Hi Jon,
Happy New Year. I appreciate you and Erik posting this journal. I enjoy
reading the updates, as well as the ones on cyclocrossworld.com... Pass
on my encouragement to Erik at worlds, ok? He is doing amazing and it's
cool to see it.
His quote about seeing himself as an "amateur" is interesting. It's
funny how everything is so relative, depending on who you compare
yourself to. We all live in our own reality and when you assemble the
small handful of the world's best, it's easy to convince yourself that
you're not "good". I tend to disagree and feel that what he is doing
(and has done) on the bike is both outstanding and inspirational. The
humility only gains Erik more of my respect. Lot's of people convince
themselves that they are much better than they really are and develop an
attitude to go along with it. Not in his case and that's the best
example a "pro" can set.
Good luck in the World's pursuit!
Chris Brandt
Jon Myers wrote:
I'm sorry about the delay on this. We've been having internet issues
at the house, and since I'm borrowing the laptop anyway, I just need to
wait my turn.
It just wouldn't be a Euro 'cross camp without learning some lessons
the hard way. Well, on Sunday I paid the price for being too greedy and
overconfident. But first, let me offer some background info. This
year I came to camp focused on the first 4 races because they would
effect
team selection for Worlds. Basically, results from World Cups and any
C1-level races before the end of the calender year determine
discretionary picks (or, at least, that's our understanding of the
situation),
and three of us are competing for the last two spots. Of course,
we--Jeremy Powers, Jonathon Baker, and I--have a shot only because
riders like
Wells, Craig, Johnson, and McCormack have passed on Worlds, so we all,
I think, are humble in our the quest! That said, I performed well in
these important races and had a strong, late-season domestic schedule
record, so I feel confident in my chances. (I've also learned to expect
the unexpected and that logic doesn't always win the day.) In
particular, I'm proud that I didn't totally screw up either of the 2
WC's this
time. (At the previous camps, I pooched the WC in Belgium each
time--hard lesson learned, indeed.) In fact, I promised myself before
the
camp that if I made it through the first 4 races with relative success,
then I would "treat" myself to an extra, otherwise unscheduled race--the
GP de Sven Nijs GVA in Baal, the day after the Hooglede-Gits WC and the
day before the scheduled GP de Ster C2 in Sint-Niklaas. That would
make 3 in a row and 6 in 10 days, and there would still be another on
Wednesday. I've raced such a schedule here in Europe before and held up
fine, so I didn't think twice about it this time....Big mistake! This
year I came to camp sick and raced the first 3 still sick, never feeling
good, or like myself, ya know. Then, Hooglede was simply the harshest
'cross I've done. In hindsight, I went to Baal not at all recovered,
not at all prepared. The previous night I struggled to sleep because my
heart rate would not come down, and my body was so sore from all the
running at the WC. My equipment was no better because the mechanics
were
also torched: one bike alone had broken housing, a crooked stem and
loose headset, a tubular with its casing split, etc. The staff was
beat:
we got to the race late, which is exceedingly rare with our crew. I
didn't pre-ride a full lap; I forgot to sign in; and I spent what little
prep-time I had frantically fixing what I could on my bike in the start
chute. I started the race dismally (but that's been my M.O., so...)
and quickly struggled on the relatively short (well under 7min. lap),
slow, hilly, terribly technical, sticky-mud soaked course. Actually,
that
sounds nice, and it is: I think Baal is the course here that most
favors my strengths, and that's also part of why I wanted to go. But on
this given Sunday, I sucked and wouldn't have been able to ride around a
parking lot. On the 4th lap I at least started to get into it,
dropping a couple of dudes and catching a few, one being Van Den Bergh,
who
had led early on and then imploded. But I was just in the top-40 and
way
off the pace. I had to pit due to the conditions, so I hopped on my
new bike and learned that the rear tire--this one a clincher--was nearly
flat due to a slow leak. Yeah! I rode it for a lap but lost contact
with the others when I had to pit. After that, I was really sunk and
just rode around until I got caught, which was with 2 to go. Baker, who
also rode, had even worse form and luck, lasting for maybe 30min. I'm
glad he came with--we were of like mind befoe and after the race! Yup,
we would have done well to not race, rest the bodies and minds, repair
our equipment, and try for a good race the next day. You just don't
"wing it" at a GVA, Super Prestige, or World Cup....As a racer, you have
to always first find the positive in every race: you live for and with
the good things, the successes. Then, you must study and learn from
your failures but otherwise quickly forget them. I, however, admit on
Monday morning I was having a real hard time putting it behind me and
thinking positively. I was way down, dwelling on it. I'm an amateur
bike
racer, and I race, really, for self-improvement. I set short- and
long-term goals, try to achieve them, and then set some new ones--I just
want to see how far I can honestly go with this whole "professional"
bike
racing thing as an amateur. My primary goal of this season--and last
year's goal was the same--was to ride well at 'cross camp, which means
to ride better at camp each year. So, I was down because I felt it
slipping away. I was so tired. Even though my legs felt a bit better,
a
bit looser, my "engine", if you will, felt like my station wagon's must
feel like when I forget to shift and drive on the freeway in 3rd gear.
Anyway, I figured I was done and should maybe go home a few days early.
