Cross Rankings – Week 5

Posted on October 11, 2012 by

Adam Myerson and Anthony Clark charge over the barriers as Mike Garrigan hops them in Providence. Photo: Todd Prekaski.

After the first week of fan voting, there are some obvious surprises. While part of the goal of a truly robust ranking system was to open it to the public, clearly the public has their own biases and fun. Riders like Adam Myerson, Barry Wicks, Eric Tonkin and Daniel Chabanov make the list for the first time along with the usual cast of characters. Dan Timmerman has to be considered the biggest shocker coming in at number 12. However, the most interesting  voting occurred in the top three, where Niels Albert came out on top, despite losing to Sven Nys over the past few weekends.

Once we factor in the voting with the computer rankings, Jeremy Powers takes the top spot primarily due to his UCI Points (which the computer doesn’t cap) and his winning percentage. Nys moves into second spot this week due to his winning percentage and votes. Nicolas Bazin takes the third spot despite being inactive due to his strong start to the season. Timmerman’s SOS and votes launch him into the 10 spot, while Chase Dickens remains in the Top 25 with the top SOS so far.

Interestingly enough, only two riders are in the top-ten with zero wins this year: Tim Johnson and Timmerman. Both of whom have a tough SOS and received a high number of votes. Here’s the link to the Top 25, below is this weeks Top 25 Votes.

[top25-vote start=’1349481600′ end=’1350000000′]

Posted in Races | Leave a comment

Weekly Cross Rankings – Fan Voting

Posted on October 10, 2012 by

The voting page for our weekly rankings is now open. The are instructions on the page, but it’s pretty straightforward. You rank 25 riders (1 being your highest rank) via a drop down menu. Riders are organized by first name and you can only rank each rider once.

The idea is to vote for your top 25, but if you cannot or only come up with 10 or 15, that’s okay. Each vote is worth a certain amount of points. A first place vote is worth 25 points, second 24, third 23, all the way down to 25th place, which is worth the most points. The points are tallied up and the rider with the most points is number one.

Voting will be open for 24 hours or so. This week is an anomolie because we had some glitches and got a late start. Voting will be open from 12pm EST on Wednesday, October 10th to 12pm EST on Thursday, October 11th. Future weeks will be open from Monday to Tuesday.

If you experience any issues, let us know and have fun. Remember, the overall votes count for 1/5 of each riders total ranking, so they’re important and can have a big impact. Plus, the more votes, the merrier.

Finally, the vote page will remain the same throughout the year and will get automatically updated with new riders each week. So, you can bookmark it for easy access.

Here’s the link: http://www.pavepavepave.com/top-25/vote/

Posted in Races | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cross Predictions Wrap-Up – Week 5

Posted on October 9, 2012 by

Matin Bina takes the win in Mladá Boleslav. Photo: Martin Bali-Jenčík.

The weekend started out good on both sides of the pond, but Sunday sent things way off course. I only got one point in Providence and three points in Europe. Obviously not having start lists for two of those European races hurt, but that’s a lame excuse considering I didn’t have one for the Toi Toi Cup, but still managed to get 4 points. I should have stuck to my gut in Ruddervoorde and gone with Sven Nys. Interestingly enough both Nys and Martin Bina extended their winning streaks. It will be interesting to see who’s comes to an end first.

European Cross

Toi Toi Cup – Round 3

1. Martin Bina – 1st
2. Michael Boros – 3rd
3. Ondrej Bambula – 8th

Points: 4

Superprestige Ruddervoorde (C1)

1. Niels Albert – 2nd
2. Sven Nys – 1st
3. Klaas Vantornout – 4th

Points: 2

Cyclocross International Podbrezova (C2)

1. Martin Bina – DNS
2. Zdenek Mlynar – 8th
3. Robert Gavenda – DNS

Points: 0

Cyclocross International d’Aigle (C2)

1. Lukas Fluckiger – 4th
2. Simon Zahner – 3rd
3. Mathias Fluckiger – DNS

Points: 1

US Cross

Providence Cyclocross Festival – Day 1

1. Jeremy Powers – 1st
2. Ryan Trebon – 2nd
3. Tim Johnson – DNF

Points: 4

Providence Cyclocross Festival – Day 2

1. Ryan Trebon – DNF
2. Jeremy Powers – 5th
3. Tim Johnson – 3rd

Points: 1

Posted in Races | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

US Cross – Week 5 Predictions

Posted on October 5, 2012 by

The podium at Gloucester. Will it look the same in Providence? Photo: Todd Perkaski.

For the third consecutive weekend, the US cross scene features a UCI C1 race and a UCI C2 race. This week, the cross collective stays in New England as the countries best riders head to Providence, RI for the Providence Cyclocross Festival (PCF). The PCF also acts as rounds three and four of the NEPCX series, which kicked off last weekend in Golucester. Jeremy Powers and Ryan Trebon are tied on points, so this weekend’s showdown at Roger Williams Park (which hosted nationals in 2005 and 2006) should give someone a clear advantage in the series.

