He heard the voices from the other room and quietly entered. They were all sitting there, the whole family, sitting around their huge table. Outside it was a dark night, a few weeks had passed since the season ended and the boredom respectively tranquility of the regeneration phase had set in.
For most people, but not in a home of italian nature. His dad shouted in italian, his grandfather argued in curse words in italian, his grandmother prayed, in italian. They were passionate about cycling, but the more they were passionate about Guido's future. Both his father and grandfather looked back at a career, contrary to Vague, Visconti was born into this sport and did not choose it.
As he entered, none of them noticed him since the light was so dim around the table. With some italian dishes lying on the table, they drank excellent red wine. Both his father and grandfather shared a passion for wine, too, but neither looked like a drunk. They both had kept the sportive nature of their youth, wish he could say that same about his mother, or grandmother as a matter of fact. "Well", Mama said in her broken italian, trying to follow the conversation: "If you want Guido in Italy to train, than there is no reason for him to stay in Cyclo-Cross, is there?"
That was true, and Guido had casually fallen in love with CX. Not that he'd do it forever, but it had become his roots and it was something where he wanted to stay in. But the opportunities were narrowed down in the last season. So his father's sentiments were clear: If he stayed belgian, it'd be hard to pass Francis or Milan. We'd probably have to switch teams at some point, and why not do a Mazzarelli. Become an outsider of the sport altogether.
"No, no", Guido said and explained: "Don't you see? Here I have the best infraststructure, the best coaches and bikes." They nodded. "And if I pass Vague and Milan, I know I am there. I will be on top." He pumped his fists, he was determined to train harder. He lied. He wasn't that kind of guy, that kind of Vague.
His grandfather smiled, and then shugged his head: "But you always come back so slow into gear, the third year now you have had a slow build. We know you can make wonders and miracles on the bike. But why do you need so long? We are here to support you, but I also worry about you, Guido."
He understood what he meant. Guido has had his fair share of discussions with his teammates, his team managers, his family. Even fans had their opinion about it. Yeah, Guido had some fans actually, hard to believe. That he was too lazy in the summer, and never did enough training. He is evident by the fact that once he got into racing rhythm, his second half of the season was always better than the first. It's than the moment that his fitness was right on par with the others.
Guido of course always said he had been a good boy and did all the training, but truth be told, he was a lazy kid and it probably wouldn't change for the better anytime soon, as long as people didn't remind him of that. He'd have to do better than that. He wanted to, but the summer was beautiful and there was much to enjoy besides racing and training and suffering. He took the bottle of wine and pour himself a glass. Like red italian wine. He began to share this passion too.
"Guido, listen! Lotto-Fidea was very satisfied with your season", his father said and Guido interrupted him. "I know that!" - and Raphael continued: "But maybe it'll be good for you to do more road racing, you know. So you start into the season with a solid build up, where we already know your fitness level, whether than guess it and rely on odd numbers. Those numbers don't tell us how you compete!"
It was all training metaphers and Guido didn't bother much about that anyway. The season had just ended, he looked forward to a bright spring, some racing. But also to recover, to enjoy and relax. To refill the soul with life from the sufferfeast. Life was good for him but his family urged him to do more. He sat down the glass and looked at them, smiled even. "Father! This is a wonderful gift I have got. I don't want to waste it. We'll do good, and if Lotto-Fidea are not happy with us, we'll find another team. This is nothing to worry about, Cyclo-Cross season has just ended, we should cherish the spring now"- and he pointed at the little trophy table, which wasfull of trophies by his dad but almost empty when you excluded his father's trophies and just looked at Guido's, there was just one that Guido ever won - "and if we do that, the filling of the cupboard with trophies doesn't matter so much if we don't enjoy it as a family. So I value my single win with all the emotions keeping it alive in my distant memory because I won it with you!"
Well maybe that was true, Raphael thought. That this was a family adventure, of the name Visconti and whereever they may go and experience, it'd be together, and may one day, a Visconti would win Oude Kwaremont, a mission that was never cancelled but just put on hold until Guido matured enough to have become a pro.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Well, that was it. I haven't written for a while and boy don't it feel like it. This blog has been a great way to get things off my chest, and this one will be the last time this season I get to do it. So, first off: I signed with lotto for another season: I have no intention of retiring but I am taking it on a season-by-season basis, especially as I can afford a wage drop when Milan gets some younger and fitter teammates in. His brother's getting expensive, though Milan still goes on an average wage. He says he earns from the team what he deserves, any bonuses are just that. Bonuses.
I won't surmise every race since Alpe d'Huez but I will share my view from the couch in the Worlds. It hadn't sunk in yet, even though it's the third year, not being in Team Belgium. There was some discussion of Dries and I's ways of "alliances with the Dutchmen" to drop Sven Welling as an allegory for Milan and Vague: as a proud Belgian I am disgusted by these allegations and would like to clarify: we allied with Dobransky.
I was amazed by the unity showed by Team Belgium: Guido and Louis, Milan and Vague, working together like they'd been on the same team for years. When the going got tough the leading duo kept their heads - I know Milan was committed to gold for Belgium, and his loyalty to Vague meant that they could handle the likes of Van Dyck and Gormley - even with a lot of effort involved. They played off each other well - Milan waiting to see that nobody was following him before bridging to Vague, co-operating until the end. In the end, they were the strongest boys, no, men now, on the day and Vague was the smartest man at the end. Kudos.
After that I was stuffed - I slipped to outside of the third row in the UCI. But this has been one hell of a season - I've made friends in Dubois, Milan, Guido and more, and re-met some old ones like Daniel Brugemann. And I think I've been mentoring the next big challengers to Francis Vague (besides Cook). One day Milan and Guido will be just like me and Dries, in whichever order, and won't have to bow to Vanbroucke, I hope.
See you around,
Mark
Edited by jandal7 on 04-04-2020 10:17
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
This certainly wasn't what I expected. I've had one of the best winters of my life in the cross and here at BKCP. I've been pretty regularly blogging here so you know most of what I think, but I just want to thank again everyone at BKCP, Mr. Vanbroucke for giving me an opportunity at such a big team as a neo-pro and now for extending with me, Francis for learning and succeeding in trusting me, Christian the same and especially Sven for being a guide. everyone involved in making this CX season happen, especially one of my favourite bits of it all: with a nice warm boysenberry drink from New Zealand and a shower after a race, the fantastic coverage from legendary commentator Ian Butler. And thanks to all the racers and all the fans, without these two groups the sport is obviously nothing.
Ansbach was straight off the back of Worlds and my brother dealt with the silver well by his biggest win ever - emotional for me too. I had a bit of free license but couldn't make the move across with Young but still rode to a fantastic 6th! I had it a bit easy - I had no intention of bringing Van Dyck up to Francis and so could just ride behind him - against almost anyone else I could've claimed a top 5, but not him - so quick. Kwaremont I was pleased with a top 15 not too far from my hometown of Kluisbergen.
The fatigue kicked in later in the year than expected but 22nd in the Ardennes, 17th in Arenberg and 16th in Dunkerque are fabulous results and if you told me I'd be getting those results anywhere but smaller races and the NES in October I'd have been shocked.
Some contract chatter after the Worlds - I'm not going anywhere but BKCP and that's fine - obviously one day I'd love to race with my brother but I've been given this opportunity by the team and I owe them a hell of a lot.
I'll be doing a few smaller races on the BKCP Continental road team - no intention of a switch but will be nice to race a bit and pull an opposite to some riders - keep fitness up by riding with the roadies!
Catch you next season,
Louis
Edited by jandal7 on 07-10-2016 09:29
