Huijbergen

Off to Huijbergen, Holland today to race. I think Huijbergen must be the cutest little town on the planet! Cute and tidy little brick houses line the streets, plants growing in most windows, all-brick layed streets fashioned with geometric designs and bike paths. Loved it. I wish I had time to explore it and take some pictures to share. But I was otherwise occupied with racing!

Huijbergen proved to be a very technical course. To me, it felt like a mountain bike race. Or what I imagine a mountain bike race would be like, that is. It's been many ages since I tried one. I am beginning to think that I really need to race mountain bikes to improve my 'cross skills, so you may see my on the fat tires a bit this summer. How I'll fit that into a big road season, I'm not quite sure yet. Anyways, after pre-riding the course, I was a little nervous to be racing on it. I wasn't nervous to just be riding around on it medium-slow, but to actually be trying to go fast would prove to be quite another story. There were two tricky descents, and the ground was frozen solid, making the cow-trodden field hard bumps to ricochet off, and several corners were slick. There were two run-ups, one dirt, one sand.

I am no psychologist or biologist, but cycling has led me to believe there to be a certain survival instinct based on self-preservation. For example, when you sense danger in speed, you instinctively pull the brakes. When you sense danger in a corner, you might unclip your inner foot. Well, I have figured it out: I am simply evolutionarily superior to most other racers. I have the self-preservation instinct down-pat. I will live longer and healthier than my daredevil competitors and bear more off-spring. Well, great, but it's not helping me one bit in cyclocross!

The whole race I was trying to coax myself into letting go. Letting go of the brakes, letting go of fear. My body has so much more inside, but I am caging it. If I could let go and trust myself I could fly. I suppose that's what sport is about for so many of us - wrestling with our demons, conquering our selves. Every lap I tried to go smoother and faster. I believe I did as the race went on, at least I relaxed a bit and had some fun on an awesome course.

There was this super steep sandy descent with a 90-degree right hander. Boy, was it a disaster on the first lap in traffic! I did improve on it every lap, and was having enough fun by the last lap that when I almost bit it, I actually laughed, and the surrounding spectators laughed along with me. Well, I prefer to see it that way - only they know whether they were laughing with me or at me, but it seemed in good spirit.

Speaking of laps, I had no idea how many laps we were doing! There were no lap cards, and the race seemed incredibly long. Every time I came through the finish straight, I had no idea if it was the end! I don't speak Dutch, but I now know that 'ronde' means 'lap.' Of course, I don't know numbers in Dutch, so that really wouldn't have helped much. Finally, when I came through again, the announcer took pity on my ignorant American soul and said in a thick accent "Rebecca Wellons, this is your last lap." It was the only English I heard him say over the speaker the whole race.

The start was ridiculous. The girls over here have none of that aforementioned "self-preservation" instinct. None at all! I do a lot of crit racing and have never seen anything like this. I thought I might actually eat pavement in a 'cross race. The starting chute began straight and flat for 150-200 meters, then took a had 90-degree corner. I was the last woman called up to the front row and was stuck with the spot furthest right. Not the one I wanted. I should have declined the first row and taken the left side second row. But I figured I'm a good starter, so I can maybe get ahead of most. The gun shot off and we charged. I tried to move left as we went up the road in one big pack, but some girl shot through where there really wasn't space to put herself, bumped me on the left side pretty hard and unexpectedly, charged in front of me right at the corner on the inside. She did a full-on powerslide into the first corner and almost took out the first 5 riders, cramming in maybe second wheel. I was totally stunned. Honestly, I want to race hard, I'm not afraid of an elbow or asserting myself if need be, but that was f'ing ridiculous. And it didn't stop there. Girls swam around chomping like sharks at blood. I felt like a guppy. Someone went down in the next corner into the woods and we all piled up. I was now at the back, and rode the whole race trying to pick off riders in front of me. The same lonely game I played yesterday.

Sounds disappointing, but really just being here was fun! Riding these courses will improve me. I need to learn to start more aggressively. I need to let go. I have the legs to be there, but I have to strip away this instinct limiter.

