End-Of-Season Wrap-Up

Since last we wrote on this blog, a few more races have passed.  Now that the season is over, I finally have a few minutes to tell you all about the girls' travels!

Veerle competed in Belgian National Championships where normally she would be on the podium with Sanne Cant and Joyce Vanderbeken but unfortunately in the first lap it was all over. She crashed, broke her seatpost, and by the time she got back to the material post, the front of the race was gone.  She eventually pulled out due to an injury sustained on her knee from the fall.  She skipped the next two world cups while recovering. 

The next event where the girls raced together was GVA Trofee's Krawatencross in Lille Belgium.  After a slow start, the gals slowly made their way up through the field to finish a strong 11th for Veerle and 15th for Christine.

Another two weeks later, the gals competed in the last UCI International event of the season at GVA Trofee's final round held in Oostmalle where Veerle finished 17th and Christine 22nd. 

Following the men's race at Oostmalle, the festivities began, starting with a Hasseltse Koffie courtesy of Baboco-Revor Team Manager Steven Baekelandt.  Once back to the team van, there was a party held for all the team's friends, fans and supporters.  Hundreds of home-baked cookies were served along with beer, wine, and of course jenever.  There were more people flowing through our party than even the big pro team mobilehomes that we were surrounded by!  To see photos of the party, and a few from the race, read all about it on Christine's published article on CYCLOCROSS Magazine.

The next and last "real" race was the Cyclo Cross Masters event held indoors in Hasselt.  Thanks to Golazo Sports who took the event over a month previous, there were two womens event held.  Normally women do not race at this event.  All the big gals showed like Marianne Vos, Daphny van den Brand, Sanne Cant, Sanne Van Paassen, Helen Wyman, etc.  In the first race Veerle finished 10th and Christine 12th.  And in the second race, Veerle 12th and Christine 11th.  But Christine got the largest cheers in that race thanks to her full flip in the sand when she came flying down the ramp only to find at the last second there was another racer sprawled across the sand pit. With no time to react, she T-boned the gal and went flying into the air.

After the race, many of the riders had a few post-season drinks at the VIP section in the middle of the arena.  To read more about the event, you can check out Christine's article published on CYCLOCROSS Magazine.

The third and final celebration race that week was the Erwin Bolt Uit event, a race with a 750-rider mass start to mark the ending of 3x World Champion Erwin Vervecken's career.  Erwin rides on the same bike as our team - the Zannata Cross Z45 designed by 5x World Champion Roland Liboton, by the way!  Christine attended the event and started in the front section with the other pro male and females who showed in support of Erwin.  As it was just a fun ride for those who werent a male professional or trying to match their speed (none of whom could achieve that feat), Christine just rode it at a nice clip without any strain on the muscles.  In true form, she chatted with no less than fifty riders, even stopped a few times in support of some of the younger riders.  Even with all her playing around, she was still officially the third girl to finish the full 40kilometers - 1st was Daphny Van den Brand and 2nd was Joyce Vanderbeken.

Afterwards, Christine stayed around a bit for the bike-hanging ceremony that proved to be a real tear-jerker for many...until the disco lights came on and everyone started to dance.  You can read all about it on her article published on CYCLOCROSS Magazine.

Thanks to ALL OF YOU for your excellent support!! And a special thanks to Team Mechanic Jonas, and our fully supportive sponsors, Johan at Zannata Bikes, Tim at Champion System, and David at Garage Van Ermen.  The gals had an amazing time as ambassadors of your products.  It was truly their honor.

photo of girls at Le Mans start for Hasselt Indoor race: by Dirk Verhelst

photo of Veerle at Oostmalle: by Florent Bouchat

photo of Tim Meeusen of Champion System onstage at Erwin Bolt Uit: by Jonas Bruffaerts
Christine and her Jenever: by Jonas Bruffaerts
Johan of Zannata on his way to change to ride Erwin Bolt Uit: by Jonas Bruffaerts