Dont make me......

With the cross season coming to a close here in the states, there is plenty of racing action over in Europe to keep everyone all hot and bothered. Their was a big can of whoop ass that has been opened up across the pond for many people at this point.

First, you have Katie Compton winning her first WC race in Pijnacker and then the following week winning in Asper-Gavere at round 3 of the SuperPrestige race. A huge accomplishment for any racer, not named Sven Nys, but the way that Katie won was impressive. At Pijnacker, the winning margin was 54 seconds over her main rival, Daphny Van Der Brand but the SP race she won by a wopping 2.43 over the defending World Champ.

Katie is now on her way back to the lovely confines of CO for some much deserved rest before hitting the USGP races in Portland and then Nationals in KC. Then it is back to Europe for the rest of the season and hopefully a worlds jersey of her very own.

Second, the apparent divorce of Jonathon Page and SunWeb-ProJob. American crossers rejoiced all over the nation when JP got second at Worlds last year. He then was signed up by SunWeb and everyone thought that he had come into his own and was ready for the break out season. He started the season well with wins in MI, a 5th at CrossVegas and then headed over to Europe. It went downhill fast from there.

He was building his own bikes right before the races. He got sick and had a couple of bad races. His boss, who is also a promoter, expected them to add races to their program and then complained when they were not going well. It all came to a head last week in some sort of yelling match in his rv at the races. It also appears that Sven Vanthourenhout is having the same issues with management…but appears to be getting a pass since, 1- he is Belgium and 2- he just had surgery for a blocked artery in his leg.

And to make matters worse, Klaas Vantournot called him out about his almost win at worlds last year. He has some choice comments about JP. Come to find out today, our man Klaas has signed on to race with SunWeb for the next 2 years....maybe this is a blessing in disguise for JP.

Third, Sven Nys has lost a Super Prestige Race. Neils Albert won over the weekend, in Gieten for his first major win of the season. He is focusing on winning the U23 Worlds this year…the only major title he has not won in this age group. In the last couple of World Cup races, he has been riding well but also has had some spectacular falls. He crashed really hard in the 2nd round of GVA series right in front of Erwin Vercecken.