Koppenberg Cross....we love this place

Yesterday was the first round of the Gazet Van Antwerpen (GVA) Cross series. And the first race on the docket is the KoppenbergCross.

This mythical hill in the city of Oudenaarde in East Flanders has seen many a bike race in its day. It is only 77 meters long but at its steepest pitch, 22%, it has seen many a bike cleat from some of the best riders in the world. It is most famous for the 1987 Ronde van Vlaanderen when Jesper Skibby of the Roland team fell and the race commissionaire drove over his front wheel and frame because the race was right behind them.



So on the first Thursday in November, they close it down, roll out the Primus beer truck, where pints are 2.50 euro during the race and setup a cross course. The men usually do about 10 laps over the course. It starts at the bottom of the hill, like most good rides normally do, and then race up the hill and hang a right. Over the past couple of years, it has been very wet and Thursday was no different. With temps in the low 50's, overnight rain and mud that only the Belgiums can make, the best cross racers in the world ready to toe the line. The Americans are represented by JPage and Colorado's own Jon Baker. The gun goes off and we are racing!!!

As usual, it was the Sven and Bart show until the end. Our man, Zdenek was there until he got dropped on the climb with 2 laps to go. Bart was taking chances and went ass over tea kettle into the fence, got back up and caught Sven. Up the climb for the last time, Bart took the inside line, pushed Nys to the outside of the right hander at the top of the climb and looked like he would break the Nys domination of 3 in a row. Sven had other plans and came by him for the win and now leads all three major cross series: SuperPrestige, World Cup and GVA. Hell, he is also the leader of the USGP because he is Sven Nys, even though he has never raced in the States.


Check out the video of the race here. http://www.sport.be/nl/wielrennen/veldrijden/video/player/index.html