AJ August stayed in Europe after the Christmas race block. He went to Mallorca for a training camp.
Quality training, motivation, and great company in great weather.
Benidorm is next up on the World Cup schedule and directly inland from Mallorca, so a convenient transition.
AJ is the only USA junior racing here. His program is slightly different from the rest and focuses on the overall World Cup, the USA Nationals, and then finally the World Championships in Hoogerheide, NL on February 5th. Slightly fewer races, but quality over quantity.
After a first lap crash, luckily in the pit corner so straight in and a bike and shoe change. Made it back to the front after posting the fastest laps in the race. Still leading up the final dirt climb, but finished 4th on the day. A technical course, a lot of gravel/sand on concrete. Transitions from a lot of different surfaces and stairs, a different race, in a different climate, and a ton of fans out. A special race for sure. AJ is now 9th place overall in the Junior World Cup standings.
6 riders from FinKraft Junior Cycling Team made the trip across the pond to Belgium for the “Kerstperiode” or Christmas block. A two-week action-packed race block.
A race every other day. Race, rinse, and repeat. All the famous races and courses you have watched on TV for years.
AJ August and David Thompson are with the USA National Team and Ben Stokes, Finley Aspholm, and Haylee Johnson are with EuroCrossAcademy. Dillon is the privateer and is supported by his family and Cyclocross Custom. Separate programs, but all at the same place and all together in several races.
The first race on the schedule was Exact Zilvermeercross Mol. David and Dillon started their block here. A great classic sand race and venue around a Belgium resort. The location for Masters CX World-championships many times in the past.
Lot’s of running and tricky sand to navigate, definitely diving into the deep end to start off the block for our two boys. David P10 and Dillon P43.
Next up was Gavere (non-World Cup for juniors). Super muddy and classic tricky, rutted descents.
Dillon was the only rider who took part in this race from our team. Quite the contrast from Mol and this was true Belgium mud. Dillon P30.
Superprestige Heusden-Zolder, the iconic course around the motorsport race track, is again very different from any other. Fast, somewhat dry, and sandy. Now we have AJ and David with the US National Team and Dillon with Cyclocross Custom. AJ crashes in the first turn but comes back to finish 5th. David has a clean race and also finishes in the top 10, P8. Dillon P39, a solid race for our team.
2 days later, Diegem. A special night race and an incredible atmosphere. 20,000 spectators with the race course snaking through streets and grassy/muddy areas in the town of Diegem. Ben has a great start and a very good race just having arrived in Belgium the day before. P18 in a very stacked junior men’s race.
Finley and Haylee lined up with the elites. What an incredible experience to race with all their idols. They are moving smoothly through the chaos and big smiles finishing without any problems. Haylee P54 and Finley P74.
One of the most unique races they will ever do.
We have a day between races, so recovery is key. Ride, organize, clean, fix, and prepare for the next battle. The magical forest of Lichtaart is near Vorselaar so we always find a way to go through it on our recovery rides.
Loenhout is next for the boys, a legendary course behind the town on a muddy field. A few ditches and several man-made dirt hills, and a lot of transitions off and on the bike with some longer runs. AJ is out due to a stomach bug and not taking the start today. Big crash at the start of the junior men’s race. Ben, unfortunately, went down hard and could not continue. David escaped the crash and after a very strong race on his part he finished P7. Ben had to get a few stitches and some medical attention, but luckily was ok after all.
The girls took part in a National race in Kerniel Borgloon.
Great course and a more low-key type of venue and race. Still, a very good experience to see a different level of racing. If the girls had raced in Loenhout they would have once again, raced with the elites. Finley was 10th and Haylee 11th. They even won some money, 7 euros each.
Two muddy races so a lot of work was required to keep things running smoothly for the mechanics and riders with their equipment, both during the races and after, to get ready for Sven Nys GP, Baal.
Baal is always the first CX race of the year on New Year’s Day and a special race for any CX rider. That means an early wake-up and drive to the Baalenberg. Very little time to prepare due to a 9:30 am start for the boys, so really only time to do two laps as a pre-ride and then a few minutes on the trainers before heading to the start line. Parking is sometimes difficult and far away, especially at this race, and still dark at 8:30 am.
