We were very fortunate to be in the company of pro mechanic Craig Geater and his partner Sarah for a few memorable days in Belgium earlier this year. Craig was supposed to be working at the Tour de France for his RadioShack cycling team at the time, but a series of crashes and injuries meant that a number of the riders abandoned the Tour. With plenty of staff on hand Craig received an early leave pass and headed back to Oudenaarde, Belgium where he's based for much of the European road season.
The teams bad luck was our good fortune as we were treated to an insiders view of the RadioShack Service Course and an unforgettable training ride in the Belgium countryside.
The Ride
After what can only be described as a baptism of fire, riding up the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Pattersberg, it's hard to fathom how the pro's race up the cobbled climbs like they do.
Craig puts it succinctly that Belgium is the land of 'real racing' where hard men race 200 plus kilometers in shit weather and kick ass up steep, slippery cobbled climbs. The northern classics are the highlight of the season according to Craig and I can appreciate that even more now as the riders truly are supermen racing up the 'bergs'.
A tip... under no circumstances ride down the Koppenberg! The climb was tough, but nothing prepares you for the descent... it's like being in the inside of a washing machine, bike bouncing, body shaking and vision blurred... a miracle that I didn't crash.
Scott Guyton did it easy in comparison, riding down smoothly with hands no where near the brakes making me look like a complete amateur. Scotty was a top pro for the best part of ten years and raced over these roads so I didn't feel so bad. Mind you Scotty, Craig and Sarah had a good laugh while they waited at the bottom of the climb and witnessed the look of terror on my face while attempting to ride down and not lose it.
The Service Course
The RadioShack Service Course is situated in the middle of a paddock in the Belgium countryside and judging by appearances from the outside there was no clue that we were about to enter the headquarters of the winningest tour team in the history of the sport. And for good reason as inside it's an Aladdin's cave of pro team bike kit, not something you want to advertise to the outside world. Although the team bus parked outside was a bit of a giveaway...
During the season Craig spends a lot of time behind the wheel of the team trucks traveling between stages and races all over Europe. On the day we departed, Craig was preparing a truck for the San Sebastián Classic one day race in Spain, a drive of over one thousand kilometres. As soon as the race concluded Craig faced an equally long return trip back to Belgium.
In the back of the main truck are team bikes, race food, laundry equipment and essential tools of the trade.
Chris Horner, Andreas Kloden and Jani Brajkovic's Tour de France bikes were stacked up waiting to be decommissioned. The frames were painted a special colour for the Tour and won't be used again...
A line up of time trial bikes...
Old time trial bikes from the Astana era...
Craig provides invaluable feedback to the teams equipment suppliers as the rigours of professional racing are the perfect testing ground for new wheels, groupsets, frames etc. Here Craig holds a set of prototype wheels that didn't cut the mustard. $1.5 million spent in R&D and back to the drawing board.
Prototype Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset parts dating back to the Discovery team days.
Shelves full of race food, warm up creams, recovery products...
Arguably the most famous basement in all of Belgium. Tubular tyres mature here for at least six years before being used at various races. Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France race winning tubulars matured here...
The car that Lance Armstrong used for anonymous arrival and departure at races, nicknamed Air Force One...
Yellow jerseys adorn the walls of the managers office...
Talking to Craig you get a real sense of how hard he and the other RadioShack mechanics work behind the scenes throughout the year to ensure that the riders are looked after and provided with the best equipment so they can get on with their job of winning races.
At the end of a stage Craig is often the first person that the riders will come up to thank, acknowledging the effort and time he puts in as part of their success. For this unassuming kiwi it's all part of a days work and a job well done.
