Thanks to our intrepid photographer, Mario from Cycling-Pics.be, we have a load of photos from this year’s camp to share.  Just click on the thumbnail to see a bigger version of the image.

Here are the final diaries posted to CyclingNews.com from riders at this year’s ECXC IV.  

Danny Summerhill, Clif Bar Racing:  ”We…said our thank yous and goodbyes to all the mechanics and staff. If it wasn’t for them, none of what we have accomplished in the past two weeks would have ever been possible.“

Danny Summerhill in Loenhoet taking a 14th place finish.

Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be 

Zach McDonald, Classic Cycles, Bainbridge Island, WA:  ”Like every rider who comes the camp, I wanted to come away from the camp with new skills and abilities. Since I had not raced yet I wanted to get an early jump on that train by learning how to foot-plant one of the cruiser bikes. After close to half an hour of work, I was getting some satisfactory results.”

Zach McDonald rounding the corner on his way to an impressive 6th place in Loenhout.

Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be 

Matt Shriver, Jittery Joe’s:  ”There is nothing like being completely gassed on a climb or through a run up and sucking in the cigarette smoke. While we are racing, everyone is drinking and smoking watching you in pain. We are completely flat out, gasping for oxygen, trying to keep the legs turning and we’re inhaling some nasty, expired, Belgian cigarette smoke mixed with partially digested beer.”

Matt Shriver ripping it up at Diegem placing 31st.

Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be 

Manny Goguen, Minuteman Racing:  ”Right around 6pm we hear the famous dinner call. Everyone heads down, grabs a plate, serves themselves and sits. The table is huge! It sits 10 on each side so we usually have multiple conversations going on. If we wanted to have just one, we would have to play telephone to get it from one end to the other. After dinner we all pitch in to clean up.”

Manny Goguen on the race course taking 34th on the day at Diegem.  

Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be 

GP de Ster, Sint-Nikklas, 02.01.2009

Elite Men

1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                 56.13

2 Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb Projob Cycling Team

3 Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus                  0.17

4 Jan Verstraeten (Bel) KDL-Trans                       0.27

5 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus            0.59

12 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona                               1.52

21 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com-Cannondale 3.37

22 Daniel Summerhill (USA) Felt-VMG U23 Cycling Team

24 James Driscoll (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com-Cannondale  3.52

32 Matt Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe’s                     5.14

35 Brian Matter (USA) Team Geargrinders

38 William Dugan (USA) Richard Sachs                    1 lap

39 Jeremy Ferguson (USA) Giant Strawberries

41 Andrew Llewellyn (USA) Better Cycling Of Louisville

42 David Hackworthy (USA) Ridley

Junior Men

1 Valentijn Van De Velde (Bel)                           39.30

2 Cody Kaiser (USA)                                       0.15

3 Xandro Meurisse (Bel)                                   0.23

4 Gavin J Mannion (USA)

5 Gerry Druyts (Bel)

6 Eric Emsky (USA)                                        0.45

13 Joseph Dombrowski (USA)

16 Manny Goguren (USA)                                    2.40

22 Ryan Morgan (USA)                                      4.35

  “This was the most beautiful and toughest edition ever,” Nys said. “Yesterday I was thinking a lot about this race and I absolutely wanted to win it.”  And win he did.  Nys took the race with Zedenek Stybar in second.  Cycling News reported:  Eventually a chain problem from Stybar created the first gap of a couple of meters which the Belgian exploited to maximum advantage. Nys completed the last lap in the fastest time of the race, reaching a blistering average speed of almost 30 kilometers an hour on the technical frozen course.  Here’s that last lap that brought the Nys the victory.  Keep in mind the U-23 Men and the Juniors race the exact same course in Baal.  Here’s the Final Lap on YouTube.

Junior Men

1 Corné Van Kessel (Ned) 39.55

2 Zach McDonald (USA) 0.14             

3 Sean De Bie (Bel) Kon. Balen B.C. V.Z.W. 0.21                     

4 Vinnie Braet (Bel) Cyclingteam Oost-West 0.28                  

5 Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Mez Team Belgium 0.37

14 Cody Kaiser (USA) 3.31

18 Cody Cox (USA) 4.15

19 Joseph Dombrowski (USA) 4.22

20 Morgan Ryan (USA) 4.30                                           

Elite Men

1 Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 57.51

2 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 0.09         

3 Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus 0.25        

4 Radomir Simunek (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus                               

5 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb Projob         

25 Brian Matter USA) 4.35

26 Troy Wells (USA)                                                  

27 Roger Hammond (GBr)

U-23 Men

1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus                                          

2 Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                      

3 Lubomír Petruš (Cze) Empella Czech Team                                         

4 Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team                                

5 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) AA Drinks Cycling Team

15 Bjorn Selander (USA)

27 Jeremy Ferguson (USA)

Troy Wellls is back for his third trip to Euro Cross Camp.

Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be  

Time for another diary entry on CyclingNews.com   This time, we hear from Elite Rider Troy Wells.  Troy rides for the Clif Bar Racing Team and is from Durango, Colorado.  This is Troy’s third trip to Euro Cross Camp.   

You can tell by Troy’s entry that time in at ECXC isn’t always serious:  ”…With his new Blackberry Storm purchase, he is on Facebook more than a 13-year-old girl or Danny Summerhill for that matter. Also his Storm is set up with the Yeah Baby! Austin Powers text alert.”   

More Diary entries can be found at CyclingNews.com.

Zach McDonald coming into another strong finish at Lenhout.

Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be 

Elite Men (76 Starters)

1 Zdenek Stybar(Cze)Fidea Cycling Team 1.01.07              

2 Sven Nys(Bel)Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner                          

3 Radomír Šimunek (Cze) Palmans - Cras 0.02                   

4 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team                                

5 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.12

13 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com

39 Brian Matter (USA)Gear Grinders 3.03

43 Troy Wells (USA)Clif Bar   3.40

52 Matt Shriver (USA)

U23 Men

1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger)         48.54

2 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)                

3 Mitchell Huenders (Ned)          0.02

4 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)    0.10

5 Quentin Bertholet (Bel)              

14 Daniel Summerhill (USA)

21 Bjorn Selander (USA)

44 Jeremy Ferguson (USA)

54 William Dragon (USA)

56 Dave Hackworthy (USA)           4.50

59 Andrew Llewellyn (USA)              

Junior Men

1 Tijmen Eising (Ned)             36.24

2 Lars van der Haar (Ned           0.02

3 Wietse Bosman (Bel)              0.05

4 Michiel van der Heijden (Ned)    0.20

5 Corné van Kessel (Ned)               

6 Zach McDonald (USA)              0.33

12 Gavin Mannnion (USA)

23 Eric Emsky (USA)

29 Gody Kaiser (USA)  

33 Joseph Dombrowski (USA)             

34 Emmanuel Goguren (USA)          4.10

39 Chris Wallace (USA)

45 Cody Cox (USA)                  4.50

46 Morgan Ryan (USA) 

Manny Goguen, Minuteman Racing, negotiating the whoops at Loenhout.

Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be

The pits on a frozen day at Loenhout.  Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be 

Elite Euro Cross Camp Rider Brian Matter shares his thoughts about life in Belgium, racing against the best in the world and making sacrafices.  This is the recent Rider Diary entry on CyclingNews.com website.  Brian’s thoughts are insightful and honest.  Brian writes, “Even though it seems life on the far is easy, it’s not. The sacrifices made have been numerous. From years of training to leaving my wife and family home during the holidays. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary to achieve your lofty goals…”  You can read more of Brian’s thoughts on Euro Cross Camp at his personal blog, www.b-matter.blogspot.com. 

Brian Matter living the dream in Belgium.

Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be 

Here are the latest and greatest installments to the ECXC Diaries on CyclingNews.com.  Chris Wallace, Will Dugan, Morgan Ryan, Gavin Mannion and Bjorn Selander share their thoughts on ECXC VI. 

Bjorn racing during ECXC IV. Photo Courtesy Cycling-Pics.be  

East Coast rider Gavin Mannion, Hot Tubes Development Team, comes to Belgium from Dedham, Massachusets.  This is Gavin’s second trip to Belgium with Director Geoff Proctor and ECXC.  Gavin also represented the USA in last year’s World’s race in Treviso.   

Gavin explains how his race went after a poor starting position due to an “error” on the part of race officials.  Apparently, they forgot to call up the USA riders.   “After a technical start, I was around 25th position. I fought my way through the field until I was in a group that I could not get rid of. At the end of the day I finished in 12th, not bad for a fourth row start.”  

Gavin fighting through the sand at last year’s World Cup race in Hofstade.  Photo Courtesy of Cycling-pics.be  

Bjorn Selander, riding for the Ridley Factory Team, comes from Hudson, Wisconsin.  Bjorn has raced during several Euro campaigns including a couple trips to CX Worlds.  Euro Cross Camp VI is his third camp campaign.   

Here’s a snipet of Bjorn’s diary:”…I got a massage from the retired police officer Herman. This guy is awesome, he is a legend in Belgium for his police work, and everyone knows and loves him because he never gave tickets. He also told me that I would be on the top step of the podium in Diegem. Keep in mind that he doesn’t speak barely any English so it was just him doing all the motions of a winner.”  

  Bjorn racing during ECXC IV in 2006 - 2007. Photo Courtesy of Joe Sales.  

Chris Wallace, riding for KCCX Verge, comes to Belgium from his home in Shawnee, Kansas.  This is Chris’ first Euro Cross Camp.  Things seem to be going well for Chris in Belgium:  ”…Everybody was quite excited to receive their overly tight USA long sleeve skinsuits last night and all of us hope to represent our country well. This week has been just one big long preparation for the race and the week ahead.“

Chris Wallace charging hard at the first race on the ECXC calender in Uitbergen.  Photo Courtesy of Cycling-Pics.be

Superprestige #6 - Diegem

Elite Men - 49 starters

1 Zdenek Stybar 01:00:44

2 Klass Vantornout :08

3 Sven Nys

4 Thijs Al

5 Bart Wellens :39

24 Troy Wells 2:55

28 Jonathan Page 4:04

31 Matt Shriver 4:38

34 Brian Matter 5:47

Juniors

1 Tijmen Eising (Ned)             36.24

2 Lars van der Haar (Ned           0.02

3 Wietse Bosman (Bel)              0.05

4 Michiel van der Heijden (Ned)    0.20

5 Corné van Kessel (Ned)               

6 Zach McDonald (USA)              0.33

12 Gavin Mannnion (USA)

23 Eric Emsky (USA)

29 Gody Kaiser (USA)

33 Joseph Dombrowski (USA)             

34 Manny Goguen (USA) 4.10

39 Chris Wallace (USA)

45 Cody Cox (USA)                  4.50

46 Morgan Ryan (USA)

U23

1 Philipp Walsleben (Ger) 48.54

2 Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) 

3 Mitchell Huenders (Ned) 

4 Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel)  00.10

5 Quentin Bertholet (Bel) 

6 Lukas Kloucek (Cze) 

14 Daniel Summerhill (USA)

21 Bjorn Selander (USA)

44 Jeremy Ferguson (USA)

54 Will Dugan (USA) 

56 David Hackworthy (USA)  4.50

59 Andrew Llewellyn (USA)

Results can be found at either the Wielerbond Vlaandern site or CyclingNews.com