Ed Observe-Facet: A few weeks in the past Ed Hood was spectating on the ‘Six Days’ of Gent, now he’s on the opposite aspect of the boards working within the observe centre in Rotterdam. Right here Ed tells us all about his first three nights on the Dutch ‘6 Days’.
These Venga Boys, they ‘Prefer to Get together,’ the ‘speaker’ is getting excited; ‘ho, ho, ho !’ the bone onerous Contis rumble on the boards, the 1/8” pitch chains rattle – it’s good to be again, there’s NOTHiNG like a six day.
Wednesday morning, Rotterdam Evening One handed with out incident; the cabins are tidied, the drinks bottles are washed, the tricots folded and positioned with the clear shorts, socks and observe mitts for our three riders – and my ft harm from these concrete flooring.
Our three costs are:
Wojciech Pszczolarski [Poland] 31 years-old and a former European u23 and Elite Champion within the factors race and Elite European Champion within the madison in addition to former Polish Champion in each disciplines.
Bartosz Rudyk [Poland] 24 years-old who rides with Wojciech and is a former European Champion within the u23 scratch race and a a number of medallist in Polish Championships – within the omnium, staff dash, madison and particular person pursuit. Not a foul highway rider both.
Denis Rugovac [Czech] 29 years-old and a a number of Czech observe championship medallist – he rides with aggressive Italian Matteo Donega who has his personal helper. All three are skilled six day riders who we’ve labored with earlier than – ‘laid again’ and straightforward to work with, no ‘Prima Donnas’ in our cabin. Evening One Rotterdam? In a nutshell?
‘The Yoeri Havik Present,’ – with companion and fellow ‘house boy,’ Niki Terpstra he gained each madisons then, on his personal the elimination and ‘Supersprint’ – a ‘factors elimination.’ However like he instructed us; “I’m World Champion and anticipated to placed on a present for my house public.”
However earlier than we get into this race, let’s discuss just a little historical past concerning the Rotterdam Six Day:
- First held: In 1936 however there have been numerous hiatus – not least World Warfare Two – making this version 39.
- ‘Recordman’ is house boy Rene Pijnen – who rode 233 six days throughout his profession, second solely to Danny Clark (235) so far as variety of begins go; Pijnen gained 72 of these races so is third finest on wins behind Patrick Sercu (88) and Danny Clark (74).
- Ten of Pijnen’s wins got here right here in Rotterdam, which unsurprisingly makes him ‘recordman’ – he gained 4 instances with countryman the late Leo Duyndam, 3 times with Aussie, Clark, twice with Belgian Legend, the late, nice Patrick Sercu and as soon as with large Suisse, Urs Freuler.
- The final version of the race – pre-Covid – was held in 2020 with native hero Yoeri Havik partnering now retired compatriot Wim Stroetinga to victory.
- Other than Danny Clark the one different ‘Anglo’ winner is Tony Doyle who partnered Clark in 1988.
- The observe is a brief construction, on metal frames with plywood driving floor, 200 metres, 13.5 levels within the straights and 49.5 on the bankings.
- Observe document is 9.852 seconds set by present dash Dutch World dash king, Harrie Lavreysen in 2020 on the final version of the race.
And that’s sufficient phrases for as we speak besides – coolest man on the boards?
Italia and INEOS quick man Elia Viviani is paired with 23 years-old Dutchman, Vincent Hoppezak, the staff is sponsored by Jordex a Dutch transport firm, their firm colors are orange and black – take a look at Elia’s helmet, glasses, mitts, socks and footwear. Class.
Evening Two:
Tonight was a rolling presentation, a lot of the riders want that to particular person intros within the observe centre – no boring interviews and it loosens tight legs.
‘Again within the day,’ once I first labored on the six days a lot of the riders would go up on the boards within the afternoon to stretch their legs – not nowadays.
They like their sprinting right here in Rotterdam, not least as a result of the Dutch are the dominant power in world sprinting, that’s World Dash and Keirin Champion, Harrie Lavreysen on the suitable, subsequent to him is World Kilometre Champion, Jeffrey Hoogland. The one Worlds dash self-discipline they missed out on was the staff dash the place the Aussies shocked everybody. Our man, Thomas Babek is ‘fairly in pink’ within the image, a former European Kilometre Champion and a a number of Czech Champion in all of the dash disciplines.
And also you solely suppose you’ve seen an extended handlebar extension till you see the 18 cm. job on Thomas’s Argon. He was a ‘LOOK man’ however says the Argon is way stiffer than the French marque; our six day man Wojciech has, ‘gone Argon’ too, he was a Cervelo man – however as an endurance rider reckons there’s little to selected between the frames.
The primary madison went to the Swiss/Spanish duo of Claudio Imhof and Seb Mora; the Suisse gained the latest UCi Observe Champions League while Mora is an completed six day man having gained right here with Alberto Torres in 2016.