AJ has unfortunately not recovered fully yet from his stomach bug, so still not racing today. David, Ben, and Dillon are on the start line. Ben has done this race before, so slightly more familiar with the course and venue. Not as muddy as some of the previous years and minor changes in the course. Hilly and somewhat technical and zero grass, since a permanent course at the Sven Nys Cycling Center.
Close battle for the podium and David is not far off. Finished P6, Ben P15, and Dillon P39.
The girls raced right after the boys, Haylee P19 and Finley P26. Back to Vorselaar by 1:00 pm to recover and watch the elite races on TV, which is a very cool thing especially since they had just raced on the same exact course a few hours ago.
Only one-day recovery again and Herentals up next. Vorselaar is about 5K from the race so we ride over on Monday to check things out. Wout had the same idea since he lives in Herentals, even closer to the venue. Erwin Vervecken is a big part of these races and courses run by Galazo. Erwin also lives in Herentals as well.
A Crazy “ski hill” long, steep run-up, then straight down, and then a switchback climb back up and down a steep switchback descent. That is the main feature and definitely a decisive part of the course.
Dillon and Haylee are racing and both have a great race. A few really muddy spots and once again, more running. Haylee P19 and Dillon P30.
Next up, Koksjide. A little more logistics than Herentals. 2.5 hour drive and we planned on going the day before to be able to see the course and also to not have to drive in the morning.
This is one of the most incredible and amazing cyclocross courses in the world. Duinencross is the name and it sure lives up to that. Sand, soft sand, and incredible amounts of sand. It’s at an old airbase, still active, and has a lot of history in the area.
The sand sections are long, technical, and very difficult, but the more we pre-ride, the better we get at the sections. One of the best-balanced layouts of a course.
The boys race at 11:00 am. All 4 are in the mix. AJ at one point in 2nd, but makes a few mistakes in the closing laps and David makes a big charge on the last 1/2 lap all the way to the podium. What a race. David P3, AJ P5, Ben P26, and Dillon P33.
David Thompson 3rd at Koksijde
Finley races with the elites again and all the big hitters are here. She finishes P55. Only 21 women make it on the lead lap, which tells you the level of difficulty.
An incredible experience and another sand skills session/race in the books.
Gullegem next on Saturday and back to the traditional Belgium mud. This is the last race in the block for Haylee and it all comes together when she takes the 3rd step on the podium after a steady progression in the race and took that opportunity on the last 1/2 lap, just like David in Koksjide.
This was also Dillon’s final race in Belgium. Number 8 in 16 days. What an incredible achievement and accomplishment. A learning experience that will pay huge dividends in the years to come. P28 at the end. A very nice finish to a very big season for Dillon.
One race left. Zonhoven, UCI Wold Cup.
Another course like no other. The infamous sand pit “De Kuil” preride/training on Saturday for the 4 of our riders selected to ride this World Cup.
Not the sand like in Koksjide. It is heavy and has 2 very steep, technical downhills into the bowl. The famous long sand run-up has been replaced with an extremely difficult off-camber downhill. 50/50 chance that you can ride this clean and not crash or go over the handlebars.
On race day, AJ crashes during pre-ride and is unable to start. Very unfortunate and valuable World Cup points will not be his today. David has a 2nd-row start and Ben 4th row. A very critical first lap with these technical sand sections early in the race.
David moves into top 15 after lap 1 and then pretty much stays there and finishes P14. Solid performance on a very technical track. His best World Cup result to date. Ben P29. Probably the most technical race they will do, so to be able to experience all these incredible courses is priceless. Sand is not something you get good at overnight; practice, practice, practice. This was the first time and next year we are already one step ahead.
Finley lines up with the junior women and handled the course very well technically, P33 in her 3rd World Cup this season.
That’s a wrap for our Kerstperiode and now time to pack our bikes and get ready for our Monday morning flight back to the US. Two bikes, 5 sets of wheels and race gear, etc. Also a skill and experience to be able to travel and move this kind of equipment relatively stress-free.
