Only home for one day and then back to Belgium. 3 of our athletes had been selected for the 3 world cups during the Christmas period. No physical support by the US Federation, so each team are on their own for these blocks .

A lot of logistics again to handle with lodging, vehicles, and schedules. The goal is to have a stress free block for our riders and for them not having to think about anything else than riding and racing.

We stay right in the forest of Lichtaart, the Mecca of Cross. Centrally located for everything and the famous training ground for most professional cross riders.

Since a very tight first week race schedule with the World Cups Hulst and Zonhoven back to back, we pre ride Zonhoven on Thursday and then Hulst on Friday during the official training combined with number pick, etc.

Some extra driving but since these two races are probably some of the most extreme courses technically it’s a necessity for the riders to be 100% confident on race day.

Hulst is one roller coaster of a course with some really steep drops and run ups. You have to be 100% focused all the time and a course with very little recovery. Some mud of course adds additional challenges.

Aidan started on the front row from his 6th place in Ireland which definitely is an advantage on this course. 17th on the day, respectable, but Aidan definitely was hoping for a top 10. Not an easy task with 90 starters. Jack unfortunately came down with Covid after the Nationals so had to sit this weekend out including any training.

Alyssa started on the 3rd row and after a great first half of the race slip back a few spots to 30th.

Zonhoven the very next day, it’s like getting punched twice. Two super hard races back to back and very short recovery time. We do everything possible to maximize that time between these two races.

Hulst has 2 very steep drops, Zonhoven has 2 very steep drops in deep sand, plus numerous other technical sand sections. 4 gradual up hills each lap so a very demanding course besides being super technical.

Aidan did not have a great start and a crash very early in the race, followed by a few more crashes and with very cold damp temps he eventually came to a stop at the pit and DNF’d.

Alyssa struggled physically and not feeling great even though she rode the course technically well she finally decided to pull the plug and also had a DNF. This sport is brutal and extremely hard mentally to start with, but when you add the pressure to perform, the extreme technical difficulties, and the skills at speed required at this level, it’s a humbling experience for most. Just have to pick yourself up off the ground and continue onto the next one.

Besançon, France was next for us, but not until next Sunday so appropriate recovery time- physically and mentally. Much needed.

We stayed 3 more days in Lichtaart. Refueling on all levels, cleaning, organizing, recovering, taking care of the equipment, and just having a few days to really get settled down before a long drive to France.

We even did some training in the Forest on Wednesday, skills and having some fun in the sand. I went to watch the Zilvermeers CX in Mol, one of my favorites and a very nice race, plus Mathieu even showed up.

Thursday morning we start the drive to Besançon. 7 hours with the camper and a car. Only Aidan and Alyssa with their dads. Jack stays behind and starting to feel better by now. His first race will be Loenhout on Friday.

Besançon is near the Swiss border so a very different climate than in Belgium. Colder temps and the ground is frozen. After we arrive at the B&B Hotel, we head out for a quick ride to shake the travels legs off. We managed to find a great route to the course/venue which was really helpful for the coming days. First impression was “a big course.”

Friday, we sneak in a lap on the course just to see the layout, very bumpy from the frozen ground and no one has really ridden on it yet, but pretty much fully set up. We also checked out some roads in the area, nice training roads, and a great day in France. By the time we got back to the hotel, several pro teams including Visma Lease a Bike were in the parking lot. The greatest female cyclist ever, Marianne Vos is staying at our hotel.

Saturday is the usual training on the course 14.00-16.00 and number pick up. Now everyone is on the course and it’s super greasy from the thawing. Just floating around and tricky conditions. The bikes got very muddy even just after a few laps.

Final dinner in France and then race day the next morning. Cold again and when the boys start at 9.30 still semi frozen, but the greasiness is appearing quickly .

Aidan gets a great start and in the top 5 on the first lap, a few mistakes and a chain drops puts him in 25th at the end.

Alyssa, again on 3rd row. Heavy course and now very muddy. Most riders are changing bikes every lap. 39th, not the World Cup season she has hoped for, but that’s being an athlete and coming back from setbacks often makes you stronger.

