After Krtek’s offering, here is my humble little report!

On Saturday morning I got up at 4.30. Cyclingdiva and CycleGirl can attest to this in case you don’t believe me. Why, you ask, would anybody do such a thing? One word: CROSS. I have a friend who takes pictures of cyclists for a living and he persuaded (that’s totally not the right word) me to accompany him and a couple of other friends to Koksijde for the annual sandfest, because I couldn’t possibly live without experiencing Belgian cross firsthand. I was so excited I actually woke up BEFORE MY ALARM! Several life-restoring cups of tea later, we arrived in Koksijde where task number one was to find the press centre. Flemings…they ride bikes very nicely but signage is not their forte it would seem. No matter though, as Koksijde is lovely in a traffic jam, in the pouring rain, when you’re bursting for the loo! Friend duly accredited, he dumped us by the entrance to the course before disappearing with his cameras and such like, leaving us to find frites and beer. 

Continue reading this post »

What better way to shake off those post-Lombardia blues than to indulge in a bit of muddy fun? The crossers head to the Czech Republic today for the second round of the world cup. The first round in Treviso was won by Niels Albert; can the Prince from Tremelo strike twice? He's been in prolific form so far this season but lost to Sven Nys in the Superprestige fixture last Sunday, and Nys' form is clearly building. Or can home boy Zdenek Stybar upset the Belgian party to improve on his recent string of second places? Enjoy!

Coverage is on Cycling TV and Sporza, starting at 13:50 CEST and 14:00 CEST respectively, links here. There is a start list here.

This weekend just past saw the Cycle Show in London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. Hurrah for the Annual Droolfest! I teamed up with Helsy33 and another friend named Ross (he really needs to be on PdC. We did our best to sell it to him) and in we marched, armed with cameras and determined not to be tempted. Our bank balances after all are not proverbial black holes (bah!). Theoretically, living as I do in London, I had the easiest journey of the three of us to get there, only nobody told me there was a half marathon in central London. Surrounded and trapped by 15,000 runners I ended up doing my best Niels Albert impression across the middle of Hyde Park, but no matter, it was good for me. There are MANY photos on the flip. Helsy will doubtless add more. She is after all a Proper Photographer.

Continue reading this post »