Yesterday while pre-riding I saw and introduced myself to Balint Hamvas. Balint runs the cyclephotos.co.uk web site. We chatted a bit about the race course and he said he would try to get some photos of me out on the race course today.

Balint took a couple shots of me yesterday and found a photo he had of me from Treviso, Italy:

Thanks again Balint! Be sure to check out his site for some awesome photos.

Another World Cup on deck. How cool is it to type that? Really, I’m just feeling super stoked to be here right now and able to race my bike. Guess you can tell I’m feeling pretty good!

Had a great drive down with Jos. Many thanks to Jos for coming along with this trip and doing all the “dirty” work for me. Jos is doing it all – the bulk of the driving, the pit work, team manager work, you name – she is it. I’d have to say the Canadian delegation (i.e. Me) couldn’t have asked for anyone more qualified.

Thanks to the wonders of the GPS and the Internet we found the race site pretty easily. Got set up right next to Nikki Harris and her boyfriend Matt. Again super nice to see some friendly faces and to get connected with them again. Also got to say hello to Christine and Jonas. Really is quite refreshing to see so many people that I know.

So the course. Well, it is very very grassy. That kind of bumpy long grass that sucks your legs and tires into the ground. Almost feels like there is quicksand under the grass. But that being said, I think it is still a “fast” course. We rode it when it was a bit soggy and wasn’t raining. I can get around it really really well. In fact I think it suits me. Some sections where I can really open it up. Some steep climbs – one that I can get up and one that everyone including the men are having to dismount and run. Some fun fast descents. These are quite good because they are quick and are very wide open. There is a very tricky off-camber section. I was able to ride it once but otherwise slide out. It seems you need to get the exact right angle with the exact right speed and rear wheel pressure to get over it. The feeling is that with the rain we are getting now and two races before us that it will become a run (as it did last year).

Really the super lung burning, leg killing stuff is altogether – up one climb, descend, up another climb, descend, and onto the off-camber. The stairs at the start are another matter. They don’t seem so bad at first but then they get super steep! Good thing I’ve been working on my running. Then it is really riding on this bumpy sloggy grass.

Going to get to the course for 10 tomorrow. Then as soon as the juniors have finished at 10:40, I’m going to hop on. Need to test out the tires again and see what has changed with the rain. I test the Dugast Rhinos today with around 30 psi – they seemed pretty good. Then I tested some Michelin Muds with 30 psi as well – they seemed pretty good. But what I am going to do is see what tires the U23 men are running – this will be the real key to determining the tire selection. I also have some Dugast Typhoons here and some Challenge Grifo clinchers. So I’ve got lots of options.

Picked up the numbers and all the passes with minimal hassle. At first they were going to make us wait until after the manager’s meeting to get the parking pass… But I told them that I was here alone and didn’t have a manager so could I “please have my pass now?” – the answer: yes. Perfect. So we’ve got all we need.

Found the hotel with minimal headache. Staying at the All Seasons Hotel in Belfort. Have to say it is pretty darn good. Big room – plenty of room for my bikes, wheels and all the other stuff. Massive bed and television. Perfect for some relaxing tonight.

Speaking of relaxing, I’m just going to dash off and have supper now. It was Jos’s birthday yesterday so we are off to celebrate. Have a good one. Thanks for reading.

I’m feeling good for the race tomorrow. Sending speedy vibes down to Northampton to all my pals racing this weekend.

I think it is appropriate to once again, close with the words of coach Steve:

“Go Like Hell”

Literally and figuratively it is go time. I’m ready to go. My bag is packed. Bikes are ready. Wheels are in wheel bags. Trainer has been tested. Got the bucket of stuff ready (rags, cleaning products, oil, lube, spare bits, etc.). Trainer wheel is ready (thanks Jos). Tire decisions have been considered and discussed. Bikes are shiny and clean. I’ve crammed every piece of Ottawa Cross and KingsBridge clothing into my gear bag. Sandwiches for the road are made. Got some fruit as well. Tasty recovery drink has been procured. Oh yeah – you know it – Cecemel. Nothing better than a Cecemel after a race.

Legs feel good. Brain is fresh. Lungs and heart are pumping full blast. Had a great ride today. Explored some of my favorite training roads in and around the Blauberg forest. Pedaled past a creamery (that’s what I’m calling it!) – they make/sell ice cream, yogurt, milk, cheese, etc. – definitely need to check it out next week. Had a generally perfect ride. Listened to some great podcasts again – fascinating discussion with Michael Chabon on NPR.

I’ve got the race course imprinted on my brain. Thanks to watching/studying a video of last year’s World Cup. Last year was crazy muddy. And based on the weather forecast for this weekend, it looks to be another epic mud day. Good. I wanted one of these early. I love mud. I love mud. The course looks very challenging but not crazy. Some steep climbs, fast descents, tricky corners, a few places where you can get some speed up, crazy stairs. Really, a typical cyclo-cross course. It is gonna be good.

I had a great talk with my coach today. Poor guy I talked his ear off – this is what happens sometimes. We had a great chat. Talked about my week, how my legs feel, how my brain feels, etc. Typical coach/athlete talks. Extra bonus is that he and his fiance are hosting Marc this weekend for the Northampton racing action. Thanks Steve and Darcy for taking in Marc! Remember the hug!