Quick clean up and 7 hour drive back to Belgium. An uneventful drive and everything went smoothly.

Jack is racing Monday night in Diegem, then Baal on New Years Day. Koksjide and finally Gullegem before heading home.

A successful race block logistically and thank you CycloCross Custom for the race support. A little rest now, then gear up towards the Hoogerheide World Cup and CX Worlds, another trip to France.

The 2024 USA Cyclocross Nationals were held in Louisville, Kentucky again like 2023.

The highlight and ending of the CX season in the US is always the Nationals. The biggest goal for most riders, especially the 15- 16 riders, but also for our 17-18 since their season still continues in Europe and if you win you are able to show off the stars and strips in the races across the pond.

The 17-18 race is on Saturday and the 15-16’s are on Sunday. A slightly different format and quite the travel distance for most, the US is a big Country.

I arrive on Wednesday to set up our team tent village and the riders arrive on Thursday to start pre riding and familiarize themselves with the course and venue. Due to weather and the amount of races and traffic on the course the conditions always change daily at these events.

Aidan and Jack race on Saturday in the 17-18 category, a large field and stacked top 10, you cannot have anything go wrong to be able to win or podium for sure. Aidan crashes on the barriers on the first lap and that is a huge set back to come back from, only manages to 7th, disappointing with legs that could probably have won the race. Jack had a great start and very steady race with no real issues finishing 10th.

The junior girls had a similar competitive field with a few real heavy hitters. Alyssa decided to sit this one out due to illness and save her matches for the World Cups. Sophie Cosper had solid race as a first year and she was in a big group the entire race, ended up 16th on the day. A very honest and good course to end the US CX Season.

On Sunday it was the 15-16 boys and girls turn to battle. FinKraft of course have some of the favorites in these categories.

Matthew Crabbe and Noah Scholnick were definitely the two to beat and they are off the front right away. “Mathieu” rides a smart, strong, and clean race. Solos to a convincing win 2nd year in a row at the same venue. No doubt Noah would have made it a 1-2 unless he had not suffered a mechanical and had to run to the pit “material post.” Still a 4th place on the podium, picking off riders all the way to the line.

Ava White raced the 13-14 girls earlier and had a great muddy experience getting ready to join the 15-16 next year, finishing in 11th place.

Lilli ODonnell was also the favorite to win the 15-16 girls. Still a first year, but now with a lot of experience from her racing in the European race block with ECA.

Lilli took the bull by the horns right from the start and it was a duel with Delaney Meegan from Avout Racing going back and forth in the lead. 2nd after an incredible battle.

Super proud of everyone giving their all and raising to the occasion.

Thanks to our mechanic Peter Childs and all the parents supporting all our athletes this week in Louisville and every race weekend this season!

Photo credit: Beyond Horizon Media

First Youth World Cup on the UCI Calendar was Dublin, Ireland on Dec 1st. I traveled straight from Belgium after the 15-16 block to prepare with ECA for our athletes to arrive on Wednesday.

Venue is relatively easy, but there are a lot of other logistics to pull this one race off in a very busy area of Dublin.

Weather was unusually warm and dry on race day for Irish standards. Not too technical of a course, but still some ruts, mud, and slipperiness. A classic cross course no doubt.

Smaller fields but still the best athletes always show up for a World Cup.

FinKraft has 3 athletes selected: Aidan Vollmuth, Jack Bernard, and Alyssa White.

High hopes for a good result and everyone is super motivated after a great US CX season leading up to start of the European racing .

Our riders have good UCI points so great start positions. Aidan managed to hold onto a top 10 finish after a great start finishing 6th. One of the higher placings for a US junior men throughout the World Cup history.

Alyssa also had a great start , but unfortunately did not feel her best and slid back to 21st place .

Jack suffered a flat and fished 27th at the end .

Great race and experience to take home before the US Nationals.

Read about Aidan’s experience written on Velo News:
https://velo.outsideonline.com/cyclocross/eurocrossacademy-the-power-of-aspiration-over-expectation/

Racing CX in Europe is another level and I call it a different sport.

If you eventually want to make it at the highest level you have no choice than race there . So we created an opportunity for our Nieuwelingens (15-16’s) to go to Belgium and the Netherlands to see what it is all about.

