The Euro cyclocross season proper opens this weekend in Erpe-Mere. Will Nijs dominate the season again only to royally fuck-up at worlds as he has a history of doing? Will Wellens regain the super-form he had a couple of seasons ago and at least give Nijs a run for his money? Last year was the first time since I started following cross that it wasn't all Belgiums all the time. Well maybe that is an exaggeration but other than Pontoni and Groenendaal I can't remember too many non-Belgiums riding at the front of big races on a regular basis. Last year the resurgent De Knegt and Dlask were there most of the time, and some of the usual Belgium suspects like Vannoppen and Commeyne and to a lesser extent Vanthourenhout seemed to be in search of the plot most of the season. Franzoi will carry the Italian flag but like last year he again has spent a long season on the road and his cross season may well suffer as it did last year. Hopefully Gadret's success at the Giro this year won't pull him away from cross. He along with Mourey and Chainel could probably further cut into the dominance of the Belgiums and make a name for France in cross like the Czechs have done if they would go north and race the big races regularly. I wrote Page off a few years ago as always being second tier, but he has continually improved by small amounts. He appears to be poised to finally ride at the front of big races regularly if he can just find that little bit extra.

Unfortunately they extended my favorite cross racer's doping suspension from the original 18 months he was originally given to the normal 2 years, so he won't be turning any pedals in anger until January. He was an angry guy before he should be really pissed now. Looks like Berden has been spending most of the forced lay-off due to his indiscriminate use of EPO getting some ink.
What is it with Euros and not wearing helmets? I'm no helmet Nazi and will ride without one when I think the chance of crashing is small but no one over there ever wears one unless the UCI is forcing them to. Looks like Berden has been working out with the Rabobank crossers.

You'd think those guys would be pissed at him for cheating, seeing as to date he's the only cross rider to run afoul of the UCI doping rules. That is, unless you count all the shit they found in De Clerq's house. Maybe the other riders aren't pissed at him because he wasn't doing anything that they're not doing themselves?