Cyclocross Worlds gallery: New gear, mud and Nutella
The SRAM CX1 group was installed on a few riders’ bikes. Not yet released, the single-ring or “one-by” group has a long cage and roller bearing clutch mechanism
Front view of the SRAM CX1 rear deraileur, which uses a straight parallelogram instead of the standard slant parallelogram
The SRAM CX1 rear derailleur is matched to this single chain ring with obvious wide-narrow teeth and no form of chain guide
The USA’s Elle Anderson tops the run-up with her green Specialized CruX fitted with SRAM CX1
Anderson’s SRAM CX1 single front ring
The place every rider was aiming to reach first over the weekend
Lars Van Der Haar during practice. The so far unnamed Shimano disc wheels he’s been riding all season seem to have gained C35 decals, although they could be unofficial additions
There was an early crash in the men’s juniors race. At the foot of the carnage were one Czech and two French riders, two rolled tubulars and two broken chains!
The junior race saw a Belgian clean sweep
The juniors competed in some of the muddiest conditions all weekend
Australia is another relative newcomer to cyclocross
The Aussies brought this unusual ‘cross bike from Apollo. The longer seat stays and unusual, kinked top tube supposedly provide more compliance
Perennial top French performer Francis Mourey’s Lapierre bikes – one set up for the road, and one for practice
Mourey chooses the one-piece PRO Stealth Evo carbon combo
Lapierre’s only top-end ‘cross bike is designed to run either cantilevers or discs, with universal cable routing
A custom, mechanic-made front cable hanger bolts onto the underside of the stem, and also mounts the Di2 control box. Note the Di2 satellite shifter
The Lapierre’s unused rear disc mount
This American team tool kit includes everything an on-the-road mechanic needs: compact case, trusted tools, electric inflator, lube, water… and Nutella!
GB ‘cross champion Helen Wyman’s Kona fitted with Easton’s EC90 Aero 55 tubular wheelset and Challenge Limus tubs
Wyman’s disc brake-equipped bikes use different TRP calipers; this one had the Spyre
Wyman’s other bike on display was set up with TRP’s clever cable-operated HY/RD hydraulic calipers
Stef Wyman showed us this prototype Challenge tubular with more aggressive side knobs from the Limus mud tyre, and a central strip that is a little narrower than the Chicane, with a larger, grippier file tread. It’s said to roll quickly, and at usual low ‘cross pressures still grip well in a straight line due to the taller side knobs. There’s no name for the tyre yet, but expect to see it on sale before next season
In spite of SRAM’s hydraulic brake recall, this Swiss rider still raced with three hydraulic disc-equipped Bergamont bikes
Hitting the mud for the first time was the last time any rider was ahead of the dominant Marianne Vos
Vos took the title by over a minute, and the Netherlands went wild
Just one of the special Belgian supporter’s outfits
The inevitable pile-up on the first passage through the deep rutted mud after the start of the under 23 event
Wout Van Aert showed his class and simply rode away from the field
Van Aert beat his compatriot Michael Vanthourenhout by 50 seconds, allowing him plenty of time to celebrate
The Dutch brought along a brass band
Within sight of the border, the Belgian fans were extremely visible
These fans had warmed up properly for the main event
France’s Francis Mourey led the men’s race in to the first drop-off after the road start
The start of the Zdenek Stybar and Sven Nys battle that everyone had come to see with Mourey getting distanced
New Zealand’s Alexander Revell may have only finished 52nd, but his moustache gained him some of the most enthusiastic support of the race
The Nys-Stybar battle continued to entertain the huge crowd
Nys enjoyed the majority of the crowd’s support…
…but a mistake in the last half lap allowed Stybar to escape for his third world title
At the Cyclocross World Championships earlier this month, riders and mechanics hauled a smorgasbord of gear to Hoogerheide in the Netherlands. BikeRadar‘s Robin Wilmott was there with his camera to capture it all.
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Click through the photo gallery at right for close-up shots of SRAM’s not-yet-released CX1 drivetrain parts, interesting ways to route Shimano Di2 cabling, the particular tool-and-Nutella arrangements of a mechanic in the pits, and much, much more.
The nys-stybar battle continued to entertain the huge crowd:Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
