final day

The Ghent 6

The UIV Cup – Memorial Foré

The last two nights in the “Toekomst zesdaagse” promised firework! And that is what happened too. The leading teams made it a thriller. It started on Saturday night with Alex and Jackson winning the 500 meter time trial in 28”81. Beating the Belgians Ligneel-Deweer, their time 28”91. Ten points for the winners, so the Cyclones came 1 point ahead of the Swiss riders but still one lap down on the Britisch!

The 200 laps madison with five point-sprints had to decide who would start on sunday, the final race, in yellow! The British team had to keep the one lap advantage cause they were short on points. But it were the Danish guys that went away first, they took one lap back but would loose two later on in the race. They payed a lot for that effort. For the Aussies and the Swiss every sprint counted and on top they had to take that lap back of the Brits. And it happened! Imhof-Dillier and Carver-Law tried to get away, and a bad change of Mould and Yates gave them a small gap. The next lap Yates went down as well and we had three teams in the same lap.

In the sprints it was a hard battle for points, with the Swiss winning three and the Aussies only one. That meant we went to the “finale” on sunday with following General Classement:

1. Imhof-Dillier (95 pts)
2. Carver-Law (93 pts)
3. Mould-Yates (53 pts)
4. Lander-Kreutzfeldt (-2 laps / 38 pts)

On Sunday, with a big crowd on the stands, we had only one event on the program, a 240 laps Madison with six sprints.

The assignment was simple. The Swiss had to control the race and win few sprints, Alex and his mate had to win sprints or take a lap and for the Brits the most important task was to take a lap. Mould and Yates started pretty relaxed in the race, Alex, Jackson, Claudio and Silvan tried to get points. But after the third sprint it was over for the Aussies. There was no way they could win on points anymore, and to take a lap, the Swiss were to strong.

The final race was won by the Danish team Lander-Kreutzfeldt. After a great week of cycling this was the final ranking:

1. Claudio Imhof – Silvan Dillier (121 pts)
2. Alex Carver – Jackson Law (101 pts)
3. Jonathan Mould – Simon Yates (66 pts)
4. Sebastian Lander – Christian Kreutzfeldt (-1 lap)
5. Daniel Mc Lay – Owan Doull (-5 laps)

day 3/4

The Ghent 6

The UIV Cup – Memorial Foré

Day three and four have changed a bit the situation at the top. We see the Swiss guys getting better every day and the Belgians Deweer-Ligneel lost contact with the top together with the Italians Longo-Nicolo. Of course the Belgians had a valid excuse after the enormous crash on the second day.

Alex and Jackson could reduce damage to a minimum on the third night. The teams looked at each other the whole race, noone was able to take a lap, so it came all down to the points score. And that is a strong weapon for the Helvetians Imhof-Dillier. They won the final sprint and Jackson got second.

So after the third night three teams led the ranking, Carver-Law (53pts), Imhof-Dillier (47pts) and the strong Brits Mould-Yates (36pts). All the rest on one or more laps down.

In the meantime the French team crashed out as well, The field was down to nine teams.

Friday night, night number four, started with a 500m time trial. Once again our Aussies got second in a time of 29”01 only beaten by the Italian team Longo-Nicolo.Their time 28”91.

The following madison was a lot more exciting then the night before, also for the spectators. Right from the start teams tried to take that necessary lap advantage. But not one single team could take more then half a lap and got court again. However the Aussies tried hard at one stage, and it looked like it was going to work, but the Brits and Swiss brought Alex and Jackson back.

As we prepared for the third sprint, the worst thing that could happen in a madison, happened!

A moment of misjudgement in a handsling and Alex went down. The team was neutralised for a while. Normally when your partner is out, eather for mecanical problem or a crash the jury tells you to tune you race on another couple. You ride and rest like the others do. But this time the officials didn’t listen to a furious Aussie coach Tim Decker.

But that also meant that Jackson had to stay in the field. The young man had to stay 12 laps in the bunch without any moment of recovery, untill Alex came back on the track. On top of that the Brits used this moment to attack and poor Jackson was suffering to stay up with a chasing group.

