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Across the pond: Euro 'cross camp IV diary
Fresh from US Cyclocross Nationals, sixteen American riders were selected for the Euro 'Cross Camp IV from December 23, 2006, to January 3, 2007, in Belgium. US national 'cross coach Geoff Proctor started the program in 2003 and runs the camps during his winter vacation from his job teaching high school in Montana. This is the fourth year that top US riders will be given this opportunity to gain valuable 'cross racing experience in Europe and to prepare for the world championships in late January.
Riders were selected for this year's camp based on their performances in the 2006 USGP of cyclo-cross and US nationals. Coach Proctor and his riders will take turns contributing diary entries.
Belgium, December 27, 2006
A long way from home
By Jamey Driscoll
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Today was the first World Cup race of the camp and first for many, including myself and all the juniors aside from Danny. The course consisted of mostly sandy dirt and some woods sections however, the biggest attraction for the spectators was the double 350 meter sand pits.
The venue was along a lake and some of the course, including the pits, were right on the beach, so riders were forced to ride through sand that was almost a foot deep by the time we raced. Obviously those like Barry Wicks, and Ryan Trebon whose legs are like giraffes' were at an advantage.
Sand aside, the course was pretty fun to ride and there were two bridges over a pond that required some skill. There were deathly steep drops on either side that were pretty slick due to wet dirt being carried onto the surface.
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Lars Boom, Fidea and a world champ favorite, and Neils Albeirt collided early in the race and Lars' seat was ripped off. That forced him to ride a rather uncomfortable bike all the way around the course to the pits before he could really get back in the race, by which time he was back around 40th or so. He eventually worked his way up to the top 20.
I remember seeing a saddle on one of the canal overpasses, during the race, and later on TV, I would have stopped to grab it as a momento had I known whose it was!
Nothing truly eventful happened in the elite race, aside from the fact that Sven Nys did not win and was not even on the podium, he placed fifth. But seeing as he is Sven Nys, he was still loved by everyone.
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Today I was able leave the venue and get back to the house in time to watch 'cross on TV live, which was pretty cool knowing how popular the sport is over here. It was amazing watching Sven, Erwin and the other Rabobank and Fidea riders fly through every section I was struggling through.
The crowds here are unbelievably big here, there were thousands of people here today. The whole course was lined about three people deep everywhere, including the bridges. However, despite the large size which brings in lots of start and prize money the cheering is rather depressing as they will only cheer for there favorite rider and have no respect for anyone else out there racing.
Even when Erwin Verveken, a fellow Belgian, was winning by about 20 seconds the crowds were rather quiet for 8000 people, until Sven came by and then they erupted. The same was true for our race. Neils Albeirt and Zdnek Stybar were the only two getting applauded. This is where racing in the US is nicer, but getting money for starting a race is pretty nice.
Tomorrow is a training, rest, and massage day with nothing important going on, aside from bike maintenance and sleeping. I am still battling a cold, as are many of the other riders here.
Jamey Driscoll
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Joseph Sales
- Jamey Driscoll gets ready to enter the sand at the Hofstade World Cup
- Jamey Driscoll and Dan Neyens in their new Team USA skinsuits at the Hofstade World Cup.
- The Belgium cyclocross fans came to Hofstade to see one rider: Sven Nijs.
- Jamey Driscoll racing in USA team colors in his first World Cup race at Hofstade Belgium
- Niels Albert on his way to Victory in the men's U-23 Hofstade World Cup
