February 7, 2005 – Sorry for the delay; it’s been a week since the Worlds. I have been in Europe for a month, training and racing cross in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and finally St. Wendel, Germany for the World Championships. With me, for most of the time, were Greg Reain and Tara Ross. In Germany we met up with the rest of the Worlds team: Samantha Nicholson, Wendy Simms and Joel Dion-Poitras. It was awesome to be at the World’s start line with all the big names of the sport. Greg and I started in the very last line, which was not so great, but expected. The start was on a running track oval. At the gun the boys took off like maniacs and had a gap of about 10 metres on both Greg and me by the end of the track.

My original goal was not to be lapped too early, or at all in the race. A bad crash during an earlier training session took my confidence and my ability on the course and it was all I could do to keep the bike upright and hang on until being lapped and pulled at the halfway point. Even tougher was staying in the race knowing I was fighting a losing battle and feeling I was being ostracized by the crowd, which of course I wasn’t as they were very encouraging in their support. There were 40 000+ fans at some of the races. The craziest ones were the Czechs at the Worlds. They had an air raid siren, which two guys would hold while another would crank until it was screaming. They had huge flags and played drums, of course they had kegs of beer. The Swiss had huge cow bells strapped around their waists which gonged with every step they took.

Overall, I had a great time in Europe, and hope to be able to make it to the Worlds again next year. Thanks to everyone that came over to wrench for us or help with the necessary mundane tasks. Roces, for the NorthWave shoes and Chain Reaction Bicycles, my new sponsor. A huge thanks to my friends and family who are my biggest supporters. I have to mention and thank Kris Westwood, the CCA coach and catalyst for the selection process of the Worlds team. The significance of his understanding the sport of cross is a step forward for the sport in Canada. Hopefully this trip will inspire more to take up cyclo-cross which is a natural for Canada’s climate, the condition of the Worlds course emphasised that. With our shorter season it makes sense to continue racing in the fall, for training or for getting seriously hooked on the sport of cyclocross.