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Tales from the (muddy) gutter: You can come home again

By Jed Schneider
Published: Oct. 27, 2003

I spent the road season sending reports across the ocean about a few of us Americans fighting our way through the ranks of the Belgian peloton. I am home now and I can't express how nice that feels.

Euro’ road racing has the hype, the excitement and the power to humble the most flippant of riders, but U.S. cycling has its own charms that I truly missed, like racing against riders I grew up with.

I didn't have that history in Belgium. It’s good to be back. Sure, like family we may not always get along, but it doesn't mean that it is not enjoyable to see each other again.

So, instead of being on the start line with a bunch of mean strangers ready to tear my legs off, starting these cyclo-crosses is more like standing in line for the wedding cake: everyone is anxious to get at it but, here, most people have a smile on their faces. Todd Wells and I were commenting this weekend on how the cyclo-cross scene is mostespecially this way.

I have been back in the States eight weeks now, but have not done much racing up until this past weekend when I came up to a couple of mid-Atlantic UCI cyclo-cross races. I did Michelin Classic for Team bling-bling (aka,Loco's-Porterfield Tire). Actually, mostly I just rode around at the front like I was in a Kermis, and then got smoked in the sprint by a bunch of guys I didn't see all race. Indeed, just like kermis racing, criterium racing is a very specific type of fitness and I am always impressed by the likes of Hopkins and Monahan that can find their way to the front in the last 200 meters. U.S. criterium specialists are likely the fastest road sprinters in the world.

Other than Greenville, however, I took the advice of our team doctor in Belgium and have just been riding easy. I had planned to do another race as well, but Bermuda Grand Prix got canceled.

If I told a Belgian that I drove 14 hours for a cyclo-cross race, they would proclaim me insane. "Man, it is just an hour." But sprinters fly around the world for 100 meters. Still, I have to admit 14 hours is a long time in a car.

At least I am up here for a couple of weeks. Host housing is great and all the promoters up here have been really helpful finding my team (Alan Factory) housing. We stayed with Tom McDaniel this weekend, the promoter of Wooden Wheels Cyclo-cross. It is on a great venue owned by one of the DuPont family, though the actual name escapes me at the moment.

I certainly would like to extend my thanks to him for allowing the race and supporting cyclo-cross racing.

Likewise, Verge has a great thing going out here with their series, and I hope they continue their support. The courses are fun and the races are professionally done. Good job all.

At any rate, the Wooden Wheels course was really tough and It blew apart early. The run-up was especially tough and I was very jealous of 6-foot-2-inch tall Todd Wells and Ryan Trebron (6 foot 6) as they were stepping over the barriers like they were 2x4's. Meanwhile I, at 5 foot 5, had to get out the climbing equipment to get over the top. That's Okay though, I didn't see them for long anyway as their fitness is hands above mine at the moment. I suffered alone in no-mans land for most of the race and ended 10th. I would to have liked to get on Powers' wheel, as he came by riding from dead last and 20 seconds down all the way to fourth place, but I wasn't getting on any wheel going that fast!

I saw a bunch of people this weekend that I have not seen is a couple years since it was my first cyclo-cross weekend since Baltimore nationals, in 2001.

It was good to see Bart Bowen going good again. He is looking good after so many set backs and his fourth place finish Sunday confirmed that his fitness is coming around. We did a good job this weekend propping up the Albuquerque name in the results.

Likewise it was good seeing Gunnar. He has been around my whole life of racing and certainly someone I truly respect for both his commitment to the sport and for his love of it. We had a good talk and even after he ran over me three quarters of the way through Sunday's race, I still like him.

My teammate Jake Stechmann and I are heading out to NEPA (that would be Northeast Pennsylvania for those out of the know), staying with Philosophy Matt before heading out to Massachusetts for the next weekend of racing.

Philosophy Matt guarantees Hell-raising activities, so it should be a fun week.