leeuwen Orange Babies Cycling Team
26 Stijn Huys Orange Babies Cycling Team
27 Ryan Trebon
28 Steven De Decker Van Goethem - Prorace - cycling team
29 Bart Verschueren Landbouwkrediet-KDL
30 Bart Hofman Department of East Flanders WBV - VZW
31 Mariusz Gil Baboco - Revor Cycling Team
32 Denolf Gianni Baboco - Revor Cycling Team
33 Jens Gys Bianchi New Hope Regulators ASBL
34 Jonathan Page Planet Bike
35 Kenneth Van Compernolle Style & Concept Cycling Team
36 Ben Berden OPS ALE - Stoemper
37 Kristof Cop Cycling Team Kessel
38 Dave The Cleyn Scott USA Cycling Team
39 Eddy Van IJzendoorn Orange Babies Cycling Team
40 Tim Van Nuffel DCM-GB Cycling Team Vorselaar Vzw
41 Craig Richey
42 Sten Raeymakers Cyclocross Team Freddy Sports Dilbeek
43 Marco Bianco L'Arcobaleno Carraro Team
44 Lewis Rattray
45 Lorenz Couckuyt WC Mill sprinters Meulebeke



Under-23

  1 Wietse Bosmans BKCP-Powerplus  
  2 Lars Van Der Haar Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team  
  3 Micki Van Empel Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team  
  4 Gianni Vermeersch BKCP-Powerplus  
  5 Arnaud Jouffroy Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team  
  6 Michael Vanthourenhout BKCP-Powerplus  
  7 Tijmen Eising Sunweb - Revor  
  8 Sven Beelen Sunweb - Revor  
  9 Laurens Sweeck  
  10 David Van Der Poel BKCP-Powerplus  
  11 Jens Adams BKCP-Powerplus  
  12 Vinnie Braet Sunweb - Revor  
  13 Gert-jan Bosman Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team  
  14 Daniel Peeters Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team  
  15 Karel Hnik Sunweb - Revor  
  16 Ingmar Uytdewilligen  
  17 Kenneth Hansen  
  18 Toon Aerts  
  19 Arnaud Grand Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team  
  20 Floris De Tier Baboco - Revor Cycling Team  
  21 Mathieu Willemyns  
  22 Jens Vandekinderen Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team  
  23 Niels Koyen  
  24 Raf Risbourg  
  25 Maxim Panis  
  26 Joeri Hofman  
  27 Niels Ooms  
  28 Stijn Gielen  
  29 Ritchie Denolf Baboco - Revor Cycling Team  
  30 Luke Gray  
  31 Sibe Smets  
  32 Bart Barkhuis  
  33 Pieter Dewitte  
  34 Jeffrey Mellemans  
  35 Joni Geeraerts  
  36 Mathias Van Der Sanden  
  37 Rutger La Haye  
  38  Jellen Schiettecatte  
  39 Ilja Peijffers  
  40 Germer Cardon  
  41 Joachim Janssens 



Juniors

  1 Yorbin Van Tichelt 
  2 Mathieu Van Der Poel Boxx VeldritAcademie  
  3 Wout Van Aert Young Telenet-fidea 
  4 Daan Soete Young Telenet-fidea 
  5 Quinten Hermans Young Telenet-fidea 
  6 Matthias Van De Velde Boxx VeldritAcademie 
  7 Nicolas Cleppe Young Telenet-fidea  
  8 Daan Hoeyberghs Boxx VeldritAcademie  
  9 Martijn Budding Boxx VeldritAcademie 
  10 Pjotr Van Beek  
  11 Bryan Van Rooyen  
  12 Tim Ariesen  
  13 Seppe Gorrens  
  14 Jelto Veroft  
  15 Stig Callay  
  16 Timothy Vanderaerden  
  17 Koen Van De Ven  
  18 Robbie Van Bakel WV Schijndel  
  19 Jens Couckuyt  
  20 Mats Lammertink AWV De Zwaluwen  
  21 Arne Poelvoorde  
  22 Jens Dierckx  
  23 Joran Mertens  
  24 Jonas Degroote  
  25 Kevin Ysenbaardt  
  26 Dieter Jacobs  
  27 Stef Claeys  
  28 Gianni Quintelier Team Catabikes- Deratec- Willems.Co  
  29 Kenneth Van Dessel  
  30 Bryan Vispoel  
  31 Jeffrey Jansegers  
  32 Bjorn Van Der Heijden  
  33 Brent Van Den Bosch  
  34 Arno Verberckmoes  
  35 Jasper Aernouts  
  36 Sören De Clercq  
  37 Jory Degheldere  
  38 Yelle Leaerts  
  39 Lars Van Giels  
  40 Félix Pouilly  
  41 Gilles De Jaeger  
  42 Bjorn De Pot  



