Like Diegem, there are only four races run on the course today:

1030uur – Beloften 23 jaar (U23)

1200uur – Juniores

1330uur – World Cup Ladies (yes, that’s how their website lists the Elite Women)

1500uur – World Cup Elite Men

The U23 and Junior race starts were very similar to that described in the Diegem travelogue. The big difference here is that this is an event where the UCI is present and it’s a World Cup, which is more of a "property" or a brand that needs to be uniformly presented. So the World Cup events were much more orchestrated in as far as start procedures.

First, like pro road races, UCI World Cups have recently started using rider sign-in. For reasons of exposing a main sponsor’s name on the tent, the race organization wanted to have the sign-in at a tent 50meters after the line. Normally, the rider sign-in is near the start line, where the crowds are and is convenient for the riders to get to the line. See the Tour de France travelogues for more examples of how this is done at the highest level. So we had concern that riders wouldn’t know to sign in here. The race jury president stood out in the road and waived riders into the tent. For european riders who also ride the road, this was a no-brainer. They saw the signs and tables and other riders signing in, and they came.

For the Elite Women’s sign in, the only one who didn’t sign in was the lone American. Miroslav showed me the sign in sheet and joked with me that it was the American who didn’t sign in. Such a pity to get a fine. Not to excuse her, but I said to Miroslav that it made sense that she didn’t as I thought this was the first time she ever rode a World Cup and just does know the culture or customs. So he said, OK, we warn her. Christine, buy me a cone of frites at the next race, better yet, a cup of hot chili at the next Northeast cross race in the blizzard.

Ever had the problem of calling riders to the line and they still come in the last minute trying to squeeze their way in? Or how about the rider who keeps rolling around the back or front keeping the legs warm? Both these situation lead to races being delayed. Doesn’t happen here.

Before the Elite races in Belgium, the riders know what time it is. Fifteen minutes before the start, you start seeing riders riding up and down the finish line area waiting for the grid to open. Then at ten minutes to go, some start going into the holding area behind the grid on their own even a few minutes before the announcer calls. At five minutes to go, everyone is in the holding area and the call ups start. That is the sign of true professionals --- they know the schedule --- and the schedule is for the TV and the spectators who are the ones paying the bills.

So in the call ups for the Elite race, two Belgian national commissaires would control the gate to the grid and let through the person called up. As we got to the thirtieth rider and beyond, the announcer started to accelerate the call ups. Remember the "I Love Lucy" episode where Lucy and Ethel are on a chocolate-cherries packaging assembly line? As the line started to accelerate, they began to throw the chocolate-cherries anywhere they could. Well, this accelerated call led to the riders not being able to get out fast enough and the two commissaires ultimately just waived the last dozen plus through to get the start out on time.

The race jury president started the Elite races himself. The race announcer would provide three, two, and one minute marks. In this case, the race president walked down the front row and asked riders to put their wheels behind the line.  I gather that at World Cup level, calling false starts is important like it is on the track. Position going into the first turn is very decisive.