Video: Wyn Masters Races Cyclocross

Jan 24, 2019 at 8:51
by SHIMANO  

Follow Wyn Masters quest to take part in one of the hardest cyclocross races of the season, the Superprestige in Zonhoven, Belgium. The Kiwi downhill and enduro racer from GT Factory Racing got out of his natural habitat with help from cyclocross and mountain bike champ Mathieu van der Poel to fully immerse himself in Belgian cyclocross culture. Watch the video to see if he can tackle the famous Zondhoven sandpit, the lung-burning pace and see if he still has enough strength left to pop his trademark wheelie!

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117 Comments
  • 154 2
 Love seeing racers crossing over to other disciplines. @wynmasters - you rock!!
  • 8 0
 does anyone ever do it the other way? Get some cyclocrossers to a downhill event?
  • 5 3
 No need to get off the bike, the gates are tiny and easily bunny hopped Wink
  • 10 2
 @dro-cfr: Those bikes are wayyyyy faster than mountain bikes on that type of terrain. I wouldn't exactly call it a "dull hatchet" type situation...
  • 4 19
flag Mattin (Jan 27, 2019 at 10:34) (Below Threshold)
 If with CX you would not be allowed to get off your bike and walk, it would actually be quite cool. But getting off your bike to walk on technical parts takes the point out of cycling. If you're not willing to learn or try, just stay on the paved roads instead.
  • 4 6
 @el-nombre: my hand is up. dh = a short high. cx = a 60min high. i get it though - watching anything other than dh (even enduro bro) is boring af.
  • 4 0
 @Mattin: it would be funny if a racer was disqualified for getting of their bike while racing some dh
  • 9 2
 @dro-cfr: Many parts of the world are flat and muddy (like Belgium). CX bike is easily the fastest bike in that environment. As for carrying, you don't *have* to carry it, you are allowed to ride but not everything is rideable. Why would a dh rider hop off and push their bike uphill? Not every bike can do everything!
  • 8 1
 @Mattin: if you can pedal up that hill, feel free ;-)
  • 1 0
 @dro-cfr: i'm not much into it either except when someone ascends stairs without pedalling or dismonting
  • 55 4
 Looks like he's mastered that
  • 25 2
 Did van der Poel Wyn?
  • 23 2
 @GOrtho: he was in poel position for most of the race
  • 14 1
 That was wheelie wheelie awesome
  • 47 1
 Massive props to Wyn. CX is absolute misery and suffering. He is a fit lad and a talented bike rider, way more talented than most people could ever hope to be. Love the cross over and to be fair CX must be great training for Enduro and DH
  • 28 0
 If you want to lose an entire day to YouTube search for older cyclocross world champ and world cup videos and see these guys rail off camber downhill turns at speed on 32mm wide tires in the ice and snow. The handling of some of these guys like Van der Poel, Sven Nys, Zdeněk Štybar is truly mental.
  • 22 1
 Yes, these guys, unlike roadies, can actually handle a bike! LOL. I know because I race CX, 12+ races a year, and it's fun watching the roadies crash in the technical sections, because they can't ride. The rest of the time, I ride MTB. ; )
  • 3 0
 @mybaben: What a truth
  • 24 1
 43rd out of 47. Shows how hard it was. Fair play to the lad.
  • 14 1
 I've been trying to resist the pull to cyclocross. Because I think I would enjoy it far too much. But this video makes it hard to say no hahaha. Beer, chips, sketchy bike lines, masochistic behavior.... I'm in haha!
  • 13 0
 It's a riot. The most fun you can have on a bike for 45-60 mins while wanting to puke the whole time!
  • 3 0
 @OlSkoolJake VCXC series super fun. Island series looks even better. Take the leap! (life long mountain biker)
  • 7 0
 If I'm not on my MTB, I'm likely commuting to work, so I bought a Trek Boone as my commuter and I do two or three CX races every fall as a result. It's a great time, I can ride mid pack, have a great time, and have a few beers afterwards. Bonus, most races have a lil-Belgiums' race so I can bring my kid and she gets to race her kick bike. Nothing like instilling the competitive cycling spirit at 2-1/2.
  • 3 0
 @ridestuff: Or you could puke after 45 seconds if you race BMX...
  • 1 0
 Do it! I can't recommend cross enough, it's the silliest type of fun
  • 12 1
 Wyn is a hell of a bike rider. I'm stoked to see him crossover like this for fun.