Novices

  1 Gianni Van Donink 
  2 Yannick Peeters 
  3 Thijs Aerts 
  4 Jens Teirlinck 
  5 Stijn Caluwe 
  6 Vincent Peeters 
  7 Thomas Joseph 
  8 Elias Van Hecke 
  9 Maik Van Der Heijden 
  10 Jorn Verbraken 
  11 Dario Kloeck 
  12 Thomas Van De Velde Vl Technics Abutriek
  13 Robbe Commisaris 
  14 Lennert Van Hasselt 
  15 Robbert Brughmans 
  16 Sybren Jacobs 
  17 Tim Janssen 
  18 Wesley Floren 
  19 Cedric Beullens 
  20 Dieter Jans 
  21 Dylan Bouwmans 
  22 Jef Van Belle 
  23 Andries Baert 
  24 Timon Ruegg 
  25 Senne De Meyer 
  26 Briek Hermans 
  27 Timo Verberckmoes 
  28 Nick Van De Kerckhove 
  29 Kevin Van Bennekom 
  30 Thomas Verheyen 
  31 Yara Kastelijn 
  32 Laurens Boden 
  33 Jonas Verstraete 
  34 Dieter Braet 
  35 Olaf Remmerswaal  
  36 Dorian De Maeght  
  37 Wout Alleman 
  38 Niel Custers 
  39 Mathias Vertessen  
  40 Sven Driesen 
  41 Samuel Debeer 
  42 Jasper Knaeps 
  43 Bjarne Bertels 
  44 Yenthe Boons 
  45 Stijn Siemons 

Women's Tour of Qatar starters and course guides

Click for enlargement
(image credit: ASO)

Stage 1, 1.02.12
Camel Race Track - Al Khor Corniche (97km)
Stage 2: 2.02.12
Al Zubara Fort - Madinat Al Shamal (114.5km)
Stage 3:  3.02.12
Katara Cultural Village - Katara Cultural Village (92.5km)
Total: 304km

Click for Stage Guides

Starters (subject to change)

1: China Chongming - Giant Pro Cycling

  1    CHEN, Li
  2    HUANG, Dong Yan
  3    LIU, Xin
  4    LUO, Xiao Ling
  5    SHENG, Yongyan
  6    YUAN, Yunyun

2: Diadora-Pasta Zara

  11    ANDRUK, Alona
  12    BATAGELJ, Polona
  13    BRONZINI, Giorgia
  14    CILVINAITE, Inga
  15    DONATO, Giulia
  16    JANELIUNAITE, Edita

3: France

  21    AUDE, Biannic
  22    CORDON, Audrey
  23    JEULAND, Nathalie
  24    JEULAND, Pascale
  25    LESUEUR, Mélodie
  26    VERHOEVEN, Aurore

4: Germany

  31    BUBNER, Janine
  32    GEBHARDT, Elke
  33    KASPER, Romy
  34    POHL, Stephanie
  35    SANDIG, Madeleine
  36    SCHNITZMEIER, Anna-Bianca

5: GreenEdge-AIS

  41    ARNDT, Judith
  42    GUNNEWIJK, Loes
  43    HOSKINS, Melissa
  44    MACLEAN, Jessie
  45    RHODES, Alexis
  46    SPRATT, Amanda

6: Team Hitec Products UCK

  51    BERGSETH, Johanne
  52    HATTELAND, Tone
  53    LONGO BORGHINI, Elisa
  54    MUSTONEN, Sara
  55    NØSTVOLD, Lise
  56    WAERSTAD, Froydis

7: Italy

  61    DONADONI, Alice
  62    CANTELE, Noemi
  63    CONFALONIERI, Maria Giulia
  64    PATUZZO, Eleonora
  65    SCANDOLARA, Valentina
  66    VANNUCCI, Chiara

8: Lotto Belisol Ladies

  71    DUYCK, Ann-sophie
  72    HANNES, Kaat
  73    HENRION, Ludivine
  74    SCHOONBAERT, Kim
  75    TAYLOR, Cherise
  76    LOOY, Katrien Van