I was in the pits for Shaun in the elite race today, and I have to say it was exciting to feel a part of the race as Bart, Sven, and others shot by. I got to the finish in time to snap this shot of the finish from a spectator point-of-view.

Bart Aernouts wins!

A pep band livened things up!

Bart comes through with one to go.

The two Barts and Sven come through, taken from my vantage point in the pit.

End of the first woods section. Very single-tracky-mountainbikeish.

Standing in the pits, the good elevation difference to the first hill and descent was very noticable.
Check out all the press for the men's race!! No, the women got nowhere near the amount of press or spectators.

Check out this crazy tree-shrub hedge I saw on road outside Huijbergen on the way back into Belgium. Does someone trim this??

I really want to race Zeddam tomorrow. I am on the start list. Iwant another shot at this! I am having too much fun to miss one, but I am unsure if I can get a ride there. Nobody has room to take me! I'm hoping the friendly Northwest duo of Sue and Wendy can pick me up and bring me....

Scheldecross!

Scheldecross is in Antwerp, just across the canal from the beautiful city. The sun poked through the frozen fog after the race and I was able to snap this shot with frozen fingers.

We were late getting there due to an accident on the highway, so I had little time to acquaint myself with the course and surroundings or to do a proper warm-up. I was pretty nervous and sort of "deer in the headlights" at the start, and I was not aggressive at all in the first few turns. Many girls passed me who were not as strong as me, and they opened litle gaps I had to close. But I rode okay after the first nervous lap, and picked off several in front of me. I got better at the sand each lap, and just had lots of fun on the course. Mark, the guy in the pit for me, had to yell at me to stop smiling and start racing! :) It was a good leg-opener and good to get my feet wet and get some nerves out about my first race over here. I did not race aggressively and still ended up 16th, so I know I will be fine. Tomorrow I will be more aggressive in the start and first lap. Did I mention how cold it was??? -4. And snowing! Frozen legs didn't help. Another thing I will help fix with a better warm-up. I had a great experience today, bottom line.


So let me tell you about my very first experience today at my first race here in Belgium: I got to registration, and Shaun and I waited in line. My name was not on the start list, and I was a little nervous about trying to talk to the men working registration, since they did not seem to know much English. Who walks in and gets in line right behind me? Bart Wellens.
What would you say to Bart Wellens if he was standing right behind you in line? Yeah, I couldn't think of anything, either. I wished I had my "Bart Wellens Kickboxing Academy" t-shirt on. I will be wearing it tomorrow in case I get the chance again! Although I couldn't understand a word he was saying to his buddies in Flemish, I could definitely tell he was not happy about being stuck behind us in line. Eventually, one of the registration workers took him ahead of me, and I didn't even get the chance to tell the registration worker that my last name was Wellons while Bart was clearly in earshot. I wonder if he would have raised an eyebrow.
Did anyone read that column at the back page of the most recent issue of VeloNews, about the guys who met Vervecken in the locker room at Southampton?

Another thought to share: it was odd to be racing without being able to understand the race announcer or what the spectators were yelling. All I could hear was the announcer's voice pipped through the many sets speakers all over the course "blah blah blah blah blah Hanka Kupernagel blah blah blah Daphny van den Brand blah blah blah Helen Wyman blah blah..."

My race shots aren't that great, but here are some:

A good way to cross the course and to view with a bird's eye view.

Bird's eye view.

Sven supporters.

Erwin!

This is REAL Pro.

A REAL flyover! This was taken after the men's race. See the podium on the big screeen tv?

Sorry I don't have any pics of me! Jos took some, I'm working on getting them. Will post soon.

Gotta get to bed now. Tired! Racing in Huijbergen, Holland tomorrow!

