Another race in the books.

Today we traveled to France for a C1 in Roubaix. The race was on the infamous velodrome that the Paris - Roubaix finish on. It was a different course without any real flow to it. They had 3 death drops that you had to be on you brakes all the way down the thing to make a 90 degree right turn at the bottom. It was pointless. There was also 2 sand pits and a side hill that we snaked along for about 200 meters. The grass was really slick which lead countless low speed spin outs. My day was an adventure from the start. As of last night the plan was that we would all race the elite race but I was awoken at 9 by Jesse telling me and the Danimal that we had a separate U-23 race at 1:15. At this point the program for the day turned to eating and breakfast and leaving right for the course. Once we arrived at the course we headed to registration only to be told by some French guy "no U-23 race you should be happy you get to race with the world champ". Great we woke up and rushed to the race only to find out we don't race until 3. At this point I decide to sit in the car for about 1 hour and just watch little Sven Nys ride around the parking lot on his 12 inch bike. He was getting crazy doing dismounts and remounts I think everyone in the parking lot was watching the little kid he mite have a larger supporters club than his dad. I only saw him take one digger but he was back on his bike quick. After all this caous it was time to get ready to race. I was little scared of the start on the velodrome especially after seeing a couple of riders hit the deck just spinning around the velodrom right before our start. The start went off with out any problems and I was off with an okay start. This good positing didn't last long as I was just going backwards after about half a lap. I was thinking to myself that this was going to be a long day. On the 3rd lap my day continued to go down hill as I flip right over the bars coming out of the sand pit right by the pit. It was a dumb crash and one where I got up and was laughing at myself because it was just one of those days. At this point my mishap in the sand pit got me pissed off and I became fired up and once I got on a different bike my race turned around for me. I was able to move forward and begin racing my bike again as before I could had just been out for a nice Sunday family ride. I ended up catching up with Jesse as his back was going out. He was actually making some weird noises I knew at that point his back was gone. Jesse ended up finishing 24th and I was 25th. Treefarm and Wicks ended up 14th and 15th. Jeremy is still under the weather and the Danimal had a bad day on the bike. Hey at least I didn't get lapped today. Tomorrow we head back to France for a World Cup. I think it will be a better day for all. For some dumb reason I told Proctor I would race with the elites tomorrow so hopefully I'm not just racing not to get lapped. Jesse, Danimal, and Newt will be on the line for the U-23 race. The house is back running 6 deep so there is a lot more going on around here now. 2 weeks and 3 races till worlds.

Picture Gallery

Photos courtesy of JESSE ANTHONY Cyclocrossworld.com, Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevade, Clif Bar (Cocky)

Take it in

Twin Towers you know what they have been up to

I hear JPows.com has a problem with his internals

Focus

She was saying something I really wasn't listening

I've been busy doing well nothing. I have gotten back on my two rides a day program with a nap in between. On Sunday I left late for my 2nd ride b/c I was busy watching Belgium Championships on the TV. It was exciting I actually thought there was a chance that Sven wasn't going to win. After the race was finished I went out for what I was expecting to be an easy 1 hour spin. After about an hour out I began heading home as the sun was going down or so I thought. After about a half an hour I realized I was far from home and it was dark already. I ended up in Kortrijk which is about half an hour from Izegem. So as soon as I realized that I was in Kortrijk I TT home to try to make it back at home since it was pitch black at this point. My 1 hour easy spin turned into a 2 hour ride with a TT effort at the end. Monday came and went without to much excitement. Jesse and I rode to Kortrijk in the morning and went to the coffee shop and even had some crepes at the local market that was set up in the center of town. Danimal was busy preparing for his race and missed out on the ride. He did a Belgium A race in Otegem it brings out the stars like Sven and Sven. I guess Sven warmed up in his Belgium Natz Jersey and raced with the World Champ Jersey. Danimal rode home from the race. I guess Newt was at the race and the only thing Danimal told me was that Newt almost hit a tree but was still the top American on the day good job Newt. I did another ride in the afternoon in some trials about half an hour from the house. They are a lot of fun because they are smooth enough to ride with road tires. They are super slick though so it gives you a chance to work on the technical without flatting. This morning I started my ride with Jesse and Stijn and turned around about an hour in. When I came home the Danimal was still in bed sleeping. I guess he got worked over from riding home from the race yesterday. I was able to nap and went out for a ride/run. Worked on running up a some stairs because worlds has a set of 40 stairs each lap (hell). I returned home washed down the bike now I can't stop thinking about food. I'm also back doing my SRA exercises Dr. Frank gave me for my back before I left.