We had 4 races on our schedule. One race in Belgium: Hever, and then 3 races in the Netherlands: Almelo, Hilversum, and Emmen. We did this block in collaboration with ECA (EuroCrossAcademy).

We also had the opportunity to train in the magical forest of Lichtaart with Tom DeKort and then in Gieten (the 1991 CX Worlds location with Jens Dekker and Bodi Del Grosso).

Along with the race experience our riders also got the full experience with travel, living in Europe, and all the sometimes complicated race logistics. Good money in the bank for years to come.

Hever was a typical Belgian National race in the field, “Mathieu” Matthew Crabbe managed to take the win in his very first European race. Quite the start to this block!
Lilliana ODonnell was 4th.

We moved to Netherlands after this race and based ourselves in the northern part of the country.

First race up was in Almelo and the Dutch Champions showed up. Muddy and a slightly more technical course. Mathieu 6th and Lilli 10th.

Wet and cold, even a little snow some mornings. Mid-week ride to the famous Vamberg or Col du Vam. 4800 cm altitude where both the European championships in road and CX have taken place.

Next up Hilversum. A very cool course entirely in the woods on trails, with 2 sand sections- another skill set needed. A unique course and a new experience with big fields and competition. Mathieu 2nd and Lilli 3rd.

Last and final race took place in Emmen, smaller/tighter/turny course and also slippery conditions.

Mathieu and Lilli both took the win, so a fantastic way of ending this racing block. A really great opportunity and an incredibly well supported trip for our riders!!

To hear more about how our riders thought of the experience- read Matthew and Lilli’s rider journals written for Velo News:

Matthew Crabbe’s Rider Journal Entry

Lilli ODonnell’s Rider Journal Entry

FinKraft had 3 riders in Belgium and the Netherlands this year for the Kerstperiode. Alyssa White with the USA Cycling National Team, Finley Aspholm, and Jack Bernhard with Euro Cross Academy. 

The “Kerstperiode” or the Christmas Period involves a packed schedule of cyclocross racing in a short time from the end of December to New Year’s. Some of the biggest stars toe the line, race registrations are filled and thousands of spectators come to watch at some of the most famous race venues ever.

Alyssa and Finley arrived on the 14th to prepare for their first race: the Namur World Cup. Not a bad race to start with. Known for the Citadelle Castle and its infamous off-camber, our girls were very excited to dial in the course for race day. Finley got to race here in 2022 for the European Cyclocross Championships as a first-year junior. Alyssa got a front-row call-up after getting some World Cup points from France and Ireland in November. Finley was on the 5th row. They both had great starts up the first lung-burning cobbled climb but bad legs didn’t allow them to have their best day. Alyssa 21st and Finley 44th. 

The second and final Junior World Cup of the block for Alyssa and Finley was Antwerp. Some sand sections tested their skills coming from a sand training the Wednesday before, with Dutch National Team Coach, Gerben De Knegt.  Alyssa now on the 3rd row and Finley in the 6th, had to do their best to move up in the critical start. They both were having great races moving through the field. Alyssa fought in the top 15 finishing 14th. Finley took advantage of her strengths riding sand and was on track to having her best personal place finish in a World Cup. Around the 25th, she unfortunately flatted after the pit 2 exit with one lap to go. A long run to the next pit to still finish on the lead lap. 

Next up was a smaller Dutch “B” race. This was Jack’s first-ever race in Europe and it was true-typical Euro conditions. Mud, mud, and more mud.  Finley raced with the elite women and was lucky to get a front-row start. She placed 5th after some battles at the front. Jack also got a front-row start in the junior men, on a bit of an altered course because of the mud puddles getting deeper and deeper. He placed 35th. 

Beernem the next day was another small B race but in Belgium. Also a very unique course with steep chutes and narrow-twisty paths through people’s backyards! Finley raced again with the elite women but this time starting in the back row because all locals got to be in the front to compete for the provincial championships title. She tried to make it up as far as she could after a tight start, finishing 9th. Jack in the junior boys got 33rd. 