From then on it was hard work for both Alex and Jackson, the favorites to win this six. The others couples realised that now the green and gold boys had problems. Especially Jackson was looking forward to the end of the race. The boys worked hard to stay up with the Swiss and kept the loss down to one lap.

Looking forward to saturdaynight, and i hope the boys can bring another great performance.

1. Mould – Yates (48 pts)
2. Imhof – Dillier (-1 lap / 71 pts)
3. Carver – Law (-1 lap / 67 pts)
4. Lander – Kreutzfeldt (-2 laps / 25 pts)
5. Deweer - Ligneel (-5 laps / 23 pts)

day 2

The Ghent 6

The UIV Cup – Memorial Foré

“This field is a lot stronger then last year” Alex said while waiting for the start. “ Where we, last year, took two laps the first night and then controlled the race, we have to work a lot harder staying at the top. Especially the Brits are strong. We misjudged a few changes and that cost us three sprints last night.” Coach Tim Decker: “we must stay attentive and concentrated to avoid this mistakes.”

For young Jackson (17 years old!!) it is the first big six day race. He said: “Apart of some club races we didn’t ride many Madison’s together.” “After Ghent we ride in Zurich and then fly home for the Nationals, two days later. There Alex will ride with Jackson’s older brother Scott, i will ride with Jordan Kirby” Jackson told me.

The positive fact of this hectic night is that Jackson and Alex took over the lead from the English duo Mould – Yates. After they won the fastest lap, 166 meter in 9’13, they gathered enough points to be the virtual leaders. Then it was a task to stay in yellow trough the madison. Not only the boys had to look out for the British and Swiss couples, but also to try to avoid the dangerous riders in the field. Riders not used to race madisons and riders struggling to get around, missing changes etc...

It actually started already in the warm up, when the American riders Williams (USA champion pursuit) and his partner Marans (USA junior champ madison) came down. God knows how, cause noone around them, not even going fast and on the straight line! But the damage was of the worst kind! Both broke their collarbone.

With eleven teams we started the 200 laps madison, 5 sprints for the points included. As soon as the gun was fired, the Kiwi and his Belgian mate took of. No reaction of any other team, cause these two guys were 11 laps down. But that would be the reason for what happened later on. These boys took a lap and almost immediately got dropped. From then on they struggled to get around the track, exhausted. And the lack of concentration caused the next crash. On full speed, for the first sprint, five riders rode into the back of the much too slow Kiwi. Riders sliding from the banks, wheels flying around, broken forks and the race neutralised for a while, then stopped for 10 minutes. Brian Ligneel saw his changes to win disappear, cause the good riding Deweer ended in hospital. The organisation decided to make the race shorter, and started again with 8 teams out of the 11 for hundred laps and 2 sprints.

And that is where the green and golds took advantage. Winning the first sprint and second in the final one, gave them a bag full of usefull points.

1. Carver – Law (33 pts) AUS
2. Imhof – Dillier (23 pts) SWI
3. Mould – Yates (22 pts) GBR
4. Lander – Kreutzfeldt (-1 lap – 7 pts) GER
5. Longo – Nicolo (-2 laps – 6 pts) ITA

Ghent 6 - day 1

The Ghent 6

The UIV Cup – Memorial Foré U23

There is no law that tells with which Law you have to win. That is what Alex Carver tought

when he and his mate Jackson Law lighted the fuse of the powder keg last night. Alex won

the Ghent six last year with Jackson’s brother Scott. It was just before the first sprint that the

Australians attact for the first time. Immediately we could see who the teams are that will

compete for the final win on sunday. Only the British, the Swiss and the Belgians Deweer

Ligneel could follow the unchained Aussies. Jackson won that first sprint and put him and

Alex in the lead. Altough compared to last year, the rest of the field was not ready to be

slaughtered. Specially the British team fought back and in what way! They won

three out of the five sprints and the last one was for the Swiss team.

