Second Impressions
Posted on 01. Jan, 2011 by lyne in news
A few more Belgian cross races under my belt, from snowy and cold World Cup in Zolder, to evening cross at Superprestige Diegem and finally muddy madhouse at GVA Azencross in Loenhout. I’ve now seen races from the top 3 series, the big daddy the World Cup, the Superprestige and the Gazet van Antwerpen, and one word to describe them all is huge. Huge as in the size of the crowd, huge as in the infrastructure put together to create these and huge as in the headache to get around.
Check out the fans at the GVA Azencross whoops
How big is huge? The GVA reports that more than 11,000 fans watch the Sven Nys and Niels Albert duel at Loenhout and that the 27th edition of the race scored a new record viewerships with up to 621,492 people watching on TV between 3:45pm and 4pm. The previous record was 523,809 viewers.
Diegem map
To support the number of fans that show up, the racers, staff, press and VIPs, a huge infrastructure is put together. Each type has an assigned parking and they don’t mess around with credentials. No parking pass and you don’t get in. Since these races are not free, typically around 10 to 15 € for regular admission, tickets/wristbands are checked at the numerous entry points. VIPs can range from 100 to 200 € and include reception, food and parking.
Racers must find the Inschrijven in the morning to pick up their and their staff’s wristband for access – this pickup place can be anywhere from a school to a smoked filled cafe.
Okay so you’ve paid and you’re in so now what. Well if you want to walk around the course get there early because there is no way, no effing way that you’ll be able to do this during the main event, the men’s race. Most fans pick one spot to watch the race, typically around one of the beer tents and food area which is strategically positioned to watch part of the course and might have a jumbotron close by. If you want to make it to the finish, start walking with at a mininum 3 laps to go depending on where you are.
Crowds are massed by the barriers
Why? Well first let me repeat the crowds are huge and the fans are not moving fast if they are moving. People will not get out of your way if you’re walking or trying to get through either. Secondly, there is actually not that much space provided to move around in certain spots. For example, at Loenhout, there’s a narrow walkway by the course which is also by a canal and trust me on this one, you do not want to fall into that. During the men’s race, that space is even more limited with fans standing and watching the battle.
As I mentioned in First Impressions, the course is typically surrounded by barriers sometimes here or there it’s only tape but that’s rare. There are manned crossings to cross the course (or an overpass for the fans) but when the race is broken up, you might wait awhile before being able to go. Sure in some of the courses there’s a wide open field that looks inviting as a shortcut but that field is probably filled with manure or at least it smelled that way at Loenhout, yes that wasn’t only mud that was flying everywhere.
GVA Azencross course
So pick a spot and enjoy watching the race. Given that the race is called in Flemish I suggest a spot where you can see the action on the jumbotron. It’s huge, it’s noisy when the front riders come by so embrace the mayhem (and have a beer)!
Two more races to go, the GVA Trofee GP Sven Nys in Nys hometown of Baal on Jan 1st followed by the FIDEA Cyclo-cross Tervuren the next day.
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