Tim ReinhartDiary of a U23 Rider
in Europe
3/27/02 Now to get back to the race....It didn't really start to break up until we
hit the first cobbled climb. Then we chased for about 10km all strung out
until finally we regrouped at the top of the New Kwurmont. The main field
was now about 50 strong, and soon would be split again. Jon Retseck, Patrick
McCarthy, Mark Fitzgerald, and myself were all still among the leaders, but
we were about to be tested once again on the Old Kwurmont. This section was
particularly hard because its an uphill cobbled climb, then we take a left
onto a cobbled flat section, and for about 3k it remains pretty flat until we
hit another steap cobbled climb. It was so steap that when you got out of
your saddle that your back wheel would slide out. Once atop of this we
desended shortly until we took a hard right, and then we started the
Pattersberg. This cobbled climb is very steap, and many riders have to get
off their bikes and run up the sides. We were very lucky at this point
because the field was so broken up that we could ride in the rain gutter at
the side of the road and not have to fight around tons of riders. That was
the hardest section of the race. And just like that there was two groups
ahead of me. I was in a group of about 12 with Jon Restseck. Up the road
there was another group of about 12 with our teammate Mark Fitzgerald in. We
caught this group in a couple of kilometers, and we then got to rest because
a Belgian team went to the front to try and bring the lead group of 10 riders
back( this group included Patrick). After a while of chase we soon caught
the leaders and the pack was formed. We then got to the finishing circuits
and had only 40km to go. Nothing was really happening in our group, and we
weren't keeping a good tempo, and so soon we had a huge pack again of about
100+. So now that it was coming into a field sprint we were all trying to
help set up Jon Retseck for the sprint. Patrick, Mark, and Myself all tried
to cover the little attacks from the teams, and we helped Jon move up to the
front of the group when he needed it. Mark also put in a very impressive
attack over the last cobbled section and had a 10 second lead with 4km to go
but was caught. At the sprint Jon did really well and placed 8th, and the
rest of us all finished in the pack. The race was a great test for all of us
because this Saturday Harelbeke goes on most of the same roads, and the same
goes for the Tour of Flanders in April. We all gained great confidence from
this result and are looking forward to the next race.
Everybody got up around 7:30 to get ready for the race, and to eat their
pre-race meal. I made some banana apple pancakes, and they were a perfect
breakfast for the race we had later in the day. After eating our breakfast
we met our new team-mates for the day. We needed two more U23's for the race
so Noel invited 2 americans who are living in Ostenda to race with us, Greg
Germer, and Mike ?. After packing up the van and car we departed around
10:00. Its only a 15min car drive so it didn't take long till we arrived at
the race. It was a typical Belgian race setup, as they go all out. There
were starting gates, and a photo finish area with offical boxes, and medical
control. There were television stations all preparing their gear for the
start, and there was even two race helicopters following the race. Well one
for the pro's and one for us. When we pulled into the parking area it was
jamed packed. Its not like an american U23 race where there are only two
teams with a team car or matching gear. These teams are all hooked up. They
all have team cars, matching clothing, bikes, and most all have mechanics.
Its very intimidating when you first start, but then you get used to it and
start to fit in. The race was 147km, and started at 11:30, and we departed
with a field of about 180, and soon the pack would be thining. The races in
Belgium are so crazy because there are so many people and the roads are very
small. Then you have to add the cars parked on the course, the roundabouts,
and the islands in the middle of the road, and sometimes a little road
construction never hurts. Its all crazy for the first 40km of the race
because there are no hard parts to break up the group, so this makes for
plenty of crashes. And this race was no different. I would say that in the
first hour of the race that there was at least 4 to 5 crashes. These
included 3 of our teammates( Greg- broken collarbone in 4 places, and two
broken ribs, and Mike, and John H all crashed as well but with no harm done).
copyright © 2002 by Everette Carr. All rights reserved.
Nicole's Tribute