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.
dog4aday on 
Yeah Steven. None of us back in snowy PDX can claim to have been shoved by a famous sponsered Euro Cxross racer. Even better, you’ve got docxumentation. Now that I know how its done, I’m gonna bring my best Euro racxing to next fall’s cx racxes here in PDX.
DUDE. What the fuck? Any words after the race?
cyclocross in Belgium is just great to watch and to ride. hope you will do some more races and that the next time Groenendael will be pushed by you. he is dutch – he can’t do anything about it;-)
holeeeeee shit!
I watched it 10 times, and I’m still laughing. Those guys are hard.
That is so awesome.
Soooo Rad. Pink and Black in Belgium…I love it!
The next time the beginner women in the cross crusade races complain about A women yelling at them to move over, I will show them this video. thank you.
Yeah, next time you hear the leaders coming, best to move over. Dick Groenendaal was just letting you know the procedure; no hard feelings intended, i’m sure.