first race

ok well the first race is over and done with. Disappointing to say the least. the race was the Superprestige in Asper Gavere. this was a very hard way to start my european race campaign. I arrived early enough to get some decent pre riding in after the women and juniors. As soon as we arrived we were told we didnt have the correct parking pass to park in the elite lot where the beloften where supposed to park so we parked a couple hundred meters down the road, no big deal. went to the registration building and payed my 3 euros to get my number which was 54 which inevitably meant last row call up 3rd person to last to be exact. gotta get some superprestige and uci points. course was a complete mudfest with bike changes every half lap it would be a busy day in the pits for gregg and holly so a big thanks to them for getting down and dirty while i was sliding around in the mud. pre ride went well rode through some of the technical sections watching nys stybar and albert seeing which lines they took through the mud and up the muddy climb. so after doing my warmup laps and riding around on the road it was time to roll around the starting stretch like you see all the pros do before the races in europe (I would be on belgian tv later as they where interviewing riders and i cruised by a couple times).

So now it was time to start i nervously waited at the back of the field waiting for my name to be called as the group around me started to shrink i really really wished I had some UCI points o well do what you have to do. so after being called up i was ready to go legs where still a bit heavy from traveling but I wanted to race. 1 minute!!!!! 30 Seconds!!!!! the whistle blew and we where off... with thousands of belgian fans lining the course it was hard to hear the shouting and im sure cursing of riders who where being bumped and pushed. after a s bend on the pavement we dropped into the first very thick muddy descent. made it through fine I learned i can descend in mud better than most I was able to make up a lot of ground and pass about 15 riders. but at the bottom of the hill a rider lost it and i got tangled up loosing all those spots i had just gained. so I got up and worked my way around the course struggling on the muddy climb. and slipping and sliding on some of the turns had a lot of crashes as did every other rider i talked to i dont think there is a single rider who didnt go down once. so needless to say i got lapped and pulled with a few laps to go not sure how many. but it did happen. o well time to get cleaned up and watch the elite race. got a chance to talk to jonathan page, katie compton, vicki thomas and christine vardaros all gave me great tips for the race. after getting cleaned up headed to the course again and found myself some frijts (french fries but better) these things are like cocaine for the belgians everyone had either frijts or a beer in their hand i passed on the latter although i was offered by some of the fans when they found out i was a rider. also when i went to wash the bikes every fan would stare intently at my bike checking out every piece of equipment and the occasional tire feel to check my pressure. but back to the elite race. wow is all i can really say these guys are so fast the take the descents like they are on rails and hammer the climbs and flats they really know how to work the mud. and the fans go absolutely nuts for their favorites like nys stybar and albert. it is truly and experience you must have if you love cyclocross or even if you dont the passion they have for their riders is intense. im sure you have all seen the results already but albert won yet again most likely due to an ill timed flat by nys but albert has won 11 of 13 races he has entered which is truly amazing. nys 2nd again and the forever bridesmaid to the winner stybar. im really hoping he can get that top step soon i prerode with him saturday and he said he felt strong so his time will come.

thats all for now

next race hamme zogge then gp hasselt

Bmart

Im here

Ok well I'm finally here!!! all of my travels went well paid 200 dollars for the bikes so that really sucks but do what you gotta do. almost had to pay 125 for a 3rd bag but was able to sweet talk the check in lady and she checked my wheels for free cause tsa were being douches. first flight was awesome was in the middle section with 5 seats but only 3 people showed up so i sat in the middle with 2 seats on either side can you say jackpot. Met a really cool guy named Brian Fusco so had a great person to talk to for a lot of the flight. it was great to meet someone who was interested in what I do. had a short layover in dc then caught my next flight to brussels window seat near the exit row so that was good a good bit of leg room decent food to we got 2 meals 1 dinner and a breakfast. got into Germer brussels airport and somehow all my baggage showed up which was a huge relief customs was a breeze somehow i made all my trains almost missed one but i was able to throw everything on the train and make the 1 hour trip to Oudenaarde where i was picked up by holly the wife of gregg Germer who runs the house i am staying at. If anyone is looking for a place to stay in belgium check out thechainstay.com great place awesome location in flanders right near the Koppenberg. got to the house did a little bit of unpacking and then went to the store to buy some supplies got all the food i needed minus speculoos which i picked up today. (love it) unpacked and built up the bikes and everything looks good for pre-ride of asper Gaver tomorrow.

today I woke up at 8 am which wasn't to bad considering I had been up for over 30 hours I was dying at the end having a real hard time staying awake. but when i woke up i kinda just relaxed in the house and surfed the internet with Holly. at about 12 I went out for a ride along the canals that run from town to town. then i got back into town and headed for a bit in the other direction about 2 hours total legs where definitely heavy but felt better towards the end. stopped by the flanders bike shop which is a cool local place saw some of the local pros who race for sunweb projob not something we see to often in the states. got back home and took a quick shower then relaxed for a little bit rode to the store on the other side of the town center and picked up some speculoos spread and cookies if you don't know what that is just think of the best thing you have ever tasted and multiply that by 1000000. had a sandwich for dinner and watched the movie waiting with gregg and holly funny movie.

Thats about it for now time for bed was able to stay awake for 15 hours today so looks like im handling the jet lag rather well ill try to post a link to my video that includes the town the house and a portion of my ride

later

Brandon martd

almost time

Ok, well i have been failing at keeping this blog updated. I have started about five of them but i get interrupted half way through and never finish or publish what I have already done. so now to bring you all up to speed. Cross Vegas and the Star crossed weekend did not quite go as planned. legs weren't quite there, i'm sure being in a car for 14 hours didn't help to much but O well still early season. came back home and took the next weekend off then did some local races where legs started to feel better. still not finishing where I would like to be but hopefully everything will fall into place once I get to belgium in 9 very very short days.

This past friday was my last day of work which is an awesome feeling. i know that i have no room to talk since most people have been working for years upon years and i have been at this job only 9 short months. but since i am done there is no reason not to be excited. already have one of the bikes packed up in the bike bag. Thanks a bunch to Max Jenkins for letting me borrow his bike bag saved me a ton of money.

Looking forward to a hard week of training since im sure next week will be very very busy with a superprestige race 3 days after i arrive in belgium im jumping into this full steam. Just to let everyone reading this now and in the future this season in belgium is going to be a complete learning experience so i am going to try to be satisfied with anything i can get every little tip and trick to racing that I learn will not be taken for granted. i understand that the racing over there is a completely different level so i am not expecting any amazing results. but none the less i am completely ready to dig deep into myself to try and show those belgians that the americans can do well in belgium.

ok well thats all for now will do my best to update before i leave if not im sure ill have some time while sitting in the airport hopefully jpows airport ninja tips can save me some money while checking my bike bag

Brandon Mart