Jon Myers

So, as some know, I was shitty sick just after Nats, and left for Belge

in its throes. I have improved but don?t feel like I usually do when I

get here. Mostly, the trouble comes from taking over a week off the

bike. I tried to train here on Wed thru Fri, and I got some good

efforts in, but I knew that the first race would be ugly. I hoped that

it would open me up for the future races rather than ruin me. It?s

dicey when ill.

So as expected, given?er, as they say, didn?t come easy! I didn?t feel

good?not once?during the race, and I even puked (which is so rare for

me. That said, I was clearly riding pretty fast and even have the TV

coverage to prove it. I started third row or so, lost some groud early,

but made it all back up in one muddy chicane. On the second lap, I was

with a small group not far behind a larger group. I worked so very hard

to bridge, leaving my group behind, going across solo over the next lap

and a half. I soon realized the group I was chasing was racing for the

top twenty, and it contained, from what I could tell, Trebon, Page,

Commeyne (sp?), Vannoppen (sp?), etc. I was feeling terrible, but I

figure it was because I hadn?t raced for a while, and, besides, I

suppose it wasn?t an easy effort to catch guys like those twenty minutes

into the race. Then, I dangled for a lap, a few other guys got there,

and the group really stretched out. I was pretty proud because I had

never stayed so close to the front in such a big race for such a long

time. But it was short lived. Red-lined, I drifted just a bit off the

best line on a gravelly turn, slid to the outside of the course,

clipping a thorny hedgerow. Initially, I saved it, but as I stepped on

the gas to free myself from the mess, I got stuck and went right over

the bars. Obviously, I lost the group. My next lap was poor, and a few

guys caught me. I stayed in a decent rhythm for the rest of the race,

catching a few guys who lost the group I was in, but also yielding a few

spots to my chasers. I think I was 37th, less than 30 seconds behind

five guys and pretty close to most of the guys who were in the group.

Nobody was close behind, just a big gap. Last year I finished 27th in

the same race (I think), but I was only 30sec faster, riding a clean

race. So, not too bad. I hope I?ll feel better on Monday. Ryan, by

the way, flatted in a bad spot while in 15th (he had left that group

behind, I think), fading to 25th. Baker hung in to finish on the lead

lap. Powers had a bit of bike trouble and got lapped. Page dropped

out. Barry didn?t start because he arrived today, his flight being

delayed two days. The big news is that junior Bjorn Selander finished

8th but with the leaders, using a borrowed bike that was way too big for

him. That kid is good. Well, that?s my story for today. More later if

McGrath lets me borrow his laptop again. --Erik