Ok well I am back in the States but things were so crazy over the past couple of weeks in Belgium that I never really had time to let everyone know what was going on. Firstly, I just signed a new contract for next season. I was picked up by Yawadoo-ABM-TV Vlaanderen Cycling Team. If anyone is interested the website is www.wielerploeg.tv.

So I was pretty pumped about getting next season sorted out. Now I just need to get all the logistics organized – visas and all the other fun stuff. Hopefully, I’ll be able to live in Gent again as I now know the training roads and the riders in the area. As for the track racing, Jackie and I traveled to Geneva for a three day race (essentially a shortened six day). It was the perfect tune-up. The UIV Cups are always really hard but they are only one madison a night while the 3 Days of Geneva was a full program. Each evening consisted of an 80 lap points race, an elimination, a scratch race, and a madison to wrap it up.

We came out sitting pretty the first night. Jackie had won the scratch race and we were well placed in the other events so we were in fourth place overall and only ten points out of the lead.

The second night of racing was not so hot. The secondary events went well but we completely botched the madison. Twice we were stuck in traffic and the top Swiss teams rode off the front and lapped us. Now in a points race you are awarded 20 points for lapping the field but in a madison laps count. So we ended up the second night two laps down on the first two teams and one lap down on third place. I was furious. We had essentially lost the race in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, poor riding by some other teams only aided in botching our chances. Needless to say, I was already fuming and when the riders who had caused us to lose one of our laps rolled by after the event I let loose on him. Basically lots of expletives accompanied by a finger in his face. Looking back on it I’m sure I overreacted but nobody messed with us after that. The other riders looking on were just staring dumbstruck. The only other reaction was Jackie giggling in the corner at the expression on the peoples’ faces.

Going into the third night the top three was pretty much determined. We tried attacking to get a lap back on the third place team but the Swiss riders stuck together and kept reeling us back in. It was frustrating, especially knowing that it was caused by a couple lapses in concentration, but we still finished a solid fourth place overall. As a sidenote, the events always house the riders and we were expecting to be in a hotel but instead we had the luxury of spending our evenings in an old Swiss bomb shelter. Quite the experience! There was absolutely no determining the time of day and the huge metal “bank vaultish” doors were a nice touch as well.

Anyway, Gent was next on the list after Geneva but there is way too much from Gent to include in this entry. I’ll give a recap of that shortly! See everyone at the roller races on Tuesday. And LaCorte, you better be ready.

David

www.echappeonline.com

Photos:

1) This is the picture of Jackie after his win in the scratch race on the first night of racing in Geneva.

2) One of the madison chases. That is me in the super bright jersey trying to go fast.

3) Jackie’s turn to blind the cameraman during the madison.