The Cycling Center
Today is a special day for all because it is pouring out. It has rained every night that we have been here and the last to days it has rained during the day, so we will be on the rollers for a nice spin this morning just like yesterday. Later today we are going to the 6-day track to get some training in. I am very excited! The track is only open for the 6-day every year so we are expecting it to be very busy. I will write on the track tomorrow but just as a teaser, it is a 167m track with I think 49degree turns, but I will have to check on that.
We are finally on a Belgium sleep schedule, which is just in time to have to change to the 6-day sleep schedule. But that shouldn’t be too hard since it is just staying up later and sleeping in. The Cycling Center run by Bernard Moerman and Ann Dusauchoit has been a wonderful way to be introduced to Belgium and a nice place to start off my first trip to Europe. Before arriving here, two of my roommates gave me some insight to the center. They have both been here more than once to race in the summer. The Cycling Center is best known for bring Americans over to race in the Kermises, which are 2:30 to 3 hour races held almost everyday during the racing season. And because they only have an amateur class, instead of categories, each race has fields of 150 or more. Thus you can get very intense long races whenever they fit best into your training schedule allowing for athletes to push their limits as quickly as possible. Also, Bernard has close ties to US Postal and the National Team and has gathered the best doctors and support staff to keep all the guys at their best. As Bernard refers to his program, “this is where you come if you want to learn how to race your bike.” I believe he has had something like 15 guys in the last two years sign pro contracts! It is truly one of the fastest routes to the pro peloton for young American riders.
At full capacity he now has room for 24 riders, and during the season has enough staff and team vehicles to send a team of around 6 to three races at once. This is truly a first class operation and it shows in how much Bernard and Ann love what they do. As for the center itself here is a little tour:
The front of the center where Bernard and Ann plan on living after it gets renovated at the beginning of next year
The rear entrance (all the cars are for Belgium riders, signed to the team next year, that where out on a group ride that morning)
A side view, or as much as will fit in my camera at once. The new building in the center is the recent addition connecting the front house to the old back hotel. We are staying in the top.
The kitchen/sitting area of the upstairs apartments
An upstairs apartment, just Euro beds and storage behind the camera
The view from the upstairs window
The dinning/TV recreation room
The Bike room/ garage
The training sunroom
A view toward the city
The loaner bike, since I only had room for the track bikes and wheels. US Postal recently gave it to the Center.
That about covers it, there is another 18 beds in the back old hotel, another kitchen for all them, refrigerators and closets galore. There is also a massage room complete with infrared sauna and steam room. Pretty much all a rider could want to attain full recovery every day.
I guess it is about time to jump on those rollers before lunch and our time on the Ghent 6 track! It will be insane!
We are finally on a Belgium sleep schedule, which is just in time to have to change to the 6-day sleep schedule. But that shouldn’t be too hard since it is just staying up later and sleeping in. The Cycling Center run by Bernard Moerman and Ann Dusauchoit has been a wonderful way to be introduced to Belgium and a nice place to start off my first trip to Europe. Before arriving here, two of my roommates gave me some insight to the center. They have both been here more than once to race in the summer. The Cycling Center is best known for bring Americans over to race in the Kermises, which are 2:30 to 3 hour races held almost everyday during the racing season. And because they only have an amateur class, instead of categories, each race has fields of 150 or more. Thus you can get very intense long races whenever they fit best into your training schedule allowing for athletes to push their limits as quickly as possible. Also, Bernard has close ties to US Postal and the National Team and has gathered the best doctors and support staff to keep all the guys at their best. As Bernard refers to his program, “this is where you come if you want to learn how to race your bike.” I believe he has had something like 15 guys in the last two years sign pro contracts! It is truly one of the fastest routes to the pro peloton for young American riders.
At full capacity he now has room for 24 riders, and during the season has enough staff and team vehicles to send a team of around 6 to three races at once. This is truly a first class operation and it shows in how much Bernard and Ann love what they do. As for the center itself here is a little tour:
The front of the center where Bernard and Ann plan on living after it gets renovated at the beginning of next year
The rear entrance (all the cars are for Belgium riders, signed to the team next year, that where out on a group ride that morning)
A side view, or as much as will fit in my camera at once. The new building in the center is the recent addition connecting the front house to the old back hotel. We are staying in the top.
The kitchen/sitting area of the upstairs apartments
An upstairs apartment, just Euro beds and storage behind the camera
The view from the upstairs window
The dinning/TV recreation room
The Bike room/ garage
The training sunroom
A view toward the city
The loaner bike, since I only had room for the track bikes and wheels. US Postal recently gave it to the Center.
That about covers it, there is another 18 beds in the back old hotel, another kitchen for all them, refrigerators and closets galore. There is also a massage room complete with infrared sauna and steam room. Pretty much all a rider could want to attain full recovery every day.
I guess it is about time to jump on those rollers before lunch and our time on the Ghent 6 track! It will be insane!