9: MCipollini - Giambenini - Gauss

  81    BACCAILE, Monia
  82    BASTIANELLI, Marta
  83    BORCHI, Alessandra
  84    CECCHINI, Elena
  85    GUDERZO, Tatiana
  86    TAGLIAFERRO, Marta

10: Dolmans - Boels Cycling Team

  91    BRAS, Martine
  92    LAVRIJSSEN, Birgit
  93    SPOOR, Winanda
  94    BREGGEN, Anna Van Der
  95    KAMP, Laura Van Der
  96    WILD, Kirsten

11: Skil - 1t4i

  101    BRUINS, Regina
  102    KANIS, Janneke
  103    PIETERS, Amy
  104    TROMP, Esra
  105    RIJEN, Linda Van
  106    VISSER, Adrie

12: Rabobank Ladies Team

  111    VOCHT, Liesbet De
  112    DÜSTER, Sarah
  113    KITCHEN, Lauren
  114    KNETEMANN, Roxane
  115    SLAPPENDEL, Iris
  116    TALEN, Rebecca

13: Team Specialized- Lululemon

  121    BECKER, Charlotte
  122    BRENNAUER, Lisa
  123    COLCLOUGH, Katie
  124    HOSKING, Chloe
  125    DIJK, Ellen Van
  126    WORRACK, Trixi

14: Topsport Vlaanderen - Ridley 2012

  131    BEYEN, Ine
  132    BRULEE, Latoya
  133    CROKET, Gilke
  134    POLSPOEL, Maaike
  135    BRANDE, Edith Vanden
  136    VEKEMANS, Anisha

15: Exergy Twenty12

  141    CROWELL, Jacquelyn
  142    OLDS, Shelley
  143    RIVERA, Coryn
  144    RYAN, Kendall
  145    SCHNEIDER, Samantha
  146    WILES, Taylor

Koksijde CX World Championships Preview

Mud, rain, sand, possibly even snow:
Koksijde is unique in CX
(image credit: Alex Robbins CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

"@FieldyCX Ian Field
Bigger crowd watching practice today than at any event in the UK. It's going to be huge!"

There's nowhere quite like Koksijde. It's got the mixture of tarmac, grass and woodland that are epected of any cyclo cross course, but it has one unique feature - sand dunes.

If you've ever tried to ride a bike in sand, you'll know difficult it is. Shift your weight too much over the front wheel and it digs in, then you fall of. Too much weight over the rear wheel and digs in, sucking the strength right out of legs as you pedal harder to overcome the sucking effect, then more often than not you fall off. Get the balance just right and the sand still sucks the strength out of your legs. Try to go round a corner and everything's fine - just kidding! You fall off. Well, that's what happens in dry sand, at any rate; it's much worse when it's wet. Which it usually is on the very westernmost tip of Belgium.

Since cycling is unique among sports in that fans aren't really happy unless they get to see their heroes suffer, this make Koksijde one of the most popular courses in cyclo cross; and that's why it's been chosen as the location of the 2012 UCI World Cyclo Cross Championships, to be held this weekend.  More good news for spectators is that it's been raining heavily for much of the week and though Friday is expected to be dry, more rain on Saturday should mean a nice, soggy parcours - and, best of all, there's a chance of snow on Sunday.

If Vos doesn't like sand, she
might only be 75% as good
as she usually is. That may
still prove too strong for
the rest.

Likely winners? As ever, it's very difficult to see any of the women getting the better of Marianne Vos. The 24-year-old Dutch champion quite literally dominated the final round of the World Cup last weekend, powering away from the start line and never looking back. However, it's the opinion of your beloved author that while Vos is a phenomenally talented rider on all terrain (including road and track), sand is not the one she likes best - she lost by 13" to Daphny van den Brand here in Round 3 of the World Cup. Whether she dislikes it enough for it to make the slightest bit of difference is as of yet unknown. Van den Brand, who won the World Cup, will undoubtedly want to do well - she's planning this season to be her last, and retiring a both World Champion and Cup holder would be a glorious end to a glorious career. Katie Compton will be worth keeping an eye on, too - she won here in 2010 and has been having a decent season.

Among the men? Sven Nys. He's won here multiple times in the past, the last time being the November World Cup round; but he also won all the World Cup rounds here from 2005 to 2007 - and took his first victory among the dunes right back in 1999. He missed out on the World Cup and could only manage sixth at the last round on a parcours that looked suited to him - finally taking the Worlds title would be more than sufficient consolation for that; but is it evidence, perhaps, that he's due to be the next victim of the virus?

