The Cyclo-Cross Chamionships of the World

The day began with the Junior race at 11:30. Everyone had a pretty good start. Bjorn made the front group for the whole race. It was so amazing to watch on tv. With half a lap left he was in 3rd, but then faded back to 7th at the end. An awesome ride either way. Danny was the second American in 19th place. He was the 4th 17 year old so he has some good chances for next year. Mr. Alex Howes got 35th place. Strong showing. The American team ended up 5th overall which will give the a great starting position next year.

The U23 did not go as well. There was a huge crash right at the start. Troy went down really hard. He ended up with a few stitches and a broken elbow. He even finished the race. Everyone got stuck behind it. Jesse got his brake stuck in his wheee. Adam, Dan, and I were all behind it. So by the first corner we were a good 15 seconds behind the leaders. We had a long way to work back up. Newt and I rode together for a while until he flatted. I almost managed to not get lapped but I was pulled before the finishng straight. I think I could have made it though. Oh well. Me - 48th. Troy - 55th. Lots of bad luck for the US U23's.

U23 Results - http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/2006/jan06/CXworlds06/?id=results/CXworlds062

Junior Results - http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/2006/jan06/CXworlds06/?id=results/CXworlds061

Tomorrow, the Big Day

Tomorrow it is, the World Championships. Today we went and rode the course again in the morning. Its still pretty slick but should be fast. Warmer temperatures are expected tomorrow so we will see if it changes any. We spent the rest of the day resting up. We had a nice pasta dinner to fuel us up. Now we are headed bed. Hopefully our nerves wont keep us up. Wish us luck!! Look for another update tomorrow!

Brady

Lots of hotel time and some slick turns

Today we awoke at 7:30 and headed out for a nice little morning walk. We were out for about 10 minutes then headed back and had some breakfast. We then went back out for a ride at 10:30. The course is only about a half mile from the hotel so we headed over there. We rode 1 lap and checked most of the course out. Alex took a nice little fall on the slick downhill section. Lots of oooohhhh's and aaahhhh's. The stairs don't seem too bad. They are pretty similar to stadium stairs - not too much vertical gain and a lot of horizontal gain. The road climb at the top should hurt pretty bad though. We headed back, took a shower and ate some lunch. The food is pretty good, I'm happy. Lounged around the room for a while and watched some T.V., did some Physics homework, then went back to the course to see how it had changed and did a couple of efforts. Again, we came back, watched T.V. again then ate some dinner. More T.V. and here we are, getting ready to go to bed. Only one more day before the big race, so we better get our act together. Do a couple efforts tomorrow and we should be ready.

Until tomorrow,
Brady

10 hours in the plane, 12 hours in the airport, we're not even 50 % efficient

After 36 hours of traveling, we have now arrived in Zeddam, Netherlands. Not too much to say about today; nothing but sitting on the plane and sitting in the airport. In quick summary (it's going to be quick because the fingers are having trouble typing and the eyes are having trouble staying open) these were the highs and lows of the day:

Highs-
-Stunning the euros with our amazing (not really) hacky sack skills as we waited in the airport.
-Playing soccer with a Listerine breath strips pack and later, a ninja turtle foot we found in the airport.
-Watching "Back to the Future" from start to finish for the first time (the skateboard chase scene is the coolest thing I have ever seen on an airplane. Period).
-Trying to court a group of 25-50 Swedish female student w/ the standard Belgian wink.
-Watching a man dressed in a $1000 ensemble, strut around w/ a piece of toilet paper stuck to his foot.
-Getting some sweet new national team clothing.
-Seeing the peoples faces as they see us sprawled out in the corner sleeping (and drooling - Danny).
Lows-
-Sitting in the Washington-Dulles airport for 2 hours.
-Getting shot down by 25-50 Swedish female students.
-Sitting in the Brussels airport for 10 hours.
-Airplane legs.
-The odors that can come off 3 guys.

Well I guess when you weigh the pluses and minuses against each other I suppose you could say we came out on top. What ever, no matter how you look at it, it was a long day.

Grinning regards,
d'howes

Sleep any one????

