Back on the plane after 10 days at home is a shock. Jet lag never left my brain and hangs over me like wet scarf, but I’ll have to hit the ground running even though I get in a day before the riders. David Benkoski is on this trip, which will be his first time racing in Europe, along with Erik Volotsky, Kristo Jorgenson (both already in Izegem), Dean Haas, Austin Boswell, and Ben Wolfe. The guys are registered for two 3day races: 3 Ettapen de Rad in Frankfurt, Germany, and Driedaagse Van Axel in Zeeland, Netherlands. Both are well known junior races that will quickly sort out the best riders.
After a few days of good jet lag removing training Aaron F. (mechanic) and Viggo C. (soigneur) packed up the White Sprinter with all of our gear, which was extensive, and headed over to Koblenz, Germany for a night in a hotel. This would leave us a small drive time to Frankfurt the morning of the first stage. Spirits were high and the dinner at the hotel was excellent, even though we’d used the wrong bowls for salad. The waitress was visibly perturbed, but we’re not from there, so…
Of course, the following morning the Sprinter wouldn’t start and after a moment (or 5) of panic we adapted, got the boys into Seal Team 6 mode, stripped down gear and went light. Viggo went to talk to the hotel manager, who went above and beyond to help us. We packed only the bare essentials and the entire team into the Passat and drove slow to the Hostel where all the teams were staying. Viggo and Aaron dealt with the Sprinter mechanic who showed up to diagnose the van and the team and I hoped for the best. I crossed everything I could cross, for luck.
The other team directors asked me where all our gear was, where the van was, where our soigneur and mechanic were and I explained the situation. “Oy yoy yoy, this is not possible.” they said. “Oh, very possible” I replied, “But it’ll work out.” I told them. Secretly I was a mess, but what can you do? Just keep calm and cycle on, right? The guys got settled into their rooms, they ate lunch, I attended the director’s meeting, had more coffee and still no word from Aaron or Viggo. It was time to go, so we packed up our gear once more, stuffed ourselves into the Passat and headed over to the TT course.
The guys unpacked their kit and prepared to race when I got a phone call from Aaron explaining that it was a bad ‘O’ ring in the fuel line and they were on their way. 4 hours and 400 Euro later the big white sprinter appeared out of the forest, kicking up a cloud of dust as she came vaulting over the lot, just as the course was closing. There was an overwhelming sense of calm that spread amongst the guys. Maybe the trip was looking up after all!
The time trial was a short effort around a park that was just outside the Frankfurt airport-about a 12’ effort. Time trials in Europe are staged so each director can follow their riders one at a time, in a team sequence with about 10 minutes between sets of riders. After the first round it flows very well but it still takes all day to do. TT’s are a draining affair. Warm ups, spread across the bulk of the day, riders going, coming in, checking bikes, checking times, checking race radio, talking to the riders, getting guys into and out of the car, eating something, finding a place to pee, wishing success, and off we go! Blast out of the start gate, down the ramp, right turn, straight, honk the horn, scream out the window, 180 turn, get the car sideways, blast back up to your rider, megaphone from another team car, two honks-you’re below 45kph, speed up, right, traffic furniture, 180, straight, find that 14, watch the bump, faster, 180, hard right, chicane, through the trees, horn blaring, right, hard left, watch the dust and gravel, sprint finish. Repeat x 6.
Kristo posted the best time and now he sat in 9th, just a handful of seconds behind the leader. The guys did extremely well, considering the stress of not knowing what was to become of our van and I was pleased with their calmness throughout.
Pack up, drive back for dinner, wait for results and ponder strategies for the next day over another cup of coffee.
Billy Innes - USA Cycling 17-18 Juniors Director Sportif / Team Specialized Masters
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