Cake

Just back from a whirlwind trip to Belgium for UCI Cyclocross Commission meetings over the weekend. This was our third session of the season since the new commission composition took shape last fall (Nommay in early November, Tabor at the world championships in late January, and  now Brussels in late March).

In each meeting, I’ve been impressed with the workability and chemistry within our group. Lots of  good discussion, both concentrated and free-wheeling, on the sport, its rules, vision and character. Having the UCI’s database to study stats from World Cups is another plus. You get a good sense of context when you have the opportunity to view the simulations and information. The final step in the process is approval by the UCI Management Board in June.

And, yes, for you inquiring race fans out there, I did witness an historic rarity during the late Saturday afternoon portion of our meetings. Shortly before 5 pm we took a coffee break to watch the end of Milan-San Remo. During the action, I looked across the table and there it was–Sven eating a piece of cake. Not to worry. He told me–with a wink– it was the final weekend of his three weeks vacation away from the bike. Part of that he spent in Austria skiing with his family. But he told me the honeymoon was over. Training started again this week, Monday morning, 0900.

Next up in April–the USAC Cyclocross Summit in Colorada Springs. Should be good with organizers and USAC staff going through all issues pertinent to building the sport in the US. In conjunction, I’ll provide a general report of the UCI meeting as well.

UCI Cyclocross Commission 2010 (l to r): Jan Prop (NED), Geoff Proctor (USA), Sven Nys (BEL), Peter VandenAbeele (UCI Director), Simon Burney (GBR), Brian Cookson (President-GBR).

Cyclocross never sleeps. –Neil Young