We’ve just passed the second climb in the local lap. About 30 riders; that’s what is left of the buch. At top speed we ride towards the village of Dahlem. With only 30 kilometers to go, girls attack continuously. One after the other. I’m very active too, because this is the most thrilling game there […]

There are days I wish I wasn’t a cyclist. Days when my boyfriend calls me in a small voice to tell me he’s got the flu. Fever, dizzy, nauseous. He says I’d better not come home, even though we didn’t see each other for almost two weeks, because he doesn’t want to infect me just […]

Bed thieves There were only double beds left, explained the receptionist in our hotel in Gent to us and she added she felt really sorry for us. But what did we spot, when we came back from our training ride? There was a bed in the hallway. It stood on its side. Just like that. […]

The road to Oude Kwaremont surprises me. It appears to be a nasty uphill one. Typical, I really don’t remember that. The only thing I can remember is the fight going on right here, on this small winding road, to get in the right position. Two years ago girls literally bashed each other with their […]

It all started with Mandarijn (mandarin) when I was a young girl, for obvious reasons. Especially the boy next door, Patrick, loved to call me Mandarijn. Of course I couldn’t accept it just like that, so after a while we became Mandarijn and Perzik (Peach). My volleyball team in Groningen used to call me Skippy, […]