2012 Druivencross, Overijse

[one_half]My day can be summed up with one word: defeat. I was really looking forward today’s race – it was one of my favourites last year. I got here early enough to have a look around, I wasn’t stressed and yet it somehow didn’t want to happen.

I managed to find a few good spots but I felt there were so much more to be done and yet I had so little time. One of the contributing factor probably was the lap count, they only did seven laps, while they normally do 9-10 laps. Less laps, less opportunities to shoot.

The bulk of the course was in the forest and the sky was overcast, so it was dark and I sorely felt the limitations of my cameras: not being able to crank the ISO beyond 800 meant painfully low shutter speeds. [/one_half][one_half_last]I hadn’t used much the flashes this season but today they got used plenty. The coup de grace was when it started raining with about two minutes before the elite men’s race, leaving me no time to fetch the waterproof camera covers from the car.

When you think you’ve all figured it out, a humbling experience teaches you that there is so much more to be learned. So I’m off to lick my wounds but I’ll be back with my cameras on next Sunday. [/one_half_last]

A lonely rider from the juniors' race
A lonely rider from the juniors’ race
Sven Nys during course recce, only minutes after the end of the juniors' race
Sven Nys during course recce, only minutes after the end of the juniors’ race
A mechanic waits for the elite women's field to ride past our position, so he could go back to the pits to clean his rider's bike
A mechanic waits for the elite women’s field to ride past our position, so he could go back to the pits to clean his rider’s bike
Katie Compton showed Vos-esque form today and won the race with a 20' gap over the rest of the field. Will be interesting to see the Compton-Vos-Wyman-Harris fight finally in Namur in two weeks time
Katie Compton showed Vos-esque form today and won the race with a 20′ gap over the rest of the field. Will be interesting to see the Compton-Vos-Wyman-Harris fight finally in Namur in two weeks time

This poor frog somehow wondered onto the course, a few spectators made sure that it was removed swiftly
This poor frog somehow wondered onto the course, a few spectators made sure that it was removed swiftly
Christine Vardaros is a tough cookie - after crashing hard yesterday, I was surprised to see her in the race.
Christine Vardaros is a tough cookie – after crashing hard yesterday, I was surprised to see her in the race.
Karen Verhestraeten and her cycling ballet routine
Karen Verhestraeten and her cycling ballet routine
This chap was clearly unimpressed by the rain
This chap was clearly unimpressed by the rain
The mechanics wonder up to the 'materiaalpost'
The mechanics wonder up to the ‘materiaalpost’

A climb with wet cobblestones - just to make the day more fun for the riders
A climb with wet cobblestones – just to make the day more fun for the riders
Lap 1, at the top of the first steep climb
Lap 1, at the top of the first steep climb

Sven Nys was once again the force to be reckoned with and he dominated the entire race
Sven Nys was once again the force to be reckoned with and he dominated the entire race

Niels Albert worked hard not to lose touch with the front
Niels Albert worked hard not to lose touch with the front
Yesterday's winner, Kevin Pauwels was struggling today, he finished only 9th.
Yesterday’s winner, Kevin Pauwels was struggling today, he finished only 9th.
Rob Peeters was the highest placed Telenet-Fidea rider at 10th
Rob Peeters was the highest placed Telenet-Fidea rider at 10th
Sven Nys is about to add another win to his palmares
Sven Nys is about to add another win to his palmares
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10 comments

  1. Hi

    Bad light is OK if at least you have fall foliage to give some pop in the background. You didn’t even get that! But by the looks of it, you did fairly well with what you had. Nice use of the flash.

    What camera are you shooting with that won’t give you decent results above ISO 800 ?

    Keep it up, I’m a fan.

    Justin

    1. Justin – thanks. I use two Canon EOS 1D MkIIs – very old bodies. They work perfect, except that ISO thing.

  2. That photo of Bart Wellen is amazing! Great photos every race, love your work. Makes me want to not only ride cross but learn to take photos as well!

    1. Thanks Eric – you should race, it’s a lot of fun. A few years back, I did some racing and it was the most fun I’d ever had in bike racing.

  5. Great work as usual – always looking forward to my Monday morning espresso and seeing what you shot over the weekend. Just bought your book as well.

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