VELDSLAG OM NORG 2021
The battle on the sandy roads of Drenthe, the Netherlands was fierce and it was played hard. I felt it the evening before, when we still had a lot of fun and beers with the crew. There was a vibe of showing off, of proofing something. And I didn’t mind, because I felt strong and confident. So I played along. I was placed way in the back at the start, which had irritated me and I had to give a lot just to get to the front group. An effort that made me even more confident and as I raced on the muddy track, I was already planning my attack. I was in the zone. My speed went up fast, I felt unstoppable. I slipped in a mud pool and nearly fell, but I didn’t. I knew I was taking more risks than I would normally and told myself to be more cautious next time. But I felt like I was flying. The next moment I was flying. I wish I could tell what happened but I don’t remember. A second mud pool had me for real. Other riders found me next to the track out of conscience. They helped me and in the hospital I heard I had a brain contusion. Apparently, I have been getting up from the ground several times, putting on my helmet to continue the race. Once a cyclist….
Needless to say, this crash ended all racing this year. It has been 3 weeks now and I just finished my first ride. 25 km per hour for 45 kilometer. I am happy to say I have no headaches, no dizziness and my memory, body mobility and general behaviour havn’t changed. I take rest when needed and I am looking forward to next year.
Leadboat 2021
I went to the USA in August to race, cause that’s what I still am at the end, a bike racer. Road, mountainbike or gravel, if it is on two wheels I am into it. Although I won’t consider downhill mountain biking racing, and the main focus is gravel. Last week I gave it a shot at the #leadboat challenge. A combined overal on a famous mountainbike race very high in the Colorado Rockie Mountains, Leadville is sitting at 3000 meters altitude, and a new fast growing gravel race, SBTGRVL, a 1000 meter lower in elevation in Steamboat Springs. The challenge is pretty insane, consisting of 2 days of riding, over 400 kilometers in total, with like 7000 meters of climbing. All this above 2000 meters elevation. We race on two different bikes and both mountain towns where separated 3 hrs driving apart. A logistic nightmare.
I came to race. I did Leadville before and I sucked. Talking about a logistic nightmare. I remember a 13 hour flight Tuesday after the Tour de France. And then a 2000 km trip from Santa Cruz to Leadville by car to arrive Thursday night, with 2 jet lagged kids of 1 and 4 years old on the backseats. All parents know that it was a challenge. Counting in that I came from sea level, I didn’t rode my bike for 3 days and the day before Leadville was the first day that I stepped on a mountainbike that year, I new exactly why I sucked.
This year was going to be different. I flew in 14 days before Leadville. I carefully planned my travel in a luxury Sprinter Van from Storyteller Overland, quite the upgrade since UNBOUND where I drove an old beat up chevy. I made sure that I was on time on altitude in Truckee. I collected my mountainbike in Morgan Hill at the Specialized hq immediately on arrival in order to get used to the bike. On all the bbq’s they threw me in my old home towns, Santa Cruz and Truckee I tempered my appetite, I knew I had to climb a lot. I went only twice for my favorite breakfast containing pancakes, eggs and bacon. I was way better prepared than in 2016 and had high hopes for Leadville the first of the two races. And guess what?
I still sucked.
Somehow I was dropped from the first meters up hill after the cold 6.30 am start. If it was the altitude, the cold start or maybe even the smoke from the California wildfires I trained in the week before, I don’t know. Fact is that it felt an asthma attack on the first climb. I never recovered and had to put my body into survival mode in stead of race mode. I nursed me and my bike to the finish without crashing, just being 5 minutes faster than 5 years ago. With all the preparation that went into it, it was fair to say that I was disappointed.
That is the beauty of the human body. It keeps on surprising you. Where I was on an upward swing in may and June. Feeling unbeatable and surprised by the excellent form I had. Now I was surprised in a bad way. I was way worse than I expected. I drove down the mountain from Steamboat a little sad. But I knew too, the body can switch. The legs are there, I knew that from training, so when the lungs open up I’ll be able to do a good race. I was happy with my second chance that weekend in SBTGRVL.
I suffered again the first 2,5 hours of the race, but then the temperature rose and the body switched. The lungs opened up and were able to catch more air. My legs felt better every kilometer. Whereas I was dropped a few times in the beginning I started to think about attacking the field a couple of hours later. And I did. Adrenaline flew and I felt like I was superman again, being the bike racer from May.
But I got countered on my attack and 8 guys flew by. They left me behind. I had overshoot myself a little bit and found myself in a second group of 4 riders. We rode to the line together and very tired and satisfied I settled for a 10th place. It felt like I did a race instead of just riding my bike to the finish like I did the day before in Leadville. I had been in the mix again.
So satisfaction was there and I could reflect on a great trip. Unfortunately it was a solo trip as my wife and kids were not be able to make it into the USA. We will save that for next year. What stood out for me this trip was the hospitality and welcoming altitude from all the people I met during my travel. I lost count of the families I stayed with during my weeks over here. I remember the new friends I’ve made and the old ones I met again. It felt good to fit in the “band of gravel brothers” again and kick each others arse while meeting for a beer or my favorite pancake breakfast afterwards. The amount of women racing bikes in SBTGRVL was insane. The organization was flawless. It all was really nice to experience.
I have some European projects coming up now, stay tuned. It is cool . But this might have been my last big USA trip and big block of racing for this season. I can’t wait to come back to see all my gravel friends in 2022.
MIGRATION GRAVEL RACE 2021
Migration Gravel Race. Inspired by the great migration of animals, that cross the Kenyan country. Gravel race meets safari, with giraffes, zebra’s, wildebeests and elephants crossing the same rivers and fields as the riders do.
Day 1
The distance was shortened with 40 k because of a regional lockdown due to covid. It was nonetheless a savage first day, with rocky roads, many many punctures and headwind all day long. Even the bus needed a tire change twice de day before when a recognition was done. Laurens said it felt like a 110 k Carrefour de l’Arbre (the famous cobblestone road from Paris-Roubaix) with a MTB midroll. Which is great fun, when you are not riding a MTB but a gravel bike. Luckily he managed to maintain position and made his move on the flat road, facing a 40 k solo escape. Little did he know that day, this move appeared to be the decisive one for the rest of the week. A huge time gap was made between him and his major opponent: Ian Boswell.
Day 2
The queen’s stage. No punctures this time, but a fierce 50 k long climb that soon separated the 4 man from the bunch. After the climb, a 100 k singletrack course turnes out to be a sort of scavenger hunt, closely watching the GPS to see if they were still on the right track. At the river crossing, rangers were present to make sure the riders could pass safely, because of crocodiles. The last 30 k was tricky but provided an exciting finale with the four riders. On the last climb, with 13 k to go, Laurens got to loose Ian and emptied himself when crossing the finishline. This was a hard stage.
Day 3
What was supposed to be a mellow day, soon became less peacefull when Ian decided to speed things up a little bit. Soon there was only a little group of 5 or 6 riders. With only 50 k to go, Laurens punctured in the descent. Luckily he managed to plug his tire fast, and chased the men for 25 k, which took a lot of energy. When he got back, his tire flatted again. Geoffrey attacked and Laurens managed to stay with the rest of the group without losing too much time.
Day 4
The last day of 160 k passed through the Masaai park. A magical morning with wildebeests chasing the sunrise next to the riders. Although every rider was tired and there was practically no one without back pain, everybody seemed to enjoy this day the most. At the first feeding station after 60 k, there was a group of 20 riders, but after the first steep climb, only 7 were left. Ian attacked 90 k before the finish line. Now it turned into a tactical game. Ian no longer posed a big threat to Laurens’ GC, because of the amount of time Ian loss after the first stage. But Sule, who could still be a danger to Laurens, could not follow Ian’s attack. So Laurens stayed with Sule and the men kept riding at a steady pace to the finish line, passing little towns and enthousiast school children. The smooth gravel was a joy after the hardship of the first days.
The podium was for Suleman Kangangi (2nd), Kenneth Karaya (3rd). and Laurens ten Dam (1st), not really knowing how to drape the traditional Masai blanket he was offered. A beautiful result, with the two Kenyans representing their beautiful country. It was a unique experience for everybody, from the basic campsite rituals to the beautiful rides with wild animals passing by.
The story of Laurens was one based on success, but there was a whole Live Slow Ride Fast team present in Kenya. Thomas Dekker, Stefan Bolt and Dennis Bruin all had their stories to tell. For Thomas, this 4 stage race triggered something, he had not felt for a long time. The feeling of emptying yourself every day a little bit more. It felt like this type of suffering was still recognized by his body as a sort of comfort zone. The preperation for the next day as soon as you pass the finish line. Taking care of the body, eating, checking the bike, eating some more. It was such a beautiful race, but the podium turned out to be one step too far. The last day he really enjoyed himself looking around and being proud of what he had accomplished in the last year, getting back in shape.
For Stefan, this was his first experience with a multistage event, let alone race. No professional ex-carreer here, just a passion for cycling. Of course he did not know what to expect. And it did blow up in his face. Especially on day 2, he took too much of himself, starting too fast and ending up hungerflatted on a steep climb. There was a small feeling of fear, starting day 3, not really knowing he could actually manage to finish. But after an hour or two, he got through. He also managed to really enjoy it all on the last day, when the suffering was almost over. For the first time he understood how it must have been for Laurens in grand tours, the day-to-day organisation, the continuous planning of the next step. As soon as you cross the line, there is tomorrow to be ready for. A list of to do stuff, before you get some well deserved rest. The only bad thing about this week? He will never get to enjoy a regular safari trip by car with an experience like this on the bike.
For Dennis, the whole camping experience got the best out of him. Prepared to the very last detail, he could have stayed in the bushes for another few months. He is an experienced man of 50 years old, with ultraruns and MTB stage racing in his bones. But a lot of stress came out on the long and steep climb of the second day. Stomach issues made that day a really horrible one to survive. But as the strong man he is, he got back on his bike the next day and even managed to talk Stefan through his weakest moments. Without the stress of having to perform, a burden fell off his shoulders and he started enjoying it to the very last second. Smiles for miles.
UNBOUND 2021
The mother of all gravel races. The Artist Formerly Known As (Dirty) Kanza. There has been a lot to do about the name change and to the why behind it. As Europeans, watching from a distance, we were not really getting it. Or maybe we were a bit too slack in wanting to really know what the problem was. A petition to change the name started circulating around April 2020, encouraging the race to change its name, because it was offensive to the Indigenous (Indian tribe) peoples of the area. But that was not the only reason, it seems. Jim Cummins, the founder of Dirty Kanza expressed himself in a wrong way, when judging the shooting of a man, called Brooks, by an Atlanta police officer. These two events, one that had been simmering for a long time and the other, being part of a much larger problem, that culminated that summer, made a name change inevitable. If you would like to read more on this subject, please visit this site (https://www.outsideonline.com/2415512/kanza-name-change-indigenous-bike-race)
With the name change, a new future is possible for the gravel event. And wether it is a coincidence or not, with this change, there was a growing interest from across the big blue ocean. Like from a retired Dutch roadie, who was eager to show what he is worth on unpaved roads. Covid took away the whole of 2020 and there had been only training and no racing. The victory in his first ever gravel event Gravel Locos, two weeks prior to Unbound, told him the legs were good and ready to roll. His friend Thomas Dekker, also a former roadie, was eager to show himself once more after many years of non-cycling to join the adventure and together they had been training all winter for this event.
THE DAY BEFORE
The choice between aero/lightweight and sturdy/unbreakable is a tough decision. If you are too heavy, you loose precious energy. If you are using material that is too light, it breaks. If you think Kansas gravel resembles the stuff you put on your drive lane, you couldn’t be more wrong. There are parts were the word ‘road’ is really too much. Pointy sharp, loose big rocks make both a fast descent as a ‘steady rolling’ climb far from easy.
And then, there is the distance. A lot can happen in 200 miles. Flats are to be expected, worse can happen. You need to be your own mechanic, otherwise you are screwed anyways. The two feeding zones are respected by everybody, also the fastest riders. No passing without filling. We race afterwards again. This ‘secret’ rule is one of the things that make gravel racing special. It looks like it’s all friendly and relaxed, but in the end, the race is brutal and decisive in so many other ways. Tactics for that matter are not appreciated. There were a bunch of Dutchies at the start line, but to ride as a national team is not what this race is all about. Impossible also, because chances are the field will spread within 50 miles.
RACE DAY
If you get a few hours of sleep, you are lucky. Nerfs are telling you, today is important. The alarm is set at 5.00 or maybe even 4.00 if you are a slow starter. A big bowl of oatmeal it is.
The start line looks impressive. All the gravel kings and queens are there: Peter Stetina, Ted King, Colin Strickland, Ian Boswell and Quinn Simons. Alison Tetrick, Lauren de Crescenzo and Amity Rockwell. And then there is the other 4000 something. All smiles and happy to be back at an event.
Mile 50: There is a group of approximately 40 guys leading the race. Thomas suddenly feels a dropping movement in his saddle, which shouldn’t be the case. Before he even understands what the problem is, he hears a big cracking sound. And no saddle anymore when he looks between his legs. There is a lot that can be fixed, but really nobody takes a spare saddle when starting Unbound. DNF.
