After
my crappy cross season, I’m waiting for the sun. No more grey sky, no more
drizzle, and no more freezing temps. Spring sunshine will do the trick for me,
thank you very much! My cross season never took off. It’s crashed on itself
even before the first pistol shot was fired. I had a cold at the start, two bad
planned holidays and a back problem to top it all off. New Year brought the
flu, but, until now, I got away unharmed by it. I had some close calls, but the
wife took the bullet for me. I did the basic workouts and bided my time. The
sun would soon show its beautiful face again and I would be ready.
In
the mean time I looked at the Pros cross races with great interest. Revolution
was at hand, young guns at the start line with no “respect” for the old
warriors. They took off at the word GO! The rest of them were just baffled.
Watching those young dogs was enjoyable, but my focus shifted to the back of
the field. Clueless of what happened at the front, another breed of men was
making a name for them self’s. Riding their hearts out every race, trying the
best they could with great determination and courage.
This
Aussie guy promised his girl an European holiday, in a Campervan, in the midst
of winter. (Question mark would be in place here) They came all the way up to
Belgium to live the life of pro CX. Respect! Snow, mud, ice rains. It’s not my
idea of a holiday, but has all the ingredients of a fantastic CX adventure.
From
the other side of the globe came a Canadian pro, looking like a Viking with beard
and nose ring. He brought his own style to the cross. Hotsauce and all.
Financed himself all the way into the great Cyclo Cross Show on Earth and enjoy
himself immensely.
Garry and Mark photo by Tom Prenen
While
I did my Miles on the winter bike, they had the time of their life. Posted
their Facebooks full of CX happiness for us to enjoy. More and more people
flocked to their sites and dipped them self’s in their adventures. They became heroes
on their own account for displaying race hardness, for showing up at the start
line, behind the established riders of the home countries that make up the majority
of Cyclo Cross. Being there at the back of the field, doing their thing in the
shadows of the television cameras, but in plain sight of the spectators, who
loved them for it.
We
can only dream of being somebody like Matthieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert.
It’s amazing to watch these two race around a course. Super hero’s these two puppies.
Way beyond our reach in pretending to be a CX rider like they are. But with
Garry Millburn and Mark McConnell we get the feeling we don’t have to be Super heroes.
We can be mere mortals and have a great adventure, if we put our mind and back
in to it, raise the bar and face the impossible, because they showed us nothing
is impossible! If you want it, it’s out there, get it!
I
got a great energy flow of them be where they been. I will have a couple of
adventures of my own. Riding my bike in and around Sydney in April for example.
Far away from home, adventure will be mine!
So
I tip my Hotsauce cap to the both of them! Thanks for the inspiration guys!
Rork
Steijn
