First World Cup

Greetings from veldrijden country!

Big day in Belgium on a super fast circuit with Stybar popping off the front early and Wellens doing some handy blocking on a course conducive to that tactic. Boom, Mourey, Franzoi and Heule did some strong riding on the front to bring the gap down, but Stybie was going forward all the time. Nys was super good too, but he told me when Stybar went, he thought it maybe it was too early. Jonathan P rode really well and just kept fighting to stay in contact with the chase group which was great to see. Ryan had a few problems early, running a bit too low pressure at first, then shredding a sidewall, and then tweaking his leg. In a fast World Cup, that’s all it takes to slide down the uitslagen. Jonathan B had a steady effort and just got lapped before Stybar started his final lap. Impressively fast with everyone ratchetting upwards when a World Cup is on the line.

Katie was brilliant for her first big euro effort this season. On the last lap, Daphny just jumped her right at the pit and Katie hesitated a second, then Daphny just kept inching out until Katie wasn’t able to pin her back. I’ve always been impressed with how deceptively cagey and aggressive Daphny can be. Chrisine V and Sarah K rode their hearts out in their first big races of the season.

Finally, it was fun to work with first-year junior Ian B who’s on exchange in Brussels. Ian’s a strong road guy giving ‘cross a first run this season. I worked with him this summer in Belgium and he’s a real strong kid with a good head. He was pretty blown away by the level of a junior WC.

One storyline you won’t read in the press is the tough task team coaches have for the first WC start order. For the first WC only, each coach gives his top two and then they call up according to nation. I told Rudy De Bie, the Belgian Coach, it’s not easy to choose between Jonathan Page and Ryan Trebon; they’ve gone 2-2 so far this season; one is National Champ, the other world silver medalist. Rudy rebutted, “you think you have it hard. I’ve got a world champion who isn’t going so well so he’s gonna be around 4th row!”

Jonathan defintely had the better race in the end, and Ryan was gracious with the decision, but it’s still not easy. Both Ryan and Jonathan are gonna have some super results this year because they really understand the game here and the level it demands.

Ok, enough for now. One last chit for how popular cyclocross is here. In today’s Gazet Van Antwerpen, one of the big Belgian daily newspapers, there’s two full pages on WC Kalmthout. Cunego’s win in Lombardy gets only a secondary half page!

See everyone in USGP Louisville!

Here are some photos from Kalmthout WC. All of these photos are taken by my Belgian friend and most dependable camp photographer, Mario, CyclingPics.

Zedek Stybar ramping along to a :45-1:00 advantage!

Geoff Proctor, Junior Ian Boswell; final instructions before the start (Bend, OR but on student exchange in Brussels; I worked with Ian this past summer on during the Junior National Road Team trip to Belgium; Ian won the Cat 3′s in Cascade Stage Race this past year)

Ian Boswell, Junior

Katie Compton, Elite Woman gets 2nd!

Katie Compton leading Daphny Van den Brand; these two riders just dominated the field and rode away; it was a real battle and fun to watch

Ryan Trebon leading Erwin Vervecken. Both riders started 3rd and 4th row due to UCI start reg for first WC. This photo was taken just after Vervecken broke his chain/derailleur (again) and Ryan had his troubles.

Jonathan Page riding strong just back of the first chase group

Sven Nys in Full Flight! After riding in the chase group the whole race, Nys just lets it go and blows everyone away to finish 2nd.

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