One day of rest and then one of the biggest races on the old F1 track in Zolder. With full categories, we knew how lucky we were to get into this race. As coming to be usual, no separate junior girls categories in Belgium. This meant Alyssa and Finley had to race with the elite women. 88 starters and racing against the best, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Fem van Empel at the front. Alyssa finished 23rd overall and 2nd junior. She had one of her best races so far this season. Finley starting from the last row finished 71st overall and 21st junior. Jack also raced with 88 junior boys in his first big euro race and finished 45th having a good day. 

Loenhout. Finley woke up sick after Zolder so decided to sit out Loenhout. Jack got to experience an epic European mud bath. Didn’t seem too muddy in pre-ride, but as the lights were ready to turn green a massive rainstorm rolled in. Lots of running, he finished 53rd. He had a lot of fun on the infamous rollers!

Hulst. Only a World Cup for the elites but just regular junior races in the morning. One of the more scarier courses, but our riders thought it was the most fun! Alyssa got 9th and Finley not feeling 100% healthy yet, 33rd. Jack had a crash in the first corner and had to run to the pit for a bike change and 54th in the junior boys. 

Baal. Last race of the Euro Block. No grass here. The muddiest race of the season. Alyssa woke up sick, deciding to not race. No junior race for the girls again so Finley raced with the elites finishing 51st and making it ¾ laps. Bad luck for Jack again as he snapped his chain right at the start. But he kept fighting to come across the line in 41st. 

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Photo credit: Ethan Glading

Our CX season comes to a conclusion with the Cyclocross World Championships this past weekend in Hoogerheide, Netherlands.

What an exciting weekend and an incredible atmosphere with 50,000 spectators on Sunday. Cross was definitely there.

3 of our junior boys (AJ August, Ben Stokes, and David Thompson) were selected for the USA team and had a great chance to cap off the season with a great result. Unfortunately, those dreams basically got crushed in the first 10 seconds, with a major crash right at the start involving both AJ August and David Thompson. They got up off the pavement and soldiered on, posting some of the fastest lap times there. Proving their resilience and peak form they had, going into this final race. Ben Stokes escaped the crash and was in 14th place after lap one with some TV time. David was in the 51st spot after the first lap and managed to move up all the way to 16th place. AJ was 69th after lap one, running to pit 1 for a bike exchange, P22 at the end. Ben P29 at the end of an incredible day, but we got left wondering what could have been…

I am incredibly proud of all these young athletes and how far they have come and who they have become. As the Belgian National Coach, Sven Vanthourenhout said, “Champions are not only the ones who always win races. […] Champion is a state of mind.”

photos: @thepenultimatestage & @teka.photography on IG

Last World Cup for the 2022-2023 cyclocross season. The overall standings in all the categories were already sawn up before this final race. Still, a very prestigious race to win and a perfect last tune-up before the World Championships the following weekend. 

All our 3 boys lined up and AJ still had a good chance to move up in the final standings and get a front-row start in the Hoogerheide CX World Championship. 

AJ crashed again on the first lap and was in the back of the field. He made it up to 9th at the end. David once again, had a solid race with another 14th place, and as a first-year junior, setting himself up for being one of the top riders next year with these incredible experiences and consistency. Ben was 31st, on a good path to having a great World Championships. 

AJ August stayed in Europe after the Christmas race block. He went to Mallorca for a training camp. 

Quality training, motivation, and great company in great weather. 

Benidorm is next up on the World Cup schedule and directly inland from Mallorca, so a convenient transition. 

AJ is the only USA junior racing here. His program is slightly different from the rest and focuses on the overall World Cup, the USA Nationals, and then finally the World Championships in Hoogerheide, NL on February 5th. Slightly fewer races, but quality over quantity. 

After a first lap crash, luckily in the pit corner so straight in and a bike and shoe change. Made it back to the front after posting the fastest laps in the race. Still leading up the final dirt climb, but finished 4th on the day. A technical course, a lot of gravel/sand on concrete. Transitions from a lot of different surfaces and stairs, a different race, in a different climate, and a ton of fans out. A special race for sure. AJ is now 9th place overall in the Junior World Cup standings. 

Next stop Besancon, France.