Azencross

Hi everyone,

A quick report on Azencross. I am sorry I didn't have time to take any pictures of the course. So, you are going to have to take my word for it...pretty crazy.

First off, it rained overnight so the course was pretty muddy and the hardest part of the course was a very long section of thick mud that totally zapped the legs. Immediately after the mud bog section, there was 1 of 3 wooden 'bridges'...which were constructed for the race. They are high and steep up and steep down, and become covered with mud and slippery. Other technical features included little turf-covered bmx humps, massive dirt bmx humps, and ditches covered with slippery plywood. I was pretty scared of the bridges at first, but as the race went on I was more confident on them. Fortunately, the Belgian fans participate fully in the race including encouraging you down the first time, as well as catching you when you are sliding down backwards...I was very grateful to the fan who held me up by a fistful of skinsuit when I found myself sliding backwards because someone crashed in front of me!

Ok for the race, I had some what of a call up, but I think I was still 5th row. I had a pretty good start and had worked my way up to with the top 20 using my knees and elbows! But, truth be told, I just didn't have the legs for the thick mud section today and couldn't hold my position. I was also riding more tentatively than usual, this course pushed my comfort zones for sure. After the race I realized that I was hitting my brakes because other girls around me were, not because I really needed to. There is a wicked forest near where we are staying in Tielt, so I have already begun to remedy my hang ups with some fast laps in single track behind the boys!

So I have a couple of days of hard training before my next race in Luxembourg on January 1st. My legs were pretty done today but I finally had time to have a nap and later in the day Neil and I did a little sight seeing of a local church and pancake house! I am planning to ride back on an easy day and take some pictures because this church is very beautiful.

Cheers, Tross