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Post date: Feb 03, 2014 10:51:57 PM
(By Steve Franzoni)
What do you call 60,000 people in a muddy field in Holland? Well there could be a few answers but this Sunday it was the cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, Holland. Six Mullingar bachelors Billy Cunnane, Chris Timmins, Peter Rimmer, Richie Lenehan, Eoin O'Donohoe and myself (Steven Franzoni) headed over Saturday morning to Brussels to spend the weekend watching the action unfold.
Saturday started with a trip to the BMC concept store in Gent, well in fact it actually started with a Sat Nav tour of Gent because we kept getting lost. The KBC bank does look good from every angle though. But after a quick navigator change (no offence Billy) I was directed to BMCs amazing store with the friendliest staff ever (not including my store obviously).
After much fantasy shopping we went to see some of the cobbled sections of the famous Tour of Flanders race always fun in a hire car full of lads. Eventually and just in time we watched the incredible talent that is Mariane Vos win the ladies race by a huge margin. Saturday night was spent drinking uisce in a local town and being very responsible Lakeside Wheelers. We felt a repeat of the Tour De France episode would be bad order.
We awoke Sunday with wonderfully clear heads (hmmmm) to blue skies and low winds, a great day was on its way. However our hotel staff seemed to desert us after breakfast and when leaving the hotel we set off the alarm. After a rapid exit we were on our way. Day twos racing was the under 23 and senior men's. Cyclo cross races in Europe are a crazy event people dressed up, drinking lots of beer and eating mayo chips. The main event ended up being a great muddy
crash filled race, we supported the Czech Specialized star Stybar much to the annoyance of the locals but our man came through good.
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