November 23, 2007 (Gent, Belgium) – There is something weird and wonderful about a bike race that starts at 8:00pm and finishes at 2:00am and perhaps even more disturbing is that the racers do this for six-days in a row, at speeds over 60kph. Day 2 of this Gent 6 Day extravaganza began under clear skies as today’s temperatures reached fourteen degrees. Not bad as I heard that Ontario and Quebec were hit with the first snowstorm of the season.

I had a chance to speak with British Cycling Olympic Academy Manager Rod Ellingworth about the status of Wiggins/Cavendish and the harsh reality that they are in 12th place and 10 laps behind. Ellingworth noted that Wiggins is going ok but Cavendish is slowly getting back into form after a hard road season that saw him win 11 major races. “˜Cav’ took two weeks off, winding down at the end of the season and then two more weeks off the bike all together travelling to Thailand with his girlfriend.

Since the end of the professional road race season Cavendish has gained 14 pounds. The last two weeks he has been on the track in Manchester getting ready for the indoor track season. The present goal for him is to get his track legs by racing the Revolution 18 in Manchester, the Gent 6-day then off to Sydney for the first Track World Cup of the season, where he hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

We can expect to see the team of Wiggins/Cavendish get stronger as the six-day goes along. Cavendish’s goal is not a podium placing but to lay down a good base for next season. He got sick in the middle of the road season and he does not want that to occur again. Speaking to reporters today Cavendish said that he was “sorry for the poor start last night”. Ellingworth noted that he has a batch of new riders in the under 23 academy and his teams goals for this season include the UCI Track World Cup events, the Track World Championships and the Beijing Olympics. In the UIV Talents Cup Competition (Toekomstzesdaagse), here in Gent, Ellingworth has two riders: Peter Kenaugh and Adam Blythe presently in second place. Last night they won the chase and were wearing the yellow race leader’s jersey.

There are also two teams from the USA: Guy East/Austin Carroll and David Wiswell/David Simes. Both teams have been running well with East/Carroll in 6th place after last evening and Wiswell/Simes in 9th.

Tonight (Wednesday) there are two UIV Toekomstzesdaagse events, the first a flying lap and the second a 200-lap Madison. East/Carroll were doing well in 7th place overall when on the back straight Carroll crashed while on the black line. It appeared that someone had jostled him and he went down hard separating his shoulder, ending his racing here in Gent. This situation may be a chance for Brian Crosby who is in the audience with a group from Minnesota. Crosby finished in second place with Garnet Abby at the London Six-Day Bicycle race in late October. Crosby raced at the Dortmund Sechstagerennen and the Trois Jour de Genève.

The announcer introduced the “Men of the Night” as the riders tour the track. The crowd is filling the seats as the riders warm up for the first event for the evening a 60-lap Points Race. Wiggins made it known that the Brits are not going to just go through the paces as he takes second in the first sprint for points. With four laps to go in the second group Cavendish moves into second place. At the bell lap he comes in fifth behind Steve Schets, Bartko, Marvulli and Kankovsky.

The Team Elimination is always interesting as there are opportunities to win points, but there is also a chance to take a breather and fight in another race. Each team has a strategy of where they have the best chance of winning points and it is always exciting to watch the drama being played out. The final three riders are Villa, Slippens and Mohs. Villa is the next to go and Slippens battles the young Eric Mohs and wins the sprint to the line.

The Flying Lap was exciting as the slower teams go first circling the track for two laps and then the lead rider slings his partner to the black line. Legs pumping the rider sprints to the line lunging his bike towards that imaginary tape. Some fast riders are here as seven teams break 67 kph, but it is Risi/Marvulli winning in 67.950 kph over De Fauw/ Aeschbach at 67.873kph and Lazar/Kankovsky in third at 67.796 kph.

The Chase 1: 40minutes plus 10 laps. De Ketele/Villa are the first to gain a lap. Next Roberts/Hester, Slippens/Stam and Bartko/Keisse gain a lap. This all takes place in the first six minutes. Risi/Marvulli attack with Beikirch/Mohs on their tail and gain a lap. At 9 minutes 30 seconds the attacks are hot and heavy as Keisse/Bartko, Slippens/Stam and Roberts/Hester gain back a lap. That sends De Ketele/Villa and Beikirch/Mohs on the chase.