Providence Cyclocross Festival – NEPCX Rounds 3 & 4 (C1/C2)

The Winner(s)

Jeremy Powers – the US National Champion has looked very, very, good so far this season. This weekend marks Powers last weekend at home before he begins a campaign that will see him travel to Fort Collins, CO and then to Tabor, Czech Republic. While you cannot count out the sweep, I expect Powers to land on top of the podium one day this weekend.

Ryan Trebon – Trebon’s return to New England worked out pretty well for the Oregonian as he split the weekend with Powers. The weather has been a bit dryer this week, but this weekend’s forecast is mixed. Add to that Trebon’s victory here in 2006 and I think he’ll be able to beat everyone else one day this weekend.

The Podium

Tim Johnson – I really had high hopes for Johnson at the start of the season, and still do. He’ll get his chance to climb up to the top step of the podium, but right now Powers and Trebon seem unstoppable. This is yet another weekend where TJ will have to play bridesmaid (or groomsmen in this case).

Posted in Races | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

European Cross – Week 4 Predictions

Posted on October 4, 2012 by

Niels Albert takes the win in Ruddervoorde (2011). Photo: Jef Cleemput

European cross kicks into high gear this weekend with four UCI races, including the first round of the Superprestige series in Ruddervoorde. Ruddervoorde is also the only C1 race this weekend. Last weekend was all about two men: Sven Nys and Martin Bina. Nys went two-for-two in Belgium, while Bina won the second round of the Toi Toi Cup and the first two rounds of the Slovakian Cross Cup. Will there winning streaks hold up? Time to found out what the predictor says:

Toi Toi Cup – Round 3 (C2)

The Winner

Martin Bina – Bina went on a tear last weekend, going three-for-three in the Czech Republic and Slovokia. With Vladimir Kyzivat and Petr Dlask having a slow start to the season, Bina has had to deal with a young crop of Czech riders. Last weekend’s races were tight, but I expect Bina to continue his winning streak in Mlada Boleslav.

The Podium

Michael Boros – this young, 21-year-old Czech rider, is a rider to watch. He’s landed on the podium a few times this year and looks poised for victory. Right now, Bina is just that little bit better, but Boros is good enough to land on the podium.

Ondrej Bambula – the 25-year-old Czech rider only competed in three UCI races last year. He won the Int. Radquerfeldein Lambach/Stadl-Paura and finished inside the top-50 at two rounds of the World Cup. Bambula has been a podium contender in the early part of this season and should land on it again on Saturday.

Superprestige Ruddervoorde (C1)

The Winner

Niels Albert – I’m not going to lie, I really want to put Sven Nys down as the winner. He bested Albert twice last weekend and looked very good. However, the World Champion kept things close and looks primed for a victory. Albert won Ruddervoorde last year and I think he’ll do it again.

The Podium

Sven Nys – Nys’ Superprestige stats are ridiculous. He’s won 11 overall titles, including a record five-straight. He’s going for his 12th this season and his third straight. He also has over 50 Superprestige victories to his credit. Nys looked good last weekend and knows the key to another title is to finish near the top. I expect him to podium on Sunday.

Klaas Vantornout – Vantornout tends to ride well in Ruddervoorde and appears to be on some decent form. Sure he finished outside the top-ten in Kalmthout, but he looked very good in Neerpelt. I think we’ll see the same man we saw in Neerpelt and he’ll finish on the podium once again.

Cyclocross International Podbrezova (C2)

The Winner

Martin Bina – Bina won the first two rounds of the Slovak Cross Cup last weekend. I expect him to do the same for round three on Sunday. Despite being in Slovakia, the first two rounds were dominated by the Czech’s, of which Bina seems to be the strongest.

The Podium

Zdenek Mlynar – Mlynar is another one of the elder statesman of cross who continues to ride well. The 37-year-old Czech rider finished on the podium twice last weekend and I would expect him to do the same in Podbrezova.

Robert Gavenda – the Slovakian National Champion spent last weekend just off the back of the lead group and out of the podium hunt. Someone needs to break up the Czech domination and Gavenda is my man.

Cyclocross International d’Aigle (C2)

The Winner

Lukas Fluckiger – after starting out his season with a win in Baden, Fluckiger headed to the US where he continued his strong start to the season. With some riders heading to Belgium for the Superprestige race, Fluckiger should be able to capture another victory in Aigle.

The Podium

Simon Zahner – Zahner could easily win on Sunday, but I think he’ll have to settle for a podium spot. He’s been on the podium nearly every week this season and should break that trend soon. Unfortunately, I just don’t see it happening this weekend.

Mathias Fluckiger – completing the Swiss sweep and the Fluckiger sandwich should be the younger of the Fluckiger boys, Mathias. Should Zahner or Lukas falter, Mathias could make a bid for victory. However, he doesn’t seem to have the same form off of mountain bike worlds that his brother has.

Posted in Races | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

2012/13 Cross Rankings – Week 4

Posted on October 3, 2012 by

Jeremy Powers wins day one in Gloucester. Photo: Tood Prekaski.

Here’s this week’s rankings. I know this is the first week we’re showing them, but it’s week four of the season. I will add the previous three weeks at some point this week/weekend. I will also have all the details on how to vote, so you can participate in the rankings.

View Week 4 Rankings

 

Posted in Races | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment