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

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