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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, January 3, 2007
Remembering other years
Tales from past Euro 'cross camps
By Jeremy Powers
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Hello to all and Happy New Year!
I was out riding with the "caveman" Eric Tonkin today, and we started to discuss all the hilarious stories that have happened over here during the years, so for your reading pleasure, I present the first edition of the "Powers' Chronicles!" The first story was the time after the camp ended back in 2003, when I was at the house solo. Noel’s brother Reechard came over to use the computer pretty late one night not knowing I was in the house sleeping. He slammed the doors when he came in and was making a lot of noise. I popped out of bed and came running down the stairs screaming expletives, brandishing a plastic wiffleball bat, only to find a very surprised Reechard trying to figure out what was happening.
Sometimes when Trebon and I are out training, we sprint for city limit signs. One time while we were going full out past a pedestrian walking home with his baguette from the bakery, he started screaming “C'MON! YEAH!! C'MON!” at us and once we sat up, he jumped up and down in excitement!
Some city limit sprints are a bit sketchier than others. One in particular stands out above the others in sketch factor. The first road, which is basically a single farm road, crosses wet train tracks then does a blind corner right-hand merge onto a main road where cars travel pretty quickly. The city limit sign is about 50 meters after the merge, and it is really a 50/50 chance to see if you get rammed by a car or win the sprint.
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One amusing day started with Trebon licking my heart rate monitor strap before realizing it was mine. Shortly into the ride, he rammed the back of a sprinter van going through a roundabout and fell after the driver hit the brakes suddenly. Ryan popped up quickly just to kick the back door and scream at the driver as the guy drove off.
Then of course, my favorite Trebon story of all time. One day Ryan rode to Brugge, a local tourist spot in the area and ran a bunch of red lights while he was looking around. He did not have his passport and got put in the jail when they pulled him over for it. He tried to bribe the guy with a Clif bar, but to no avail. I was at the house relaxing, making some dinner, and got a call from Noel that he had to come by the house and get Ryan's passport and some cash so he could bail him out of jail.
These stories all seem to involve Ryan, and I probably have 100 more stories like those I could tell, but to keep your stomachs from being sore, and to keep Ryan from getting too upset with me, I’ll stop there.
Happy New Year and thanks for reading!
Jeremy
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Joe Sales
- Jeremy Powers on the run-up at Wachtebeke, Belgium
- Jeremy Powers' FSA equipped Orbea is ready for action at Wachtebeke, Belgium.
- Jeremy Powers racing at Wachtebeke, Belgium
- Jeremy Powers gets a fresh Orbea from Geoff Proctor at Wachtebeke, Belgium.
- Jeremy Powers and Troy Wells on the 'beach' at Hofstade, Belgium.
- Jeremy Powers in the sand at the Hofstade World Cup.
- Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly/Orbea) powers his way through the deep sand at the Hofstade World Cup.
- Jeremy Powers in the double sand pit at Hofstade, Belgium.
- Jeremy Powers exits the pits at the muddy and wet Azencross GVA at Loenhut, Belgium.
- Jeremy Powers crests he run-up at the Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross in Lakewood, Washington
