The Aussie’s are starting the year off with the ITT National Championships. Vine dominated and 20 year old Wilson-Haffenden showed some incredible strength to win the women’s field.
Not really a surprise that Vine took the TT, though a little surprised Plapp was so far down. The Aussie Nats road race is often a pretty entertaining affair; as far as I know they’re sticking with the same course this year which is a tough, lumpy circuit.
I’m wondering if Plapp is purposefully not on the typical Aussie training regimen so that he can target some races later in the calendar. And not surprising at all that the stache won this. He was mighty strong last year and seems to have figured out how to stay upright. Wilson-Haffenden’s win was surprising and Brodie Chapman was class after the race congratulating her.
Kel O’Brien looked great in the TT and I can see him being a favorite tomorrow.
It’s a tough week for early retirements. Iserbyt is done too and has been medically advised to not ride even recreationally. Brutal.
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Sucks for Iserbyt, and for ‘cross in general: he was a hell of a competitor. Not always the most likeable guy but no one can deny he was a force. Can’t say this comes as a huge surprise - we talked about this a while back but after undergoing unsuccessful surgery after unsuccessful surgery, at some point the writing’s on the wall and it’s just not going to get fixed.
I’ve got some experience being told by doctors I can’t race again but I can’t imagine being told not even to ride recreationally. I hope he gets through this alright.
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Agreed 100%. There were things about his demeanor I didn’t care for, but he was a terrific crosser and animated races.
I too have something of that experience. After being hit by a car and breaking my leg, I was told running was perhaps not the greatest endeavor to partake in long term, but I wasn’t flat out told no. I didn’t really care for running though so it was easy to give up. I don’t know what I would do if I were told not to ride. I like being fit and pushing watts, but more than anything the bike is my way off calming my brain and meditating through nature. I’d be lost without that outlet.
In much better news, the Q36.5 livery and bikes look fantastic.
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wow this does suck! i was watching 2023 beringen on my trainer last night, and i was thinking how much i missed watching him. and his little games with vanthourenhout 
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Matteo is such a well spoken guy.
In much better news, the Q36.5 livery and bikes look fantastic.
Yeah great kit. One of the nicest ever IMO.
I’m really bummed about Eli. He just made every race he was in exciting, and his teamwork with Michael V was likely the best we have ever seen in the discipline.
I think the Q36.5 kit is… pretty meh. Take the logos off, and it’s a basic navy blue fade jersey and black shorts combo from the closeout rack at your LBS. The bike is the exact same paint scheme as a Billato CX bike I had 25 years ago. I mean exactly, right down to the matte “soft touch” surface finish.
It’s all pleasantly retro and fine in a way that maybe verges on “classic”, but I’ll be honest; when I saw it on Quinten Herman’s Instagram today, I thought it was another placeholder kit that he was switching to from the plain black he raced CX in over the Kerstperiode 
We know who he’s talking about in that last part:
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Happy to be a frontline warrior in the early skirmishes in the war against our emerging AI overlords
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There are some great snow crosses today in terrible weather. There are already some surprises (that I won’t spoil).
Just watched the RR recap. Jayco gave away the title.
Belgian Men’s race was a cracker
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Two weeks in a row for the shift in Lady’s podium. The WC race is going to be fun!
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We really are going to be treated to a great new rivalry for years to come.
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Bigly. WorldS doesn’t seem like the foregone conclusion that it did a couple weeks ago.
heck man, with the exception of WvA and Fem, World’s has typically not been won by the riders that took home the big series titles, especially when they dominated them early on. Never say never, but starting to look like regression to the mean here.