This past weekend was the fourth round of the World Cup, held in Troyes, France. Troyes has hosted a number of cross races in recent years, including Coupe de France rounds and a lone French C1 during the pandemic season that I was able to attend in January 2021. The course was changed quite a bit since that race, but it did keep some key features such as the steep off-camber and the bowl in which riders tackle a few super steep short climbs/descents and an unrideable set of steps.
It has been raining virtually every day in Northern France/Belgium for the last month or so and intitially the course looked to be a slog. But the sun came out and some brisk wind with it and by the time the elites raced things were pretty fast. Both elite races provided excitement for the crowd with lead changes and a bit of drama. It would be great to see Troyes take up an every-other-year slot on the World Cup calendar like Flamanville and Besançon have done.
I was moved to tears by Alvarado’s emotion at the finish. What a gutsy ride! A tremendous comeback from a long period of recovery work from illness and injury.
I was moved to tears by Alvarado’s emotion at the finish. What a gutsy ride! A tremendous comeback from a long period of recovery work from illness and injury.
omg, that picture of Iserbyt with the confetti at the finish! Amazing! The depth of focus that captures and brightens the confetti is killer!