I’ve been thinking about why I enjoyed watching the races on Saturday so much in Louisville. I’ve posted it here many times, I’m that usually that big on spectating bike races. Especially races that I’d like to be racing. Maybe I’m just changing and have changed my mindset on this or maybe the races were just so darn exciting that I forgot about any personal issues and just enjoyed.
No matter what the complaints were on Saturday, waiting in a long line to enter the venue, to not having any nourishment, I didn’t meet anyone that wasn’t crazy excited about what was going on.
I think the main reason for this was that there were just enough people there to allow accessibility to being really close up to the action. There was hardly a place that you couldn’t eventually get up to the barriers and watch super close up. This accessibility made the race seem very special.
I think that is a big attraction that the sport of cyclo-x has going. Watching the riders as the mud sprayed off their wheels into their faces, and ours, made it that much more real. It allowed us to experience the event from as close as we can, almost from within.
I thought the crowds were awesome in Louisville. The Belgians thought there weren’t that many people there. But, from what they are used to, I can understand. But they also said they were so surprised that the fans cheered for each and every one of them. The reason for this is that many of the spectators are also participates of the sport. That is pretty special. That is the reason that our fans were so appreciative of the riders and cheered all. They have personally experienced the effort and realized how special these guys are. It was great.
I haven’t spoken to anyone that was disappointed after the event. It was very cool. Sure, it could have been better. More beer, more food, etc., but those are just ancillary things that would make it better for the casual observer. True cyclocross racers couldn’t have asked for a better day. The course, the races, and the riders guaranteed that.
I took all these pictures with just my iPhone. Pretty accessible.
This picture, of Tim Johnson, was taken through the stair run-up.
Sven after the barriers.
A little ways back on the first lap.
Sven approaching the stairs.
Katie coming off the pavement the last lap.
How about accessibility to the winners. Catherine loved speaking a little French to the 3rd place finisher.
Here’s an incognito Brad Huff, who had made his way over from Springfield Missouri. I hardly spotted him, being so camo and blending in so well with the crowds.
The “Crazy Hills” was the place to be, however the ground was so slippery we were helping each other out just to stay vertical while walking.
With lesser than expected crowds, moving between different parts of the course was a breeze.
At the press conference European racers said that “American spectators were crazier”.
The Euros were amazed how supportive the fans were. Typically they said the host nation gets all the cheers, and no one else gets any props (unless there are traveling hordes of Belgians). Here they commented that no matter where they were from, or how far off the lead they were, the were ridding through a tunnel of noise. They all thought it was very special and incredible.
Even better, the mean heckling was absolutely minimal.
And I cannot believe you missed the foam party. Drinking beers while all the racers were hanging around was awesome. Ill never forget it.
Brad Huffing?
That’s funny, I saw him walking around twice and kept thinking, man, that creepy dude looks familiar. No clue it was Brad.
I don’t know about the photos – kinda artsy in my opinion.
I can’t help but wonder how you would have done in this race. That mud is def your type of course. I may be crazy, but I think you could have been in the top 10 had you had a day like the pre-Nats Chicago race and no shoulder injury.