CYCLOCROSS TRAINING - A PHOTO SERIES

When you see the cross cyclists flying through the fields these days, you would think it is all based on pure talent. But also talent needs to be trained. That is something that is being done on differents spots in the Netherlands, but mostly in Belgium. Stefan and Laurens visited two of these gatherings on two Wednesday, as part of the training towards the busy Christmas cyclocross period. Alphen in the province of Brabant and Lichtaart in Belgium. Camera ready. A summary in eleven photos by Stefan.

 Photos 1 & 2                                                                                                          

Photos 1 & 2 - The training in Alphen was just a few days before the big cross in Namen, Belgium. And that can only mean one thing: side hill training. The Dutch head coach of cross cycling, Gerben de Knegt, organizer of this specific training in Alphen since many years, thought it was a good idea to make it a bit more daring, by choosing a hilly side next to some water. And if that wasn't enough, he made sure enough water was added to the pool, sometimes by carrying the bucket himself. A little mud is part of the cross, right? ''It's good for the focus, it needs to stay fun.''

 Photos 3 & 4                                                         

Photos 3 & 4 - The noble art of 'turning eights'. A mix of power, balance, rhythm and a sort of hyperfocus. It never bores to watch the riders do it, but it could very well be the most challenging training there is for them. We managed to get Tibor del Grosse and Ryan Kamp to show us. Ten minutes later they were panting next to their bikes. After they had catched their breath again, their mouths were full: ''This number eight Gerben had drawn was way too big and not really round.''

 Photos 5 & 6                                                       

Photo 5 - Tibor del Grosso, multi talented and only 21 years old. You can tell this is not a 'normal' boy. Self conscious with analytical qualities and scared for nothing and nobody. Rides through the most difficulties parts of a parcours, as if he was riding to school. No doubt we will see a lot of him the upcoming years, of him and his white Crocs sandals. No pressure, Tibor.

Photo 6 - Gianni Vermeersch during his first cross training of the season. He was suffering. He was suffering a lot. And Gianni would not be Gianni, if he wouldn't let everybody know he was, by demonstrating his frustration in all possible ways, to the joy of everybody. We love him.

Photo 7 & 8                                                        

Photo 7 - Christoph Roodhooft in his natural habitat. 

Photo 8 - One of the things that stood out during the training, is the fact that everybody is either running or chilling. Whereas road cycling also knows training forms which you can do a moderate pace, it's all or nothing in cyclocross. Logical of course, if you don't go out full gas in the sand, you simply fall of your bike.

 Photo 9 & 10                                                       

 Photo 9 - Niels Vandeputte. 100% focussed. Did not say a word during the entire training. In every exercise he was leading. He won the Saturday cyclocross in Hulst, which was no surprise for us. 

Photo 10 - To be honest, was surprised by the amount of accidents during training. Ryan Kamp confirmed it when asked about this: ''If you don't fall, you won't know where your limits are.’'

          Photo 11

Photo 11 - I sometimes wonder what attracts me more in cyclocross: the sport or the culture around it. These men are here in Alphen, every Wednesday. But there is a similar group gathering every Wednesday in Lichtaart. And I would not be surprised if there were similar groups gathering at other training woods. A bit of chit chat, a bit of moaning and every now and then an (unwanted) advice is being shouted to the riders. Look at them, isn't it wonderful and fascinating at the same time?