In addition to Imhof/Mora within the operating for a podium there’s the younger Belgian duo of Gent Six Day winner, Lindsay De Vylder and Jules Hester. Each experience for Sport Vlaanderen which turns into Group Flanders-Baloise for 2023 and are a number of nationwide medallist and champions on the observe.
‘Males in Black,’ Viviani/Hoppezak must be thought of too, Viviani’s talents communicate for themselves while the younger Dutchman is on the ‘up.’
The ultimate podium contenders are BiG Roger Kluge and Dutch quick man, Cees Bol. Regardless of Kluge’s energy and palmarès Lotto haven’t retained him and he rides in 2023 with German continental staff Rad-Internet together with a lot of the German nationwide observe squad. Kluge has been twice World Madison Champion however is a humble and approachable man, the precise reverse of some younger riders right here who don’t have a tenth of his palmarès. Bol too, at time of writing is off the World Tour, he was to hitch Cav as a part of the Manxman’s ‘prepare’ at B&B Motels however that has evaporated. Bol was a product of the SEG Biking Academy and when he turned full professional in 2019 with Sunweb and promptly gained Nokere Koerse it regarded like he was going to be one of many, ‘subsequent large issues.’ However regardless of stage wins in Paris-Good in 2021 and extra lately the Tour of Britain he’s not had the influence most anticipated.
The staff elimination went to Yoeri and Niki, the latter on a white body with bling, ‘Niki’ graphics.
And the flying lap to the Danish duo of six day stalwart Marc Hester & teen, Matias Malmberg. The primary, wee bit lame, madison of the evening went to Viviani & Hoppezak; and as Wojciech says; “as soon as the large chase is over, that’s the true racing completed, the remaining are just like the final stage of the Tour de France, for present,”
After which it was Derny time, Wojciech right here behind Derny knowledgeable pilot Peter Baurlein. I bear in mind at my first six day I used to be so happy and excited the primary time I pushed off a rider in a Derny race, now it’s a chore – however simply a part of the deal.
Yoeri gained, no surprises there – one other elimination, one other Derny. . .
Time to tidy the observe cabins, face all these stairs and type the washing.
Evening Three:
The underneath 23 riders begin the racing every evening, I actually should get down earlier and watch.
It was one other rolling presentation which provides me an excellent probability to get ‘again up’ pics of all of the groups.
Then it was sprinter time, Harrie Layreysen is much from the ‘smug, man mountain’ sprinter stereo sort – he’s an enormous man however not big and is in affable temper right here at his house six day, successful nearly every thing.
Our Czech sprinter, Tomas is simple going too however hasn’t been a Worlds Keirin medallist as a result of he’s a wimp.
A face I noticed within the observe centre was that of Derny pacer legend and a person who ought to actually have been Oscar nominated for his final lap performances behind the ‘bars of his well-known gold Derny, Joop Zijlaard – he owns two eating places in Rotterdam, one a steak home, the opposite specialises in mussels.
The opening madison went to staff six, 22 year-old Dutchman Philip Heijnen, whose European u23 madison champion and rides right here with 20 years-old German, Tim Torn Teutenberg who’s with the Leopard staff and a good roadman. The chase music choice is correct six day stuff, Duck Soup and ‘Barbara Streisand,’ Lou Bega and ‘Mambo No. 5,’ The Mavericks and ‘Dance the Evening Away,’ the Blues Brothers and ‘Everyone Wants Anyone to Love’ and, in fact, them Venga Boys.
Our guys are actually right here to refill the sector, only a few of us in Rotterdam are that curious about Czech or Polish riders however our boy Denis and his gung-ho companion, Italy’s Italy’s Matteo Donega are under no circumstances making fools of themselves.
Viviani and Hoppezak took the flying lap with the Italian having taken his color coordination even additional, now with orange stripes on his Pinarello.
Niki and Yoeri have been, ‘up for it’ and visibly dissatisfied to not get the win – however that’s present biz. Take a look at Yoeri’s Dutch Federation, carbon aero footwear.
Huge Roger’s quaint rollers heat up labored nicely and he gained the Derny.
While Lindsay De Vylder prefers the hi-tech Wahoo arrange.
It labored for the younger Belgian and companion Jules Hesters who ended the evening in yellow. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to see previous Messrs. Havik and Terpstra within the remaining reckoning. Yoeri was explaining to us that Niki was lower than happy along with his personal type within the Three Days of Copenhagen which was run off a couple of weeks again and since then he’s been out battering himself behind the Derny and doing common madison observe coaching classes with Yoeri. As Yoeri instructed us; “I’ve to be impressed by Niki’s perspective, he might simply say; ‘it’s my final race, so what ?’ however it’s not like that in any respect, he desires to exit on the high.”
And with reference to ‘going out’ that’s us half manner house. . .
# Keep PEZ for Ed’s half 2 from the Rotterdam ‘6 Days’ and the ultimate three evening. #
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