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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, December 27, 2022

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. - Samuel Johnson

Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2021: The Little Cannibal Dominates is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• Dec 27: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross

Upcoming racing

• Dec 28: Diegem Cyclocross
• Dec 30: Azencross-Loenhout
• Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
• Jan 14 - 22: Schwalbe Classic & Tour Down Under
• Jan 22 - 29: Vuelta a San Juan
• Jan 25 - 29: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28 & 29: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Latest completed racing:

• Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
• Dec 10: Exact Cross Essen
• Dec 4: Scheldecross Antwerp
• Nov 20: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
• Nov 5 & 6: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 29: Superprestige Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
• Oct 11 - 18: Tour de Langkawi

We posted the UCI's reports on the men's & women's races with the results.

Here's the report from 2nd-place Wout van Aert's Jumbo-Visma team:

After a spectacular race, Wout van Aert has finished second in the CX World Cup cross in Gavere, a classic on the cyclocross calendar. At times, the Belgian champion struggled on the challenging mud course, and despite a fierce pursuit, he was forced to concede defeat to Mathieu van der Poel. It was Van Aert’s fourth podium finish of the cyclocross season.

Wout van Aert chasing Tom Pidcock. Jumbo-Visma photo

After the race began, Van Aert swiftly moved into third place and made an effort to catch Van der Poel and the world champion Thomas Pidcock. That appeared to work halfway through the race, but the 28-year-old Team Jumbo-Visma rider was forced to release when Van der Poel accelerated once again. On the penultimate lap, Van Aert overtook Pidcock. After Friday's victory in Mol, though, another victory was no longer feasible.

"I didn't feel like I was competing for the win”, Van Aert said. "I was always just chasing and never found a solid rhythm. I continued making mistakes. I kept a reasonable speed overall, but I lacked the required acceleration. Second place was the best I could do today. There was a huge crowd, so I had a great time, despite my poor legs. It reminded me of the old days. I knew it would be one of those days when I arrived four hours before the start and nearly couldn't get out of the car due to the crowds. We missed that the last few years with corona."

Here's the report from 3rd-place Tom Pidcock's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Tom Pidcock traded blows in the cross field in the prestigious Boxing Day event, eventually securing a podium finish in the World Cup round.

The Gavere Cross podium, from left: Wout van Aert (2nd), Mathieu van der Poel (1st) & Tom Pidcock (3rd)

The Brit enjoyed a great start and opened out a small nine-second lead heading into the second lap. Mathieu van der Poel quickly rebounded from a puncture and by lap three the race came back together, with Wout Van Aert also making it a heavyweight trio out front.

The third lap saw Van der Poel make a big effort to go clear, with Pidcock going deep on lap four to peg the gap and then bring back the Dutchman. Sadly the world champion would pay for his efforts and eventually slipped into third place – holding that position to the line.

The heavy festive ‘cross schedule continues on Tuesday in Heusden-Zolder, before moving on to the Diegem evening race on Wednesday.

Fellow Grenadier Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was also in action, finishing 27th on the heavy, classic Belgian course. Pauline will also be racing in Heusden-Zolder and Diegem as she continues to re-adjust to top-level cyclo-cross.

Tom Pidcock:
"I’m maybe a little bit disappointed. It was a very heavy race and in the last few laps I really felt it – especially in the running section. I was really struggling to clip back in afterwards. I just wasn’t strong enough really.

"At one point when I caught (Van der Poel) [I felt good]. But on the running section my bike was getting heavier and heavier every lap it felt like. It felt like I was carrying a car on my shoulder! Just in the last few laps my legs fell off a bit."

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this important notice:

Pacific Cycle is recalling its Igniter and Bubble Pop 20-inch kids' bikes because of a fall hazard involving the handlebar.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 23 reports of incidents of the handlebars coming loose during use. Ten injuries involving bruising and abrasions have been reported. The recall involves about 147,000 bikes.

The Igniter has red with white and black accent colors and the word "Igniter" on the downtube. The Bubble Pop has pink with blue and black accent colors and the words "Bubble Pop" on the downtube. The model numbers 201230TG and 201231TG are located on the seat tube where it meets the bottom bracket.

The bikes were sold at Target stores nationwide and online from July 2020 through September 2022 for about $140.

Consumers should contact Pacific Cycle to receive a free repair kit, containing a bolt, nut, washer, and grease packet with instructions. Pacific Cycle can be reached toll-free at 877-564-2261 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. CST Monday-Friday.

Here's the post with more information links and photos of the recalled bikes

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