Joe Dombrowski's Euro Cross Camp Diary: My first Belgian fan

Well I think I’ve made it.  As I was warming up on Saturday for the race in Sint-Niklaas, a thick, old Belgian man approached me, and in broken English asked me “You, Dombrowski?” I couldn’t help but smile, and responded “yes.”  The man paused for a bit, and then said, “Ah, you are Amy’s brother.” I told him, “No, we aren’t related, and she is much more famous than me.” The man smiled, and leaned in and said, “Yes, but maybe someday, you will be more famous…  you have a trading card?” he asked. I told him no, but before he left he assured me he would be cheering for me.
 
The course that day had something that catered to just about everyone. Long fast drags, a beach section, in-the-woods double-track, and the crux of the course, two long, slick-as-snot, off camber sections that hugged the lake that the race was routed around. I knew from last year, that this particular off-camber was sure to draw plenty of fans. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 20 deep the whole way around the lake; Euro fans eager to watch someone slip under the tape and take a swim.
 
There were two distinct lines along the off camber section; a high one, and a low one. Rolling through on the second lap, I figured taking a good line through there would be an easy way to make up a few spots on the otherwise pass-preventative course. Normally, I can’t hear anything during a race; and no one is cheering for me over here anyway. But as I rolled through the off camber section this time, I heard “C’mon Joe!” I was sort of taken by surprise, and looked to my right, and there was that old Belgian man I had seen before the race who had asked me for a trading card. He was pulling back the tape for me as I tried to latch my tires on to the last bits of green vegetation left, on a futile quest for traction. Despite the intense focus that the course required, I began to think to myself, things had come full circle between the anonymous fan and me during the race. Nice to know someone was cheering.


The off camber at Sint-Niklaas before it turned to slop.
 
I have finished up my last three-day block of racing in Baal, Sint-Niklaas, and St. Michelgestel with mixed results. As a whole, I was a bit disappointed with how I rode at the camp. I feel like I had good legs, but things were just not coming together. However, I feel as though I still drew a lot from the experience. Racing the best in the world puts you out of your comfort zone; you're in over your head. You're bound to make mistakes, but it's how you capitalize on those mistakes that turns into success in the future. Embrace the adversity.


Racing the final race of the camp in St. Michelgestel, Holland.

So back to the states; I'm looking forward to everything minus the arctic blast that seems to have engulfed the mid-Atlantic region. Nice to take some time off the bike. I'm looking forward to next season, as I will be switching from the mountain bike to mostly road. New challenges ahead. But for now, I think I'm just going to keep the legs up, enjoy the off-season, and do lots of American stuff.


From Saturday's race in Sint-Niklaas (I roll through at 1:20 and 4:25)

Thanks to Mom and Dad, Haymarket, and everyone who loaned me stuff for the trip. Without you all, none of this would be possible.

Thanks for reading.

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Joe Dombrowski (Haymarket / Homevisit) is at Euro Cross Camp for the second year in a row in 2009. You can follow all of his entries beginning last season here. Leave him a comment on GamJams - he'd love to hear from you.

Comments

[Simeon Green]

Joe, you can use my trading cards if you want. I've got loads, but nobody wants them from me. ;-(

Good stuff man.
Take it easy.
Sim

[Joe Dombrowski]

It looks like I need to make some. That was so cool when that guy came up to me... I don't know how he knew my name. I felt like a rockstar.

Come back to the U.S. soon! We need to keep the Wednesday night World Championships fast next year!

[Joe Dombrowski]

Oh and BTW, white socks topping out just below the calf muscle, on top of dark leg warmers is about as pro as you can get.

[Simeon Green]

Maybe in Belgium Joe... maybe in BEL... but remember, BEL is the West-Virginia of Europe. ;-)

Sim