It had rained all week in Belgium and the course at Hamme (or Zogge? I never know) was, accordingly, astonishingly very muddy. I nonchalantly left my wellies at home, a mistake I regretted very soon upon arrival.

I arrived just in time to witness Nicki Harris winning the women’s race. As all Superprestige races, it started really early and they rode in relative silence and without much cheering. It would be pretty easy for the UCI to regulate this issue, someone should bring this up for next year.

The rest of the day was peppered with short rain storms that was followed by bright, blue sky. Two things stood out for me. Firstly, Niels Albert has finally seems to get back his form, led most of the race after yet another very bad start and won it with a comfortable gap ahead of Sven Nys and Philip Walsleben.

The other thing was Sven Nys’ disc brake-equipped bike. Even according to the big man, it wasn’t the most ideal course to test the new technology, the flat and very muddy race didn’t require a lot of braking, so I guess the real test will have to wait until next weekend’s race at Asper-Gavere.

If you want to surprise yourself with a great cyclocross coffee table album, my�book about the 2012/2013 cyclocross season�is still available.