Troy

Back to the Grind

Well, after a full 24 hours of traveling Brady and I have made it home. The trip was relatively uneventful due to the fact that poor Brady was sick as a dog (sick as my dog that is. My poor little puppy can hardly walk right now). However, no such thing as completely listless international travel, hence we were not spared from some heavy Georgian accents (the guy at passport controls was almost impossible to understand. He had this to say when I told him of my Belgian imports, "fi'ty derllers wort' o' weffles! I hoop ya do not inteeeend ta consuuuuum fi'ty derller wort' o' weffles aaaall by you's self!") annoying little kids on the air plane, air port foot ball, and a French man that sat stiff as a board for nine and a half hours and the only word he said was, "cafe." He didn't even get up to relieve him self. Crazy French.

Any ways, 3/4 of the TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar European 'cross team (Brady, me, Toast) are safely home and getting back to the grind of everyday life. The forcast for the future reads, "school, school, school, unpacking, school, training, school, recovering from jet lag, and school." And on that note, I just wanted to say thanks. I suppose I can't legally speak on behalf of the whole team, but I can make the assumption that, like my self, all those who received the opportunity to participate in such an amazing and once in a life time experience, will be forever grateful to all those who helped make it all possible. So, many thanks to all those who have helped us along the way and thanks for all the support.

Check back for posts related to Troy's adventures in Europe, and the rest of the team's preparation for worlds (not to mention worlds its self!!!),

Alex

Newts growth

Now that everyone has left except for myself aka tdub Dan aka danimal and Jesse aka wicked cocky things have been pretty uneventful. Yesterday was my second rest/sick day which means I pretty much tried to do nothing. Danimal and I woke up around 11:00 and help Newt get ready to go off with his mechanic friend for the rest of the time before worlds. I helped newt get his bikes down from the bike room since he can't reach them. Than Danimal charted Newts growth and discovered Newt stopped growing @ 5 yrs old. Newts friend brought me a present that Dubb left with him for me such as cables and chains since racing 6 races in 2 weeks will destroy a cross bike.

After we saw Newt off me and Danimal had an intense playstation battle followed by a walk down town and visit to panos. At panos Danimal purchased the alcoholic coffee drink (cocky) I stayed with the norm. Panos is pretty cool b/c it is a public coffee shop that is actually smoke free hard to find in Europe. On our walk home we thought about getting Charlyn a b-present but we decided against. We figured it would be like getting a present from your relative u never see and it ends up being something that she would never use.

Els came to get us for the b-day party @ like 6 b/c we had to go to the store to get some supplies to make margetias. Once at the house of Noel and Els, Danimal, W-C(Wicked Cocky) and I began trying to make margetias. It turned into trial and error with Danimal being the main test drinker. He was basically loaded before anyone else even got to the party. Noel and Els have a really nice house and we have some good pics I'll put up next time from the festivities.

Rode my bike today all i can say is i flatted 4 times danimal 1 flat and W-C 1 flat it sucked.
Go to http://www.thedanimal.blog.com/ for the whole story. Tdub goes to sleep now.

House Report

So the cross camp stage race is over. With the end of camp the house is pretty much empty. Trebon, Wicks, and Powers went to Monaco for a romantic week with the stars. Everyone else has left for the states or leave tomorrow. There is nothing really to report on except for the fallen soldiers report.

Jesse- Healthy after he had been sick for 4 day earlier in the week 20th in Holland.
Troy- Sick with cold DNF in Holland yesterday after 15min.
Adam- Sick with cold DNF after hitting tree in Holland. Mild concussion @ world cup only remembered 1st lap.
Alex- Sick with cold 8th in Holland.
Brady- Something died in his body. Smells of death!!! Lapped in Holland.
Tonkin- Sick with cold finished in Holland.
Dan- Thinks he's healthy. Lapped in Holland.

As you can tell we are living large right now in Izegem. Tonight we had some amazing chicken with pasta and tomatoes. Els also treated us to some home made waffles for desert. Tomorrow morning I will awake and it will be only Jesse, Dan, and I for a week. Tomorrow night we go to Noel and Els house for Charlyn 18th B-day. That is the big one in europe. I think we are having mexican food which will be good.

Into the barriers 

Out of the saddle 

Chance Noble over the barriers 

Howes powering away