When it’s this busy and racing almost every other day, training/recovering on the days in between races, time really flies. I am incredibly proud of all of our FinKraft riders who battled through this racing block in Belgium, something you can not do anywhere else in the world if you are a cyclocross rider.
A small break and then onto the preparations for the World Championships.
David Thompson gets in on the podium, after a steady race in the top five, moving into third place on the last half-lap. A fantastic result on an iconic race course that requires a tremendous amount of skill in the sand.
It was a great race for AJ as well, placing fifth after being in second at one point of the race. A few mistakes cost him the podium.
Ben finished a solid 26th.
Finley raced with the elite women and once again got some TV time, finished 55th.
Superprestige Gulligem
This seems to always be a muddy one. Haylee Johnson scores another European podium in a similar fashion to David’s race in Koksjide, moving onto the podium in the last half-lap.
Fantastic progress for Haylee in the Kerstperiode, and this was definitely the icing on the cake to cap off her cyclocross season.
Team rider Finley Aspholm has published a post on Velonews about her time racing as part of EuroCrossAcademy during the “kerstperiode”:
This kerstperiode block of cyclocross racing is my second time being with EuroCrossAcademy (ECA) in Europe. I had the opportunity to dive into the deep end for the first time this past fall. I have seen growth in myself as a rider and a person from those experiences in late October. Being here for the second time, so many things have become easier for me.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. What a year we had with our FinKraft team.
After numerous wins in the early season, we managed to get the Pan American jersey with David Thompson, and then at the US Cyclocross Nationals, AJ August took the Stars and Stripes.
We are now heading into the Kerstperiode (Christmas race block). David and Dillon already raced Mol last Friday (December 23). Dillon raced in Gavere December 26 and AJ and David will join him at Zolder. Finley, Haylee, and Ben are with Euro Cross Academy this block and start racing in Diegem on December 28. Loenhout, Baal, Herentals, Koksijde, Gullegem and Zonhoven are all to follow.
Six of our juniors are in Belgium. Jack and Alyssa, after solid podium finishes at the nationals, are ready to move up into the UCI 17-18 category and start their European experience next season.
We have achieved many goals this season, on and off the bike. First, we have created the most powerful team dynamics with riders, partners, staff, parents, ECA programs, and a European race block as well as a US race block. We have basically been able to follow our plan and our vision. Looking back, what an incredible experience and achievement by everyone who is part of this team and journey. This of course comes with a lot of work, support, and determination.
The riders have all performed exceptionally well and have consistently been improving and learning as athletes and human beings. We have a balanced race program for everyone. We are managing the race stress, travel, pressures, logistics, plans, equipment requirements, and infrastructure like a professional team in many ways. The results are not the only thing that shows. Finkraft is one of the best junior teams in the US right now, maybe the best, and also getting noticed in Europe, which is a big part of our long-term plans for our riders, creating a pathway and more opportunities.
We are now starting a very busy second part to the season with the Christmas block, then two more World Cups, and finally the World Championships in Hoogerheide on February 4-5. We have three riders already automatically qualified for the worlds, which is a tremendous achievement alone. Obviously this part of the season we are moving into is super hard, but we are prepared and we are in a good place with everything.
Moving forward into the next year and beyond we have proved that this is a highly successful team and everyone is 100% committed. We are talking to more sponsors and donors continuously. We have accomplished a lot of infrastructure goals this year so our goal is to improve on more financial support, have a team bike brand next year, and keep building our team brand.
Thank you for reading. I will give everyone an update again as we proceed with racing in Belgium these next two weeks.
Team rider Haylee Johnson has published a post on Velonews about her experience at the Diegem SuperPrestige and Kerniel-Borgloon races in Belgium:
There I was, on the start line with women I had only watched on TV, and it felt unreal to know I was about to race with them.
Once inside the minute mark, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and the intense build to the race start, aided by music, slowly grew louder and louder.
Finally, the lights turned green and the race started.
Andrew “AJ” August (Finkraft Junior Cycling) dominated the men’s junior 17-18 contest by riding solo for the second half of the race and took the victory at the US Cyclocross National Championships.
The silver medalist from last year broke away from defending champion Magnus White (Boulder Junior Cycling) on the third lap and sailed to the finish, leaving White with the silver medal this time out. David Thompson (Finkraft Junior Cycling), riding in the white Pan-American champion’s jersey, finished third to complete the podium.
Wow—what a week of racing. It was a long week of racing and travel for David and some of the other juniors lining up for the Pan American Championships on Friday morning in Falmouth, MA. After racing the Maasmechelen World Cup in Belgium on Sunday, the Koppenberg Cross in Belgium on Tuesday, then flying from Brussels to New York on Wednesday, attending school on Thursday, driving to Cape Cod Thursday afternoon and preparing to race the Pan American Championships on Friday morning, it was quite an eventful and stressful week.
The Pan Am course is a typical New England CX course with many turns, not much elevation, large barriers, sand, some single track and loose sections but mostly hard packed and fast rolling grass. Early Friday morning there was a little moisture on the course from the overnight dew but nothing too slippery, no mud accumulation on the bikes so likely no pitting. The power sections are very short and mostly flat so it’s difficult to pass and proper positioning is very important.
The race was early morning on Friday so that left very little time for warmup or course inspection. The good news was we were still on European time which was five hours ahead, so 5AM felt like 10AM and on Friday morning we were wide awake. After getting his number, David was able to get in a lap on the course and had about 30 minutes to warm up on the rollers. After a few tire and wheel issues and with some help from Adam Myerson of CycleSmart we choose the FMB Slalom and FMB Super Mud tires for his race bike.
Immediately after the start, a group of four including David separated themselves off the front of the race. Eventually the group of four turned into a group of three with each of them taking turns on the front. David looked comfortable riding in the group but he made a dab in the sand with two laps to go and had to work hard to catch back up to the front. At the speed they were going even the smallest mistake could put you out of contention for the win.
At the start of the last lap David attacked on the pavement through the finish, rode smoothly through all the technical sections, and pushed the pace to a new level. The last lap of the race was extremely fast and the front group of three took 25+ seconds off their prior lap times. All three of them posted one of the fastest laps of the day in any race. David led the last lap the entire way and as they came past the pit for the last time with only a few hundred meters left in the race David was holding a small one or two second lead over Ian Ackert and Magnus White. He was able to hold that lead to the finish and win the Junior Pan American Championship.
The Pan American Championship race capped off an incredible week of cyclocross racing for the FinKraft Junior Cycling Team and the Pan Am win was very important for David and the FinKraft Team because it guarantees him a spot on the USA Cycling National Team for the Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands in February.
Dillon Cosper also lined up after having a strong domestic season, but coming off a crash in Cincinnati. Not a great start, but he fought back and was in the top group and ended up in 20th place.
A great day for the team and motivation going forward onto the next one.
The continental championships were this past weekend. Finley races for Finland so we planned on staying the extra few days after Koppenberg for her junior women’s race on Saturday. Another iconic course and one of the most technical courses in Belgium.
Wednesday was of course a well-deserved recovery day, and we did a recovery ride and coffee at Cafe Mundo in Sittard. Then it was time to focus on Namur.
We drive down to Namur, the capital of Wallonie, on Thursday to check out the course and get familiar with the layout. Namur is a big, super cool, old city and the race is at the most interesting place and setting. On Citadel by the castles, and of course on top of a big hill.
It’s dry and a slightly different variation on the course from last year’s World Cup, which I did with EuroCross Academy in December. Well-planned and balanced, but very technical. You can only imagine what will happen if it rains. Three flyovers, two run-ups, several steep drops, and then of course the famous off-camber. Everything is ridable and seems relatively easy compared to what I remember from last year.
We do four laps and have it pretty dialed. We go back on Friday for me to race the masters race. Now it’s raining, and yes very slick and sticky mud. Finley gets two more laps in and a totally different experience. Also very valuable maybe for tomorrow, or the future.
Saturday we’re back again. Now we have Geoff Proctor from ECA and Noah from Cyclocross Social with us, and Finland is providing mechanical support via Cyclocross Custom with Dennis. Rain has stopped and the course is more tacky and very manageable compared to yesterday. We do two laps again and Finley gains a lot of confidence and really knows this course well by now, which is critical to be able to race at full capacity.
