Today is a day to remember all of those who have served and the many who have sacrificed so we can enjoy the peaceful corner of the world most of us live in. The reminders of conflict are still visible all over the world-here's wishing one day the need to do such things to mankind will end.

What would Roger de Coster do?

The 'cross season swings back to Holland this weekend and a traditional Dutch race. Can mean only one thing-zand. Zand and a motocross track to go with it. Most motocross tracks in Holland are sand with a clay base, perfect for 500cc machines to cut several foot high berms to eat 32c cross tires as a snack. Add water, stir and a sticky mess pulls wheels backwards. Approaching the sand downhill thoughts of the great Belgian de Coster, what line did he take? Certainly one better than mine. A day spent wishing for a pit bike and better legs.

My goal is not a UCI point--just don't get lapped is plenty. Roger wouldn't.

It's just a hill. Twice a year it is the place to be in Flanders. The cross racers only ride halfway up the Koppenburg as most know it, as soon as they reach the middle of the cobbled monster turn right and back down. Only to come back up via the field. Cross the stones at the top and a decent that would be difficult on a mountain bike, much less 32c tires. Sven won-the CanniBaal is back.

I spent the morning with a smaller crowd in a much flatter location. A typical local race in Belgium-find the bar with the numbers, the course running up and back thru a field and behind the church. I've forgotten just how fast the races are here. Even running the barriers into a headwind hurt. A post and I tried to share the same space for a moment, the post won. Placing me on the ground and solidly at the bottom of the Master's B results.

VDB Forever

Last Sunday I rode by the "FrankyBoys" bar in Oudenaarde-odd I've never gone in. Just a tavern on a street corner in a little town in Belgium.

Tuesday the news was everywhere. Whatever your opinion of VDB his passing marks the end of a generation in the sport of cycling, hero or hated. I saw him race by me once, only once.

VDB neit god but was larger than life. I'll be stopping in next week when I'm in Oudenaarde. RIP VDB.

Ruddervoorde SP--Sven is back. Nothing else needs to be said about the race. The venue is like most 'cross courses in Belgian, middle of a field on the backside of town. A couple of man made "hills" to make a runup and a dropoff. But in the middle of the field is a perfectly built track of cobblestones exactly the width required by the UCI for a cross course. I wonder how they got there?