The Holy Week

The Holy Week, many people off you might think: 'What now, are we gonna talk about religion?'
Well for the cycling fans in Belgium, the past and upcoming week is kind of a Holy Week: first we have The Tour of Flanders, then Gent-Wevelgem and last but not least Paris-Roubaix.

The ideal week where every cycling fan longs for. The party, the smell of the massage oil, seeing all the riders and of course the amusing voice of Sporza annalist Michel Wuyts. You just have to turn on the TV and you can hear him whisper quietly through the boxes.

Meanwhile, there are already 2 races ridden. Let's start with the Tour of Flanders. Before the start there was one big favorite named Pippo Pozzato (if you don't know him, just google 'Filippo Pozzato'. I'm sure you'll find lots of information about him). Pippo won 'E3 prijs Harelbeke' and showed a few demonstrations in 'Driedaagse van De Panne', so he could only lose. Unfortunately for him, he ran into a strong Quickstep team. With Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel and Stijn Devolder they had a trio that could all go for victory.

With Stijn Devolder or as we call him in Flanders 'Volderke' rode away from everyone to win solo in Meerbeke with 1 minute ahead of all the others. This may sound familiar to many, because who finished last year solo in Meerbeke? Yes indeed, it was the same Stijn Devolder!
He made a stunning victory gesture with two fingers in the air. There were a lot of emotions mixed with this win. Of course first the emotion of winning but second of all the emotions behind the victory. Stijn made a promise that his first major victory of the season would be one for his good friend Frederiek Nolf who deceased in Qatar.

But cycling is hard and after that magnificent solo, another race followed on Wednesday: 'Gent-Wevelgem'. The riders couldn't rest for a bit, no minute they were left alone. They had to get on the bike again, ready to fly the Belgium roads and that while it was raining.

Right from the beginning it was a very hard race with the result that none of the blue armada or Quickstep riders were in the front of the race. 33 riders in the front and no blue ones so their race was over. Bye bye and ready to go to the finish for everyone.

Of course we can't lose sight on the race. Gent-Wevelgem was very hard in these rainy conditions and with a very surprising winner who crossed the finish line. His name is 'Edvald Boasson Hagen'. A young Norwegian rider. I can already here you say 'Who. What do you say?' Well listen to what i'm saying right now: 'Edvald Boasson Hagen, a very young Norwegian rider and you'll definitely hear from him in the future!'

RIP Nolfke

No words can describe what has happened the last few days. However, I must write something here, just one last salute to Frederiek.

For me it all started on Thursday 5 February around 13PM. I turn on my computer, opened the internet and there I see it: 'Frederiek Nolf died during his sleep.'

Immediately it became quiet around me, I couldn't see or hear anything. I couldn't believe this so after a while I started to read on some websites...

Still not aware of what had happened there in the distant Qatar, I didn't get a lot of time to think about it. At 13.30PM I had to go to some classes, but I couldn't really concentrate myself on anything. I constantly had to think about that one phrase.

Meanwhile it was 17PM and lessons where finally done for me. As soon as I was in my room, I had to see if it really was true. Maybe I dreamed it, but when I turned on the internet the same line was still on my homepage.

I wanted to do something, no matter what, I just had to clear my mind. I wanted to delete that sentence out of my memory. I couldn't do any schoolwork so I preferred to take a walk. Clear my mind, but in a town I barely knew it wasn't ideal. After a few hours I began to realize what had happened in Qatar.

The first night I didn't sleep a lot. The next day I read some more about what had happened, how the riders commemorated Nolfke...

Today was the day, the final stage of a long journey: 'The funeral of Frederiek'. I couldn't be there, but I've heard from some people how it went. Finally everyone could say goodbye to their beloved one in serenity. For anyone who knew him, life will never be the same again. Never see, smell, hear or see him, but I'm sure he's watching them from above. They all have to cherish the beautiful memories and these will give them the strength to get through this.

Fré, we will never forget you! Even though you're not with us anymore, you will continue to live forever in our hearts.

Velofollies

This weekend it happened again: Velofollies at Expohallen Kortrijk!

I went on Friday and Saturday. Friday was just incredible and on Saturday there was some kind of an interview with Wouter Weylandt on the program.

What I remember the most is the happy reunion with all the riders of the Quickstep team. A lot of new faces of course, but also a lot of recognizable faces. It was good seeing all the riders back and now I'm even more enthusiastic for the Belgian opening weekend.

On February 28 it will finally be time. I can't wait to smell the freshly bakes french fries, to hear the commentators talk, seeing all the riders back, the new helmets and jerseys, the traditional sunglasses (although I doubt that we'll be seeing the sun) and so much more...

Some teams are having their final training camp at the moment, while others leave for the sun and heat in Tour of Qatar to fight for the victories! Many people may think that the riders have vacation during November and that they don't have to work anymore, but when you see everything a rider has to do during the winter time you even get more respect for cycling. As a supporter you're just happy to get a chance to see those warriors of cycling from nearby.

But soon it will be February 28. A date that is already listed in my personal agenda. This day will be the beginning of a wonderful period full off cycling.

And last but not least, a little thing I just have to say: real fans don't care what others say, they are above all the criticism of others and continue to support the riders through good and bad times. People always say: 'with many ups and downs', well I say: 'The downs will never stop me, and I say NEVER keep me away from this wonderful sport.'

Through the eyes of a cycling fan

Welcome to my blog. I'm Lindsay Decat and cycling is my passion. During the cycling season I go to as much races as possible. With my camera I try to shoot some action photos.

Of course everyone has their own favorites and for me it's Andy and Fränk Schleck, Fabian Cancellara and Wouter Weylandt.

Here I wil occasionally post a few messages with my view on cycling and the things I experience when i'm on the road.

Because my favorite riders are riding for Team Saxobank and Quickstep it's logical that I will mainly discuss these teams. I'm not saying I won't write anything about the others, because everyone deserves a spot right here!

Hope you'll enjoy reading an feel free to leave me a message!