Ed Monitor-Aspect: A few weeks in the past Ed Hood used to be spectating on the ‘Six Days’ of Gent, now he’s at the different facet of the forums running within the observe centre in Rotterdam. Right here Ed tells us all about his first 3 nights on the Dutch ‘6 Days’.
The ones Venga Boys, they ‘Love to Birthday celebration,’ the ‘speaker’ is getting excited; ‘ho, ho, ho !’ the bone arduous Contis rumble at the forums, the 1/8” pitch chains rattle – it’s just right to be again, there’s NOTHiNG like a six day.
Wednesday morning, Rotterdam Night time One handed with out incident; the cabins are tidied, the beverages bottles are washed, the tricots folded and positioned with the blank shorts, socks and observe mitts for our 3 riders – and my toes harm from those concrete flooring.
Our 3 fees are:
Wojciech Pszczolarski [Poland] 31 years-old and a former Ecu u23 and Elite Champion within the issues race and Elite Ecu Champion within the madison in addition to former Polish Champion in each disciplines.
Bartosz Rudyk [Poland] 24 years-old who rides with Wojciech and is a former Ecu Champion within the u23 scratch race and a more than one medallist in Polish Championships – within the omnium, staff dash, madison and particular person pursuit. No longer a foul highway rider both.
Denis Rugovac [Czech] 29 years-old and a more than one Czech observe championship medallist – he rides with competitive Italian Matteo Donega who has his personal helper. All 3 are skilled six day riders who we’ve labored with prior to – ‘laid again’ and simple to paintings with, no ‘Prima Donnas’ in our cabin. Night time One Rotterdam? In a nutshell?
‘The Yoeri Havik Display,’ – with spouse and fellow ‘house boy,’ Niki Terpstra he received each madisons then, on his personal the removal and ‘Supersprint’ – a ‘issues removal.’ However like he informed us; “I’m Global Champion and anticipated to place on a display for my house public.”
However prior to we get into this race, let’s communicate a little bit historical past concerning the Rotterdam Six Day:
- First held: In 1936 however there were more than a few hiatus – now not least Global Struggle Two – making this version 39.
- ‘Recordman’ is house boy Rene Pijnen – who rode 233 six days throughout his profession, 2nd simplest to Danny Clark (235) so far as collection of begins move; Pijnen received 72 of the ones races so is 3rd best possible on wins at the back of Patrick Sercu (88) and Danny Clark (74).
- Ten of Pijnen’s wins got here right here in Rotterdam, which unsurprisingly makes him ‘recordman’ – he received 4 occasions with countryman the overdue Leo Duyndam, thrice with Aussie, Clark, two times with Belgian Legend, the overdue, nice Patrick Sercu and as soon as with large Suisse, Urs Freuler.
- The closing version of the race – pre-Covid – used to be held in 2020 with native hero Yoeri Havik partnering now retired compatriot Wim Stroetinga to victory.
- Excluding Danny Clark the one different ‘Anglo’ winner is Tony Doyle who partnered Clark in 1988.
- The observe is a brief construction, on metal frames with plywood driving floor, 200 metres, 13.5 levels within the straights and 49.5 at the bankings.
- Monitor report is 9.852 seconds set through present dash Dutch Global dash king, Harrie Lavreysen in 2020 on the closing version of the race.
And that’s sufficient phrases for these days aside from – coolest guy at the forums?
Italia and INEOS speedy guy Elia Viviani is paired with 23 years-old Dutchman, Vincent Hoppezak, the staff is subsidized through Jordex a Dutch delivery corporate, their corporate colors are orange and black – take a look at Elia’s helmet, glasses, mitts, socks and sneakers. Magnificence.
Night time Two:
This night used to be a rolling presentation, many of the riders desire that to particular person intros within the observe centre – no uninteresting interviews and it loosens tight legs.
‘Again within the day,’ once I first labored on the six days many of the riders would move up at the forums within the afternoon to stretch their legs – now not this present day.
They prefer their sprinting right here in Rotterdam, now not least since the Dutch are the dominant power in global sprinting, that’s Global Dash and Keirin Champion, Harrie Lavreysen at the proper, subsequent to him is Global Kilometre Champion, Jeffrey Hoogland. The one Worlds dash self-discipline they neglected out on used to be the staff dash the place the Aussies shocked everybody. Our guy, Thomas Babek is ‘lovely in red’ within the image, a former Ecu Kilometre Champion and a more than one Czech Champion in the entire dash disciplines.
And also you simplest assume you’ve noticed a protracted handlebar extension till you spot the 18 cm. task on Thomas’s Argon. He used to be a ‘LOOK guy’ however says the Argon is far stiffer than the French marque; our six day guy Wojciech has, ‘long past Argon’ too, he used to be a Cervelo guy – however as an staying power rider reckons there’s little to selected between the frames.
The primary madison went to the Swiss/Spanish duo of Claudio Imhof and Seb Mora; the Suisse received the new UCi Monitor Champions League while Mora is an completed six day guy having received right here with Alberto Torres in 2016.
In addition to Imhof/Mora within the working for a podium there’s the younger Belgian duo of Gent Six Day winner, Lindsay De Vylder and Jules Hester. Each experience for Recreation Vlaanderen which turns into Group Flanders-Baloise for 2023 and are more than one nationwide medallist and champions at the observe.
‘Males in Black,’ Viviani/Hoppezak must be thought to be too, Viviani’s skills discuss for themselves while the younger Dutchman is at the ‘up.’
The general podium contenders are BiG Roger Kluge and Dutch speedy guy, Cees Bol. In spite of Kluge’s energy and palmarès Lotto haven’t retained him and he rides in 2023 with German continental staff Rad-Internet at the side of many of the German nationwide observe squad. Kluge has been two times Global Madison Champion however is a humble and approachable guy, the complete opposite of a few younger riders right here who don’t have a 10th of his palmarès. Bol too, at time of writing is off the Global Excursion, he used to be to enroll in Cav as a part of the Manxman’s ‘teach’ at B&B Motels however that has evaporated. Bol used to be a made of the SEG Biking Academy and when he grew to become complete professional in 2019 with Sunweb and promptly received Nokere Koerse it seemed like he used to be going to be one of the crucial, ‘subsequent large issues.’ However in spite of level wins in Paris-Great in 2021 and extra lately the Excursion of Britain he’s now not had the have an effect on maximum anticipated.
The staff removal went to Yoeri and Niki, the latter on a white body with bling, ‘Niki’ graphics.
And the flying lap to the Danish duo of six day stalwart Marc Hester & teenager, Matias Malmberg. The principle, wee bit lame, madison of the night time went to Viviani & Hoppezak; and as Wojciech says; “as soon as the large chase is over, that’s the actual racing completed, the remainder are just like the closing level of the Excursion de France, for display,”
After which it used to be Derny time, Wojciech right here at the back of Derny knowledgeable pilot Peter Baurlein. I take note at my first six day I used to be so happy and excited the primary time I driven off a rider in a Derny race, now it’s a chore – however simply a part of the deal.
Yoeri received, no surprises there – some other removal, some other Derny. . .
Time to tidy the observe cabins, face all the ones stairs and type the bathing.
Night time 3:
The underneath 23 riders get started the racing every night time, I truly should get down previous and watch.
It used to be some other rolling presentation which provides me a great opportunity to get ‘again up’ pics of the entire groups.
Then it used to be sprinter time, Harrie Layreysen is some distance from the ‘boastful, guy mountain’ sprinter stereo kind – he’s a large guy however now not large and is in affable temper right here at his house six day, profitable near to the whole lot.
Our Czech sprinter, Tomas is straightforward going too however hasn’t been a Worlds Keirin medallist as a result of he’s a wimp.
A face I noticed within the observe centre used to be that of Derny pacer legend and a person who must truly had been Oscar nominated for his closing lap performances at the back of the ‘bars of his well-known gold Derny, Joop Zijlaard – he owns two eating places in Rotterdam, one a steak area, the opposite specialises in mussels.
The hole madison went to staff six, 22 year-old Dutchman Philip Heijnen, whose Ecu u23 madison champion and rides right here with Two decades-old German, Tim Torn Teutenberg who’s with the Leopard staff and an excellent roadman. The chase track variety is right kind six day stuff, Duck Soup and ‘Barbara Streisand,’ Lou Bega and ‘Mambo No. 5,’ The Mavericks and ‘Dance the Night time Away,’ the Blues Brothers and ‘Everyone Wishes Anyone to Love’ and, in fact, them Venga Boys.
Our guys are truly right here to replenish the sector, only a few other people in Rotterdam are that occupied with Czech or Polish riders however our boy Denis and his gung-ho spouse, Italy’s Italy’s Matteo Donega are on no account making fools of themselves.
Viviani and Hoppezak took the flying lap with the Italian having taken his color coordination even additional, now with orange stripes on his Pinarello.
Niki and Yoeri have been, ‘up for it’ and visibly dissatisfied to not get the win – however that’s display biz. Take a look at Yoeri’s Dutch Federation, carbon aero sneakers.
Large Roger’s old school rollers heat up labored neatly and he received the Derny.
While Lindsay De Vylder prefers the hi-tech Wahoo arrange.
It labored for the younger Belgian and spouse Jules Hesters who ended the night time in yellow. On the other hand, it’s arduous to look previous Messrs. Havik and Terpstra within the ultimate reckoning. Yoeri used to be explaining to us that Niki used to be lower than happy along with his personal shape within the 3 Days of Copenhagen which used to be run off a couple of weeks again and because then he’s been out battering himself at the back of the Derny and doing common madison observe coaching classes with Yoeri. As Yoeri informed us; “I must be inspired through Niki’s angle, he may simply say; ‘it’s my closing race, so what ?’ however it’s now not like that in any respect, he desires to move out on the most sensible.”
And in the case of ‘going out’ that’s us part means house. . .
# Keep PEZ for Ed’s phase 2 from the Rotterdam ‘6 Days’ and the general 3 night time. #
Like PEZ? Why now not subscribe to our weekly publication to obtain updates and reminders on what is cool in highway biking?
Supply By means of https://pezcyclingnews.com/racing/pez-trackside-at-the-rotterdam-6-the-first-three-nights-action/