Formed in June 09, Here Come the Belgians is a non-elite anti-team celebrating all things cross, cobbled and Belgian.
Seeking a different experience to the traditional cycling club, its aim is to harness the energy of a vibrant internet cycling community with grass roots racing and riding based around Cyclocross and Spring Classics. There is no race programme in the style of a racing team, more a collection of individual experiences through rides and racing, in whatever location a member may be, that all can share in and contribute toward.

Monday, 30 November 2009

Can a Belgian Classic exist without mud or cobbles?






Maybe it can. A nice clean race in the warmth. The answer would be the Gent Six Days 69th edition.

Favourite of the home crowd was the combination of Iljo Keisse with Kluge. (Shown during the single lap competition) In 2007 and 2008 he had won together with Robert Bartko. (Shown during the break in the forground, maybe on Twitter?).

This edition was a tight fight between Risi/Marvulli , Morkov/Rasmussen and Keisse/Kluge, like in the first picture during the derny.

Bartko was still affected by his Munich Crash and had to retire later at the event, he was riding the Red Bull track bike with almost 10 cm spacer (Picture 1).

You could see in some events the top pairs stayed at the back, so that the other teams could select some points. But the derny of Keisse was first class coming from behind to win. The madison was really one attack after another. The house was rocking!

BTW, the house was fully booked even on the second evening! All I was able to get was infield.
If You saw an empty seat by 10 pm, that person was out for a beer or a smoke....

Was a good fun, warm and dry inside - but outside was rather wet, so I had some classical weather and even some cobbles as I went lost in Gent on my bike. So, I guess the answer must be "No, of course it can not." (Next evening got even worse with a blown tubular)

Oh, I almost forgot: Rasmussen/Morkov did win the race, Keisse/Kluge only got second.

1 comment:

  1. Brilliant! I'm very jealous that you were anywhere near Belgium let alone in Ghent.

    ReplyDelete