Mike Hagen says:

First off, I really enjoy these races and many thanks to Neil and the Muckers for initiating and organizing them. I figured the first hill at 500 m would fracture the pack. I only hoped to be with a group to ride with after the climb. So it was: a group of seven in front after the hill, anatolij by himself most of the way, then another group of seven that I was in. Trying to hang on uphill, and regrouping downhill. Noticed at 18 km that Andy_UP had emptied and was off the back; then we hit the Sibbe climb and I was too. Hit the subsequent downhill hard and almost got back on, but the Cauberg climb was too much. The last km was between me and Enea022 for 12th place. I figured he would get it: He’s younger and he was behind me until the last 100 m. Good race!

tomlerieger says:

I knew this profile could fit me, steep climbs but short and downhills for drafting an recovering. So tom get ready! I did a Brazilian route for warm up to be well heated for the firts hill. The game plan was to be in a fast group after the first climb. Off we go: startet good and went all in on the first hill, but not over 4.5W/kg an too long in the red zone. Had a gap of 50m at the end of the climb to the group with Andy and Mike Hagen, but I was together with MatthiasHeil. We worked well together an closed the gap to the pack at the end of the 2nd hill. I was around place 12 in the group, so tenth ans a mention was in reach at this time. The downhill was relaxed an a good recovery for my hartrate an my swollen red head! We lost Matthias and Andy and the pack was eliminated to 5 at the end of climb because of very heavy attacks from three other riders but I managed to stay at the wheels. Everybody was preparing now for the Cauberg: quicknik and s.cata attacked with over 5W/kg and I went all in and tried to maintain 4.5W/kg hoping they will get tiered until the end of the climb but they did’nt. They pulled like crazy even on the flat last 1.5km an I tried all I could the chase them and get the 10th rank! I missed it by 0.1 s against s.cata! But 11th, best Mucker and 272W was my best result ever. Suberb race and thanks to all riders that made this race so fantastic! cheers tomlerieger

luke_vin says:

This should be kind of revenge for Tuesday. The short hills should suit me better than flat in Roubaix route. But it started very similarly as on Tuesday. Simon went off and no one tried to catch looking at others to do the work. Luckily there was a newbie for me, lloydieDHR, who looked very strong and who was slowly but surely bringing Simon back. We were very close to him at the start of the second climb that turned to be decisive. When I catch Simon I eased a bit, but lloydieDHR went off. I jumped on his wheel thinking that it is very good train to go with. But he was too strong for me, so I have to let him go. Still, I had a solid gap on the rest of the group so I decide to at least try to put a pressure on them. In the meantime, Karel also lost contact due to drafting issue (seem that this is not fully solved yet), so there was unfortunately no teammate backing my back in the chasing group. However, lloydieDHR seemed a bit scared of going alone and waited for me, then provided very solid transfer to the next hill. Meanwhile group of Simon, Adam and Chriss looked to be hesitating a bit who will chase, so we got pretty good gap on them. I was going the hills full gas and the rest was about just suffering in lloydieDHR draft. He was ok with that, did not attacked me, so I did not sprint then for the finish line. I was very fine with the second place, specially thinking of who all is behind me.
Any way very good race again, thanks all!

Andy_UP says:

So I get a mention if I’m in the top 3 Muckers? Is this going to be a regular thing? I nearly killed myself a few times getting in the top 10.

Anyway, I learned that Rouvy on tablet just stops your rider when a message get displayed the battery is running low. Had to close a gap and I did with great effort. Then the 3rd hill started and I had to put in another effort. Almost made it over the top with the group but couldn’t close that gap anymore. Race for top 10 was pretty much over right there. I will try again next time!