My first shorttrack competition of the seasonwith photo finish.
3 days with a total of over 350 races.
In the city with the nicest champagne! what a punishment.
Nov 162008
Sep 212008
Like the last few years I returned to China again in September for the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix. After the 10 hour flight I arrived at the airport of Pudong and from there we had to go 1 hour by car.
The venue for this event is extraordinary. The hotel is connected to the stadium and that makes it really easy to work for us. When u are finished with rehearsing u can get back in to the nice air conditioned hotel again.
The climate in Shanghai is really humid and the is a constant cloud above the city. This makes it really sweaty. Luckily the subways have AC as well.
Here u can see a complete overview of the stadium http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/CHN/Shanghai.html
The Competition went pretty smooth and Monday morning we headed back to Holland again to get some fresh air again.
Results of the event can be watched at http://www.athleticsonline.info/
now I’m preparing for a weekend at Spa Francorchamp, Belgium again.
Jul 302008
Every year the local skating club organises a mountain bike competition on the beautiful track of Chamonix. I Joined this competition every year I went here. First whit the juniors but now with the seniors of course. The track is pretty flat in the beginning but at the end it is only up-hill. I Saved some energy in the beginning and I had to let go a group of 3 bikers. After the first seriouss climb where a lot of people have to walk I managed to gain a place. After claiming the 3th position I didn’t lost it again. The two other bikers where way to fast to even catch up with. Maybe I should practise it some more to get closer to them next year. It was a nice day cycling with my international friends from shorttrack-speedskating.
At night we had the victory ceremony of the mountain bike and the running competition. And almost everybody was there to get his price.
Jul 282008
With the sea still left in my legs from the boat trip from England I stept on the train to schiphol airport Amsterdam. Thanks to my sisters boyfriend i didn’t catch all the rain between my house and the train station. After packing my bike in the correct way i checked in to fly to Geneva with easy jet (no leg space jet). After a 1.5 hours trip i picked my bike up and prepared it for the trip to Chamonix. After filling my water supply up in Geneva i started my final trip for that day. In the beginning i had some trouble finding the correct road but after seeing signs “ Paris” on the toll way is realised that i went wrong a little bit.
After finding the correct way things went easier, maybe i should bring a map next time but maps still take away the excitement. Because everything was closed on Monday morning i needed to cycle more then i planned to before my first pitstop. I Stopped at a nice town called Bonneville. After a nice french sandwich i went on with my 15 Kg backpack. It started to get warmer and the road started to get more difficult because is was closing the mountains of Chamonix.
After making a view short stops i almost ran out of water and luckily i found a small restaurant that just opened. I filled up my water and took a shot of “Coca Cola” i was able to do the final kilometers. The waiter at the restaurant said that it was around 8 km’s from Chamonix but after i cycled for 10 minutes i saw a sign that said 12 km. This was not what i expected but with the harbor insight i was really motivated to get there.
When i arrived i was really exhausted but after a nice shower and a power nap i was ready to start my holiday.
