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 19 April 2010

Amstel Bronze - a different point of view


Preperation is the key. So what comes to Your mind if You think about Netherlands? I mean apart from football hooligens, famous Rabobank riders like Rasmussen or Thomas Decker? Correct, water, plenty of it. I prepared myself in the evening before my trip with some Sushi.
Just in case if Velocake should spy on us: use 250 g fresh salmon, 250 g sushi rice, 50 ml rice vinegar, 2 g of Wasabi paste, 30 g shrimps plus some sheets of dry seeweed and prepare accordingly.

From Maastricht to Valkenburg should not be such a long travel. (BTW, Crossjunkie can You see the cobbles?)
So it took one hour to get from Aachen to Maastricht, some more time to find cobbles. If You start from the town centre travel to the North. I said North, not North-West, because than You'll end up in Belgium. Guess how I found out about a short cut to get my Belgian energy bars even on a Sunday before 1 pm. Later keep to the East following A 2 signs, well not too closely, otherwise You'll end up on the motorway. After a while You'll be in Valkenburg.

Small ring, climbs? Nonsenses. This route is flat as a pan cake.

Of course one can ride up the Cauberg, and wait for riders without navigation system like this typical dutch rider.







And wait and wait, some time later....and even later .....








Imagine how navigation could save this race, instead of 256 km, just a 12 km race!

3 comments:

  1. You're a bad man and we're very jealous...

    Don't stop sending us photo's Wolfram, absolutely loving em!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cobbles duly noted. Almost as nice as those in East Lancashire.....

    ReplyDelete