Cyclo-cross World Cup #7, Heusden-Zolder, Bel

The day after Christmas, “Boxing Day” has traditionally drawn big crowds to the venue in Hofstade. It has been a staple of the Christmas cyclocross season.

This year with a change in venue, I wondered if the the crowds would still come? The answer was YES, with possibly the largest congregation of drunk debauchery I have ever witnessed.

American style cheering for a specific racer and more importantly Portland style heckling of your favorite athlete is an art form that the euro cross fan has just not developed. As Tim and I joined the masses to watch the men’s race we were stared at in disbelief as we yelled the names of Ryan Trebon, Jamie Driscoll, Jeremy Powers (aka J-Pow), and Troy Wells. It was though we were total outcasts and the stares were of shock and disbelief. Sure, the euros made noise, wrang bells, and blew air horns but it was a low level drone of cheers with no one voice being singled out. My voice could definitely be singled out!

As for my race, it was pretty much over 3/4 of the way through lap one when my chain broke. That’s racing, man those wheels are sweet!

I had a great start and used my cat-like mountain bike skills to push through the untracked line and moved around the timid. This was going to be my day. I was dressed for the cold, my legs were firing, and I could actually see the rainbow stripes after the first hard corner. Yes, Hanka was in my sights. It’s funny how things can change in a matter of seconds, a snapped link and I found myself on foot. Oh well, I got a nice jog in and I didn’t quit. Butlers don’t quit! Sure, I may have been the last rider that didn’t get lapped, but I finished. It was weird riding in the back, maybe even embarrassing. It seemed as though the fans felt sorry for me .The course was just too fun to stop. And heck, 35th isn’t bad, a few points, right???

Bad legs in France, bad chain in Zolder, now looking forward to Middelkerke on Monday.
At least Tim is having some good luck with the waffles!