Obstacle boards are dominating the conversation during the Cyclocross World Championships in Tábor this weekend. The course seems more challenging than expected, Gerben de Knegt, coach of the Dutch team, even describing it as the most challenging race of the season.
Higher-than-expected rain and thaw that softened the ground promise to turn the competition in Tábor, normally known for its fast laps, into a muddy challenge.
Mud makes passage even more difficult
The mud makes passing through the boards even more difficult, especially due to the positioning of obstacles on the slope of the terrain. In fact, the Cyclocross24 Twitter account has referred to them as “The hardest boards in the world”.
The secret is in practice
Proof of this statement comes in a video posted on this same profile, showing the disparity in cyclists passing through the boards. On the left, everyone can jump without any problem, while on the right, many stumble or fall.
In the video, you can see cyclist Puck Pieterse tripping over the second plank on the right side and then jumping over it twice on the left side. A striking example of learning.
Watch the video