Report from Bruxelles

The second annual season-opening Spring Classic in Bruxelles was even more classic than the first, in that it was colder, wetter, and muddier; and therefore awesomer.

The FGBC (racing division) made a proper day of it, in the newly christened racing van. The rough accommodations for those in the back were less than ideal on the way out, but post-ride refreshments improved the mood for the trip back. About five minutes out from Bruxelles, there was suddenly a lot more snow on the ground. Cross tires started to look like a good call. The race started somewhat differently than last year, as the neutral portion of the race was really a four km ride out to the starting line. It was not a warm-up lap, though, as we arrived significantly colder and more anxious than we'd begun. The Cat 3s got off to a bit of a bad start: first a false start, then a crash within sight of the rest of us at the start line, taking down at least two victims. I don't know whether both of them finished the ride. 3 minutes later the much bigger Cat 4 group got the nod, including the five FGBC racers (Craig, Jonny, JP, Mark and Adam) and Brad, bravely flying the Red River flag on his own.

The road conditions (doubletrack, usually separated by a good bit of snow) made for difficulties in the paceline. The course was simple this year - a clockwise rectangle 1 mile by 2, starting in the southeast corner. Not simple enough for us, apparently. With our heads down and hopes of putting our numbers to good use, we were in a good position after the first 2 miles, with 4 black jerseys at the front and Jonny leading the way. Then we missed the first turn. Unfortunately, Jonny wasn't able to regroup right away, and a mile of chasing up and down and into the wind didn’t help. Between the wind and the constant climbing, there was little opportunity to recover, and the short Cat 4 course (30k) meant the pace was high and cross-like. By the middle of the second lap Craig, JP and another rider (Willy, I believe?) dropped me, and then the two of them managed to pull ahead on their own on the longer downhill stretches at the beginning of lap 3. JP got away from Craig before the final corner, and cruised to top of the podium. Craig took second, and I rolled in fifth. Jonny was not far behind.

With a jar of gravel to set next to the icon from last week, we apparently have a classics stud in our midst in the form of JP.

The Cat 3s did 2 more laps, but we were more than muddy enough by that point, and there were toasts to be made. The community once again put in an amazing effort: warm food, a silent auction, and lots of volunteers. This race is really about Bruxelles and the surrounding community, which is what makes it work so well. Also, hats off to the Olympia crew, they not only know how to put on a great race, but a really good time too. Post-race banter including the Spring Ride (it will be awesome, and I will need a mountain bike), vasectomies (not during race season, was the conclusion), the election (meh), and the innate skiing ability of some European nations (the Norwegians have it, the Dutch do not, apparently).

Photos courtesy of JP.