Scott Group Ride in the Ardennes

Ok. Think happy thoughts. Let's not get carried awy with the fever or the lost laptop... So far, one of the greatest things that I experienced, was the elite group ride in the Ardennes that Dave Bruylants organised for us. Dave invited some friends, and took us riding to 'La Fleche Wallonne' a(n) (in)famous classic in the Belgian Ardennes. In our group were Dave himself, still riding like a pro, Belgian champion Geert Wellens and cyclocross elite-rider (UCI Top-20) Jan Verstraete. It was an adventurous and painful day. Not in the least because the Belgian Railway Syatem broke down completely at Brussels, a few hours prior to the race. With me arriving very late as a result, and a bunch of nervous elite riders on the verge of getting a cold, waiting fro me as I arrived. But it was alos painful in a litteral sense : 17 climbs, four of which hqd gradients of over 20%. And me subsequently finishing last on every single hill. (Moving and spectacular, though: Dave returning for me at the top of every hill and leading me back to the front of the pack, like I was his team leader and he was my helper in a real race. Amazing.)In spite of my occasional emberassement, this was truly one of the highlights if not THE best experience since I strted this thing. At the end of the day, ze totalled 165 kilometers at an average speed of 28,5 kilometers per hour. Which was, as it turned out, the very slowest these guys had ever ridden. A full report of how my Scott held itself on 20 percent uphills and descents, with pictures and a full-feature interview with Dave Bruylants and Scott rider jan Verstraete will be on Triathlete Europe as of Thursday, May 27th