foto by Kris Claeye |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VEGAN PRO CYCLIST~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, November 23, 2012
Superprestige Gavere article live on CYCLOCROSS Mag
Latest Article in CYCLOCROSS Magazine
Here is my last article in CYCLOCROSS Magazine. The magazine is now available in digital format - click HERE to check out a free preview! If you are happy with what you see and want to read more, click HERE to subscribe.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wanna know what i've been up to?
Gavere - by Bram van Lent |
I am now two months into the cyclocross season and it has already been filled with highs and lows. It started off solid with a 4th, 10th, and 12th at the first three events of Hoboken CX, Soudal Neerpelt, and Bosduin Kalmthout. (The 12th was bittersweet for me as I had a mishap two seconds into the race where my chain bounced off to the outside of the chainring, putting me in 2nd to last place.) Although the early season is usually a bit trying for me as I need a few races to get into the rhythm, I was pleased with my form.
Niel by Patricia Cristens |
Expecting
every race to get better and better, I was surprised to find that the following
race took a bit of a turn for the worse where I placed 13th in the
Ruddervoorde Superprestige event. The
following couple of weeks were spent in the Czech Republic where I contested
the first two rounds of World Cups that were held in the towns of Tabor and
Plzen where I placed 30th and 28th respectively. A few days later I was back at it again at
the opening round of the BPost Bank Trofee series – Koppenbergcross where the
race course is held on the infamous cobbled Koppenberg climb made famous by the
Tour of Flanders, one of the two greatest one-day road races. There, on a
course that suited my sinewy climbing legs, I placed 19th so I knew
that it was time to take a much needed
rest.
Gavere by Bram van Lent |
For the
next week I rode no more than 20 minutes a day in an attempt to recharge the
body. Thankfully it worked because the
next weekend I came out fighting again at Soudal’s Niel event. My start was excellent, putting me
immediately in top six in the beginning of the race. Unfortunately I took myself
out on a manmade ramp, wrapping myself and my bike around a pole when I slid
out on a muddy bit. Chasing back from almost last place, I made it up to 9th
by the finish. Job well done. Most
importantly, that experience left me feeling optimistic for what is to come in
the next months!
Gavere by Robert Goedgezelschap |
Even though
I may not have won any of these races, the supporters on the sidelines – and on
facebook, twitter, etc – treated me as if I were a superhero. It is a very special feeling to hear a steady
stream of folks cheering your name at every single event. I am very lucky to have so many wonderful people who
believe in me no matter my result.
If you'd like to read all about my trip to Czech Republic - including my trips to places like Prague - check out my post on PelotonPost.
And to read all about my latest race last weekend at Superprestige Gavere, you can shortly check it out on CYCLOCROSS Magazine.
Gavere by Tom Prenen |
For the
next few months I race at least once per week, with a 3-week holiday period
filled with 3 events per week. In two weeks, the World Cup events resume with
Koksijde, BE and Roubaix, FR - one after another. after that it is around two-three races per week through first week of January. Then one race per week for the rest of january, followed by two per week through end of February. Fingers crossed that my future results match
the motivation I am feeling right now!
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