Sven Nys
(image credit: DarkSideX
CC BY-SA 3.0)

Zdenek Stybar and Niels Albert look set to be his greatest challenge - Stybar won here in 2009, Albert last year. Kevin Pauwels finished just a second behind Nys on this very course in November but stormed his way through much of the rest of the World Cup. Still a relative newcomer to the upper echelons of the sport in comparison to Nys and Albert, there could be no better way of confirming himself as the new king of cyclo cross than taking both the Cup and the Championship.

Britain's best hopes
Helen Wyman and Ian Field are the best chances Britain has of a World Champion. Helen is by far our best chance: she came 6th here during the World Cup race back in November, has been British Champion for the last seven consecutive years and says that she has been working towards improving her starts - the long, straight sprint away from the start line is likely to give her an advantage in the early part of the race. Nikki Harris was seventh in November and is likely to also do well in this race. Gabby Day was tenth, but is still recovering from the respiratory virus that many cyclo cross riders have suffered this season and will not be racing. This isn't the ideal parcours for Ian - he was 22nd here in November - but he's far more experienced on this unique track that either Jody Crawforth or Paul Oldham.

The Parcours
The start line is situated on the runway just south of the hangars at 51° 5'54.20"N 2°38'38.78"E and leads into a 280m slightly downhill straight section to ensure a fast start before the first turning, to the right and onto grass. Around 150m later, riders cross a narrow track and enter the woods for the first time and, beginning to climb, turn left and right into a paved track. After 90m, they will leave the track and enter a technical forest section which, in the wet, will be very slippery.

Once out of the trees, the parcours follows the boundary of the forest for 100m before turning sharply left and arriving at the pits. Two preserved aircraft - a Hawker Hunter and a Sikorsky helicopter, both bearing Belgian insignia, can be seen from this section. A right turn then leads into a 165m sand dune section (51° 6'9.41"N 2°38'32.56"E) and onto a bridge.  Having crossed the grass on the other side, riders turn left and head over Robert Vandammestraat and into a 218m section characterised by scrubby trees and shrubs - the sort of terrain also known as puncture country - then come to a paved track and follow it as it bends to the left for around 85m. They then turn right onto short grass, cross three tracks and arrive at a smaller sandy section.

Once through the sand and over another track, they arrive back at the bridge and cross into the same 165m sandy section as earlier. They follow a similar path through it, exit where they previously entered and turn left for a second visit to the pits. After turning right to follow the edge of the forest, they turn right again past houses and come to a road where they turn right again to sprint for 90m, then left off the road and into a 100m sandy section and, having ridden through a short wooded section, arrive at another road where they can sprint for 130m before reaching more grass. They cross a ditch and, after 130m on grass, head downhill arrive back at the starting point. The entire parcours is 2.89km in length.

Please note: More than 32,000 tickets have been sold, meaning there will be none available to buy at the event. Please don't waste money by showing up if you don't already have tickets!

Races start: Juniors Saturday 11:00, Under-23 Saturday 15:00, Elite Women Sunday 11:00, Elite Men Sunday 15:00 (all times CET, GMT is -1)

Streams: Sports-Livez are providing live stream of all races, including Juniors and Under-23.

STARTERS

Elite Women

  1    GRIMBERG, Arenda NL
  2    BOER, Sophie De NL
  3    STULTIENS, Sabrina NL
  4    BRAND, Daphny Van Den NL
  5    PAASSEN, Sanne Van NL
  6    RIJEN, Linda Van NL
  7    VOS, Marianne NL
  8    BRUCHMANN, Gesa GER
  9    SCHWEIZER, Sabrina GER
  10    CHAINEL-LEFEVRE, Lucie FRA
  11    MANI, Caroline FRA
  12    HAVLIKOVA, Pavla CZE
  13    MIKULASKOVA, Martina CZE
  14    NASH, Katerina CZE
  15    DAY, Gabriella GBR
  16    HARRIS, Nikki GBR
  17    LAST, Annie GBR
  18    WYMAN, Helen GBR
  19    ANTONNEAU, Kaitlin USA
  20    COMPTON, Katherine USA
  21    DOMBROSKI, Amy USA
  22    DUKE, Nicole USA
  23    MILLER, Meredith USA
  24    GAMONAL, Rocio ESP
  25    ACHERMANN, Jasmin SWI
  26    HENZELIN, Lise-marie SWI
  27    MAURER, Sabrina SWI
  28    CANT, Sanne BEL
  29    QUINTENS, Hilde BEL
  30    VANDERBEKEN, Joyce BEL
  31    ARZUFFI, Alice Maria ITA
  32    INNERHOFER, Julia ITA
  33    LECHNER, Eva ITA
  34    ROSSI, Vania ITA
  35    SCANDOLARA, Valentina ITA
  36    ERLANDSSON, Asa Maria SVE
  37    SNIHS, Kajsa SVE
  38    MAJERUS, Christine LUX
  39    WASIUK, Olga POL
  40    WHITSON, Genevieve NZ
  41    ARDAVE, Lelde LAT
  42    FURMANE, Madara LAT
  43    HANSEN, Nikoline DEN
  44    MIYAUCHI, Sakiko JAP
  45    TOYOOKA, Ayako JAP


