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Cyclo-cross news & racing round-up for January 1, 2006

Edited 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

Alan-USA hosts fundraiser for Bjorn Selander

By Steve Medcroft

Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory)
Photo ©: Russ and Nancy Wright
Click for larger image

Euromedia Group, the U.S. importer of Alan Frames, Barbieri cycling accessories, Ked Helmets and GSG Clothing, will be hosting a fundraiser to help Alan Factory Team junior Cyclocross star Bjorn Selander make the trip to the Netherlands for 2006 Cyclo-cross World's. Scheduled January 7th at Alwins Northside Service in Hudson, Wisconsin, Euromedia president Paul Schoening says the fundraiser is one way that supporters and friends of the young phenom can help with his continued development.

Selander was a discretionary pick for the World's Teams; he missed the automatic (and fully funded) selection when TIAA-Cref rider Danny Summerhill edged him out for both the USGP lead and the December 10th Elite Junior National Championship in Providence, Rhode Island. “Bjorn had bad luck at nationals,” Schoening said. “With 1 1/2 laps to go Summerhill crashed into Bjorn and pushed his derailleur into the spokes and tore it off. Danny waited, showing true class as a first year Junior.” Selander, the 2004 Elite Junior National Champion, had traded the USGP lead with Summerhill throughout the 2005 season and, in the Liberty Cup, an invitational held the day after nationals that featured every newly-crowned national champion and a select field of invitees, came eleventh; ahead of (among others) Tour de France star Chris Horner.

Without the funding of an automatic selection, Selander needs to come with about $4,000 to cover the World's trip. “Bjorn is paying his own way to Euro Camp with our assistance, but has no funding for the World's trip,” Schoening said. “So, considering we have a bunch of great people and sponsors supporting our team, we decided to organize a local fundraiser and donate the proceeds to Bjorn's quest for World's.”

“Last year we did a fundraiser,” Selander said from Geoff Proctor's Euro Cross Camp in Belgium on Saturday. “It was cool. The local Hudson community turned out; people we knew and people we didn't know.” Selander says he'll return to the States in time to attend the fundraiser in person. “I'll have two weeks at home to train and rest (after Cross Camp ends January 4)." The experience Selander's gaining at Euro Cross Camp is invaluable. “If I'm racing like I am right now, I think I'll do pretty well at World's. I just need to get some technical work down; like how to get around corners more aggressively.”

Schoening is inviting anyone close enough to Hudson attend to the dinner. Those who wish to support the cause but are not close enough to attend the dinner, Schoening says you can provide cash or product donations to be silent-auctioned at the event. Failing that, Schoening can accept Paypal donations addressed to euromedia@comcast.net (please indicate "Bjorn Selander Fund" he says).

The Bjorn Selander Cyclocross World Championships fundraiser will be held January 7th from 5-9 pm at Alwins Northside Service, 413 6th Street North, Hudson, WI. For more information on the event, visit www.alan-usa.com.

Cyclo-crossers lick their wounds

As European cyclo-crossers were granted a one day-long break since six continuous days of racing, some of them were taking the time to heal their wounds from recent accidents on December 30. Bart Wellens, who crashed at the Superprestige round six in Diegem on December 24, is still suffering from a sore back, which even prevents him from training properly. The Fidea rider had to go to hospital three times these last few days for further treatments. Nevertheless, he hopes to be at a race at the eighth World Cup race in Belgian Hooglede-Gits today, as well as at the next round of the GVA Trofee in Baal on Sunday, January 1, 2006.

Bad luck also for Jonathan Page: Racing strongly in Middelkerke on December 29, the American rider achieved a great third placing with a rusty piece of metal in the sole of his shoe, which caused a wound in his foot. As the pain worsened in the evening, Page had to go to hospital in Oudenaarde where he was treated, but he will not be able to prove his good form in the next few days as he is reported as not being able to even stand on his foot.

Meanwhile, Sven Nys' knee does not impede him anymore. "That crash in Loenhout didn't have any consequences," said the 'cannibal', as some call him now. "On Friday I have one day's rest but there's not a lot of time to recover. I'm expected in Hooglede in the evening already."

More from the American crossers in Belgium

US under-23 cyclo-crossers Morgan Schmitt and Adam McGrath are in Belgium preparing for the world championships, and posting diaries on the website of their sponsor Redline as they come to to terms with the reality of racing cross in cold, dark and wet European conditions. On Sunday, the duo lined up for the under-23 race at the Hofstade world cup.

"We arrived at the venue at 8:45, which so happened to be the time the sun came up enough to see the course (since Belgium is practically up near the North Pole)," writes Schmitt. "Our early arrival still didn't allow enough time for a good warm-up since we spent an hour or so listening to Flemish directions in our attempt to locate registration. It was raining on an off the whole morning and by the time we started, we could still see our breaths .. in other words, perfect Euro 'cross conditions!"

The notable feature of the Hofstade course was its sand traps. "It should be known as "the beach." That's all it's about. The question is can you, or can't you, ride sand?" writes McGrath. "Hofstade is known entirely for its sand because the rest of the course is a short, fast, cakewalk," says Schmitt. "The sand for the most part was dry and fluffy which provided very few predictable lines. The first and third sections of sand were rideable a majority of the time and the others were always a crap shoot."

A novelty for Schmitt was being able to watch the subsequent elite men's race on TV. "Watching it on TV is the best way to see the Elite race since its very hard to find a good viewing spot when 15,000 fans are lining the course," he writes. "It's so hard to get a front row viewing spot that most of the photographers stand IN the course. The TV coverage is also cool because you can compare how the pros excel at riding the same lines we struggled with just a couple of hours earlier."

Nys still hungry

Sven Nys (Rabobank)
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
(Click for larger image) Sven Nys (Rabobank) celebrates his victory

29 year-old Belgian cyclo-crosser Sven Nys keeps improving with age, it seems, and for the past two seasons has almost completely dominated the sport. Last year, he won the World Championship, UCI classification, Superprestige, Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee Veldrijden, Belgian championship, and even the Belgian MTB Championship. This season, he has already carved out 16 wins (compared to his total of 25 last year) and again leads every major series. His most recent success came in the World Cup in Hofstade on Monday, where he closed a 23 second gap after puncturing, before going onto win the race by 14 seconds. Belgian coach Rudi de Bie described it as giving him goosebumps.

What's the secret to Nys' success? Quoted in De Volkskrant , the Rabobank rider said, "I possess a lot of talent, live for my profession, try to look after myself well, and physically I always have more in reserve." Nys has also taken time to work on his weak points, such as his mental approach, and his running. He is now an almost unbeatable opponent when he has set his mind on winning a particular race.

"There are periods when I take it easy," added Nys. "Then I don't put myself under any pressure. Some races I don't need to win. If it happens anyway, then I can certainly be happy about it."

By the end of the 2005-2006 season, Nys could well take a clean sweep of everything. His main rival Bart Wellens is suffering from injuries, and things have not gone well of late for the Fidea rider. Nys will line up at the World Championships in Zeddam next month as the top favourite, and it's a race that he wants to win again. Does he have anything more to prove?

"Nothing," was Nys' lighthearted response. "I've won everything that I can win. I only want to make my career a little bit nicer."

Nys went onto win again in the World Cup #8 in Hooglede on Saturday. The Cannibal from Baal is again practically unstoppable this season.

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