January 27, 2007

World Championship Preview #3

Danny Summerhill 2nd in Jr. (under 18) World Championships

Despite what they claimed would be an extremely muddy course, today as we turned on the TV to watch the Juniors hit the course this morning, we were pleasently surprised to see a much dryer and faster course than what we had ridden yesterday. Much of what we were able to ride on yesterday was only one lane of a two lane trail, so when the second lane was opened up today to race on, it appeared to be much better conditions and many of the extreme sections had considerably dried since yesterday. We watched the race live and cheered on Danny Summerhill to a second place even after he stacked it into the barriers at the bottom of a shoot with 2 laps to go. Nothing like seeing one of the guys you've been eating breakfast with the last week crash headfirst into Belgian crowd and then ride back up to the lead group by the end of the lap! He was so close to winning and really looked like he had a chance, but I'm sure the Belgian kid wouldn't have been allowed home if he lost and therefore had an extra kick.

In between the Jr. race and the Espoir (under 23) televised races I headed out for one last ride and warmup before the big race tomorrow. Riding the canals here in Belgium is the safest way to get in the miles without getting lost and dealing with cars. It's also the flattest ride you'll ever do.
This part of Belgium is very industrial and the canal/barge is the semi/interstate system of the US.
Tonight the mechanics will dial in our bikes one more time and Trebon will probably switch between his 9 different wheelsets about 9 different times while trying to decide between 29psi and 30psi. I'll run what I brung and hope it's good enough. It appears I'll be staged in the mid 50s and there are 66 starters so there will be lot's of work to do if I hope for a decent result.

This will probably be the last update from Belgium as tomorrow night will be spent packing the bikes and getting ready to leave. I discovered that it appears you can watch live playback of the race at 7pm ET HERE. I think you must subscribe ($5 for a month) but if it's the same coverage that is here, you will not be disappointed.

I want to thank each of you who helped with this trip and supported me with your emails and gifts. It has been really great and tomorrow will be the frosting on the cake no matter what the result. I've met some good people here and had a great experience that will no doubt help me in the future. I can't believe how long the list of people is below, it's amazing. Thanks for helping to make it happen!
Tristan

World Championship Race Day Sponsor:

All Other Sponsors - THANK YOU!!!

  • Robert Schrank
  • Dave, Cindy & Sam Sieloff - Madison, WI
  • Title Sponsor:
  • Ned Purtell
  • William Langhoff
  • Douglas Dobrozsi
  • Herbert Lantinga -Grand Rapids, MI
  • RICHARD SMIES - WHITEHALL, MI
  • Thomas Dejager - WyomingMI
  • Jay Richards - UCI mtb race at Maplelag on May 12th
  • Madcross fundraising ( Renee Callaway)
    • Mark Badger
    • Lewis Clark
    • Joe Doyle
    • Dave Erickson
    • Eric Knuth
    • John McNeill
    • Linda Seamars
    • Chris Strout
    • Heidi Ploeg
    • Matthew Block
    • Kevin Kiddle
    • Mark Harms
    • Tom Palmer
    • Travis Goodlund
    • Glen Jones
  • Diana M Wyatt
  • Cara McCauley
  • Elmer and Naomi Schouten
  • Ralph Pulver
  • Al and Jennifer Krueger - Milwaukee, WI
  • Bill Larsen
  • Scott & Laura Cole
  • Christopher Cronin
  • Ryan Wondergem
  • Steve and Maryann Manthey
  • Andrew Klumb
  • John and Connie Holcomb
  • Jody Meyers: The bells team supports you 110%. GOOD LUCK!
  • John Meyers - Bells Brewery Quiring Cycles Race Team
  • Jason LaBella Chicago, IL WORS Comp #1111
  • Joseph Lekovish (SPONSOR: South Lyon Cycle Racing Team / Tailwind Michigan UCI CX Double-header Sept 2007)
  • Jesse Rients - MN
  • David Ziemer - GreenfieldMN
  • James Jones - Sheboygan
  • Joseph Brzuchanski: On behalf of the Bells Brewery/Quiring Cycles MTB Team (Jason Lummis, Mike Simonson, Scott Quiring, John Meyers, Jason Jones and myself).
  • Wade Loberger
  • Paul Roltgen
  • Jonathan Eggebrecht
  • Schwaller's Painting and Staining LLC (920) 918-3711
  • Robert Letson
  • Brian Eppen
  • Scott and Sara Kylander-Johnson
  • Carolyn Senty
  • Glen A Jones
  • Craig Manthe
  • Bill & Barb Litscher - Whitefish Bay, WI
  • Keith Wolf - Wauwatosa, Wi
  • David and Bonnie Justice
  • Francis Vandeloo
  • Rod Olliver http://www.ontariocyclocross.com/fccr
  • Kelly Niquette
  • Michael Martens: Working on Wisconsin's first Twilight Crit in 07' (June 16th 2007 in Grafton, WI.) Check us out. www.graftonbikerace.com
  • Ian Stanford
  • Greg Heck
  • Andrew Kruse
  • Todd Pittman, Ellicott City, MD
  • Mark Beck
  • Tony Wagner - Glenbeulah, WI
  • Jeremey Rodriguez
  • Brad Verstegen - Appleton, WI
  • Paul Belknap
  • Scott Roehrborn:Make sure to throw down some Belgian Waffles for the guys back home on the Sat. Breakfast Ride!
  • Ronald M Stawicki
  • Scott, Alla & Ayla Shapiro
  • Mitch Graham
  • Maryann Pitner
  • Guy Schutt - Oconomowoc, WI
  • Jay Moncel
  • Brian Conant – Dekalb, IL
  • Daniel Backley
  • Kenny Dretzka
  • Carl Voss - Eyota, MN
  • Rachel Steele
  • Chris Henning: This is from the henningboyz- 2 little crossers- from northbrook. congrats and we're pullin' for ya.
  • Steve Ferguson
  • Jason Fryda - Boulder, CO
  • Eric Peltier
  • Featherman Kids
  • Rachel Kilmer
  • Christopher Zacharias
  • Christopher Plummer
  • Randy Arellano - Dearborn, MI
  • Chris & Melanie Nystrom - Ellicott City, MD
  • Jennifer and Brian Smith
  • Mark A Lalonde
  • Lil'Jane of Capitol Velo in Madison. Note: Jane is a 10-year-old cyclocross racer in the Wisconsin series. Good Luck! Richard Moran (Madcross-Garner) Jane (Capitol Velo)
  • Andrew Weir
  • Joe Doyle
  • Sean Grady
  • Michael Phillips
  • Amy Dykema - Evanston, IL
  • Sonja Schouten (this is a good one, she donated her leftover euros from her own trip -nice!)
  • Bill Schneider - Green Bay, WI
  • Chad Dean
  • Wayne Prescott
  • Brian Hammer
  • Chad Melis

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

looks like our living room will have a sellout crowd tomorrow night!
thanks to Shawn, we'll be watching you on the big screen!
Good luck bro ~ Sonja

Mandy said...

tristan
congrats on the awesome year, man. you deserved every ounce of support and more! when i'm rich (or earning at least above poverty...)i'll contribute to your world's fund. either that, or auction off some bike shit for you.
ciao!
mandy