Team rider Finley Aspholm rode the Koppenbergcross Elite women’s race as part of EuroCross Academy. She writes about the experience:

Every muscle in my body shakes with nerves, as I anticipate the blow of the whistle. The high pitched sound sends all of us off, surprisingly, in one of the safest starts I have experienced. It is full gas all the way up to the top of the Koppenberg. I can hear loud thuds in the distance, from fans pounding their fists onto the barriers that outline the very top of the legendary climb. Riders yell at each other left and right as they rub wheels and arms, determined to stay clipped into their pedals. I try to weave my way around others, to be in a good position at the first turn onto the field. 

Read Finley’s whole post on Velonews.

Team rider AJ August has published a post on Velonews about his race at the Maasmechelen World Cup, where he finished 4th:

The course was made up of many tight, rocky, and bumpy sections which meant overtaking would be difficult. As this was only my second cyclocross race of the season, I knew that with my start position on the sixth row of the grid my work was cut out for me.

As I spun my legs on the trainer before the race, I began to plan how I would make my way through the field. I thought of the sections where I could pass my competition and the ones where I would rest and reset. Then I got off the trainer and headed over towards the start line.

Read the whole post on Velonews.

AJ August comes from behind once again all the way to take 4th place on a very tight and technical course. Now in 5th place overall in the World Cup standings. Chapeau to an amazing performance.

Our second race and World Cup here in Europe for our junior riders. We had a week to recover, train and get more adjusted to everything culturally.

Watersley happens to be a 20 minute drive to Maasmechelen, so quite the contrasts from last week and what we are normally used to in the US.

Everything is tight about this course. Short pavement start loop and then the rest of the way mostly one line and sharp stones and corners, steep ups and downs, tedious to say the least. Dry and unseasonably warm, but still somewhat slick. A Grifo type of day, but not super low pressure due to the very high risk of punctures.

We of course expected wet and muddy courses so the tire choice is limited when traveling over seas. At the end of the day the rolling resistance did not end up being all that critical and AJ for example rode the race on mud tires. It was more about handling skills, where to pass, transitions and making smart decisions what to ride or run. First half lap is very critical with a very difficult obstacle less then a minute into the race.

The boys race gets strung out and single file, very few places to pace and no room for any mistakes.

David unfortunately hit a metal tab on a fence with his knee and really put a damper on his race but finished, spun it out and he will be ok to start Koppenberg tomorrow.

Ben was also in the top 20’s, but after a minor mistake slides back a few spots.

The girls race was bigger than Tabor and same dynamic as boys, needed to get a good start and just stay super focused on every inch of the course.

Finley got a somewhat slow start, but used her technical ability to advance into the top 20’s, then on the last lap, maybe less then 2 minutes before the finish she hit a spectator standing/crossing the course. Luckily not too hurt and was able to get going again and finish.

Every race is different in so many different ways. Organization, parking, course, rider safety, over all quality and level. Some are great, some are ok. We can only control the controllable.

Koppenberg CX tomorrow, one of the most iconic races in one of the most iconic cycling places. Finley races with Elite women tomorrow, so we might get some TV time.

Stay tuned.

Team rider David Thompson has published a post about his experience as part of Euro Cross Academy:

The crisp fall air hits me as soon as I step off the train and set foot into Maastricht, the capital of south Limburg, here in the Netherlands. We are here for a quick afternoon of urban site-seeing and a short break from bike racing.

I’m immediately stunned by the people commuting on bikes and the vast pool of pedestrians crowding the nearby streets. We pass countless different shops filled with amazing European foods and goods before crossing the bridge over the Meuse and into the heart of the city. At the exact moment that we cross the bridge into the inner workings of the city, it starts rising to let a cargo ship pass underneath.

As we crest the top of the ramp, a perfect view of the breathtaking city comes into view, swamped with bikes and people. Crossing over the bridge for the first time is something I’ll never forget.

Read the whole post on Velonews.

We are currently doing a race block with four of our FinKraft Junior Team riders in Europe.

This race block is run by Euro Cross Academy, which I also work with. I also serve as the head coach for 10 National team juniors on this trip.

Our program is the Tabor World Cup in Czech Republic, Maasmechelen World Cup in Belgium, and the iconic Koppenberg CX on November 1st. In addition to these races, Finley participates in the European championship in Namur, Belgium on November 5th.

We flew into Brussels last Wednesday with 2 bikes and 4 sets of wheels, plus other luggage, per rider. Then we transferred to Sittard, the USAC cycling center in the Netherlands, where we will stay the majority of the time here.

On Friday we made the 500-mile drive to Tabor with 2 vans, a box truck, and a team car. 10 junior riders and 7 staff members.

The World Cups are the highest level in cyclocross racing, but Tabor is one of the most iconic ones where the cyclocross world championships have taken place three times and where the 2024 worlds will be held. A long trip but super-valuable experience for these young riders.

Course practice/training on Saturday and preparation for the race on Sunday . A lot of planning, securing, and scoping out the perfect parking spot, preparing all the equipment and everything else needed on race day.

The course is not technical by Belgium standards, but definitely more than US races. Also more hilly than it looks on TV. Our riders were very comfortable and confident with the course, so a great mindset going into Sunday’s race. About 60 junior boys and 40 junior girls. The best in the world no doubt.

A false start in the junior men’s race added logistics and time to reset, a very rare occurrence. This time it was not the riders’ fault: the lights were not in sync for some reason.

Our FinKraft Team

We had David Thompson ranked number one in the world leading up to this race, so first call up. Ben Stokes on 2nd row and AJ August on 7th row, since this was his first CX race this season. He had no UCI points and just had to relay on a random draw behind the riders with points.

The start and first half lap is chaos in the junior men’s race. Every race is, and especially on this level. You have to be aggressive, protect your space, have skills, nerves and little bit of luck. Slick corners, uphill barriers and uphill after stairs makes for very tricky transitions and actually a very physically demanding course.

Crashes: Ben lost his battery off the rear derailleur, but got a bike change and everyone was racing full gas and fought for every spot. AJ had a phenomenal race moving up through the field, 2nd to last row start, 3 crashes, but still managed 10th, beating 4 riders still to the last corner. David was 23rd and Ben 44th.

The girls’ race is slightly calmer than the boys, but not much and still very aggressive and the same: being comfortable when uncomfortable. Finley started on the 2nd row and held her own in the first laps inside top 20, finishing 30th with no mishaps or mistakes, coming away with a super-valuable experience.

This is exactly the level our team is striving for, and we know where we stand after Tabor for sure. An experience they can only get by racing these races. It is not just racing but the whole logistics involved, which require a lot of planning, experience and support with every detail.

We made the drive back to the Netherlands last night to minimize the logistics and maximize the recovery for everyone. Recovery ride today to Valkenburg with a coffee stop and everyone is in good spirits and the motivation is high. Training with the Dutch team and their National Coach Gerben de Knegt on Wednesday and then onto the next World Cup this coming Sunday in Maasmechelen, Belgium.

Thank you all who make this possible and are part of this incredible journey with these young athletes.

Team rider Ben Stokes has published a post on Velonews about racing the World Cup in Tabor, Czech Republic:

The flowing rivers of spectators go silent as the race commissaire calls 30 seconds to go. Obnoxiously loud Euro-techno music, coming to a climax, captures the tense feeling within the group of poised riders. But they aren’t listening to it. Each one is ready to begin their first World Cup of the season.

From the right side of the start straight, the sharp sound of a whistle is heard. Chaos erupts as the right half of the field launches with all of their might, jockeying for positions and using every muscle in their body to accelerate as fast as they possibly can.

Read the whole post at Velonews.