Heading off into the unknown (or small-town Belgium) for a smaller CX meet is always an adventure, although I do get a little worried when I ask a local and they give me the blank stare. As my Dutch speaking gets better this is less likely to be my crappy pronunciation too! So it was with great relief that not only did I get the right bus, but I got off at the right place! (YAY ME).
Vorselaar is a small town nicely situated between Herentals & Antwerp. I think I loved this course before I even saw it because it was only 5euro to get in. As it happened, I entered right on to the start/finish straight & the beer tent! (I might be getting a 6th sense about these things!) As it was only a small local meet I wasn’t expecting to see any big names, but Lo! Sadly, no Niels, BUT… todays GPON is a GPOW! However, it’s such a crap pic you will probably need me to tell you its Wout. Local boy just stopping by while walking the puppy before heading to Gieten.
There were a few other persons of note too …
That’s twice for Papa Wellens this season, but no surprise as this CX meet is Geert Wellens baby and this place is Wellens-central! However, who was in this car & what were they doing here?
This course is pretty much a twisty turny thing through the forest. There aren’t the usual tricks: no planks, run-up and ramps, but tight hairpins are plentiful making it very technical.
It was great for spectating and the organisers even provided start-lists. Of course, the spectators here are pretty hardcore, especially the parents & the Start-box.be guys really know their stuff. In fact, as well as cxhairs.com, if you want to know about womens racing as well as the juniors & newbies, those guys are the ones to follow.
Hey! I met Ellen van Loy. It was her first time at this course too! i knew I had something in common with her! And how about that for a big name? and her teammate Loes Sels was here too! although I must’ve walked right past her in the carpark.
So far I was having a good time & then the DJ got going & it was the first time this season for Sweet Caroline and with 3 jetons for 5E I thought I’d have a beer too!
What? You want to know about the actual racing?
Well, I think Arno van den Broek won the newbies, Jappe Jaspers, Enertherm- BKCP, the junior guys, Maud Kaptheijns, outsprinted Ellen van Loy in the elite women for AA Drink-Kalas teamleader & race organiser Geert Wellens , Joyce Heyns the junior women and Yorben van Tichelt won the mens. How’s that? I think the tattoo is a stylised owl of some kind and how cute are Loes Sels daughters?
So, anyway, I’m standing in the middle of this wood, on a bright, sunny autumn Saturday waiting for cyclocrossers to come by and I’m thinking “My life is pretty damn good.”
ok, good work