Foggy Frost

Feeling unbelivably fatigued last night, I went to bed by 10. It should have been earlier. I slept almost 12 hours! I yanked myself out of bed to experience my first full day here in Blauberg. Today was quite cold, about -3 (C). Everything was coated with white frost and the air was think with fog. The frost looked a bit like snow, but was not, it really was a thick frost. (Check out the pic below of the spider web coated in frost on the backside of a sign.) I rode for 2 hours and found a long bike path that traversed the country side. The bike paths are all labeled with numbered routes, and they have a system that cris-crosses the country and goes into Holland. You can see the signage in some of the below pictures. The albino bunny is for you, Ward, because I know you love bunnies. You would have lifted this one over the fence and taken him home with you.

We visited a bike shop tonight, the Van Eycke shop, and I was blown away. I could not believe the stock they had on the floor! Hundreds of bikes, sometimes every size of each model, with none of the steerer tubes cut, to ensure perfect sizing for the customer. I bought some of those seal skins waterproof socks lined with merino wool, and a craft windproof base layer that I've been looking for in an x-small for ages. I'm ready!

My first race, Scheldecross, is tomorrow. It's really nearby, about an hour away in Antwerp, I think. I'm a little nervous that the conditions might be a lot like Kansas on Sunday, frozen mud ruts and holes with a slick slime on top. I guess the practice would be good for me! I know it is going to be incredibly technical and hard compared to what I'm used to, but I hope it will make me a stronger and better racer.

Okay, I am out of time for blogging! Must get sandwiches ready for tomorrow and make sure I pack the right clothes.

Um.... I'm Not in Kansas Anymore!

Here I am in Belgium! My cyclocross pilgrimage. I feel as though I've stepped back in time. On my ride today, I saw no strip malls, no McMansions, no SUVs, no billboards, no McDonald's. Of course, I've only been here one day, so there's still time to have my hopes dashed. But I rode through small towns like villages with people biking or driving small cars to visit the boulangerie, the bakery, the market. Shops owned by local shopkeepers who usually live above or behind their shops. I saw a train gliding into the station swift, fast, and quietly, making MBTA trains into growling behemoths. There are bike paths lining both sides of most every road - in fact, you're not supposed to ride on the road unless you have a group of 7 riders or more. It feels a bit like riding on the sidewalk, but it's safe. On my ride today, I found the drivers to be very courteous and respectful of cyclists. One even backed up while waiting for me to pass so as to make sure his bumper was out of my way in the bike path. I also think I got a few looks from both drivers and other pedestrians in my full Ridley kit and bike today. Apparently, the factory is only about 20 minutes away, and I hear it's certainly the most popular bike around here. I hear that Neils Albert and Sven Nys are also nearby - I would love to run into them!


There is a market right next door, so I went over and walked through to look for food for dinner as well as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. I was surprised to see all US brands of these items on the shelves. I could get the same items here as in any CVS at home. I even saw many packaged foods made by Kraft - but in different guises. The language here is Flemish. Most speak at least a little English, and maybe understand some French, but definitely don't want to speak that. I feel badly that I didn't try to find the time to learn some simple phrases in Flemish before coming here, but I will try to pick some up quickly. I know the word for "bike shop" anyway, and while trying to tell the shopkeeper at the market (who did not speak English) which vegetables I wanted I learned how to say "sprout," "garlic," "mushrooms," and "onion." I had to have Brussels Sprouts tonight. And the mushrooms were delicious and incredibly fresh. The owners of the market were very friendly. I told the woman who helped me that I was visiting from Boston in the US to race cyclocross. She said I must be strong like Lance Armstrong, thinking he must be one of my heros. I chuckled and and said, "No, like Sven Nys." She laughed, knowing exactly who I was talking about. I think he is a household name here. At the airport, while waiting to go through customs, the woman beside me saw my helmet and asked if I would be racing in the "big race" next week (meaning the Hofstade WC). She said she was going to watch!

I can't wait to explore more and I'm sure the races will be eye-opening to say the least. I'm completely exhausted from the events of the past few days: a weekend in Kansas, the party after Nats, travel back to Boston, repacking for the trip, and heading right off to the airport after a day of work and an overnight flight. I will sleep well tonight and dream of cross in my temporary Belgian home.