EUROPE CAMPAIGN - PART I

Image taken by Billy Lebelge

Immediately upon the closure of our U.S. National championships - the mechanics worked all day on Sunday to break down and pack up equipment for Raylyn Nuss & Katie Clouse to fly on a red-eye with mechanic, Chris Namba, to Amsterdam where they would taxi to pick up an RV for the block and then continue a 2 hour drive south to Sittard - where the team would base out of Watersley Talentpark.

3 bikes each, 16 sets of wheels, spare parts, trainers to warm up on, tools, clothing - let’s just say 11 checked bags, and 6 carry on bags later… the luggage shuffle was in full-force.

Race imagery: Billy Lebelge

We kicked off our campaign with a double header of World Cup Hulst on Saturday and World Cup Zonhoven Sunday - the weekend after Nationals where over 100 women were on the start list! Let’s just say the first few races in Europe are always tough to not only acclimate, but to embrace the chaos of what is true cyclocross. European depth of fields (where you fight for every possition on the track all the way through 90th place), and finally true muddy conditions.

As American riders, it’s tough to jump straight into the beauty of racing cyclocross in Europe. The athletes who compete here get accustomed to the high level of racing - in the States it’s sometimes a much different sport… as we long for the rain to fall and the reality of the fields just not being as deep. But that’s why it’s so imporant to make the effort to get all of our equipment dialed and flown across the world so we are as prepared as possible. Controlling as much of our environment as we can and to make sure all of our riders have the best setup going into race day despite the level-up.

World Cup Hulst and World Cup Zonhoven are two of the more technical tracks on the UCI calendar - it’s a nice way to rip the bandaid off and get emerged quickly!

Following Zonhoven we had the week to celebrate the holidays abroad as we prepped for the iconic Boxing Day and World Cup Gavere. Raylyn, Katie and Chris took a day trip from Sittard, Netherlands up to Amsterdam to get some quality food, coffee, and shopping into the mix of our day to day routines of training, eating, and resting.

Raylyn’s image of a canal in Amsterdam.

Our Christmas was spent watching the 2023 Gavere race while eating French Toast and drinking coffee. Raylyn & Katie went out for a Christmas Day bike ride to get their openers in for the race. We listened to Christmas music and munched on charcuterie while Chris made us homemade tortillas and Raylyn whipped up the goods for white fish tacos - YUM!

World Cup Gavere is known for being a heavy track with a long walk from parking to the track. The course is based on a military base while it ebbs and flows over a massive hill - where part of the course is a very long run up - runners stand up! After a blazing first lap and good TV time - Katie would spend most of the race in the top 15 after her back began to give and she fought it out finishing the day in 24th, and Raylyn would finish in a steady 30th place.

Curtis and Doug both arrived the day after Gavere to get ready for our World Cup in Besaçon, France - about a 5.5hr drive from Sittard Netherlands.

We arrived on Saturday the 28th, to a very cold France just in time for pre ride. As the frozen ground would thaw, the conditions became extremely slick: A top greasy layer with a hard ground underneath.

With a frosty winter backdrop and cold temps (thermal skin suits came in very handy) and an electric crowd that lined the entire course blowing smoke bombs and chainsaws. Katie had a crash on the first lap of Besaçon that knocked the wind out of her hard enough to where she would pull out of the race (she was ultimately okay!) - after a tough first few laps Raylyn would fight her way up 15-17 places to finish the race in 32nd place.

Raylyn and Chris flew home from Europe on NYE while Curtis, Katie and Doug would stay and prep for the X2O Troffee race in Baal on New Years Day! It’s always a fun way to ring in the new year on a muddy and technical track that draws large crowds. Katie with another blazing fast start would cap the new year with a top 10 finish! Bringing good vibes to the team for the new year. Curtis would also have a solid result finishing the day in 21st.

To close our the first round of our Europe campaign Curtis and Doug would head to Dendermonde to take on the “Dendermonster” known for being an extremely heavy and muddy track as everyone would lace up their running shoes and finish the race unrecognizable as they would be covered from head-to-toe in mud. Curtis would finish off the campaign for us with a 26th place!

Katie has made her way down to a warm and sunny Spain where she’ll spend the next few weeks putting some miles in her legs and getting some much deserved Vitamin D as she preps for the closure of the season.

Raylyn flew home to be back in Missouri as she gets inducted into the Central Methodist University Hall of Fame for her college basketball career. She plans to head back to Europe to finish off the final two world cups of the season in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.

Curtis also flew home after Dendermonde to spend time with his family before closing out the season for the final two World Cups as well.

Until then - we hope you’re enjoying winter and everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

Image taken by Raylyn from the team RV as Chris got equipment set up for the Gavere World Cup.