The first night ended with the yellow jersey for Mould-Yates, the green one for the Aussie

boys. In the meantime the other antipode, the New Zealander Chris Magic, road around with

his Belgian mate already 11 laps down.

1. Mould – Yates (20 pts) - GBR

2. Carver – Law (15 pts) – AUS

3. Imhof – Dillier (11 pts) – SWI

4. Deweer – Ligneel (3 pts) BEL

5. Lander – Kreutzfeldt (- 1 lap – 3 pts) DEN

70th Lotto Z6daagse Vlaanderen Gent

Every eye was concentrated on what local hero Iljo Keisse would do after his ban, then corrected by court, banned again and finally the lights set on green for a start in “his” six day race. You could see that he missed the four months of competition and on top of that he came at the start with fever because of flu.

After the traditional teams presentation, riders have to sign the startlist on the track, the race could begin.

Before the first madison, Rasmussen-Morkov (twice) and Stam-Van Bon got flowers in the smaller events.

The first madison was won by De Ketele-Lampater in a close sprint with Bartko-Hondo.

The first night usually tells a lot about the chances of the teams to win. That means that Iljo is warned! His fellow countryman had a remarkable start.

And that De Ketele is in superform, you could see after the madison, he won his heat in the derny race and the finale as well.

The Danes Rasmussen- Morkov won the second madison, which means: we know how to look for!

1. De Ketele – Lampater (65 pts) BEL-GER
2. Bartko – Hondo (50 pts) GER
3. Keisse – Schep (-1 lap – 68 pts) BEL-HOL
4. Rasmussen – Morkov (-1 lap – 58 pts) DEN

Australian Luke Roberts and his younger French partner Morgan Kneisky are ranked at the 9^th place, also 1 lap down and 20 pts. For the Frenchmen it’s his first race with the big guns. Luke, on the other hand, told me that he only arrived two days ago in the cold Belgium, after a short trainingscamp in Queensland with his roadteam. He felt the jetlag of course. Everything can only go better after the first night, and a good night sleep!

Ghent 6 - 2010

Five days before the start, Patrick Sercu announced the teams for the 70^th Ghent Six.

The teams to beat will be the Danish titleholders Rasmussen – Morkov and the Germans

Bartko – Hondo. It will not be easy for Iljo Keisse, the local man, riding with the Dutchie Schep, to get on the top of the podium.

The Worldchampions and winners from last year Rasmussen and Morkov are the candidates for the final win of the “Lotto Z6sdaagse Vlaanderen Gent”. That is the official name of oldest six day race in Europe.

Hondo and Bartko, a combination of a lot of experience and power. Danilo just won the 6 of Amsterdam, with Kluge. Robert we know a lot more from roadracing.

For Iljo Keisse it will be a home race he will never forget. The Ghent crowd loves him that much that they can scream him to a great performence. After the troubles he had, to make an end to his two year ban, he only found out last week that the Brussels court agreed with a temporary stop of the ban.

Looking for the teams for a “top 5” spot i reckon we have to follow De Ketele – Lampater and

Roberts – Kneisky.

Everybody expect a lot from the young Frenchman Kneisky. It is his first six with the “big boys”. And lucky for him his has the experienced Australian Luke Roberts to look after him.

Luke has always been one of my favorite trackriders, and i am glad to see him back in “het Kuipke” after a year absence.

Of course we can’t forget Marvulli and Aeschbach, the Swiss team that won the Grenoble six lately.

The complete field:

Alex Rasmussen – Michael Morkov (DEN)

Iljo Keisse – Peter Schep (BEL-HOL)

Danny Stam – Leon Van Bon (HOL)

Robert Bartko – Danilo Hondo (GER)

Kenny De Ketele – Leif Lampater (BEL-GER)

Tim Mertens – Pim Ligthart (BEL-HOL)

Tosh Van De Sande – Andreas Muller (BEL-GER)

Luke Roberts – Morgan Kneisky (AUS-FRA)

Franco Marvulli – Alexander Aeschbach (SWI)

Steven Deneef – Steve Schets (BEL)

Sebastian Donadio – Jeff Vermeulen (ARG-BEL)

Jens Mouris – Wim Stroetinga (NED)

Jens Erik Madsen – Marc Hester (DEN)

Each night before the start of the “big 6” there is the “Future 6”. This race is called the “Memorial Noel Foré”. These men only race a madison every night.

