Search our site:

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, November 27, 2023

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein

Les Woodland's book Cycling’s 50 Craziest Stories is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing:

• Dec 17: World Cup Namur Cyclocross
• Dec 26: World Cup Gaver Cyclocross
• Dec 27: Superprestige Heusden Zolder
• Dec 28: Superprestige Diegem
• Dec 29: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
• Jan 12-21: Santos Tour Down Under
• Jan 20: Clasica Comunitat Valenciana
• Jan 24-28: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28: GP d'Ouverture-La Marseillaise
• Jan 28: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
• Jan 30 - Feb 3: Saudi Tour

Latest completed racing:

• Nov 5: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 28: Superprestige Ruddervoorde
• Oct 22: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaanse Druivencross
• Oct 12 - 17: Tour of Guangxi
• Oct 15: Japan Cup
• Oct 15: Veneto Classic

Weather: Rain, 11C

Winner Pim Ronhaar is under that mud. UCI photo.

Men:

Here's the UCI's race report:

After Dendermonde, Pim Ronhaar now took victory in Dublin. The race was won on the finish line. Sweeck had to give way to the Dutchman and came second. Iserbyt finished third and remains in the lead in the standings.

Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) was clearly looking forward to the muddy Dublin course. He resolutely chose to attack on lap 1 and seemed to ride away, but there were still too many people together in the background for the race to already fall into a decisive fold. However, Nys kept up the pressure and provided the shuffle in the chasing group. It was Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) and Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) who managed to survive the first battle.

On the fourth lap, about halfway through the race, everything was back to normal. Wyseure (Crelan - Corendon) tried to get away, but it was mainly Ronhaar's attack that set up the finale. Iserbyt and Sweeck (Crelan - Corendon) went in pursuit. It looked like it was going to be a battle between 3. Until Sweeck punctured in the 5th of a total of 7 laps and suddenly faced a gap of about 10 seconds.

Nothing lost, last season's World Cup winner clearly still had gravy in his legs. By the time Iserbyt joined Ronhaar on the penultimate lap, Sweeck had also reduced his gap to about six seconds. Entering the final lap, everything came back together. A perfect moment for Ronhaar to accelerate again.

In the end, it was Sweeck who caught Ronhaar after a lap in pursuit. An exciting duel unfolded in the final hectometres. To sprint or not to sprint? Sweeck went with pure power on and over Ronhaar and we seemed to be heading for a sprint. The Dutchman did not count on that, as he surprised Sweeck with an attack just before the last straight.

Ronhaar thus raced to his second World Cup victory after Dendermonde. Sweeck stranded on his wheel at 2 seconds. World Cup leader Iserbyt eventually came 3rd at 20 seconds, but remains in the lead in the standings.

21.08 km raced at an average speed of 22.56 km/hr

22 riders finished, 6 were lapped.

Women:

Lucinda Brand wins in Dublin. UCI photo

18.08 km raced at an average speed of 20.32 km/hr

44 riders started, 31 finished, 13 were lapped.

.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary