[one_half]While I agree that the best gear won’t make anyone the best photographer, great gear can make one’s life a infinitely easier. My new flash setup (more on that later) has finally brought control AND consistency. I simply KNOW that whatever I’ll tell the flashes to do, they will do exactly that. Not two notches more or less light, just the right amount of it.

Anyway, I’m not going to bore those of you who aren’t into photography and/or gear porn and are only here for men and women in lycra who ride their bikes in treacherous conditions. For them, I’ve got a few photos from today’s race. It was a good day, a sprint decided both the U23’s and women’s race.

I was happy to see Sanne Cant winning, with Nikki Harris in tow, as they beat today the likes of Marianne Vos and Katie Compton. Both Cant’s and Harris’ great form this year means that the women’s races are wonderfully unpredictable – thus keeping us, photographers and the spectators entertained.

The men’s race started with a gnarly crash, when Julien Taramarcaz’s front wheel slipped sideways. He also brought down Kevin Pauwels and a few others. Many managed to avoid the carnage but the end of the first lap saw the new usual suspects at the front Zdenek Stybar and Niels Albert.

Sven Nys, as always, silently started to make his way up in the field but this wasn’t his day. First, he somersaulted into the mud. While he didn’t injure himself, it must have been quite demoralising as he stayed in the lower tens for a few laps.[/one_half][one_half_last]Instead of describing the other incident, watch this video:



Yup, it wasn’t his day, this was his first DNF this season.

At the end, Niels Albert got rid of Stybar and finished the race with a small gap and a huge smile on his face. His lead has grown significantly in the Bpost Bank Trofee overall but with three more races to go, it’s far from being over.

One more races left in 2012 and then the whirlwind of 2013. Thanks for reading and check back on Sunday for photos of the Diegem Superprestige, the only race held in the dark![/one_half_last]