Kevin Hulick.
Archive for December, 2008
After the Nommay World Cup race in France last week, Boom told the press that, “he was simply toying with the other riders.” He won it easily in his own opinion and seemed confident that he could continue to do so in future races. Watching the footage, it was obvious that he could overpower the other riders. Boom pedaled smoothly to the line on a nearly flat tire while Nys flailed behind him unable to even break the Dutchman’s cool.
This week in Zolder, Boom was not popular with the Belgian fans. Thousands of people boo-ed the world champ on every part of the course. It’s hard to imagine that it didn’t get in his head as he even took the time to flip his hand from under his chin whilst riding a paved section of the course.
He’ll need to channel that energy to the pedals in order to gain a second world champion’s jersey. It doesn’t look like anyone is going to make it easy on him.
We still haven’t found the perfect speculoos but we’re traveling the land and testing as many out as we can find. We believe this to be a well hidden secret of the top Belgian pros. When dipped in silty coffee, the sweet bread produces mythical powers. Also available in a paste.
Ontbijt Voor Kampioenen
(breakfast of champions)
Search for the perfect Speculoos
World Cup racing takes a lot of talent, endless hours of training, and sacrifice like most of us will never understand. Being a world cup mechanic sometimes just takes being in the right place with the right people right before the big day. That was the case for me this weekend before the “Coup du Monde” in Nommay France. I signed on to help Molly for the day and Parbo as much as I could. I was in for a treat when Parbo pulled out this big daddy wheel bag:
It holds four spares and will make your mechanic’s day. At one point I had this on my back while carrying a wash bucket, spare bike, and helping a neutral support haul his pressure washer down a rain soaked hill. Magical. My quads hurt more today than after any on-bike event this year. Racers, give your mechanic a hug.
Highlight of the day: Pitting for Georgia Gould during the women’s race. She hadn’t expected any help and was probably a little nervous when she realized everyone else would be pitting every half lap. Well, we more or less gave her clean exchanges every half lap and she ended up on the podium!
Driving to Antwerp today to compete in my first European cross race was a mixed bag. I would swing from elation at just being here, confused from wild driving over cobbled streets-over curbs-through alleyways-wrong way-onto traintracks, all the way to full nausea from fear. It wasn’t a big race though; Lars Boom and Klaas Vantornout were there but Sven Nys and Bart Wellens decided to stay home. No problem right? The worst part was, I hadn’t pooped yet and the race was drawing near. Anybody that races frequently understands how paramount this one simple act can be to having a decent ride. The coffee in Belgium doesn’t have the same kick that I’m used to from Stumptown but it finally did its trick just in time. Perhaps that’s the secret to the Belgian’s success in cyclocross? Time release coffee that gets your buzz on 15 minutes before the start rather than 3hrs prior. There’s a lot to learn here, for sure.
My trainer tells me that a cyclists arms are just for keeping his face from hitting the stem. I thought about telling this advice to Richard Gronendaal when he was riding the most difficult sand section of the course at twice my pace and managed to reach out and shove me into a post/course marker. Not sure he’d like to hear from me. Lesson two: less riding and more pushups/arm curls.
Lastly, Erwin Verveken is super nice. He had a bad race but took the time to talk to some American kid and put on his best awkward smile for a picture.
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