World Cup #2
Houffalize, Belgium
May 20-27, 2002

Hi everyone,
I can't believe I have enough energy to write this before tackling the enormous task of trying to make all my stuff fit back in my suitcase.  My room here in Houffalize looks like a bomb went off inside of it.  Post race is always crazy.  First there is the bag of wet muddy clothes to deal with.  Then you're so tired and hungry that everything just gets tossed on the floor and across the bed.  Then it's off to the podium, bike packing, showers, dinner, and now back in the room.  Luckily we don't leave until 8:30am tomorrow for our flight back to the states, so I still have time to procrastinate.  Haha!

The race today was hard.  I have been sick all week with a Euro head cold so I knew today was going to be a struggle.  The race started in the center of town and went up a nasty paved climb that took us into the woods.  It rained all week so the singletrack sections of the course were full of wet slimy roots. 

After a ballistic start I made it to the top of the first climb in 5th I think.  Hard to remember because I wasn't getting much oxygen to my brain at that point.  After a fast descent we started the longest climb of the race.  It was slightly muddy and steep.  Then there was some fast riding through the woods, another slippery descent and then the last climb of the race.  It was super steep and because of the crowd, the track was barely a bike width wide.  All the fans were leaning over, almost in your face, all yelling and chanting enthusiastically.  It was quite a rush. Somewhere in the first lap I, despite the cheering from the crowd, I was passed by three more riders.  Frustrating!  My legs just weren't cooperating.

The next two laps were damage control.  I wasn't loosing any more ground and I wasn't moving up either.  Finally at the start of lap three I started to get my legs back.  I could tell that I was beginning to close the gap to the next rider.  At this point I was sitting in 7th and if I wanted to make the podium (top five) I had my work cut out for me.  Luckily the legs came back and I made a huge last lap charge.  I actually had the fastest last lap of any of the riders, including Marga Fullana!  I moved all the way up to 4th place, passing Barbara Blatter just before the last quick descent to the finish line.  It was quite exciting.  Marga Fullana won, Caroline Alexander was 2nd, Annabella Stropparo was 3rd, I was 4th and Blatter was in 5th.  I am now tied for 2nd overall with Caroline Alexander.  Not bad.

The race in Houffalize is one of the biggest on the circuit.  There were easily over 30,000 screaming drunk Belgium fans lining the course today.  This was the 12th year for the race.  Quite a tradition.  We'll probably be back next year I'm sure.  Until then, I'll see you next in Wisconsin for our second Norba National.

Au revoir,
Alison