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NEW ENGLAND CYCLOCROSS & ULTRA CYCLING TEAM |
Maureen Bruno Roy 's Race Reports
UCI WORLD CUP KOKSIDJE, BELGIUM and
CHALLENGE DE LA FRANCE CYCLISTE #2 QUELNEUC, FRANCE
NOVEMBER 24-25, 2007
On Thanksgiving, Matt and I traveled to Belgium so that I could compete in a World Cup cyclocross race and a regional race in France. A few weeks prior, we sat down to look at the remaining races on the calendar and decided to race the WC in Belgium and skip the last 2 GP races in the US. Our frequent flyer miles paid for both of us, the US Team dorm in Izegem Belgium allowed us a cheaper place to stay and the car rental was about the same despite the weak dollar vs. euro (yikes!). So, we were off on our latest adventure!
We arrived on Friday morning and picked up our little diesel wagon and headed off to Izegem to unpack bikes and settle in for a nap before driving to the race course for a few training laps. I had stayed at the same dorm in 2006 when I went to the World Championships so I tried to remember all the details about where it was exactly and where the market and bakeries where. Matt had planned and printed out every route we needed to travel that week, so it was up to me to read the directions and we did pretty well despite a few turn-arounds.
After a rest, we went to check out the infamous sand at the Koksidje course. And when they say sand, they mean it. There were at least 8 places to ride or run through sand. A lot of sand, not just a patch! I knew it would be a really hard course, but it was very technical and really fun. My starting place would put me in a real disadvantage but it was sure to be the biggest challenge of the season.
SATURDAY’S RACE:
We were able to park on a lot next to US National Champ Katie Compton and her husband Mark and get prepared for the race. Katie and Mark were really friendly and helpful and their hosts were also willing to help me out at the start and finish. We also met up with Christine Vardaros and her boyfriend Jonas. The guys would all be working in the pit together as our mechanics so they busied themselves with bike work as we all warmed up on the course and then trainers.
At the start, it was great to see Katie ranked #2 in the world and on the front line. Christine and I were in the 4th row or so, quite a ways back. Christine generously introduced me to fellow racers who wished us good luck and were very friendly. Off we went down a super long paved start. There were so many women that I actually was putting on the brakes to avoid hitting wheels. A few girls caused a small crash off to the left as the course curved onto the dirt. I was moving up from my 32nd place start until we all had to dismount in the first giant sandpit. It was about a 250 meter run with all of the rider traffic and you couldn’t budge with all the wheels in your face etc. The gaps in the front opened up right away and if you missed it, well, you were out there chasing all day unable to make up many spots. It seemed that 15th-20th place were going the same pace as my little group, but were not able to get any closer.
I was pushing hard on the running and taking a few chances into the next few sections passing some riders and getting passed by some. Matt yelled out places each time through the pit and I was actually up around 20th for most of the race. It was so hard to not make mistakes in all the sand and it was exhausting too. I spent most of the day racing with British rider Gaby Day and we took turns trying to attack 2 Belgian women with us. I would pass on the running and she would pass on the flat blustery section.
In the last lap I was in 23rd place coming into the final few sand pits and had a few bobbles and the girls behind me were able to come around onto the pavement. We all chased hard to the finish and ended up within seconds of one another. I was 26th for the day. Behind, Christine finished up in 29th after a first lap tangle with another rider in the sand. Katie finished in 2nd place, amazing!
SUNDAY’S RACE:
Immediately after watching then men’s World Cup in Koksidje while snacking on some frites, we hopped back into the car for the 6-hour drive to the French countryside for another race. This was a smaller regional race, but it had valuable UCI points up for grabs and would surely add to the “adventure” part of our trip.
The drive was pretty seamless except for a turnaround that had us pay tolls on both off ramps. Somehow after hours of navigating, we were able to locate the Best Western in the middle of nowhere France and rest up for the night.
The next morning it was a short drive to the race venue in Quelneuc. When I arrived to check in, there was some confusion and a lot of hand gestures with the promoter in an effort to communicate. He didn’t speak English and neither of us spoke French. Through emails, I had registered for the race but was put on the Men’s start list since “ Bruno Roy” sounded like a men’s name. Not sure where the “Maureen” part went in translation! I was given a race number and notes were written to add me to the women’s start list but upon sign in at the start line, we began the pantomime all over again because I was not on the list. In the end we got it all to work out and the folks there were very, very friendly.
It was overcast and a bit wet as we got ready to race and the course was very slippery with a lot of climbing and off camber turns. I was excited to race and very unsure how difficult the competition would be. I was in the top 10 up the hill onto the dirt and quickly moved up on the slick course. I was riding in 5th holding off the 2 women behind me when I took a rooty corner very fast and flatted my back wheel. I rode like a crazy person skidding around corners and into the pit to change bikes but got passed by the 2 riders behind me. I chased them back and was close to catching them when confusion set in at the finish line. I was sure that I saw 3 pals on the counter at the finish line and now it said 1 lap left, so I rode hard closing he gap to the next rider down to 10 seconds. Next time through the finish, the counter read 0 laps and several women were congregated at the line but I didn’t see the World Champ or the girls I was chasing. I rolled to a stop, looked around and decided that I should keep going. I was riding slower that previous lap, unsure as to if I was actually done racing or not until I saw 2 other riders chasing me! I pushed it to the finish and was able to hold onto 7th place. Next time, I will learn some French!
Here are the reports and photos of the trip:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/2007/nov07/worldcup4_07/?id=results/worldcup4_074
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2007/nov07/quelneuc07
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm
And these are pics Matt and I took on the trip:
http://picasaweb.google.com/matthewr8/ThanksgivingCross07?authkey=3vMN_AfobCs
Thanks for reading.
-Mo
