Loenhout

Another big race! This race always impresses me with its numbers, its show. Just a throng of people turn out for it. No Frischy this year for the first time in awhile; disappointed to not be able to say hi to him.

And, it’s always a good time to revisit and catch up with other pit crews due to the “close proximity” (aka, a very tight pit); I particularly enjoy the familial aspect with fathers Boom, Groenendaal, Wellens, Simunek, Vervecken, and Powers handing up encouragement to their sons.

The congested pits at Loenhout full of bikes and mechanics. Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be

A mixed day, results-wise. Juniors battled hard from less-than-ideal start positions in a 90 rider field. (I opted to save Mannion, McDonald, and Emsky for Sunday in Diegem). Steve Fisher 43rd, Jeremy Ferguson 45th, and Andrew Llewelyn 62nd. Clayton Omer had stomach issues and Ian Terry got caught up in a crash and cut his hand trying to separate wheels and bikes. Combat style bike racing for sure. And, broken record I know, very good experience. Jeremy Ferguson told me he’s already planning next season around being good in December. That’s the ‘cross mind set!

In the U-23′s, Danny Summerhill had a great start and was in 15th through the first pit but is battling a back injury and slight cold and couldn’t sustain his initial strength. Jamey Driscoll again moved through the field and finished a creditable 21st in a field of, again, 90 starters. Nick Weighall was his steady self in 37th and Mitch Peterson (47th), Carson Miller (53rd) and Brady Kappius (55th) all kept ‘er going through the tractor-pull and whup sections.

Jeremy Powers, ECXC Alum, rode to a 23rd place at Lenhout. Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be

Ryan Trebon had a really good race going, passing through in 15th early on. Eventually he finished 21st to go with his 20th last year and his 16th in 2005 at this venue. He seems to ride pretty well on this course, says he likes the rhythm of it, but the right group here and the right hole threaded there and I think he could have been top 10. Easy for me to say from pit-side, but I then again, I always want to see more fight, no matter what the result (unless it’s the top step:). Camp grad Jeremy Powers rode pretty well also to get 23rd which, coupled with his ride in Hofstade, is another incremental improvement on his 28th from the year before in Loenhout. Those are the kind of gains you want to see. Tristan Schouten wasn’t as happy with his getting lapped but I saw some good things. I saw him nicely pilot through a pit crash and hey, 43rd in your first cross camp in the elites in Loenhout is the beginning. I told him to check back with me in a year. A year spent focusing on cross, building towards the December races and worlds. It’s all about investment, patience, learning (aka, the journey).

A happy Trebon in the car on the way back to “The House” after a successful day at Loenhout. Photo Courtesy Tristan Shouten.