A photo report (2) of my favourite moments since the Belgian Project was founded in 2008…The composite teams, the Belgian adventures of our graduates and some great people I met on my travels
Our first guest team who took our riders in Belgium (Decock-Capino) came to N-Ireland for the Tour of the North and we treated them with special team transport …we got some looks when we arrived in Ballymena …I asked my sponsor for an 8 seater, and an 8 seater I got..lol
As commissaire, I had a ringside seat to see the lads racing and allowed me to make an educated selection in the summer
A fundraiser night in the supporters club of the project in Wervik West Flanders (Music Pub T’ Lusterke)… It was Peter Hawkins last year in Belgium as a full-time rider and his teammate Marc Potts at the time…
The National Belgian Track team at the Dublin 2018 International GP…we made sure they were very welcome…
Some well-known names in cycling we met
David Mc Cann (Olympian and International pro rider) winning the Champ of Champions in Ards a few years ago…at one moment he was 10th fastest tester in the world, won many UCI Stage races in Asia as a pro, and about all you can win in Ireland, also a record holder at some distances in Ireland and GB
Thor Hushovd (World Champion) in Bavikhove (BEL) at a post-tour criterium in 2013 or 2014
Sean Kelly (no explanation needed) the best known Irish Cyclist signs a jersey to be donated to the Kempen’s Cycling Museum in Grobbendonk run by ex-pro Suske Verhaegen, a Belgian icon who raced with the famous Spanish BIC team in the early 70ties and twice winning Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne to highlight some of his many wins as a pro
Suske Verhaegen in 2013 in his beloved museum were he works as a curator
Olympian, world and Irish champ Eve Mc Crystal promoting a very important message
Rudy De Bie (ex Belgian CX Champ and national youth development CX coach, and representing Cycling Vlaanderen) seen here in Mallusk in 2017 for the Kinnings CX on the ladies podium
Kate, husband Gabriel and Helen White at the 2018 CX in Glencullen, Gaybo was killed in a farm accident not long after and one of the last photos I took of this Icon of Irish Racing RIP
Ex Cyclist, honorary secretary and ex-president of CI, ex UCI commissaire, UCI doping officer, Jack Watson MBE…Jack was my tutor when I took my comm exam in 2006 A great man to finish this week’s memories, more next week