Elite Men

  1    DLASK, Petr CZE
  2    KYZIVAT, Vladimir CZE 
  3    POLNICKY, Jiri CZE
  4    SIMUNEK, Radomir CZE
  5    STYBAR, Zdenek CZE
  6    ZLAMALIK, Martin CZE
  7    AERNOUTS, Bart BEL
  8    ALBERT, Niels BEL
  9    MEEUSEN, Tom BEL
  10    NYS, Sven BEL
  11    PAUWELS, Kevin BEL
  12    PEETERS, Rob BEL
  13    VANTORNOUT, Klaas BEL
  14    BOULO, Matthieu FRA
  15    BOURGOIN, Clement FRA
  16    CHAINEL, Steve FRA
  17    DUVAL, Aurelien FRA
  18    GADRET, John FRA
  19    MOUREY, Francis FRA
  20    MEISEN, Marcel GER
  21    PFINGSTEN, Christoph GER
  22    WALSLEBEN, Philipp GER
  23    WEBER, Sascha GER
  24    DRISCOLL, James USA
  25    JOHNSON, Tim USA
  26    JONES, Chris USA
  27    PAGE, Jonathan USA
  28    POWERS, Jeremy USA
  29    TREBON, Ryan USA
  30    RAMOS, Jose VEN
  31    HERNANDEZ GUTIERREZ, Aitor ESP
  32    MURGOITIO, Egoitz ESP
  33    RUIZ DE LARRINAGA IBANEZ, Javier ESP
  34    SUAREZ, Isaac ESP
  35    KNEGT, Gerben De NL
  36    HUENDERS, Mitchell NL
  37    AMERONGEN, Thijs Van NL
  38    BRAND, Twan Van Den NL
  39    WUBBEN, Niels NL
  40    DARVELL, Magnus SVE
  41    CRAWFORTH, Jody GBR
  42    FIELD, Ian GBR
  43    OLDHAM, Paul GBR
  44    BARENYI, Milan SLO
  45    GAVENDA, Robert SLO
  46    HARING, Martin SLO
  47    METLICKA, Vaclav SLO
  48    HEULE, Christian SUI
  49    TARAMARCAZ, Julien SUI
  50    WILDHABER, Marcel SUI
  51    ZAHNER, Simon SUI
  52    BIANCO, Marco ITA
  53    COMINELLI, Christian ITA
  54    DAMIANI, Luca ITA
  55    FRANZOI, Enrico ITA
  56    TABACCHI, Mirko ITA
  57    GIL, Mariusz POL
  58    RICHEY, Craig CAN
  59    TAKENOUCHI, Yu JAP
  60    TSUJIURA, Keichi JAP
  61    BAUSCH, Gusty LUX
  62    HELMIG, Christian LUX
  63    GEHBAUER, Robert OST
  64    GEISMAYR, Daniel OST
  65    GOLLINGER, Karl Heinz OST
  66    LEWIS, Rattray NZ
  67    QUIST, David Andrew NOR
  68    SOROKINS, Dimitriy LAT
  69    YILDIRIM, Hakan TUR


