It's official, Jeff and I have finally arrived in Belgium! We are actually wrapping up the evening's activities that included setting up the bikes and enjoying an incredible meal, thanks in large part to Alex, William, and William's mother-in-law, Genevieve. Wine, Molteni beers, cheese, bread, roast beef, delicious French cheese potatoes, and an amazing creme brulee! Perfect fuel for tomorrow's pave.
The day began at 7am, up early to catch the airport shuttle for my 11:53am flight with a D.C. pit-stop. With Jeff already in Brussels waiting for my arrival at the Welcome Hotel, I was more than ready to make the trip up and over. It's been far too long since my last trip to Europe. I made some pretty good use of my extra time at the airport by making some last minute texts and reading the latest Boneshaker Bicycle Almanac that my folks found while visiting my brother in WY. I actually would make Jeff wait a little longer than planned as the flight from D.C. to Brussels became delayed due to a change of planes. I spent that extra time to wander the internet to see if I could find a ride to the Welcome Hotel, and was pleasantly surprised to find the schedules and directions to the Brussels public transportation - took Express #12 bus to Schuman stop, where I caught the M5 Metro to Sainte-Catherine where the Welcome Hotel sits, less than a block from Ste-Catherine Cathedral.
The weather was great - some would say not-so-great, but when you figure in that this is the Spring Classics we're talking about, a grey, cloudy day is almost preferred over the bright, sunshiny day. The sky wanted to fall, but ended up keeping it in, allowing Jeff and I to wander the streets enjoying all the very old architecture, including St. Michael's Cathedral and the Grand Place, where you'll find Gothic and Medieval buildings. Brussels is such a intimate, compact city full of friendly people, who comfortably walk through the narrow, cobblestone streets, eating the local cuisine. There's also an enormous park in the city center which gives proof of the Belgian's eco-friendly perspective. Everything is just within a short walk and as long as you watch your step from all the skyward gazing, you'll find yourself safely soaking in all the rich history found around every corner. Jeff and I certainly learned a thing or two - well before clicking into our pedals.
The only real hurdle of the day was the TGV Train run-around. We both agreed that they could make both the track signs and ticket info just a bit more clear - we missed our first train and had to wait an extra hour for the next one. We actually made it; however, chose the wrong tracks and had to do the whole mad-dash-with-your-luggage to the next set. The doors were still open; however, Mr. Flemish Conductor said no-can-do. No worries. We had bigger, pave fish to fry tomorrow.
After finally arriving to Lille, we found Frank, Brett, Alex, William and the rest of the Velominati gang patiently waiting for us at the train station pub. Needless to say, the brews were keeping them good company. Introductions and handshakes all in order - we then headed out of town into the countryside, finding the Hulhove Cottage in Westouter. Completely new and modern, the Hulhove sits snug against an old dairy farm - the air smells rich in manure and the bright green, rolling hills carry the narrow farm roads up and down, twisting through little villages - each one with a unique collection of old, stone houses and of course, the usual roundabouts.
Upon arrival, we immediate broke into the Molteni brew and started setting up the bikes for tomorrow big day. This took some time - all the while, William's mother-in-law, Genevieve, was busy preparing for the evening's meal. And what a meal it was!? I was arm wrestling food coma in one arm and jet lag in the other. The only reason I'm able to type this is because of a strange second wind I got going here. I will call it a day soon here, I promise. Jeff advised that I don't play on the second wind much longer - the pave will finish me off tomorrow for sure!
Anyhow, that's pretty much the day - it feels so good to be back in Europe. There something about this old place - old buildings, old ground. Good for you for sure. More photos to follow. See you tomorrow!
One of the big highlights in this adventure without a doubt will be the day when we meet and ride with Johan Museeuw. Johan who, some of you may ask? Well, where do I start?! How about the great "Lion of Flanders," 3-time winner of Paris-Roubaix AND Tour of Flanders among other many great victories during his 16-year career as a professional?!
Yes, Johan Museeuw (mew-say-oh), quickly became one of Belgium's prized possessions - winning the world's greatest races with a style that was considered by many to be saturated with sheer determination and unbelievable power. His passion and will-power set him apart from the peloton every single time - Museeuw was the standard, the one-to-watch. His career did not exclusively shine in the spring, either. He proved himself the Belgian National Champion twice, claimed the World Championship in 1996, and even took two stages of the Tour home with him.
Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/cNmQQuHfRHg
Gotta say, pretty good start to the day - the sun's been bright, the breeze playing with the trees, and the coffee, delicious. My thoughts have been a week ahead of the rest of myself for a while now - time to get things in order. Took a moment to click a bit on the computer and found a worthwhile reminder on George's fb page - George, a dear friend of mine from Scotland, who is also of the most passionate and genuine of gentlemen I know, posted a nine-minute flashback of the 1992 Milan-San Remo finish. The one where the great Sean Kelly took us to a whole new level of inspiration, in a matter of seconds.
I have to share it with you. Milan San-Remo, being one of the great Classics, was just last week, and although this year's edition was not quite like the 1992 result, it was still a ball-buster. MSR still stands as the longest, professional one-day race on the calendar at 298 km, and is considered a "sprinter's race" due to the long, straight approach to the finish. Sean Kelly is one of cycling's greats, winning an incredible 193 races in his 14-year professional career - this edition certainly being an excellent display of his incredible tenacity. Enjoy!
And thank you, George for the reminder! My best to you.
http://youtu.be/CUQKOSti7FQ
Ps: Nevermind the music, by the way, unless you just happen to be a fan of quality elevator music.
There are two significant DVD's out there that will help illustrate the intense nature of these races, especially Paris-Roubaix. If you are a cyclist and have a couple cycling dvd's but not this one, then drop everything and buy this movie! From the interviews to the cinematography, it will certainly inspire and hopefully motivate you to ride.
Road to Roubaix, trailer: http://youtu.be/buQGibzq8Sg
Another movie that is a must-see, must-own is "A Sunday in Hell." It captures all senses, taking you back to the early 70's, when the races were more about sport and less about money. This legendary film is the real deal - so genuine, it takes just minutes before you've forgotten where you are, finding yourself straining to smell the chain lube and avoid the dust. It follows two of cycling's greatest legends, Eddy Merckx and Roger de Vlaeminck. Such a sincere film truly captures your heart while at the same time showing you that despite all the years gone by, the basic nature of Paris-Roubaix still remains the same. This is the entire film courtesy of our beloved YouTube.
A Sunday in Hell: http://youtu.be/D4IDCkcnnHg
With this two visuals, I hope you gain a better understanding what Jeff and I are about endure - an enduring experience that should only intensify our love and passion for this sport. Thank you and enjoy!
