Albertina does Cross-mas in Belgium, Part 1: Diegem, Loenhout and Bredene

 I love Belgium. Most people seek the sun in winter, but I seek the mud, the snow, the cold and the rain, the frites, the beer, the stofvlees, and the screech of cantilever brakes on sodden rims. On Boxing Day I left thawing Britain for the freezing fields of Flanders, in search of spectacle, atmosphere, and heroes and heroines, plying their trade in the mystical dirt. Five races in seven days: the Holy Week of cyclo-cross. 

My home for the week was Oudenaarde, in the heart of the Vlaamse Ardennen, and specifically The Chainstay, a house for cyclists run by Gregg and Holly Germer, and their exuberant spaniel Belle. My other housemates were British crosser Gabby Day, Canadians Shaun Adamson and Craig Richey, American Davy Yeater, and Dane Nikoline Hansen. I travelled to races with them, and tasted the cross experience from the inside out, learning valuable lessons for my own nascent attempts at the sport, and making some great friends along the way. I could write a sizeable tome on all that occurred, but for the most part I will let the pictures speak.

Superprestige Diegem

Diegem, under the flight path of Zaventem near Brussels, is run by night, the snow illuminated by floodlights. And snowy it was. I had a job at my first race; the Chainstay party was lacking in helpers, so I promptly found myself labeled a soigneur. This involved finding my way onto the start line through thousands of drunk Belgians (no mean feat; I waded through several bushes and snowdrifts to get there on time, and slipped over twice), collecting the jackets and legwarmers of Davy, Shaun and Craig, and then finding them afterwards to return them. But I had plenty time to enjoy the spectacle, and to track down the stars.

GvA Loenhout

There were huge crowds at the Azencross. The deafening roar of anguish from the masses, ankle deep in mud, when Sven Nys crashed in the pit was like nothing else. There were women’s and U23 races as well here, so it was quite a day, and ‘our’ very own Gabby Day made the mother of all storming starts, finishing 9th having put everything on the line.

Sylvestercross Bredene

Bredene was, by Belgian standards, a quieter affair, being a stand-alone race. However, the Holy Trinity of contemporary cross was in attendance, and the race was a demonstration for Stybar, Nys and Albert. Happily for yours truly, our little van ended up with an illustrious neighbour: