Margriet Kloppenburg

Last time I wrote is almost 2 months ago! I have done a lot of racing since then. Besides racing I have been bussy with university – had assignements and exams to do to finish this semester. Now that is done and I have only one semester left til I am finished with my bachelor degree.

I apologise for the negligence. I am going to write you a quick review of the racing I have done since I posted my last update;

I got back to Belgium before the races in Essen and the world cup in Namur mid december. A muddy weekend! In Essen we rode in the mud up til our ankles. I did a good race – had a great start, 7th into the field. Lost a few spots during the first laps, but was in the first 15. Unfortunatly I puncured and lost a few places. I ended18th.

Picture from the race in Essen, taken by Bart Hazen

The World cup course in Namur the day after was a hard one! Mud and a lot of steep banks. The banks were slippery because of the mud both uphill but especially downhill, this caused a lot of crashes. After a bad start in the snow I was unfortunate to crash down one of the first banks and landed in a big budle of muddie wather. After this I got cold and never got back in my rhythm. I ended the race in 40th position. Petitereines made a great video of the race including me! Go to the Video section of my website to see it!

The monday after Namur, James and I rode to Marum in Holland, where my family lives. The next race was already thuesday in Surhuisterveen – so a great opportunity to combine racing with a family visit. The race went alright – it was really wet and cold as it rained most of the day. I had a good start and a decent ride. I finished 14th.

The 23th we all raced in super prestige evening city cross in Diegem. A hard race where I had a good race. I became 20th.

The world cup in Heusden Zolder th 26th of december started of really bad. In one of the first corners one of the other girls planted her big ring in my calf, and here a month later I still have a nice chainring mark. I was affected by this for most of the race and did not really feel I good ride with full power on my left leg. A shame, as I liked the course, it was quick and with lots of turns. I ended in 35th place. Watch another Video from Petitesreines in the Video section.

The azencross in Loenhout, the 28th of december, has been the race I feared most on this seasons calender. After I did the race a few years back I crashed really bad on the BMX washboard section. Since then, I must be honest, I have avoided the race. But this year there was no choice, as I was here the whole christmas/new year period. So I had to face my fears! A few days before the race I made an agreement with Gabby Day, who also lives in Oudenaarde during the CX season, that she would guide me over them.

So during the warming upride I met up with Gabby and took the Big step and rode over the BMX wasboard section! Right now, looking back, I am laughing of my self.. Why was it I was so afraid again? Once I got going on it there was no problem at all! And actually started to enjoy them towards the end of the race. Besides the washboard there ws also a long grass/mud section at the back of the course where we ran ankle deep – a really hard section I have to admit. But I liked it! And I felt good during the race, I was in good company until I punctered just after the finishline (so I had to run half a lap to the pit). I finnished 23th after trying to chase back to my group for the last 2,5 laps. For next year I am going to make sure to get the race back on my calender to get back in full confidence!

Races between christmas and new year follow each other up fast. After only one day at home it was off to the next race in Leuven. A course I didn't really know what to think off. It was very long and I did not like the tech parts much. But nothing I can change about that so after the startshot it was go! I did a medium race and finished 18th.

New years eve wasn't the most exciting evening of the year. James and I had a nice dinner and watched a movie. But we went to bed before the fireworks started.

Mainly because I was racing in Luxembourg on the 1st of january. So it was an early morning. The course was really hard, looking at hight meters! Litteraly up and down a hill every lap! And the rain and mud did not make that easier. As there was a race in Baal, BE, as well the field wasn't the biggest. But with World Champion Marianne Vos on the start it was going to be a hard one! Even though I had been doing a lot of racing I felt okay so hoped for a good result. And a good result I got! I ended 3ed behind Marianne and Julie Krasniak. A good start for the new year and great rehearsal for next week.

 Podium Picture by Roland Beck; FLTR; Julie Krasniak FR, Marianne Vos NL, ME!, Nathalie Lamborelle (best Lux girl)

The 8th of january it was then time for the national championships! A bit o fa strange race it was going to be. As I have been racing in Europe alot this season fields have been a lot bigger then the 5-6 girls at the line in DK. At the same time it is one of the most important races of the year. 

This years race was close to the center of Copenhagen on a camping area. So the course was on a lot of gravel and grass, the grass quickly changed into mud though. My biggest competitor was to be Nikoline Hansen, who also has been racing in Europe this season. The first lap I had to let her go a bit – but on the start of lap two I got closer to here again and I felt strong. Then, halfway lap 2, I realised that my frontwheel wasn't really doing what I wanted... Puncture.. as far from the pitas I could be. So half riding, half running my race changed from racing for the win to securing my second place. And I did. Even though I lost a lot of time running to the pit I got in second. I must admit I wasn't to happy, but nothing to do about it. I guess I would have been more happy for a second place if it would have been a“fair” fight to the line. I hope for better luck next year! The TV station TV2east made a story on there sportsshow the night of the 8th - go and see it at the video section of my website (it is about 13 minutes in)

 FLTR: ME, Nikoline Hansen, Signe Strandvig.

The day after nationals I got an exam out of the way and thuesday I was in the car back to Belgium as the next world cup was on in Lievin the15th. So after a little stop over in Belgium I drove the last part to Lievin on saturday. Lievin has a great course! I really liked it. On saturday everything was dry and there were lots of banks and corners! Super fast and I was really excited about sundays race! In the night from saturday to sunday it had been freezing so the ground was hard in the morning, but as the sun came out and heated it up the to player got weakend and very slippery. This changed the course quit abit. But stil fast and I was still looking forward to it. In the world cup I am ranked quiet far back, so call up is not on the first rows. But with a great start I made it up to the middle of the bunch. I could not enjoy this position for long though, as some girls in front of me crashed in the 3ed corner and took me with them. The sun had made the corner slippery as ice – there was nothing to do, I was down before I realized. So there my good start went up in air. I changed bikes after the crash, with other tires. I felt good and confident the rest of the race, and raced well. The result unfortunatly did not show it. I ended as number 36. You can see a clip on the race in the video section.

Last weekend I had a double weekend – Ruchpen the 21st and the world cup in Hoogerheide the 22ed. They share a similar race report. Both races I had a really good start – but after the first half lap I found myself having lost a lot of places. Just not having enough speed I guess. How that suddenly disapeared I don't know. In Ruphen I ended 15th and in the world cup I ended 44th. See a video from the race in the video section.

At all my races I always have people to help me, mecanics (Serge and Christoph) and soigneurs (Katleen, Luc etc). In Hoogerheide I had a very special soigneur to come with my jacket after the race → see picture. A big thanks to all of you, also the people which names are not up her, I really appreciate all the help I get at races. Thank you.

Floor and I - Picture by Bart Hazen

The coming weekend is a big weekend in cyclocross and everybody is resting and prepping for it. WORLDS... Unfortunately I am not selected and so I have made other plans for the weekend. Saturday my road team has it's presentation, so I'm going to show my face there and join in on the team training as well. On sunday I hope for good weather, so I can make a nice long ride and after that I maybe have a little look at the race.. Good luck to everybody who is racing.

Today I did a nice sunny ride with James, starting out and ending in the rain though. Enjoying just being out riding and finding new roads – resulting in the pic below! I knew I should have left my cx tires on the bike!

For february I have planned 6 more race before I go on a little holiday and return to the road races in the end of marts.

Have fun watching worlds this weekend!

Margriet