Under-23

  1    GODRIE, Stan NL
  2    TEUNISSEN, Mike NL
  3    HAAR, Lars Van Der NL
  4    HEIJDEN, Michiel Van Der NL
  5    POEL, David Van Der NL
  6    EMPEL, Micki Van NL
  7    BOSMANS, Wietse BEL
  8    BRAET, Vinnie BEL
  9    SWEECK, Laurens BEL
  10    VANTHOURENHOUT, Michael
  11    VERMEERSCH, Gianni BEL
  12    ALAPHILIPPE, Julian FRA
  13    BOUVARD, Kevin FRA
  14    JOUFFROY, Arnaud FRA
  15    MENUT, David FRA
  16    VENTURINI, Clément FRA
  17    HNIK, Karel CZE
  18    NESVADBA, Jan CZE
  19    VOJTECH, Nipl CZE
  20    PAPRSTKA, Tomas CZE
  21    POLNICKY, Radek CZE
  22    FORSTER, Lars SUI
  23    GRAND, Arnaud SUI
  24    LIENHARD, Fabian SUI
  25    WILDHABER, Michael SUI
  26    ECKMANN, Yannick GER
  27    MAYER, Yannick GER
  28    SCHWEIZER, Michael GER
  29    WALSLEBEN, Max GER
  30    KAISER, Cody USA
  31    MCDONALD, Zach USA
  32    BRAIDOT, Daniele ITA
  33    BRAIDOT, Luca ITA
  34    FALASCHI, Bryan ITA
  35    SILVESTRI, Elia ITA
  36    SMARZARO, Igor ITA
  37    KONWA, Marek POL
  38    KOSTECKI, Patryk POL
  39    MALEC, Wojciech POL
  40    PILIS, Bartosz POL
  41    GÓMEZ, Iñigo ESP
  42    GOMEZ, Jon ESP
  43    LASTRA, Jonathan ESP
  44    RODRIGUEZ GUEDE, Pablo ESP
  45    CLARKSON, Jack GBR
  46    GALLAGHER, Kenta GBR
  47    GRAY, Luke GBR
  48    JAMES, Steven GBR
  49    SANTOS, Vincent Dias Dos LUX
  50    REICHLING, Lex LUX
  51    HANSEN, Kenneth DEN
  52    OLSEN, Emil Arvid DEN
  53    GEHBAUER, Alexander OST
  54    SÖDERQVIST, Ludwig SVE
  55    CÔTE-BOUVETTE, Félix CAN
  56    CHALAS, Jaroslav SLO
  57    MANIKAS, Domas LIT
  58    PREMANIS, Matiss LAT

Juniors

  1    JAUREGUI, Quentin FRA

  2    KORETZKY, Victor FRA

  3    KOWALSKI, Dylan FRA

  4    SEIGLE, Romain FRA

  5    TURGIS, Anthony FRA

  6    HERMANS, Quinten BEL

  7    HOEYBERGHS, Daan BEL

  8    SOETE, Daan BEL

  9    AERT, Wout Van BEL

  10    TICHELT, Yorbin Van BEL

  11    FRISCHKNECHT, Andri SUI

  12    GRAB, Dominic SUI

  13    ZUMSTEIN, Dominic SUI

  14    BREZNA, Jan CZE

  15    POKORNY, Karel CZE

  16    VASTL, Jan CZE

  17    DRUMM, Felix GER

  18    HERKLOTZ, Silvio GER

  19    KÖNIG, Marco GER

  20    MÜLLER, Steffen GER

  21    SIEMERMANN, Johannes GER

  22    ARIESEN, Tim NL

  23    BUDDING, Martijn NL

  24    BEEK, Pjotr Van NL

  25    POEL, Mathieu Van Der NL

  26    WEIJERS, Koen NL

  27    WIJKEL, Stan NL

  28    MOSES, Joseph GBR

  29    ROBINSON, Hugo GBR

  30    WELBURN, Alex GBR

  31    BERTOLINI, Gioele ITA

  32    COLLEDANI, Nadir ITA

  33    NICOLA, Luca De ITA

  34    PEDANTE, Francesco ITA

  35    REDAELLI, Riccardo ITA

  36    DILLMAN, Andrew GBR

  37    GORRY, Richard USA

  38    ORTENBLAD, Tobin USA

  39    OWEN, Logan USA

  40    WHITE, Curtis USA

  41    BEAUDOIN, Samuel CAN

  42    PATRY, Yohan CAN

  43    GRABIS, Mateusz POL

  44    KONWA, Piotr POL

  45    LIS, Tobiasz POL

  46    PALUTA, Michal POL

  47    PATRYK, Stosz POL

  48    FRITSCH, Sven POL

  49    CAMPO, Jaime ESP

  50    RIBERA, Jose Manuel ESP

  51    SUAREZ FERNANDEZ, Kevin ESP

  52    GLAZJA, Ondrej SLO

  53    VOZAR, Simon SLO

  54    NAKAI, Michimasa JAP

  55    SAWADA, Toki JAP

  56    YOKOYAMA, Kota JAP

  57    LINDE, Emil SVE

  58    WAHLQVIST, Dennis SVE

  59    BAIKSTYS, Zigymantas LIT