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The Big Picture | World Cup Flamanville
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The Big Picture | World Cup Flamanville

A 17th century château with a rugby pitch hosts a cyclo-cross race.

Ethan Glading
Jan 17
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The 14th round of the World Cup treated us to some really great visuals. I won’t comment on the race action except to say that since I could not get to the finish for the Elite Women, I watched the last half-lap on a big screen. That was a very fun race and the tension and excitement of the finale were palpably rippling through the crowd, who were not exactly Dutch partisans.

I have heard the parcours compared to Hulst a few times and honestly, if I had not heard that I doubt the thought would have crossed my mind. True, they both have moats, but that is where the comparison ends for me. In Flamanville there is nothing close to the elevation of Hulst, where the riders are frequently dwarfed by the scale of the earthworks. But this year I think Flamanville was actually the more fun race to shoot. In Hulst there were so many opportunities for photos from any given point that it was at times paralyzing and I felt that I was missing more shots than I was getting. By contrast in Flamanville I found myself more limited (not least because of the crowd) but then found that the backgrounds and options were still excellent. I was also remembering how to incorporate the crowd into shots; something I have missed recently.

Inge van der Heiden leading the pack early in the first lap. © Ethan Glading

Amandine Fouquenet trying to avoid the rut. © Ethan Glading

Early in the race and the race is already at the front. © Ethan Glading

Blanka Vas rode onto the podium but was never in the picture for the top spot. © Ethan Glading

The not-so-fly part of the double fly-over. © Ethan Glading

Manon Bakker and Marion Norbert-Riberolle. There are a surprising number of palm trees in northern France. © Ethan Glading

Puck Pieterse leading Fem van Empel on one of the man sharp, short “climbs.” © Ethan Glading

American Taylor Kuyk-White finished 31st in her first-ever world cup. © Ethan Glading

Canadian Sidney McGill battled all race with Spaniard Aida Nuno Palacio. © Ethan Glading

The uncontroversial part of the fly-over. © Ethan Glading

Anais Morichon was on the tricolor podium behind Hélène Clauzel and Fouquenet. © Ethan Glading

Maybe the first race I have been to (even in Normandy) where Norman flags outnumbered Breton flags. © Ethan Glading

Lots of cheers for Marion Norbert-Riberolle but we were not in Troyes. © Ethan Glading

Toon Vandebosch leads the Sauces in stringing out the field. © Ethan Glading

Fan favorite Clément Venturini slotted in behind newly (re-)crowned Swiss champ, Kevin Kuhn. © Ethan Glading

Runner-up Toon Aerts looks to be maintaining his form on a course that did not particularly suit him. © Ethan Glading

French champ Joshua Dubau hanging in the lead group early in the race. I’m pretty sure Marc Madiot would have something to say about that jersey. © Ethan Glading

There were scenic vistas everywhere you turned at the Château de Flamanville. © Ethan Glading

Eli Isertbyt leads over the double fly-over. © Ethan Glading

Tom Meeusen and Daan Soete. The D-G H-M duo finished just outside the top 10. © Ethan Glading

Jens Adams leading the French champ. © Ethan Glading

Iserbyt comfortably off the front with 3 to go. © Ethan Glading

Aerts and Vanthourenhout chasing through the finish area. © Ethan Glading

Best finish backdrop of the season. © Ethan Glading

Toon Vandebosch put in some work. © Ethan Glading

Jens Adams rode to another solid finish; his 3rd 6th place in a World Cup this season. © Ethan Glading
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Colin Sheridan
Jan 17Liked by Ethan Glading

Great writing and, of course, pics. Thanks.

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Neil Ashton
Writes CX KAT Drei ·Jan 17·edited Jan 17Liked by Ethan Glading

Going to go out on a limb guessing Taylor Kuyk-White was the only rider on a steel frame with Canti’s?

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