SB Nation User Blog: Albertina

Albertina's new baby!

Albertina — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:09:50 -0000

Albertina's new baby!

Keisse to Quick Step?

Albertina — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:38:21 -0000

Keisse to Quick Step?

I have no idea what sort of rider he is on the road. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Albertina does Koksijde!

Albertina — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:49:04 -0000

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.

We arrived just as the Under-23s were starting. One glimpse of the pack riding through the sand and I was sold; crazy, mad, ludicrous (have you ever tried explaining cross to a non-cyclist?!) but utterly, wonderfully delicious. I wanted a cross bike sooo much. After acquiring some good old Belgian stodge to eat (I had ketchup on my frites; does this make me a bad person?), we went for a walk around the whole course to get the lay of the land, stopping to cheer the U23s at various points. We somehow managed to find our way around all of it, though we never did work out how it fitted together. This was too much for out little caffeine fuelled brains. By the time we got round the other side of the beer tent, the women and elites were warming up. We watched them whizzing down one of the smoother of the sandbanks. Here are a couple of piccies:

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Dieter Vanthourenhout?

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Bart Aernouts

I was so childishly excited when Nys, Albert and Stybar rode past in quick succession. Apparently when I saw Albert I went 'all wobbly', according to one of the guys I was with. Great; I'd known him for just a few hours and already he'd sussed me as a shameless Albert fangirl. After this flurry of excitement followed more drinks (mulled wine was a very fine idea on what was such a horrible wet day) and then a wander over to the team area, which was very glamorously in the carpark of the local Lidl. I had hoped for some rider photo opportunities at this point (one rider in particular...ahem) but there was almost nobody to be seen. I guess on a day like that you can't blame them for wanting to huddle inside the vans. Bah. Dieter Vanthourenhout was inspecting his bike however:

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In the absence of the stars, I made do with oggling their machines. Here's Stybar's:

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And here is Albert's. I was quite tempted to nick a couple of those wheels....

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So, no Niels photo but I did leave the BKCP-Powerplus area with a new hat. Now I really looked like a local. Hurrah. When we got back to the course, the women had just started. The crowds were not yet huge in every area so I took a few snaps. I was kinda hoping some of the big names would pass at this point, but no such luck. I don't know who this is but she persisted in wearing her helmet all lopsided and didn't look enamoured with the sand one bit!

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We managed to squeeze ourselves onto the big dune, but unfortunately the scaffolding was somewhat in the way. Nevertheless, here are Marianne Vos and Daphny van den Brand. They would finish in this order and compared to most of the rest, looked awesomely good.

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With the excitement growing and the crowds now huge, it was time to set up camp for the men's elites. We managed to find quite a good little spot where we could see the field go past three times per lap, as well as the big screen, which shone out against a mightily dark sky:

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We found ourselves utterly surrounded by an extended family of Sven Nys fanatics, in front of some Bart Wellens fanatics (of which there were many). I'd read about Belgian cross and seen it on the web but the total commitment and passion of the fans left me staggered. It made me giggle to think how odd it would seem to go to a race in the UK with a special rain coat on, emblazoned with 'Kristian House' or 'Russell Downing'. It just wouldn't be done! In its partisan nature it was like a football crowd but much more friendly. I mused on whether some burly Nys hooligan might pick a fight when I bleated 'Niiiieeeels!' against the roar of 'SVVEENN!!!!' but not a bit of it. Good natured drunkenness abounded. The atmosphere as the race got underway was absolutely electric. I didn't get many pictures of the top riders as I was too busy yelling at them, but here is A Speed Blur Otherwise Known As Albert:

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Thijs Al:

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Ghostly John Gadret. I rather like this actually!

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Some other people...

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I was annoyed about the result (I like Stybar but I like Albert more!) but Stybar looked fabulous, and so immensely powerful on the sandbanks where he was clearly more adept than anyone else. A well deserved win I'd say, and it was an exciting race all round with groups splitting and reforming constantly before the four up sprint at the end.

Race done and dusted, we reunited with our pro snapper and briefly visited the podium, although I found I was far too short to get any photos of it. Then began mission number 2: the search for a nice beer and a supermarket sweep of De Panne for some of this. There were four jars. We bought one each and all paid separately. The face of the checkout lady was a picture.

First impressions of live Belgian cross? Totally, utterly, crazily fabulous. Before I went, I wanted a cross bike. Now I need a cross bike.

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Are we aware that Trivia Monday has started?

Albertina — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:16:10 -0000

Are we aware that Trivia Monday has started?

Being a competative individual I feel compelled to point this out. I hope to improve on my rookie season :-)

Cyclocross World Cup, Plzen, LIVE!

Albertina — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:37:23 -0000

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.

Albertina and Helsy33 do the Cycle Show

Albertina — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:15:59 -0000

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.

The fashion this year seems to be for all manner of bike parts to be displayed in see through cases containing blue lights. Funky though, no?

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The Specialized stand was something of a Cancellara fest. Here is Tony's yellow jersey bike from the Tour, in front of his mustard jersey from the Vuelta. So very yellow. Only someone named Spartacus could get away with this!

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Here's one for Nikki....I present Christian Vandevelde's shoes! My Dad called me a geek for photographing these. Is he right, or was this in fact a very normal thing to do...?

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Whose legs are these? And more importantly, just what is Helsy33 looking at?

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Arty Viner. I heart Italian bikes.

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More blue lights. You see, it really is all the rage.

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Thor's green jersey Cervelo. DROOL....I have nothing else to add.

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Sweetness from Zipp....

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I want these wheels. But am I alone in thinking the font of 'Lightweight' is just slightly naff?

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The Dude is in Australia but his jersey is in London. I hope he remembered to take another one with him. There were a couple of giant piccies of Mr House around the Condor stand but we couldn't quite pluck up the courage to ask if we could take one home. Instead we took a picture of the pictures. This seemed to amuse the young men on the next door stand who came and asked whether we liked him. I think I may have blushed rather dramatically.

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Now what is going on here? You tell me. No idea what this gentleman was up to. Perhaps he always dresses thus? The photo is blurry as I was terrified he might turn round and see me taking it....but on second thoughts, really, what did he expect?!

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Would they have noticed if I'd nicked a couple of these...?

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The Dogma....oh my, what a thing of sensual and boundless beauty. Bah for not having much money....BAH I say! And yes, that really is glitter! I like sparkles, I like Pinarellos (Pinarelli?!)...so what object on earth could be more fair? Excuse me, I think I need to sit down.

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I'm not usually a fixie type of girl but this is just pure retro joy

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Prize booty! Because it's all about the freebies. This poster was lovingly conveyed home on my bike. But carrying a large poster in one's hand while cycling is no easy task, especially if the thing is to reach home in pristine condition. But hey, what's a crumple here and there?

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Sylvain Calzati to Team Sky

Albertina — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:48 -0000

Sylvain Calzati to Team Sky

British women prefer men who cycle

Albertina — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:57:00 -0000

British women prefer men who cycle

Nobody asked me...but yeah, I suppose I agree ;-) But really, only 7% of people asked found cycling kit attractive?! So do my opinions on the matter make me a freak...?

Valverde once again undone by canines....and Basso joins the party too

Albertina — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:16:04 -0000

Valverde once again undone by canines....and Basso joins the party too

Come on CN, where are the photos?!

Silence Lotto become Omega Pharma Lotto in 2010

Albertina — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:31:36 -0000

Silence Lotto become Omega Pharma Lotto in 2010

According to Stephen Farrand on Twitter this is the case. What a blessed tongue twister...aargh!