2009-2010 RACE PROGRAM and DATES

9 possible races, 14 days, 18 riders, 36 bikes, 1 director, 1 assistant director, 6 mechanics, 3 soigneurs, 2 chefs, 3 vans, 3 cars. Cyclocross racing at its ‘euro grittiest best!

Here’s a tentative look at what’s in store for 2009-2010:

Riders have two options for Camp start dates. Riders can elect to depart from the U.S. on Thursday 17 December or Friday 18 December in time to do the local race in Lichtervelde on Saturday and/or the Sunday Kalmthout WC or depart from the U.S. on Tuesday 22 December and arrive into Belgium Wednesday, 23 December.

Right out of the gate, the Camp starts for elite riders with the World Cup in Kalmthout. If Kalmthout has separate Junior and U-23 races, then we may bring the whole group there; otherwise, there is a small B race in Uitbergen to shake out the legs. Then the riders arriving on Option 1 will have two days to get settled before taking on the hard-to-the-bone Middelkerke C2 race on Wednesday 23 December. Thankfully this race in the dunes and wind of the coastal North Sea, has just been added back to the schedule after initial financial difficulties, thereby giving riders a tough mid-week race before the real meat of the ”kersteperiode” schedule begins. Saturday, 26 December is the World Cup in Zolder on the F1 race track. Zolder was the site of 2002 Worlds, probably the largest spectator crowd ever to attend a cyclocross race (approx 60,000). Then, Sunday 27 December sees the big SuperPrestige in urban Brussels at Diegem followed by arguably the most popular cyclocross race in the world, Loenhout, on Tuesday, 29 December. As part of the GVA series, the Loenhout organizers take a fairly mundane circuit and spice it up by paying big money to all the top names, men and women, Belgian and foreign. The camp reaches a crescendo with the New Year’s Day race (on a new circuit!) in the hometown of Sven Nys and Niels Albert (Baal) and follows the next day with the popular smaller St Niklaas C2 race. St Niklaas always seems to provide a just dessert to the main course of racing throughout the holiday week. This year, riders can depart on either 3 January to get back to the U.S. for school/work or stay and race in Holland on the 2000 Worlds circuit in St Michielgestel Sunday 3 January. Those riders selected for Team USA have the option to stay and prepare for the World Championships, just a “small” month later.

The planning of the Camp’s race program involves many considerations: junior riders are only allowed to race twice a week in Belgium, elite riders often already have contracts for certain races, staff availability around New Year’s Day is an issue, and some organizers are willing to pay more start money for the mostly US National Team to be at their race. Careful planning and attention are given to which races fit the rider’s fitness, strengths and morale.