Well the weekend of racing is over... Yesterday went well with a 16th @ Zonnebeke. It was a complete mud feast. It was the type of course where you had to put out all the power you had to just stay on your bike. Tonkin ended up 14th. After the race me and Tonkin rode the 25km home to spin the legs out for todays World Cup. My preparation/1st lap couldn't have gone much worse. First off I haven't been sleeping at all lately. I just haven't been able to fall asleep. Ever since I got the stomach bug last weekend my sleep has went to crap. Tuesday I fell asleep @ 4a.m. Wed 3a.m. Thurs 2a.m Friday 1a.m. So I was hoping I was on the road to overcoming my new found insomnia. No such luck for this guy last night I never fell asleep. I was actually never recall falling asleep at all last night. At around 4:45 I gave up on whole sleep thing I hear it is overrated. I ventured down to the kitchen and began preparing my 1st of two pre race meals. We had to leave at 7:15 so I figured sense I didn't sleep I should @ least have more than enough fuel in my system. Jesse informed on the car ride it is cocky to race a World Cup without sleeping. Well the stage was set this was going to be my second race in less than 24hrs with out sleep. When we arrived @ the course the first question I get when I get out of the car is do you have an extra helmet for Lance Noble. Lance decided he didn't need his helmet for the world cup today even after Jesse told him not to for get it last night. I wasn't in rush to get on my bike so I decided chill in the Box Van for a good 20 to 30 min and pre ride the course right before the Juniors race. When I was pre riding the course I felt like I couldn't even get around the circuit @ recovery ride pace needless to say race pace. Finally it was time to start the race and test the theory I have heard forever that is the sleep 2 nights before not the night before. We linded up and I'm almost positive I got a fine for not wearing a National Champ skinsuit b/c it is a new UCI rule National Champs in U-23 and Junior don't wear federation team clothing and the UCI officials pointed @ me and talked among themselves. That should be a nice fine. Finally the race was off and I proceeded to break a spoke down the 1k road section. This forced me to pit and to good from the nice front row start. I would have been better off last row. I proceed into the pit only to see Jesse about 30 feet in front of me pitting in order to move up a couple spots. I slowed up hoping that Proctor would see me following Jesse no such luck. When I saw no reaction from Proctor I figured maybe we had to separate teams with bike so I continued on down the pit. At this point it became apparent that I would have to get off my bike and wait for Proctor to run my bike up to me. At this point I was DFL OTB whatever you want to call 200 meters off the back on a dirt crit style cross. I held it together and began to move up. I caught up to Jesse who had decided he wasn't going to race the 1st lap and was OTB as well. Jesse and I began to move through the field and caught Newt and Danimal. At this point Jesse yells out stupid americans always riding together. At this point he attacks so hard I had to go red to go with him. Now Jesse and I are off fighting from the mid 50's. We worked are way to just in the top 40 when I put in a hard effort to reach the two dutch guys in front of us. Jesse pulled through and put me out the back. This was basically where we would stay the rest of the race. I felt good power wise considering I raced yesterday and that sleep difficulties. I think next weekend will good well as my fitness is coming around. I just have to put it all together. Jesse seems to have his back figured out and his legs are coming around as well.

Happy B-day Meg

Happy Birthday Meg I bet tonight it is going to go off in D-town. Speaking of home the other night I had alittle taste of home. Well almost a taste of home I made a BLT pizza it wasn't the same due to the crust.



Well big races this weekend. Zonnebeke is tomorrow a cool C2 25 km from the house. Today I rode over to the town and checked out the course. Same as last year so hopefully I can have a good ride. It is technical muddy mess so we will see. On Sunday we travel to Holland for the World Cup in Hoogerheide. I'll do the U-23 race there so tomorrow is the last time I will race in my Cref stuff this cross season. I hope I can put in a good showing this weekend to build up some confidence for worlds next week. Hopefully I'll have a good report from the next to races. It has been nice this week at least the temp has been high. Almost 50 out today but it was raining and high winds.

Pic of me and Jesse out putting in some miles..

1st Victory Across The Pond.

Well I did it I won house Monploy last night my 1st major accomplishment since I came to Europe. It ended up being a power struggle between Jesse, Powers, and I and pulled it off. The World Cup went like crap for the whole squad lets just leave it at that. On Monday Trebon, Wicks, and I went shopping at the local mall I picked up a cocky silver button down shirt, Trebon got a Jacket and two belts Wicks left empty handed. After we left the mall we headed down to the coffee shop in Kortrijk first time any of us have driven to the coffee shop. Wicks got a .5 kilo of some amazing mocha blend. Once we had finished our coffee we found the hidden treasure in the center of Kortrijk a corner waffle and ice cream store that has amazing waffles to say the least. It has to be the best food I have ever tasted in my life. On the drive home Trebon suffered a finger injury trying to be like Wicks. Tuesday Wicks and I went out for an easy spin and decided that we would have to stop by the waffle stand. At first we thought he might be closed but he came up from the basement and made us some fresh right off the iron waffles. This is a good find for me b/c until this point I have been addicted to the waffles you can buy at the supermarket in a 5 pack. This way I eat less and it is a hour and half ride so I burn off the waffle by the end of the ride. Today I did my 1st opener over here where I actually felt like myself again so I hope I can put it together for two solid races this weekend leading into worlds. In other news my brother aka Toodles McDuff was in the local newspaper today in Izegem saying how the US national champ won't be on the start line @ worlds and Els informed us it translated into he was sending his cat. Which is funny I think if you know Todd or read his site he does have 2 Cat and the one had a resume posted on Sopro Jones website looking for a job on the circuit as a mechanic... I wonder if Joseba will be @ worlds working on my bike. "Hey man" Synder Voice "I got your tire pressure all figured out Uncle Bear" Megs Voice.

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