The pit is on top and center near the amphitheater. We are ready to battle.
Noah takes Finley down to the start. A long drag on cobbles up to dirt, rocks and finally to a small bridge. Also one of the most difficult starts. Then over a flyover and down a rocky/rooty descent. Plenty of rocks, gravel, and curbs. Finley comes around to the first pit in 14th place. A super start and amazing beginning to an epic race. Down the big drop onto another huge flyover and to the off-cambers. This is the most technical part and then going back up is the physical part. Short laps and not much recovery; you have to stay super focused the whole time.
Still in 18th place halfway into the race. Finley loses a few more spots as the race goes on, but rides well. Even with a flat near the pit she holds her position 28th-30th. Bike change every lap and she finishes with a smile. Another qualifying ride and rider for the World Championships on our team FinKraft.
Super happy to be able give her this opportunity along the other races she did with our boys in Tabor, Maasmechelen and Koppenberg.
Thanks again for reading and your continued support. Our riders are making us really proud and they are getting these life-changing experiences as top athletes and human beings no doubt.
Only one day recovery after the Maasmechelen World Cup, but this was the day we all had been looking forward to—especially myself since I know the history of this race and the numerous times I have watched this race and road that is used in this race: the Koppenberg!
We had a slightly longer drive and a different race and logistics than the World Cups. The weather is windy, but dry. The inscription (registration, number pick up) is a few kilometers from the venue in a cement factory. Then parking is not close either and the boys race at 11:00 so we just get ready to pre-ride and then basically get ready to go to the start line while our pit crew climb Koppenberg, to the top. What a view and what a feeling.
There it is, the whole course on the Koppenberg hillside. The start is right in town at the bottom of the infamous cobble climb. A few hundred meters and then straight into the 20% legendary cobble climb. The cobbles are spaced far apart and a crown in the middle of a very narrow one lane road. The key is to keep pedaling and stay upright.
Then onto the grass, not a lawn by any means. it’s a cow field. Pretty sure the cows were still there last night. Nothing super technical, just up and down, but a tremendous number of holes, bumps and long grass. Probably one of the bumpiest courses I have ever ridden, which makes it even harder and very difficult to recover even when you are not pedaling.
The boys line up, about 80, and we have three FinKraft Juniors in the race again. David and Ben at the front and AJ not too far back either in this race. By the time they crest the climb they are all 3 within top 10.
AJ surges into the lead right away and immediately gets a gap. Race the course and ride your race, I told them. The gap is growing every lap and AJ seems comfortable in the lead position. David is still fighting for a top 10 and Ben is in top 15. It’s becoming more reality now that AJ will win. A one-minute lead and he is about to make history. Only two other American juniors have ever won a Belgian cyclocross race before. Everything comes together, and AJ crosses the finish line and he will be the first American male to win Koppenberg.
David is 8th with a steady performance the whole race, proving to himself that he is one of the best juniors in the world and not just ranked high. Ben has his best race in this block and crosses the line in 14th. Incredible success for our team.
Finley will experience a different type of dynamic race today, as she is racing with the elite women since Koppenberg does not offer a junior women’s category.
Just the experience to hear your name called up with all your idols in the sport. Pauline, Fem Van Empel, Betsema, Van Anroij, Van Alphen, Clara etc. Finley lines up on 4th row and gets a great start. She says one of the safest starts ever for her. Now there are 17,000 spectators and a big party. The race is of course televised and an insane atmosphere, people cheering and banging the board on the side of the course.
Finley is on the big stage now and getting an experience that a 16-year-old cross racer can only dream about. The pit is at the top of the course and we are following the race on the big screen. Finley makes it all the way to the end of her 4th lap as Fem van Empel passes her. They are side by side on TV and Fem wins the race.
What a monumental day for our team and the other five juniors from Euro Cross Academy.
The anticipation, the fight, the experience, the opportunity and the delivery. It all came together for Team FinKraft. A day we will never forget.