This year is a enormous international field at the start. You can say, o great, to see the best of the worlds future madison riders or you can think, like me: do we have only five Belgian riders interested in the track?

Anyway, the favourites are: Alex Carver and Jackson Law! Alex won the race last year with Jackson’s brother Scott.

They have to compete against team from England, Denmark, Italy, USA, etc...

The Ghent 6 is surtenly not dead, if you still need to buy your tickets, i can only say: Hurry!

Drapac Professional Cycling off to Europe in May 2011 for the 5th time

For the fifth time Drapac Professional Cycling will head off to Europe in May 2011.

The season 2011 will be a special one for the reds of Drapac. They travel for the fifth time direction Belgium, more specific 20km south of Ghent. A small village near Oudenaarde, called Leupegem host the Drapac team. A cosy B&B that grow out to a real cycling hotel.

A coincidental or not, but it is also the first time the team has contracted a European rider.

Floris Goesinnen is a 27 yr old “Dutchie”. Pro since 2006 for Skil Shimano, it will a be a new challenge for him to race in Australia again. He competed in the Sun Tour few years ago.

Floris is not a bad climber either, he won the KOM jersey in the 3 days of De Panne (2010) and also in the Eneco Tour (2008)

“I am really looking forward to race in Australia and become an Aussie. With the boys introducing me into the Aussie livestyle, it will be easy to settle in Melbourne” he said.

“After that it will be my turn to guide the boys in the European races, i will introduce them into the “Dutch echalons”. No better feeling then splitting up a bunch and then realize all the Drapac riders are in the front group” Floris laughs.

I ask him if he could compare the racing in Europe with his experience from the Sun Tour?

“Yes, the racing is different, less controlled, which makes the races harder and gives more chanches to the more aggresive and stronger riders. And, that is where we can use the echalons for. Not that loved in Australia” he reckons.

About himself he said “ I have finished the bachelor of kinetic sciences and have a master waiting in the future. The link to the sports is big, and Australia’s way to succes in sports is also enormous, they are not for nothing the worlds leader for tracing talents, training and development”.

The team is doing a programm in Europe in the months of May and June. The important races will be the An Post Ras in Ireland, the Fleche du Sud in Luxemburg, and the one day races as Halle-Ingooigem in Belgium and the Batavus Pro race in the Netherlands. Also the team will start in one or two stage races in France. Together with Belgian kermesses and crits the programm will be full!

Also new in the team will be Michael Phelan’s brother Adam. This former Mc Donagh Blake-Witness rider ,coached by Trent Wilson, is one of the strongest coming up riders on the Australian Cycling scene. With his brother being a member of the team since last year, he has a personal guide.

The third new face, is a nephew of an ex-pro that raced many years in Belgium. I bet John Nuttall gave him some hints about the living in Europe. Stuart Grimsey raced last season in France. The experience of racing most of the Coupe de France series will help him to play his role in the Drapac team. Maybe he will do even better then the other Brunswick boys (Docker and Munro) that raced for the team before.

After Adiq Husain winning the national Malaysia roadtitle, we welcome a second Malaysian rider. His name? Amir Rusli (23 yr). Winner of the Sandown Twilight Crit lately! He is not a winners type tho.” This is his first win in years” his coach John Beasley said.

He will be one of the hard workers in the team next year.

The full roster:

Drapac Patrick – AUS

Goesinnen Floris - HOL

Grimsey Stuart - AUS

Norris Lachlan – AUS

Othman Adiq – MAL

Palmer Tom – AUS

Pell David – AUS

Phelan Adam - AUS

Phelan Michael – AUS

Pollock Rhys – AUS

Rusli Amir - MAL

Shaw Stuart - AUS