Shittily translated by yours truly from CycloCross.Info

"The Second Flanders Indoor Cyclo Cross has moved to Hasselt after a successful first edition in the Malines Nekkerhal. The 2nd Flanders Indoor Cyclo Cross in on Thursday 31 January 2008, but will move to the Ethias sand in Hasselt, and will remain there the next 3 years per the organizing crew Promocycling negotiated. The concept started last yere where the racers do two 20 minute heats will remain."

I spoke briefly to Chris G about this and we have all it takes to do it here in the Denver Boulder area. There is an NBL league that does this already and we could get some RAD things going on here I am sure. 20 minute heats would be sweet as would a Le Mans start. True story: One year at a DFL, they did the Le Mans start thing. I won the running hole shot but ALL the bikes were laid out in front of us. I did a flying leap over what seemed like two bikes only to land square on some dudes wheel. Sorry dude. Yeah it was a training race but it's urban jungle cross man.

I think this would be a marvel concept to add in some barriers etc in a tight format. Advantage to the skilled guys who have had some gate crashing experience (moi). I'll have to do me some thinkin' on this.

What a week in cycling. I love our sport.

• QuickStep employees found with hoards of banned substances
• Frankie "The EPO was for my Dog" VandyB tries to off himself
• Flandis gets schooled by Shonny (right on!) but the real news is why the F he's even racing.
• And the piece de resistance: A local Boulder-area cycling CLUB has rumors of 3 of their CAT 4's (that is category 4 as in beginner) using HGH and talking about it....HA! (and I am not joking here). And yes, while I don't want to be at the center of the local sewing circle, I just had to vent this as I about shit myself when I heard it.
  

List of NYT cycling articles here)

OK, I promised I wouldn't politic or posture on this blog, but it's too hard now. What kind of pricks will I be lining up with who are so obsessed with themselves and their egos that they'd dope in the 35 Opens (or Cat 4's as it were...) against a bunch of other worker-bee/dad types. Fast worker be/dad types but COME ON! We're talking about dudes who are out there to let the rage out from their real lives like job pressures, family....whatever....and are there for the total joy of competing weekend in and out doing the best they can (hopefully on bread and water) and not trying to get an edge on a bunch of other old farts for the glory of winning a 24 pack of Gu and some bull shit schwag.

Hang 'em all.

Cheaters suck. You retards should go re-think your pathetic lives.

3:15 and 4,600 feet of climbing on the MTB early this AM. All that before work. Love life. The WB, Bobby Mounts, Longman and Fryda essentially did this MTB Epic again...only this time with beau coup single track of the silent secret kind. We chopped off all that Gold Hill/ Sunshine dirt road slog nonsense as the WB had the keys to the secret Gnome forest of tight singletrack at 9,300 feet. Yum.

Za Plan is helping me out considerably as week by week the climbing (and power/weight) is become so clear and demonstrably better. Smiles. rest up, then go again.

No pics today. Sorry. No time to stop and click this AM. We were rolling.

Bummer! Was looking forward to it this week but I guess it cranks up in a few weeks (e.g. mid June)...or so the Teton Forum poster says. Going to do the pro class again this year to get some speed going on in these worked over legs and try out some new things I am toying with race-wise. Maybe a bit too early for such intensity but these are SO much fun it's maddening.

Nice light spin today early AM to soak in the beauty of the Republic before the work day commenced and pulls you under. All is SO good though these days. I look at these old posts of sickness and insanity and I just remember that I am now, finally, here in the place I wanted to be.

Note Erik's SRM. ET is a tank of a powerhouse. Great photos of interesting things from this photographer can me found at P. Edward Squidersons Flikr site here.

Sunday. Last day of the training week. Time to let the muscles rest. After yesterday's throw downs and climbing fest, I finished up the week needing some final climbing with Flagstaff and Sunshine Canyon with a dip down into Gold Hill, then turn around and bomb back down to home. It is sick living at the apex of all these great training routes.

Surprisingly the legs felt fairly fresh and the power was basically there on both big efforts. The KEY was yesterday's wade into a freezing Boulder creek. It was an unbelievable recuperation and I recommend it to everyone after along hard ride. It's like therapy. Well it is, I hear.

Happy work week everyone. 7 months to Belgie.

Vanlandingham, who won the women's race ahead of Katie Compton (Spike Shooter), said Landis jokingly told her not to make him look too bad on the final lap.

"I'd always heard he was a great technical rider, so when I caught him on the climb I hoped he would stay with me so I could watch him go down the descent and see his skills," she said. "But I didn't see him again."

7 months and counting until the mud and the following liquid beauty is tasted in my mouth in the Mother land of Belgium. Hix, begin salivation:

Firefox on Mac bombs out when trying to transfer the Javascript from their site to my blog so I am canning it for now. See the link on my links for rides I post although they are already known intimately to anyone here in zee repoobleek. .

Molly C also has the bead on these toobies Brandon D has talked up and I posted on previously. One of these days I'll learn the story here but I hear it is some former Dugast dudes. Could be totally wrong here. I'm liking the tread pattern here which is totally Rhino like.

Today's training was nuts. Lots of elevation and attacking...uphill. Got a 1409 watts on the meter today after sprinting a bit with Taro and John in the Canyon. Fun. Wonder what the output will be when I really sprint. Power is interesting. Going to sharpen it and learn more. Already learned TONS.

Tomorrow, more pain and suffering slogging the carcass up the big passes. Looking forward to speed in the coming months.