Famous lyrics to start this post:

It's my birthday and I’ll post if I want to

Post if I want to

Post if I want to

You’d post to if it happened to you. LOL

The race calendar is racing to the finish line now that Wolds is done. We had our last Belgian race yesterday. Today, 10/.2, is the last Dutch race, the 1.1 Betcity Elfestedenrace. 10/3 finds our last German race, the .Pro Sparkassen Munsterland Giro. At the same time the last Euro stage race is happening, the 2.1 Cro Race finishes up on 10/6. Let’s follow these races here.

1. Betcity Elfstedenrace is flatter than, well, think of something totally flat. This race is flatter. I mean look:

So you got a bunch of fast riders, many/most of them putting in some sort of effort for their last race of the year, so you don’t know for sure who is really up for the challenge. Regardless we got some fast guys here like Groany, Thijssen, Laporte, Menten etc. Enjoy.

2. Sparkassen Munsterland Giro is a higher profile with 10 WT teams and is the last big sprinters race for the year (with the possible exception of Paris-Tours) De Lie, Girmay, Phillipsen, Milan, Meeus, Demare, Groany again, Waerenskjold (Can I say that it was bad when English dropped the AE letter thingy back in the day? I think Jens had something to do with that.)

This race is bumpier than the Dutch Elf race and it is not guaranteed to end in a bunch sprint. Likely but not guaranteed. Here’s the profile:

2. CRO Race

Stage one was yesterday and Kristoff won it, saying after the race that he’s not in good form. Great way to talk up the excitement Al! Anyways stage 2, 5, and 6, look to be bunch sprinty with stages 3 and 4 looking to possibly take the GC away from some sprinter or Kristoff. Caja Rural’s Orluis Aular, recent winner of the bumpy Trofeo Matteotti and on to Movistar next year, is back to defend his GC win. It remains to be seen who is up for challenging him.

We’ll have separate posts for the Emilia races and the fall Italian season, Paris-Tours, and the East Asian races later in the month. Al;so Langkawi is ongoing if like me you live on the west coast (best coast) and have it as late night entertainment.)