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Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 6 (0)

It must be the end of term; “Mr. Happy”, stoney-faced derny pilot and former king of the big motor drivers, Bruno Walrave was actually laughing at breakfast – hey! It’s pay day today too – always good for morale.

Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 5 (0)

I’ve arrived; Matt Gilmore said “hello” to me today – wow!

It’s the Chocolate Jacques team presentation during the six tonight and Matt is here as part of that gig. “Rambo” is here too – Niko Eeckhout, last June in Antwerp at the Belgian elite champs he was in the break with Boonen; the Tomeke fans had their man as a cert to win.

We weren’t quite so sure and so it proved, as Eekhout left Boonen lengths back to take the red, black and yellow jersey. He does look like he’s OD-ed on the sun lamp since then though.

Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 4 (0)

Kris was just telling us that oxygen cylinders are banned from track centres under UCI regulations. Marc piped-up; “that’s a pity, I could have done with a cylinder strapped to my back on the first night!”

He’s one of the boys now, amazing how much difference a couple of days can make to relationships. It’s wet outside and very warm in here, there was a big junior and ladies programme in the morning, complete with the usual crashes. Belgian junior track racing is not for those of a nervous disposition.

Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 3 (0)

It’s 18.00, the juniors are up and keeping the red cross busy.

At a time when any sensible person is contemplating a movie then a nice pasta and bottle of red at their favourite Italian restaurant in the company of their sweetheart, we’re just about to start work.

Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 2 (0)

“Aint go bump no mo’ with no big fat woman!” Seventies disco and six-day racing – Hot Chocolate, Van McCoy, Cool and the Gang and Joe Tex; the biz! It’s 19.35 and the theme from Chariots of Fire is blasting-out, we’re off!

Lotto Zesdaagse van Hasselt – Day 1 (0)

Kris picked me up at Dusseldorf Weeze airport at tea time yesterday (Wednesday), it’s actually only about two kilometres from Holland so it wasn’t long before we found a frites stand.

Hasselt is in the Limburg region of Belgium, Flemish speaking and with a population of about 70,000. The local tourist office brochure tries hard to talk the town up but there’s not much to say – a nice-enough place though.