ERBESKOPFMARATHON en retard

I almost forgot,

The week before we left to the TransAlp Peter and I competed in the Erbeskopf Marathon in Germany. It would be the last long training before getting to the Alps, 110 KM with 3250 altitude meters.
At the start I could follow the fast riders until the first uphill.
Before we turned in to the trails Peter joined me. We were riding too fast and in the first 10Km we witnessed 3 crashes, luckily it wasn't one of us :)

After 40KM we started to slow down, I couldn't keep the high pace and knowing I was riding in first position and didn't want to blow up the engine.
The whole ride we could stay together, ideal as a last test for us as a team. After over 6 hours we reached the finish together.

My first win of the season and 38th scratch! Great team work of the A-team!

RESULTS

Thanks to all the supporters and sponsors.

Bike Transalp 2016

"Imst-Nauders-Scuol-Livigno-Bormio-Mezzana-Trento-Arco"

  That's what we were getting for dinner during our favourite 7 days stage Race through the Alps.

Like previous years, we travelled south two days before the start to get some acclimatisation.
Our new driver Bart Kirkels, Erwin Declercq and Sara Michielsens and myself were travelling by camper to get to Imst (Austria).

Almost all stage locations were known to us, either from winter holidays or from other previous Transalp participations.

Because 2015 was a DNF for Sara due to her ugly crash at the third stage; this one had to be a good one.

Before the race we said that a top 10 classification in the mixed category would be great but hardly manageable with all those top riders at the start.

From previous years we learned that there are two categories in the mixed (well not quite officially, but off the record). First there are the couples who push and pull from start to finish. I call them 'Individual racers with luggage'. And on the other side there are the couples who both ride individually but still stay together during the whole race. Those I call 'The Jedi warriors"...

It is permitted, so this is all I can say on this topic.

Day 1 would be a tough stage for us. Lots of asphalt roads, and not too technical to start with. In combination with sore legs from my side (Sara was strong right from the start) this stage could not please me, and with a 16th place in the GC, I would take lots more to see me smile this week.

The stages afterwards were more technical, and bit by bit we managed every day to ride approximately the same pace without really pushing and shift up places in GC.

At the sixth  day Sara decided she had enough of riding and crashed in the last Km on concrete road.
Result: a really awkward open knee with her skin still glued to the road.

My brains were going bananas, as I thought she would not be able to ride anymore.  Second Transalp in a row DNF for Sara?

Think twice...
That girl is a gorilla, a cheetah and a Jedi warrior all in one.
With 10 stitches  in her left knee she rode like hell on the last stage, and we finished the Bike Transalp 2016 in style.

Only a 14th place for that stage, but a 10th spot in general.

Whooooooopieeeeeee!!!!

Once more we've met some great people, were thrilled to ride between the pros, and would like to thank all the people who supported us before, during and after the race.

It has to be said that after each participation, we're not jumping to do this one again, but I'm pretty sure when the accreditation date will get closer, our minds will be pointing at the Alps once again.

#cantcopythealps

Thanks  to:
The crew from Crankbrothers to provide us with the best bike parts imaginable.
Canyon Bikes for delivering a frame made for this kind of races. CANYON EXCEED CF SLX rules.
No Drugs Heroes custom cycling wear.
Overstims, Fizik, Roeckl.

Engadin Bike Giro 2016

Well well well...
For the first time Sauser organised the Engadin Bike Giro, and we were lucky to be amongst the 400 enthusiast and lucky bikers.
Last year we did a stage race in Austria as preparation for the Craft Bike Transalp, but this year we wanted to already race and not train during this one. Even though every race can be seen as a training, this time we wanted to be better.

Three days of nice trails in the beautiful surroundings of the Engadin valley.

Names as Sankt Moritz, Pontresina, Maloja, they all speak to the imagination.

Because of a full working schedule last week, we only could travel one day before the race, and we had to be back on monday morning.  So a little fast trip to Switzerland was lying ahead of us.

Weather forecast was not quite promising, so our raingear was the first to be packed.
"You never know" they say in the Alps.

On arrival, we were surprised by how clean and neat everything was. Camping Site, sport accommodations, restaurants,... All was brand new in Silvaplana. We were here a couple of times in winter, and it's also wonderful in summer.
Crystal blue mountain lakes, snowy mountaintops, illustrious scenery,... what do you want more.

So far the good news.

On arrival we planned to do a recon of the first stage. A time trial over 10kms from St Moritz lake(1700mtrs alt) to the top of Corviglia (2500mtrs alt). We managed to do the first 3k's and then all hell broke loose. Thunderstorms, hail and heavy wind gusts almost blew us of the mountain.

Returning to the camper ASAP was our only option.

Weather did not get any better, and on friday we had to be at the start around 14hr.

Sun was shy in the morning, but the forecast had an upgrade  to slightly better weather.

Right from the start I felt like someone was pulling me backwards, but when I looked back, there were only a lot of guys, and girls who were catching up with me, like they were riding an E-bike.
Probably the altitude got to me and I felt a little strange, but could not find my ignition to the turbo.
Every breath was hard, and as if there was no oxygen in the air...  Which is normal at this height. But hey, I'm not a doctor.

Bloody steep at some points Corviglia was. But the Force was not with us. Both Sara and myself were not happy with the performance.

But only slight time differences at the end, and it is a stage race after all. The finish is at the end.

Second day started as one of my favourites. Rain, rain and more rain at the start.
74 km from Silvaplana, over St Moritz to Pontresina and the Morteratsch glacier, back to Corviglia, some more down- and uphill sections (who were quite nice), and then back to Silvaplana.
I managed to catch up with Sara and we finished together. Totally wasted I was once again. Sara felt a lot better.

I got sick at night, and the feeling was double. That must have been the reason why I was not riding like I was supposed to do. Had no energy left for the third and last stage. I decided not to start.
Sara was feeling ok.

She rode the third stage as an extended endurance training ride, and finished with a smile.

Less than 24 hours later I'm am writing on our blog.
Knowing our next stop will be at the Erbeskopf marathon next sunday in Germany. Last race in preparation to our main goal.  The CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP.

I also have to thank the other Belgian riders from Trust MTB Team for the great atmosphere they create during the weekend. CU guys (and girl) soon.

Special thanks to Rik Sauser for once again putting up a great organisation. All was on high level, except for the finisher's' shirt. Almost glad I didn't get one...

And many likes to all the volunteers present during those three days.

Results

Sponsors: Crankbrothers, Canyon, Baloise Insurance, Overstims, Fizik, Roeckl


How could I almost forget?  Of course we stopped at Cindy's Diner to have a real American Burger. "Noblesse Oblige"