Mile 100: a lot has happened in the second 50 mile part. More and more riders have been dropped and a lead group of only seven race across a road called Little Egypt, which tells a lot about the environment (and the pace). Laurens sees the usual suspects plus Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) and 2015 US Pro criterium champion Eric Marcotte. Quinn Simons, who had been taking the lead earlier in the race, had to quit because of a crash.
Mile 125: The group drops Carpenter and Marmotte at the neutral water oasis and faces a fierce headwind on their way back to Emporia, with the increasing heat of the Mid Western sun chasing them. Strickland and Stetina get to join the group again.
Mile 185: When Stetina tries to take the lead, King, Boswell and Laurens work hard together to get him back.
Final 10 k: Boswell and Laurens keep on going, King finds himself at a one minute distance together with Stetina. Laurens sees no opportunity to loose Boswell, there are no climbs anymore. It ends up in a close sprint, with Boswell taking 1st place.
‘’At least I got first in my age group’’
Disappointment can only be felt when the win is that close. But a few hours later, there is only pride and satisfaction. When you decide to do gravel racing, you don’t really know how it will be like. When a year of Covid-19 gets in the way of all the races and there is only training in Holland, it is difficult to say what your real chances are. Preparation and material is everything, and a bit of luck too. Aiming for top 10 but finishing on the podium twice is a dream come true and a definite sign you are doing okay. Asking how this race felt like, is asking how it was for a woman to give birth. The stats of power and the painful faces afterwards should tell you enough. Like Ivar Slik told us: ‘’This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done’’. The mental breakdowns you have to face alone on your bike, the ‘nothing’ out there except a rocky road, the mechanical set backs you have to deal with. The amazing volunteers providing snacks and drinks. The cheering for every rider that crosses the finish line, even for the very last ones at 3.00 a.m. in the night. The BBQ stamp with the number 200 you get for finishing first in your age group. It all ads up to an amazing event. A once in a lifetime for some, a reason to come back next year, even more determined, for others.
GRAVEL LOCOS 2021
In between the local gun shop and the Billie the Kid museum, Laurens stretches out and smiles. It has been a while. The feeling of winning, of ending a race in style, crossing the finish line solo. He felt strong, but unexperienced on gravel. Playing the underdog, asking for tips from his colleagues. Now he knows: next time, they won’t give me any tips. Next race, they are going to keep an eye on me.
Gravel Locos in Hico, Texas, is considered to be this years perfect warm-up event for next weeks Unbound. The 250 k course is long enough to be decisive and if the distance isn’t enough, the soil is. Multiple river crossings take out the speed and sometimes even parts of your drive train… This edition started out sunny, but the Texan clouds soon evolved into a classic rain depression, causing the gravel to turn into a proper yellow mud slide.
All the big names in off-road cycling were present. Colin Strickland, King of Kanza, Peter Stetina, off-road champion and also a former road racer, Mat Stephens, who also won Kanza and Ted King, the King of Gravel, who just recently broke his collarbone and is getting back in shape. This group, together with a few other young continental riders stayed together pretty much throughout the whole race. About 40 k before the finish line, Laurens dared to take the lead. ‘’It was anything from impressive’’, he said. ‘’I said to myself, if I am still out there after 15 minutes, swimming like this with only a 100 meter lead, I will stop trying and call it a day. But after 13 stressful minutes, they finally cracked and I was off. The last 10 k were terrible. After the last river crossing, I couldn’t use my derailleur anymore, so I got stuck in one gear. Luckily it was a good one, but Colin came back with only 34 seconds difference. I am very happy that I won. This old European guy still knows what racing means!
The trophy, a classic Texan leather boot, will definitely upgrade the mancave back home. But before Laurens heads back to Europe, he will join his fellow gravellers at the start line of Unbound Gravel in Kansas. Going from Detroit, Michigan, to Ohio, further to Texas and ending in Kansas, this race program also created the perfect American road trip for the Dutch former pro roadie.
“The best thing about gravel racing?” ‘’It’s probably the fun factor: there are no team tactics, it’s every man for himself. Or every woman, because we all start together and everybody gets to show off. The spirit of gravel is a combination of really fast riding, having fun before and after the race, staying friendly, stopping at the reststops for food and drinks and finish it off with some brutal display of power. Don’t underestimate the watts that are pushed. Just check the files to see for yourself. This is racing for real. But without the negativity or foul play. I love it.’’