I'd love to use Wyn's effort to try to paint a picture of just how hard it is to be fast on those bikes/courses.
Wyn finished. 43rd out of 51. Not Bad.
In reality, that was 7 laps off the lead field. This means he probably finished 2 or 3 out of 9 or 10 total laps.
WIth that, it should also be noted that Belgian CX fitness+skill is literally the best in the sport, and Mathieu Van der poel is working towards goat status.

Cool take-away: Wyn can say he beat a Van Der Poel (David, DNF) in a 'cross race.
  • 2 0
 If Belgian fitness+skill is *literally* the best in the sport, I wonder what makes Van Der Poel (who isn't Belgian) so goat.
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: I didn't not imply MVDP was Belgian; rather: I was providing two separate points to show the magnitude of Wyn's challenge.
+Wyn was racing in Belgium, arguably the best elite men's cx country in the world right now. Top 10 lists are frequently 6-7 Belgian riders.
AND
+Wyn was racing a (non-belgian) man who is on his way to earning 'goat' status.
  • 12 0
 The Kiwi way. Yeah Nah why not (its a kiwi expression)
  • 1 0
 It'll be sweet, bro. Chur!
  • 3 0
 Good as gold.
  • 1 0
 Sweet as, brah
  • 9 1
 Love it, back before the were so many tarmac roads everywhere this was basically what distance cycling was, generally done on what was then a road bike, you had no choice but to mud it through a forest section or run up some steep banks, makes you wonder if we really need all the suspension we have nowadays
  • 1 0
 "makes you wonder if we really need all the suspension we have nowadays"... no we don't need it but we want it because it's nice and we're spoiled
  • 1 0
 The answer is yes. CX is punishing on your wrists. Great to race a 45' lunch burner but so painfull on the bones and joints. Same trails on my 100mm travel bike feel like a plush recliner.
  • 10 1
 CX is impressive! I mean if Win struggles on the donwhill, even if he is not on his bike, means its no piece of cake!
  • 9 0
 Any Wyn TV from the Cx pits? I assume there are some funny dudes there, and more than a few totally mental.
  • 8 0
 Some guys are just magic on a bike. Love to see him having fun.
  • 7 1
 If mountain biking ever needed to be represented in a time capsule or presented to an alien species, Wyn would be it.
  • 6 0
 That's one MOFO I'd like to have a beer with..Good on ya Wyn!
  • 4 0
 So Wyn, you do realise it's summer in your home country at the moment, yeah? The looks on some of the faces in the pits when Wyn rode past on one wheel were priceless.
  • 9 3
 Cyclocross is like trying to hammer a nail with a screwdriver...
  • 11 0
 Absolutely, and knowing everyone around you is trying to do the same stupid thing is what makes it brilliant!
  • 5 0
 People that love it, really love it.
  • 6 1
 Like all the best deviances, sexual or other.
  • 2 0
 I started drinking at a cross race once. not a good idea. Led the first lap and then down hill from there. When you get lapped, it’s time to reconsider pregame boozing. That was rad Wyn! Hats off to ya
  • 3 0
 "If you come to downhill I'll support ya"

