Worlds in 2008 will be in Treviso, Italy, unfortunately for us just too long of a trip to schedule. We like to fly into/out of Amsterdam because we can catch a non-stop KLM flight on Thursday afternoon and get home to SFO Monday afternoon. Hooglede-Gits 2007 was a 3 hour drive from Amsterdam airport and that location fits within our self-imposed guidelines. Worlds 2007 was Belgian to the max. Crowds both days were significant – Belgian rail system created a temporary stop at the course and they had a ton of customers. The course was tight – lots of double backs but because it was so tight – when you pour 30-40,000 people into it, not much room to roam. We didn’t see all of the circuit, unlike Zeddam and Zolder and other locales because it was simply too crowded – and if you found a prime spot to watch, better hang out there because nature hates a Belgian vacuum. Once you left a spot on the fence line, 5 Belgians immediately jockeyed for position – not aggressively – Belgian drunks aren’t tough punks spoiling for a fight – this isn’t a soccer match – but if you were bailing from that choice real estate, lots of them desperately wanted it.

3 silver medals and real opportunities for a title in each race. It was surreal. It was so much fun to shout for JP when the Belgian crowd fell silent – hey! No Belgian in the lead? Alec didn’t feel slighted when the Belgians booed when Groenendaal took over the lead. That felt just like any other sport where people love their own front runners. He reminded me and Paule Bates that this was a very blue collar crowd – think sloppy drunk Black Hole at the Oakland Coliseum but without the intimidation factors. I was just a little disappointed they couldn’t acknowledge the race itself and honor the leaders. Just imagine the 49’ers and Raiders playing in Oakland and the Niner’s score 3 times in the first 10 minutes of the game – took the crowd right out for a couple laps – and that’s just what happened in the EMen’s event. Tingle, tingle, tingle. Can’t wait for October.