Chocolate, Waffles & Cross: Back in Belgium

By Pete Webber

Editor’s Note: CWC columnist Brandon Dwight has wrapped up his ’cross season, and with his wife expecting a baby next month, has passed the keyboard to his friend and longtime ’cross racer Pete Webber.

Although I’ve been racing for nearly 20 years, I’ve only raced ’cross in Belgium once before, at the 1994 world championships in Koksijde. I rode mountain bikes professionally through the ’90s, but European ’cross wasn’t on my sponsors’ programs. Back then, it was rare for Americans to make the trip to Europe for ’cross. However, these days you’ll frequently find Americans on the start lists, especially after U.S. nationals. This is really cool to see. And this year, rather than sitting jealously on the couch, I embarked upon a Belgian ’cross adventure with my family for the holidays.

There’s a lot of snow in Belgium this year but a few things are missing: (1) snow plows, (2) snow shovels and (3) baggage. Thankfully, after a 36-hour delay, my bikes and kit arrived. Unfortunately we’re still not sure where my wife’s duffel is hiding out. The report from Geoff Proctor’s Euro Cross Camp is that flight delays and baggage woes are par for the course this year. As for snowplows and shovels, well, there aren’t any. Squeegees or push brooms seem to be the only snow removal implement available for most Belgians.

The day I wrote this we traveled north to the coastal town of Middelkerke for the 51st running of the Nordzeecross. This Wednesday race isn’t part of any series, but a handful of the top riders participate under contract, and many other up-and-coming pros tackle the notoriously difficult course and blustery conditions. The venue is right near the ocean, and a raw wind ripped across the soggy and snow-covered fields. The course was tight-packed with plenty of twists, turns, and ridiculous steeps up and over dikes and ditches. Although last weekend’s snows still covered everything, the riding line was slushy mud.

This race wasn’t on my intended schedule because my plan is to focus on the Master’s category and today was just for juniors and elites. However, I decided to give it go anyway. Unfortunately, the officials wouldn’t let me in because my UCI license says “Master.” In the U.S., this isn’t a problem, but over here they are sticklers for the rules. Nevertheless, I made it a fun training day and did a bunch of hot laps during the warm up period. Then I helped out in the pits and cheered for the U.S. guys. Sven crushed everyone, and he did it on file-tread tires. This is bizarre because the course was total mud and slush, not hard-pack snow, not ice, not smooth. I used Rhinos (a mud tire) in the warm up, and I felt like they were the clear choice, but obviously King Nys has his super-bike-handling methods.

Finally, I’ll continue Brandon’s tradition of writing about Belgian beers. Although this diary is titled “Chocolate, Waffles and ’Cross,” I’ve noticed that when it comes to edibles, Brandon doesn’t spend much time if any writing about chocolate or waffles. He pretty much sticks to beer.

In the late ’90s, I contested a mountain bike World Cup at the storied venue of Houffalize, Belgium. Our team stayed at a hotel in the tiny hamlet of Au Chouffe and our pre-race activities included a tour of the La Chouffe brewery. Yesterday I picked up a 4-pack and am happy to report it’s still a great beer with a right jolly old elf on the label. It’s a golden blonde ale that tastes fresh and a bit fruity.

FILED UNDER: Cyclocross / Rider Diaries TAGS: Sven Nys