#CXcoursereviews Gullegem is also out. With some weird broken rules and an otherwise uninspiring course
#Gullegem #Superprestige2023
https://jensdekkerblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/13/cx-course-reviews-2022-2023-gullegem/

#CXcoursereviews Gullegem is also out. With some weird broken rules and an otherwise uninspiring course
#Gullegem #Superprestige2023
https://jensdekkerblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/13/cx-course-reviews-2022-2023-gullegem/

Hartjes voor Felipe Orts, die vandaag zevende werd in het West-Vlaamse slijk van Gullegem. Felipe werd geboren in Villajoyosa, ergens tussen Benidorm en Alicante. Het is er momenteel zonnig, met temperaturen rond en bij de 20°C. Felipe brengt de winter vrijwillig door in Vlaanderen om er wekelijks door modder, zand en koeienstront te ploeteren terwijl de hemel tranen van leedvermaak weent. De mens, ge kunt gij daar niet aan uit. #Gullegem #cyclocross

There was no measure today for Wout van Aert in the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem.
1. Wout van Aert in 1:03.05
2. Eli Iserbyt + 0.22
3. Michael Vanthourenhout + 0.41
4. Lars van der Haar + 0.53
5. Kevin Kuhn + 1.33
6. Quinten Hermans + 1.44
7. Felipe Orts + 2.09
8. Niels Vandeputte + 2.47
9. Lander Loockx + 3.14
10. Curtis White + 3.59
#cyclocross

The bell lap has started for Wout van Aert in the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem. He is fully in charge now. Iserbyt at 19secs, Vanthourenhout at 37secs and van der Haar at 50secs - the Jack Russel terrier is again pacing himself well and still has Vanthourenhout in his sights. Orts at 1.29 now, Kuhn and Hermans at 1.35.
#cyclocross

Two laps to go at the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem.
Iserbyt 20secs behind van Aert now, Vanthourenhout at 33secs and van der Haar at 56secs. The top4 positions look more or less set for now. Orts at 1.24, Kuhn at 1.32 and Hermans at 1.35. #cyclocross

Wout van Aert is now riding at a measured pace to keep Iserbyt at those 15secs and save powers for tomorrow's race in Zonhoven.
Let's see if the fight for the podium positions can bring some additional entertainment in this #cyclocross race. #Gullegem

Superprestige #Gullegem, standings after 6 laps in the men's race:
1. van Aert
2. Iserbyt + 0.15
AND THEN IT'S THE 2ND COMMERCIAL BREAK IN ONE RACE.

Come on, Eurosport, this is bloody annoying!
#cyclocross

Four laps of nine done in #Gullegem in the men's Superprestige race.
Iserbyt still at 3secs from the leaders van Aert and Vanthourenhout, van der Haar at 21secs and losing ground, Orts at 30secs.
Still feels as if Wout is switching between 4th and 5th gear and has his 6th gear as a back-up.
#cyclocross

The Pauwels Sauzen boys have lured Wout van Aert from his cover in lap 3 of the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem. Van Aert brings back Vanthourenhout and sets the pace from the front now.
Iserbyt at 3secs, van der Haar at 7secs, Orts at 21secs and Hermans at 33secs.
#cyclocross

Vanthourenhout accelerates in lap 2 of the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem. Van der Haar follows, Iserbyt almost brings down Orts with a questionable move. Van Aert moves up to 2nd to bring back Vanthourenhout. Iserbyt tries to get in the way to prevent this from happening, but he ain't got the engine to do so.
#cyclocross

Five riders up front after the opening lap of the men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem:
Lars van der Haar, Michael Vanthourenhout, Eli Iserbyt, Spanish national champion Felipe Orts and Wout van Aert who is saving energies by constantly riding in 5th, biding his time and marking his opponents. #cyclocross

The men's Superprestige race in #Gullegem is starting in less than 10 minutes, so keep an eye on the hashtag #cyclocross.
No Mathieu van der Poel or Tom Pidcock, so Wout van Aert is the big favourite for this one.
Other riders lining up for the race are Eli Iserbyt, Michael Vanthourenhout, Lars van der Haar, Jens Adams and Kevin Kuhn.
Normally the question needs to be: Who can join Wout on the podium?

Women's Superprestige race in #Gullegem, final result
1. Ceylin Alvarado in 51.51 minutes
2. Inge van der Heijden + 0.35
3. Denise Betsema + 0.45
4. Zoé Bäckstedt + 1.13
5. Sanne Cant + 1.54
6. Marion Norbert Riberolle + 3.04
7. Alicia Franck + 3.41

Norbert Riberolle had a nasty crash on the pump track in lap 1 and did not even care to get her bike out of the way - kind of a no-go.
Still, she got back up in last position and finished in a very decent 6th place. #cyclocross.

In #cyclocross, staying on the bike and trying to ride a section is not always the fastest option. Sometimes hopping off and switching to running before getting stalled in a mud hole is the smarter and faster option.
Alvarado takes 42secs to van der Heijden into the bell lap of the women's Superprestige race in #Gullegem, with Betsema a further 3secs behind. Zoé Bäckstedt in 4th at 1min01, Cant in 5th at 1min41.

Alvarado is on a roll in the women's Superprestige race in #Gullegem: She's extending er lead constantly and is in full control of this race.
chase 1 van der Heijden, Betsema + 0.38
chase 2 Bäckstedt + 0.46
chase 3 Cant + 1.28
Van der Heijden dropping Betsema now in the fight for 2nd.
#cyclocross

As for the weather in #Gullegem, it's a grey day with some slight drizzle. What a difference to Switzerland where the sun is out at 12°C. Balcony office and chicken ramen! #cyclocross

The women's Superprestige race in #Gullegem is properly taking shape in lap 4, halfway into the race.
Ceylin Alvarado looks to be in charge in the lead, extending her lead. Inge van der Heijden has dropped Zoé Bäckstedt and is riding in 2nd on her own now. Betsema manages to close the gap to Bäckstedt and starts to put the pressure up.
#cyclocross

Race situation after 3 laps in the women's Superprestige race in #Gullegem
:race leader Ceylin Alvarado
chase 1 Zoé Bäckstedt, Inge van der Heijden+ 0.10
chase 2 Denise Betsema + 0.16
chase 3 Sanne Cant + 0.49
#cyclocross

Two laps done, and the jury sets the race distance at 7 laps.
Alvarado in the lead, Bäckstedt the first chaser with Betsema and van der Heijden in her wake, Cant on her own and Alicia Frank in 6th for now, but already at one minute.
#Gullegem #cyclocross