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.

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Here Comes the Clydesdale...

Rapha Supercross - Broughton Hall

A festival of cyclocross - Rapha seem to do this kind of thing well.  Elite race, fun race, cowbells, food, beer tent, stuff for kids and, most importantly, a Clydesdale Category.

This was to be my time to shine - I was going to win this.  The format seemed simple enough:








1. Weigh over 90kgs - Easy... check
2. Win your race - HHhhmmm?
3. Buy food - Long queues put me off a bit but essentially check.
4. Buy beer - I can drink, and I had a driver, so a big fat check

And that was it basically - The title had my name written all over it.

Due to the franticness of signing on and preparing myself for the start of the Vets, my main goal for the day slipped my mind, and I forgot to make my intentions apparent to the race officials. 

Moving on though, the race passed without hitch.  The technically unchallenging course was very heavy under wheel, and became a slog fest of abject misery!  I tussled with a few back markers and slowly inched my way around to the finish on 82%. The highlight of each lap was passing through the crowd, where the volume created by all the cheering and cowbells was quite overwhelming, and made me quite emotional.  Chapeau to the crowd.

Post race, the first pint passed to me by my pit crew* was gasped down easily - as was the second!  Now it was time to push the pace - no surrender!  Three, four... go go go!



However, my new found eagerness to push the boundaries of human endurance, in the selfless quest to bring glory and silverware HCtB, was short lived - I was informed by the race marshals that there would be no Clydesdale Category today!  A little deflated, I slowly eased down and relaxed.  No need to lay it on the line for the team today after all.  The abuse would have to wait for another day.

So, Rapha, if you are reading - I WILL be back next year, subject to further anticipated failed diets... be afraid... be very afraid!  

I will claim the prize which is rightfully mine...




*wife and daughter - thanks for the support you two.

Posted by Unknown at 06:59
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3 comments:

  1. BenP4 December 2012 at 14:04

    90kg clydesdales category, should be a fixture at all races in my opinion, but then again I would think that given I am the wrong side of 100kg at the moment.
    Ben

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown4 December 2012 at 14:33

    Fatty ;-)

    Good idea Ben - we might get close to winning something.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Otleyrich5 December 2012 at 09:14

    That prize has your name written all over it - perhaps we should instigate a special HCtB Clydesdale award?

    ReplyDelete

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