I knew I had traded a great chance at a good result in Sint-Niklaas for
a disaster in Baal followed by a subpar outing at Sint-Niklaas. And
that's what happened! I of course decided to suck-it-up, stick-it-out,
and all that, and I'm so glad I did because the race really cleared my
head. I also feel like my body has been partially unearthed from a
shallow grave, in a good way....We took the whole crew to Sint-Niklaas,
a
C2 with a combined elite and espoir field. There were 12 of us total (5
elite and 7 "beloften"), but Adam and Jesse chose not to ride, so 10
started the race. Also, the field was way better than expected, with 5
or 6 more "big guys" here than the last 2 years, including Nijs,
Groenendaal, etc. The field was also large at over 75, but this race
usually
has more chaff than usual. The "GP de Ster" is a very short and fast
course that basically circles a lake. For a flat circuit, it's quite
varied. In this order, the course, in but 5min., manages to feature the
following: a long, fast brick staightaway; twisty forest singletrack; a
set of double barriers with a beer tent; a greasy off-camber or 2; a
short run-up and quick descent; a very fast, hard-packed dirt trail; a
beach ride and run; a mud pit followed by a sand pit; and, finally, back
to the bricks. Since the course is so fast, groups often form, and
that's not so good for me. (I remember last year I caught and dropped
two
guys on the last lap, only to have them catch me at the line in a
crazy, 3-up wheel-throw for 18th.) On the other hand, I do like the
course,
and I love the venue and the race. The GP de Ster is, after all, the
home of my Belgian fan club--it's hard to believe, but it's true. I
guess that's a topic for another journal....I broke tradition and
started
well, putting my good start position to use. I stayed well in the
top-20 early, trying to bridge to Wicks. At the end of the 2nd lap I
could
already feel the hard effort, and the group I was towing slowly pulled
around me. Powers was in there with some Belgian and Dutch guys. Laps
later, I was eventually gapped off and then 3 others caught me, all
riders I usually beat, including Greg Reign from Canada. But then,
these
guys had not raced the last 2 toughies, so I was philosophical about
it, swallowed my pride, and kept going. As those 3 pulled away from me,
Troy Wells caught up and, after a lap with him, I felt a bit better.
At the time, we were in the mid-20's, but I knew we could move back up.
I told him with 3 to go that we could get those guys, and so I chased
hard. Unfortunately, Troy fell off the pace before 2 to go. (He rode
great for 50min., and that's all he'll have to do at World's. All his
other races during camp have been U-23 only, and he's consistently
placed well. He may be able to go top-15 or better at World's.) On the
next lap I caught 'em on the off-camber section. At the time, I was on
my
second bike with the less favorable tires, and I knew I was taking a
chance. (It's a bike race, so I really wanted to beat 'em. I also
wanted to stay on the lead lap, and it was tight, but I had a minute's
buffer with just over a half lap to go for Nijs.) That's when I crashed
hard on said off-camber. My bars turned 45^ one way, my right STI lever
turned 45^ the other way, my chain off the chainrings and the
cassette--it was quite a sight. By the time I fixed my bike, Troy and 2
others
passed me. I quickly caught back up to them but so, too, did Nijs. I
rode in behind Troy, the other 2, and Nijs, but I'm not sure where I was
classified or if it is was even done accurately. I don't care about
that when I'm lapped--I just want to finish on the lead lap. And I
would
have, too, and that's what sucks. At the first 'cross camp 2 years
ago, I started 7 races, finishing 2 on the lead lap, getting lapped by
mere seconds in 2, getting lap with two laps to go in 2, and dropping
out
of 1. Last year, I finshed 9 of my 10 European 'crosses on the lead
lap. I'm proud that I'm a decent enough rider this year and last so
that
I can even have a bad day on a short course and, usually, not get
lapped. But when a big crash or mechanical is added to the bad day
stew,
anything can happen....I assume the 3 I was chasing made it, unless they
sat up. I know that Powers was the next guy in front of them, and he,
I think, finished 21st. Trebon and Wicks finished 16th and 17th, but
Ryan spent a lot of time in the top-10. They were relatively fresh
because they didn't make it far at Hooglede, but they were also banged
up
from their crashes that day. Page finished 5th! He also won some C2 in
Luxembourg the day before, but I heard him say it wasn't much of a
race. After all, eveybody was at Baal. He skipped Hooglede because he
hurt his foot at a race last Thursday. Baker had a tough day, still not
recovered from the previous days' efforts, lasting only a couple of
laps. But he'll bounce back, I'm sure....One reason why I like the
Sint-Niklaas race so much is that it was there, 2 years ago, that I
really
became fond of Powers. The camp had been tough for him--it was sink or
swim, and he had nearly drowned. But he wouldn't give up. We went to
Sint-Niklaas, and before the race he told me this: "Tonkin, I just want
you to know that it is my goal today to beat you. It's nothing
personal." I took it as a compliment because I was sure that before
camp,
Jeremy had never set a goal that had anything to do with me. I was also
impressed with his humility. My response was this: "I'd like that very
much." That day, with just 2 to go, I ran by him in the sand, ending
his effort. He was lapped with 2 to go, and I was lapped with 1 to go,
less than a minute from the line. However, the next day we raced in
Hoogerheide (which was last year and is this year the World Cup before
World's), and we both finished on the lead lap, and Jeremy beat me. I
don't mind at all when Powers gets me....Well, that's it for that. I'll
write one more report after our last race on Wednesday, and maybe I'll
discuss some general 'cross camp notes as well. Thanks to those of you
who are reading these reports. I understand that Stu has posted them
on his website and that response has been good. I'm thinking about
making this a habit--what's one more, ya know. I might write a weekly
column of sorts and post it on my shop's webpage, or Stu's if he'll let
me,
or whatever. What do you think? --Erik