Well, I best be off. I want to unwind a bit and talk to my favorite guy. I’ll leave you with some words from my coach – they apply to all of you out there racing this weekend:

“Go Like Hell”

Got out for a great ride today. On order was 2.5 hours with a 30 minute block of tempo. I really enjoy this ride. It allows me to go for a longish ride and to get in a dose of intensity. Nothing too hard and nothing too long. Just enough to get the juices flowing and remind me that I’m a bike racer.

I had planned on the group ride – but the tire issue took precedence. So I went out mid-morning – the wind was fierce and it was raining. Not optimum. But so what – I’m in Belgium! I really didn’t care or notice the weather. It was just so nice to be outside riding my bike.

I hit up one of my favorite routes that took me through Ramsel, onto the bicycle path, and then onto the great canal bicycle path. Perfect route for today’s work-out. I love riding along the canal. It literally goes on forever. If I was feeling so inspired, I could follow it to Antwerp (but I think I’ll take the car…). Only saw a few other cyclists out this morning. Suppose the weather was a deterrent. Did see some wobbly young roller bladers and a few joggers. To keep me company on the ride I was plugged into some of my favorite CBC and NPR podcasts.

The rest of the day went by pretty quickly. Very short walk over to the health food store to check it out. I managed to get some almond milk and a jar of tahini. This health food store in Blauberg is pretty darn good. They stock some interesting pasta – sweet potato spelt pasta and some interesting looking cereal – contains quinoa and goji berries. I think I’ll be frequenting this little shop quite a bit. Got the tire fixed on the car. Thank goodness! Also got my phone almost sorted out. Managed to switch chips. Now just need to get the minutes I bought loaded onto the phone.

After all of this I decided to nap. Why not? I was feeling tired. So nap it was. I hooked up to CBC Radio and snoozed while listening to The Current and Q. I really do appreciate technology. Especially when I’m so far from my loved ones and friends. I can easily stay in touch and it helps stave off any feelings of loneliness.

Well, I’m off to watch the Nommay World Cup from last year. Marc put it on my computer so I best watch it so I know what to expect this weekend. If memory serves me correctly, it was an epic mudfest last year. Cool. Mud is a leg-sucker. I’ll need to remember to keep my legs turning over – I have a bad habit of over gearing myself and trying to power through everything. I’m really feeling like I just want to get my first race here done. Not sure why I’m feeling this. Guess because it has been a long time since I’ve raced with such a stacked field. Should be a good one.

Thanks for reading. I really appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm. It helps me a lot when I’m out there riding and getting ready for some big races. Keep pedaling. Safe travels if you’re off to Northampton this weekend for the Cycle-Smart International Races. Looks like big numbers of riders will be out to race. The course changes sound very interesting. I’ll be thinking of you guys this weekend (Marc, Steve, Josee, Conor, Karl, Derrick, Natasha, and Rebecca). Make sure you hit hard!

There is nothing quite like going home. While technically I am not at home (Ottawa or Nipawin) – I consider Blauberg to be pretty close to being home. I have been here so much in the last three years, that I’m totally comfortable here. I walk into the little grocery store next door and the ladies recognize me. I popped into the bakery down the street and the lady there remembered me. Went to 4Bikes today and the owner Peter, remembered me and started asking about my season. Nice. Really nice.

Experiences like this make it so much easier for me to be here alone. I am alone but I do know some people and can have a short conversation with someone. Plus, Jos and Tim are just down the street – these guys are awesome and have made each trip I’ve had here so much better.

I put my bikes together this morning. Had an issue with the headset on one of my bikes, so I decided to take it into 4Bikes to get sorted. Then since I was taking in one bike, decided it would be smart to take in the other bike to get checked out. I don’t want them to collapse under me this weekend, so decided to err on the careful side. Couldn’t pick them up until 4:00, so I only managed a short little ride. Enough to spin the legs out and feel the fresh air on my cheeks.

I have to say it was pretty awesome to be rolling along the road. I forgot how nice it is to ride here. Amazing bicycle paths. The attention and respect of motorists. It all makes for very pleasant riding. I was going to go on the group ride tomorrow but plans have changed. I need to get the tire sorted tomorrow (went today and told to return on Wednesday) – and the timing of this conflicts with the group ride. Oh well, the group ride won’t disappear so I’ll just have to wait until next Tuesday for my first ride with the group.

Things are coming together for the weekend. Jos is coming to help me out with the pit, logistics, etc. This is a massive help to me. It looks like Nommay will be muddy – so I definitely cannot solo this race. Plus it will be great to have some company during the drive. I’m sure between the two of us, we have enough stories to fill up the drive. Great to see that Nikki Harris is racing this weekend. She had some super form this summer but had a crash at the Road World Champs. Should make for a fun weekend – racing and catching up with friends.

Not much else going on. Been busy with the errands this morning and then getting unpacked and settled in here. Time to sign off from the computer and chill out. Think a movie is in order. Have a good one. If you see Marc – give him a hug for me!