Kerstperiode Notebook | Sven Nys GP at Baal
Over the years, I have constructed a 10-story high soapbox to address my feelings on "cyclocross weather." And I have beaten this topic into the ground so thoroughly that even in Belgium, folks at races ask me if THIS is cyclocross weather. To which I dutifully reply, yes, it's always cyclocross weather.
Say it with me: cyclocross weather is the weather in which you race cyclocross. It could be hot and dry, like most of the early North American calendar, or muddy, cold and rainy, like a good portion of the Belgian calendar. One is no more "real" than the other.
I will concede that cyclocross at the highest level for the past several decades takes place predominantly in Belgium. I will also concede that it rains practically every day during the winter months in Belgium, meaning mud and rain are the conditions most associated with the sport. But that doesn't make your late summer race in Texas any less cyclocross-y; it's just different.
Cyclocross in Dutch is veldrijden. In English, "veld" is "field," and "rijden" is ride. In its most basic terms, cyclocross in Belgium is field riding, and the fields in Belgium from November to March are saturated mud bogs. What has been great about my time in Belgium over the past few weeks is that despite it raining every rest day, the rain has been minimal for race days, which creates some of my favorite cyclocross conditions: mud but no rain.
The Sven Nys GP at Baal was a great example of these conditions. It was muddy. Wet mud, heavy mud, forced to pedal downhill just to keep moving mud. But it wasn't raining. Perfect.
This mud I speak of, wasn't in play just for the riders. The spectators must deal with it, too. The spectator area outside the party tent at Baal was ankle-deep slop. But this didn't stop thousands from attending. If you come to a cyclocross race in these parts, you know what you're in for. Nobody is showing up surprised by the conditions.
I have the same waterproof hiking boots I've taken to every event for years. They are US14 or 49 for you Euros, and they take up half of my luggage. Between the boots and the coffee kit, I have little room left for clothes. I also wear rainpants on sunny days. Just because the sky is sunny doesn't mean the ground is dry. And the secret to race photography is getting low. Prone, even. Not having wet pants and a soggy butt makes for a much more enjoyable workday.
But back to sensible footwear, not everyone has it. There is a segment of spectators (most of them in their teens) who make a choice. This isn't a mistake; it's a choice. And that choice is to show up in their trainers, mostly white ones, like some nice Nike Dunks or the equivalent. And in an amazing display of agility and vigilance, they keep these kicks more or less clean throughout the day. I became fixated on watching these magical people traverse the venue with deft steps and calculated paths to keep the shoes pristine. On the other hand, I'm like a kid who loves playing in the rain, stomping through puddles without a care. It's a very American look.
New Year's Day was my first time to Baal. The track has a lot of elevation, with the cycling center sitting atop a hill and the track running around it. I was talking to one of the broadcast camera operators from the area, and he told me that the grounds used to be a motocross course and the downhill whoops section is the last remaining feature from those days.
Along with the whoops, I spent a lot of time at the water feature at the venue's absolute lowest and most remote corner. With large, soupy mud puddles concealing hidden potholes, this section was tricky. Easy enough if you chose the right line, but pick an unlucky route, and you'd lose your front wheel in a hidden divot. I don't think the feature impacted the racing, but it made for some good photos.
Along with challenging the riders with elevation changes, multiple line choices and various mud types, Baal was also fun to shoot. Many different angles and hidden nooks and crannies that weren't places fans congregated made for a fun day out.
Media Center Rating:
Baal: The press room was in a large heated temporary building constructed track-side. The location allowed easy access to the finish line and the mud sections. Coffee, bottled water, veggie sub sandwiches and beer, Sven and his crew do it right. A+. No notes.
Postscript to Hulst:
Kudos to the Zonhoven race organization and the Belgian press liaison. Following the interaction between a photographer and spectators, which I talked about in my last entry, we received word before the Zonhoven World Cup that there would be dedicated photo spots available at Sunday’s race, and they would be staffed by stewards to keep spectators out of the areas.
I knew it was going to be a good read when you started out talking about cx weather :) wonderful images, Bill!! Baal is baller, for sure!!
At my house, all my TVs talk to google Photo. All during the day they feature albums or such that I select. Cyclocross photos of my friends, holiday albums, photos of my parents, all just play like a slideshow.
Have you Bill ever made a photo album that you’ve published that one could just play all day on their TV?