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Cyclo-cross news & racing round-up for December 31, 2005Edited by Steve Medcroft Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in cyclo-cross. Feel free to send feedback, news and gossip to mtb@cyclingnews.com Inside Geoff Proctor's Euro Cross CampHelping U.S. 'crossers make the gradeHow do USA's cyclo-cross riders get up to speed with their European counterparts? It's not easy, as results from the World's generally show. But cyclo-cross coach and English teacher Geoff Proctor is doing his bit to help the top Americans gain more experience by organising a European cyclo-cross camp in the depths of winter. reports on the initiative.
Something unusual is showing up on the results of top Belgian Cyclocross races between Christmas and New year's; there are Americans on the list. We're not talking about the two names we've seen all season (Jonathan Page and Jeremy Powers; who have been quietly making careers for themselves in European ‘cross), but sixteen new names in one race alone (the Loenhout, Belgium Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee Veldrijden #5 for example). You're seeing all those American names in European 'cross because of the efforts of a Helena, Montana High School teacher named Geoff Proctor, A USA Cycling elite-level coach and the U.S. Cyclocross National team coach for four of the last five years, Proctor has gathered the best 'crossers America has to offer the last three years running and flown them to Belgium for an intense eleven-day block of racing and training. The point of what Proctor calls "Euro Cross Camp", which is held at the home of USA Cycling's European-based espoir development program (a house in Belgium run by U23 team manager Noel Dejonckheere), is to give young American cyclists an opportunity Proctor says he himself had early in his career. “I raced two season of ‘cross here in the early nineties (with the GS Guerciotti team based out of Zurich) and did two world championships, and it just was glaringly obvious that U.S. riders needed help. Our riders basically had no opportunity in the six weeks leading up to world's to prepare for the biggest race of their lives.” Click here for the full feature World Cup #7 wrap-up
UCI number 1 Sven Nys (Rabobank) made up for his disastrous showing in Igorre a couple of weeks ago by winning the seventh round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup in Hofstade, Belgium. Although Nys had mechanical problems again today, he was still strong enough to beat Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) by 14 seconds and Gerben de Knegt (AA drink-Bejan) by 26. "This was one of the best wins in my career," said a very happy Nys after the finish. "This week is already made, whether I win by own Grote Prijs or not. I was annoyed at myself after the stupid flat tyre. I had chosen slick tyres to ride with the turbo, but that's also risky. But when the aggression took over in me, I was unstoppable." Nys also describe the atmosphere at the race. "The hair on my arms was standing on end, with all the spectators. After five setbacks [in the last five races] I was mentally very strong. Now I still have one big goal: a new world title, where everything has to go right." Erwin Vervecken had to be content with another second place, and commented, "It was a bit strange today. I was not as good on foot, but I was riding really well through the sand. When Nys punctured, I decided not to go flat out. That was perhaps the wrong gamble." Wellens was hurting again, as he finished just 10th today. "I've still got too much pain from my back. I couldn't go deep at all and furthermore I still had pain in my thigh. Because of that, I also couldn't run much. When Nys flatted, I could even follow him a bit, but I couldn't really push it. Tonight the physiotherapist has to bring me solace again. Read the entire World Cup #7 race report here. Superprestige #6: De Knegt scores on Christmas EveDutch rider Gerben de Knegt (AA drink-Bejan) has notched up his biggest career victory by beating Sven Nys (Rabobank), Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) and John Gadret (Jartazi) in the 6th Superprestige race in Diegem, Belgium. The race finished in a four man sprint and De Knegt was far too quick for the rest. Bart Wellens (Fidea) was fifth after suffering mechanical problems today. "This is fantastic, I've always wanted to experience this," said a delighted De Knegt to Belgian TV following the race. "Nys and Vervecken were looking at each other the whole time and that was good for me. I definitely didn't feel the strongest of the group, but they couldn't get rid of me. In other 'crosses I've gone too hard from the start, but now I stayed calm. This is fantastic." Sven Nys, who increased his lead in the Superprestige standings over Bart Wellens, commented that he had based his whole race on Wellens. "I rode full gas the whole time and was also at the end of my tether at the end," he said. "On the downhill, everyone could always recuperate a bit and you couldn't really get clear. I was lucky not to ride into Wellens' wheel after his unlucky crash. I kept riding fast then so that he couldn't come back." Vervecken said that he used most of his reserves in attacking during the race, trying to make it hard. "Through that I was left a bit short in the finale. I thought that I wouldn't even make the top 10." Read the entire Superprestige #6 race report here. Holiday season thanks: The Barb Howe diaryIn this week's instalment, Barbarella relates her 'love' for riding in the rain and mud. It's been raining in Northern California for what seems like an eternity. Christmas day was no exception with torrential rains causing flash flood warnings in various counties. My training plan called for three and a half hours on the fixed gear - sweet! I love the feeling when rain hits your legs, pools on your kneecaps, slides down your shins and puddles in your shoes. I love taking my glasses off at the end of a ride and realizing that I couldn't actually see for the last few hours. I love making it through a soggy ride without a flat, especially on the fixed gear. Most of all I love coming home and taking a hot shower. During my Christmas ride I saw and was joined by only one other hardy soul who rode to escape the maddening noise of his children's new video games. Josh's Mom cooked for the evening and I was in charge of dessert. After decorating with ornaments from my childhood we ate dinner with Josh's family. His parents live on a little sailboat in Sausalito. A few plates of food and a few glasses of wine later I was down for the count on the couch. This is especially impressive because the any more than seven people on the boat feels like sardines. With Josh's parents, his brother, Josh and myself, the boat was a cosy unit. Read the entire Barbara Howe diary here. Global 'cross racing round-up
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