“The warming van is where it all goes down, and it is an integral part of cyclo-cross culture here in Belgium. Things start bright and early with the warming van when the mechanics jam pack as many bikes, wheels, trainers, and other equipment into the back of the van.

“When the warming vans arrives at the race it is a mad dash to find the perfect parking spot. Usually we strategically park three vans together, and then in between the vans the mechanics set up. Tents with trainers, tents with food and tea, and tents with work stands and tools from our headquarters for the day.”

In this latest entry for CyclingNews.com, EuroCrossCamp Alum and Professional rider Brian Matter (Gear Grinders) we hear, feel and even smell the pre-race atmosphere as the riders prepare for the mud soaked racing, the super fans and the ham & cheese.

“Forty-five minutes before the race Geoff Proctor arrives with “Proctors Words of Wisdom” before he heads to the pits. Five minutes of pure motivational speech. This guy does a better job than Matt Foley. Forty minutes to go and we are suited up and headed for the trainers. The superfans are there in the thousands waiting to see who walks out of the van. Shouts of Ryan Trebon, Todd Wells, and Johnson, but this time around it’s only Matter, Troy Wells, and Justin Lindine. We sign some autographs, and it makes them happy. Then its off to the races.”

Brian is in Belgium for his second winter with EuroCrossCamp. He attended ECXC VI last year and also raced World’s in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. Brian is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin and rides for Gear Grinders. Check out the rest of the story at CyclingNews.com and the other Diary entries from EuroCrossCamp VII.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 1:21 pm and is filed under News and Results. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.