Tobin Ortenblad races at the Namur World Cup. (Image credit: Dan Seaton/gearratios.org)
It's 5:30 in the morning. My hand reaches over and slams my alarm off as quick as possible. I raise my head and I'm relieved to see my two roommates are still asleep. I get dressed in the dark and make my way downstairs to the kitchen. We don't have to be awake for another hour but this is my quiet before the storm, my time to chill out and prepare. I pour a pot of tea, scramble up some eggs, and pour a bowl of muesli. I do this before every race in Europe.
I hear stirring. Here comes the storm. The race prep, the group breakfast, the bags into the vans, the departure. Behind the driver and against the window of the sprinter is the best seat in the van; of course I take it. It's still dark and we roll out. My iPod goes in and before the first song by Netsky is over I'm asleep. Signs in kilometers fly by. We pass cars on the left then shift back into the right lane. A simple concept most Americans will never figure out.
Team parking is on the left, a quick debate in Flemish that I can't understand and the parking man in his day-glow green vest lets us pass. We see the USA vans. We pull in and park.
“What pressure do you want for preride?” asks the mechanic.
“Lets do 22psi.” Its wet and muddy today. Its always wet and muddy at these races.
“More pressure, lets go up to 24.” I tell the mechanic.
After a quick change I'm back onto the course. I can tell right away I've compromised a small amount of traction with a two psi increase, but I can hit the roots and rocks faster without the abrupt feeling of them slamming into my rim. I might be a second or two slower per lap with a tad less traction, but a flat tire from running too low on a course like this makes you a minute or two slower, time that cannot be made up.
I'm satisfied now. I know all my lines for the race. I'm confident.
My cranks spin furious circles on the trainer during warmup. It's cold out and I can see my breath. I can see my back steaming in the van window's reflection. I shed layer after layer. The sweat is coming and the warmup is nearing its end. I can feel the blood pulsing through my legs. They're starting to get that good warm fuzzy feeling. I skip songs on my iPod, Deorro comes on. The perfect song to end my warmup to.
Bundled back up I roll to the start.
We're individually called up. My back number and tires are checked by the official and I pull into the start grid on the right side. This is the side I practiced on. The side I wanted. The quickest and cleanest line to the holeshot.
“Three minutes!” calls the official.
I don't move. I breathe. I focus.
I unzip my warmup pants and jersey. The brisk air slaps my bare legs.
“One minute!”
I finish taking everything off. Check my cassette to make sure I'm three down from the top gear. Its an uphill start today. The perfect gear is everything.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
In its 12th year, Geoff Proctor's EuroCrossCamp has now been made part of the official USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Development Program. Designed to develop the next generation of American cyclo-cross talent in the categories of under-26 women, under-23 men and junior me, its primary focus is on international competition including World Cups and the World Championships. The program now supports three blocks of racing overseas for the development riders. The third block is based in Vorselaar, Belgium and includes the Bpost Bank Trofee series event in Essa, the World Cups in Namur and Zolder, Superprestige Diegem, and Bpost Bank Trofee events in Loenhout and Baal.
