The Bullet's Belgian Adventure

Day 6- Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Gent-Wevelgem, a spectacular day.

Once I arrived in Deinze (approx. 10 miles SW of Gent) and parked in Public Parking #1, I met and walked to the team area with the race announcer.  He said Gent traffic problems several years ago caused the start line switch to Deinze. 

Again the Belgian passions were evident.  More than 30,000 fans lined the barricaded streets leading to the sign-in/start area.  The largest ovation was for Tom Boonen as he slowly rolled past his fans.  Right at 11:30 the starter’s gun sounded and the peloton rolled off. 

Quickly back to the car for the half hour drive to Kemmel for the famous Kemmelberg.  The town of Kemmel handled the huge number of cars very well.  I got into parking #2 just outside the center.  The walk was about a mile steadily up to the top of the Kemelberg.  Prior to the arrival of the race a local hillclimb TT was run.  One by one the riders were cheered across the finish line with special delight for a close sprint at the top of the Kemmelberg.   

In the distance the helicopters signaled the approach of the Pro-Tour race. Once on to the 2 climb circuit the peloton started its first of 2 laps of Kemmel.  First time no breakaways, but strung out.  Favorite Boonen was well placed in 7th or 8th.  Second time a group of 5 had 45 seconds with a few solo riders in between.  No Boonen (?)  He was on a bad day and in the second group.

Remember from yesterday the brutal 23% descent, these guys plunged down.  I thought this must be the way kamikaze pilots trained…?  But in the pictures they all had the brakes solidly on! 

With no time to make the finish in Wevelgem, it was back to a very crowded bier tent to watch the finish on TV.  After a few more demie’s (delightful Belgian biers) we cheered as Thor Hushovd sprinted to the victory.   

  Plenty of excitement for one day but the entertainment was not done.  On a small road leading to Iepers and the highway, a long traffic jam tried the patience of a young Belgian fan.  The driver jumped from the car in front of me and proceeded to drop his pants and discard his shirt.  Clad only in “black socks” he bounced his way around a tourist bus several times.  I think he may have had 1 too many demie’s on the Kemmelberg.  But everyone on the bus seemed to have had a good laugh including the 2 elderly Belgians watching the traffic jam slowly go by.  

At the hotel Pro-Tour’s Francaise des Jeux had just arrived.  Bernard Eisel and teammates were at dinner across the room.