Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mt Hood Classic Photo ©: Swift |
|
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 5, 2007
Colds and history
By Daniel Neyens
|
When there are sixteen riders living together in close quarters, typically with four to a room, the most difficult thing to avoid at camp is the inevitable ill fate of a cold. For me it struck without warning despite my conscious efforts to boost my vitamin C and fluid intake.
Although the noticeable symptoms ran their course within a matter of days, it shows how necessary it is to take care of your body, especially with such a condensed and intense schedule of racing.
Despite illness the camp is drawing quickly to an end and soon guys will be packing up and shipping out either for a well deserved rest or for another block of training to prepare for the upcoming World Championships at the end of January.
Fellow U23 rider Chance Noble and myself have decided to stay put here in Izegem instead of flying all the way home for the time in between. Personally I'm looking forward to exploring the surrounding towns and visiting some of the historical cemeteries that became the final resting place for soldiers that lost their lives during World Wars I and II.
Epic battles were fought on these fields and in the trenches of the Flemish region of Belgium and to this day farmers still uncover the bones of fallen soldiers that have long been buried under a thick layer of mud.
|
I have been told that within riding distance, Tyne-Cot Cemetery pays tribute to some of the British and Australian divisions and contains approximately 12,000 graves along with a list of 36,000 names of those who were missing after the summer of 1917.
There is so much history, and the memories still lives on with the current generation who still seem to feel indebted to all of the foreign troops, particularly from the English speaking countries Britain, Australia, Canada, and the U.S.
The juniors just returned from their last race of the camp and will be departing early tomorrow morning for home. Their race was located in Sven Nys and Niels Albert's hometown of Baal, and looked really muddy from what we could see on the television.
Danny Summerhill had another impressive ride, making his second consecutive appearance on the podium finishing third. For the U23's and professionals, it was a day of training and relaxing in preparation for the back to back days of races starting tomorrow in St Niklaas, and then quickly followed the next morning with a four and a half hour drive to the northern town of Surhuisterveen in the Netherlands.
Happy new year and the best to you in 2007.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Joe Sales
- Dan Neyens looking focused at Diegem.
- Racing at Diegem.
- Racing at Diegem... the fans are looking for Sven Nys.
- Neyens has made the American U-23 World's team for the second year in a row.
- Dan Neyens (center) in his Team USA skinsuit at the Hofstade World Cup.
- On the 'doubles' at Loenhut Azencross.
- Passing the pits at Loenhut Azencross.
- Neyens navigating the slippery course at Loenhut Azencross.
- Dan Neyens (Hagens-Berman) relaxes after St. Niklaas.
- Neyens racing at Wachtebeke, Belgium.
- Catching up with friends and family on-line at the team USA host house in Belgium.