The pack is back together but not for long as Mertens/Muller are off and running with Lazar/Kankovsky behind, but then pass them. Before the two teams join the pack Keisse/Bartko and Risi/Marvulli are in the chase. At 17 minutes the action is crazy as teams are attacking and counter attacking. This must be a judge’s nightmare.

At 35 minutes Keisse/Bartko take a lap to the roar of the crowd. Risi/Marvulli and Slippens/Stam join the leaders. Then Beikirch/Mohs are off in the chase and gain a lap. At 40 minutes DeKetele/Villa join the front four.

Now the count down of 10 laps”¦ all the riders are in a line saving their breath and their lungs for the final push. Bartko attacks and throws Keisse into a final dash to the line. Slippens and Marvulli are in the chase and Marvulli comes over the top to nip Keisse at the line.
The 500 Time Trial is a brutal 1+ lap warm-up and three laps at breakneck speed racing on the black line. Tonight’s action did not disappoint. De Fauw/Aeschbach set the early mark at 62.981km/hr. Roberts/Hester came close at 62.696km/hr. The showdown came when the last two teams were left to ride. First Risi/Marvulli attacked the black line taking the lead at 63.313km/hr. Marvulli’s head bounces like a bobble head as he races around the track but it does not appear to slow him down. Then the last riders Keisse/Bartko have been struggling to win the key races of the six-day so far. Last night they won the opening points race, and the 2nd Derny. Always in the running they ended the night 6 points behind Risi-Marvulli 87 to 81 points. Tonight they again won the second Derny Race, Keisse this time and then the 500m Time Trial.

The Derny Final was thrilling as the lead changed several during this 60 lap event. The speeds gradually increased from 50 to 65-70kph. During the last seven laps Keisse – Michel Vaarten went to the front but was passed by Risi – Dieter Durst. Marco Villa – Bruno Walrave were in the mix as was the winner of the first Derny Race Matthe Pronk – Luc Van Uytfange. The last lap Keisse again tried for the lead and going at speeds close to 80 kph they crossed the line victorious with the partisan Gent fans on their feet screaming.

Robert Slippens, who looks stronger and stronger as the six-day racing season goes on, won the Scratch Race. My guess is that he will be ready for the first Zesdaagse Zuidlaren that will be staged in the Friesland part of northern Netherlands. Steve Schets was second and Andreas Beikirch was third.

The Chase 2: The final event of the evening is the 30-minute plus 10-lap Madison. At present Risi/Marvulli are at 139 with Keisse/Bartko in second with 135 points. Slippens/Stam have broken the 100 point mark with Slippens Scratch Race win. The Dutch duo are at 108 points and zero laps. De Ketele/Villa and Beikirch/Mohs are tied at one lap with 75 points. The chase is a bit different as the riders appear, understandably tired. There is a lot of marking being done by Risi/Marvulli as they keep a close eye on Bartko and Keisse. The lead changes many times. Keisse/Bartko gain a lap as does Risi/Marvulli at the end of 30 minutes and now we are in the countdown. Bartko/Keisse weave their way through the pack to be close to the front with Risi/Marvulli in tow. With three laps to go Bartko attacks and with 1.5 laps left he hands slings Keisse down the track. Marvulli is on Keisse’s wheel and passes him but Keisse turns on the after burners and takes the race.

Day 2 Standings:
1. Keisse/Bartko 0 lap 150 points
2. Risi/Marvulli 0 lap 149 points
3. Slippens/Stam 0 lap 116 points
4. Beikirch/Mohs 2 laps 79 points
5. De Ketele/Villa 2 laps 75 points
6. Mertens/ Muller 3 laps 59 points
7. Roberts/Hester 5 laps 41 points
8. De Fauw/Aeschbach 8 laps 97 points
9. Lazar/Kankovsky 9 laps 40 points
10. Cocquyt/DeNeef 14 laps 22 points
11. Stroetinga/Pronk 15 laps 23 points
12. Wiggins/Cavendish 19 laps 32 points
13. Schets/DePoortere 30 laps 47 points