Well, imagine that : a DH team with Wyn as a manager/trainer and Van Der Poel as a rider.
  • 2 2
 As a Socal native this is not so big here. But they have cyclocross races every year on the UCSD campus, where they will use hoses to soak the ground and make mud pits in places for a real 'cross experience'. I've watched a few, but I never did see a wheelie on the final lap.....
  • 2 1
 Hey I rode for UCSD cycling and worked at the bike shop. Is Chris still the manager? We did a lot of races on the par course
  • 1 0
 You must not be aware of the SoCal CX series. 12 races around SoCal that are usually very well attended. They typically host a UCI C1 race that attracts some of the fastest 'Cross racers in the U.S. (Tobin Ortinblad, Katerina Nash, Amanda Nauman). Good numbers coming out across SoCal and growing.
  • 1 0
 @OriginalDonk: Lots of good 'cross all up the west coast mate. I'm up in Oregon and it's huge here. I race 12+ races a year.
  • 1 0
 @mybaben: Agreed, Portland Cross Crusade has some of the best racing on the west coast, CCCX and Bike Monkey in the Bay Area, and a strong series in Seattle, all with access to some Cross weather. SoCal may not have the mud but they do have good racing.
  • 1 0
 @OriginalDonk: Glad to hear it! I'm from there originally. Seal Beach. Wasn't into cycling when I lived there though. I came to the sport later in life. Cheers.
  • 4 0
 I'd love to see VdP on a DH bike.
  • 2 0
 He rides bikepark on a sender. Even dirtjumps.
  • 1 0
 He has some bikepark vids on his Instagram page and he's definitely not bad.
  • 4 0
 Sweet as! Can’t wait for next season’s Wyn TV
  • 4 0
 Wyn TV is one of the best parts of WC racing! @wynmasters
  • 4 0
 The Masters brothers.... Craziest eyes in the business
  • 3 0
 @wynmasters is everything that's right about this sport. Never change, bud.
  • 3 2
 Much respect for Wyn and all these riders. They are ultra strong and this sport is huge in Belgium. But come on, how retarded does it look to ride a roadbike through dirt. CX has never been my thing and never will be....
  • 2 0
 So did WYN win? or at least he would not be last even riding against Pro cycrocross riders!
  • 5 2
 Would an XC MTB not be faster non that track?
  • 3 2
 regulations
  • 4 3
 No way,you would lose too much time at the start,the straits and the asphalt.
  • 3 2
 No. The fatter tires actually are slower in all that sand. The "skinny" cross tires slice through better. They're 33mm. And also, that's the UCI limit; 33mm wide.
  • 3 0
 @mybaben: bicycle quarterly doubts that Smile
  • 2 0
 not allowed at a UCI race but allowed n other USAC non UCI races. You don't need to buy a new bike.
  • 1 1
 What would actually be the fastest bike if there were no regulations? guessing drop bars and steep geo don't help...
  • 2 0
 @mattg95: There was an interview a few weeks ago where they asked VdP why he still continues to ride cx.His answer was that the speed is much higher and he loves that.Not my words.
  • 1 0
 Probably. The uci allowed flat bars for about 2 years only
  • 2 0
 @Tamasz: nerdy reference. I appreciate you.
  • 1 0
 Smile
The "myths of cycling technologies" blog series by Jan Heine is so mind-blowing!
  • 3 0
 Fantastic video. Wyn rules!
  • 3 0
 I see Wyn Masters, I click.
  • 3 0
 Beer, fries and wheelies! Vélo de prairies!
  • 3 0
 Wynn makes everything watchable and fun! Keep it up fella!
  • 1 0
 Damn, that's a few kilometers from my place. If I knew he would be there I would too!
  • 2 0
 Face plant @4:00 was sweet...great form!
  • 2 2
 Now that's entertainment. I'd like to see one of those sandy chutes as a section of a DH track. With a massive jump at the top naturally.
  • 3 2
 Looks a bit foggy in van der Poel's van. Don't know what those dutch guys did in there...
  • 5 1
 Dutch oven
  • 2 0
 One-handed wheelies and drinking beer. The Happy Gilmore if Cyclecross
  • 2 0
 It’s videos like this that reaffirm my love for mtbing!
  • 2 0
 Best Vid ever, Go Kiwis
  • 2 1
 This guy rocks! Saw him race at Killy DH this year and is a genuine guy.
  • 3 1
 #crossislife
  • 1 0
 Love to know where he finished, if anyone knows?
  • 6 0
 www.cyclingnews.com/races/telenet-superprestige-zonhoven-2018/elite-men/results
  • 1 0
 43th
  • 2 0
 He got pulled 3 or 4 laps in.
  • 1 0
 Thanks, Barney-Foobar, for the results link.
  • 1 0
 Need to see a swap next time with Mathieu following Wyn down a DH course.
  • 1 0
 Wyn masters doing serious videos? Whats going on.
  • 1 1
 I guess all we need to do is get a DH or Enduro guy to race XC and then Pinkbike readers will think that's cool too.
  • 1 0
 @wynmasters You're a focking champ man!! Love it!
  • 1 0
 No better way to get me pumped on WynTV than this vid!!! Love it!
  • 1 0
 good sh*t Wyn, looks like some rad skids
  • 1 0
 wynning!
  • 1 0
 Wednesday
  • 1 0
 where are the planks?
  • 1 3
 man, fuck this
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