Niels Albert - Who do I cheer for now?

After the 2014 Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, a group of Belgian fans pushing a garbage bin told me, "Niels Albert is in there!". A joke, but maybe more like frustration about Niels's poor performance in the World Championships.

Some seasoned cyclocross viewers say that Niels Albert is mentally weak. There is some truth in that. See this about Niels dancing with his bike in frustration. How much better he would be if he was just that bit mentally stronger? We will never know. We will also never know how many more CX World Championships he will win. At 28, he is already a double world champion (2009, 2012).

Niels Albert is the best cyclocross-er I have seen in the sand. No one rides the sand like him. An exceptionally gifted bike handler. A strong runner. And always fun to watch. Once, at the BPost Bank Trofee at Lille, Niels shouted angrily at me because I almost knocked him off the bike when making a picture.

I am very dismayed about his abrupt retirement because of a previously undetected heart problem. I did not see it coming. Neither did the cyclocross community. And I think Niels did not see it coming too. It is a big loss to cyclocross. CX will not be the same without him. However, health is more important. And I wish him big success in whatever he decides to do next.

A celebration to Niels' entertaining racing - play the music, and enjoy my pictures of Niels Albert over the 2013/2014 cyclocross season.

Who do I cheer for now?

The distinctive tongue-out look of Niels Albert.

I wanted one of these, but when I finally made a picture that I was happy with, there were all gone. However, I am sure the kids are really happy.

The number of people who show up to watch shows for me how popular a rider he is.

Niels Albert was the best in the sand.

Niels was part of an exceptionally talented group of cyclocrossers - with Lars Boom, Kevin Pauwels, Zdeněk Štybar, Klaas Vantournout, Tom Meeusen, and Sven Nys.

Perhaps one of his weaknesses - not that technically good over obstacles.

This was the time when I got a little to close to Niels, and got an angry shout from him.

Niels showed that he is s strong runner, if required.

Though the 2013/2014 cyclocross season was a bit disappointing for Niels, he was still right up there. Always entertaining and exciting racing. Thanks Niels!

Vélodrome de Roubaix

In between the 2014 Cyclocross World Championships and some local Belgian CX, I sneaked a visit to the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux, or more famously known as the Vélodrome de Roubaix. Since 1989, it has been the finish point of Paris Roubaix. Riders either love the race, or loathe the race. The vélodrome was quiet in early February, but will become a very different place every April. I spent about an hour exploring the place. With overcast skies and little drizzles, it felt like a fitting day to explore. I did not manage to enter the cold stone showers though. Opposite the vélodrome is a café with race history, and memorabilia. Looking at the past pictures, and the list of victors, it felt like a good history lesson about the sport. On the wall of the bar, there is a list of all the riders who had won before. This race really takes no prisoners, except for a few exceptions.

This is Belgian Cyclocross

Sanne Cant (BEL) being interviewed by Belgian TV after Friday's practice at the 2014 CX World Championships.

Cyclocross season is in the winter. Short days, long shadows, frosty mornings.

Layers, gloves, warm water bottles, and visible condensed breaths...

Cyclocross is Belgium, and Belgium is Cyclocross.

After a few laps, the bike weighs a few kilos more because of the mud.

The crew hard at work throughout the cx weekend. I was shocked, but shouldn't really be surprised by the amount of washing that goes on in cyclocross.

Cyclocross is a tactical race of decisions. When to ride. When to run. To push, or to shoulder the bike.

A typical cyclocross course goes through a few different terrains: meadows, forests, sand, tarmac, mud, with some obstacles thrown in sometimes. Each lap is about 2.5 - 3.2 km.

No mud, no glory...

Despite the copious amounts of beer and frites, cyclocross is very spectator friendly.

It amazes me where the mud comes from. Just when I thought it cannot be any muddier, it does...

One rule of cyclocross: Commit to the rut.

Many different techniques to get around the same corner. Lucie Chainel-Lefèvre (FRA) chooses to dismount and run.

Drivetrains, gears and brakes get jammed.

Had my fair share of being heckled by Belgian fans… Sometimes, it just annoying.

Was told that Tom Meeusen (BEL) has one of the most distinctive game-faces in cyclocross.

There's no doubt - Cyclocross is brutal.

The fans are so important to the atmosphere. In the press box, one can just see Kevin Pauwels (BEL) being interviewed. His fan club is waiting for him.

Laars van der Haar (NED) making some fans happy. The riders are quite friendly, and approachable. The mood at local Belgian cyclocross is also much less intense than at the world championships.

I wanted to get one for myself. By the time I was satisfied with making my photos, they had run out.

Marianne Vos (NED) showing off her latest set of Rainbow Stripes at the BPost Bank Trofee in Lille, Krawatencross.

Rubber gum boots are a must for Belgian cyclocross.

When photographing, I must remember to get out of the way too.

The dismount and mount is almost like an artform.

The 2013/2014 season was not a good one for Niels Albert (BEL).

One rider that I really got to know - Ellen van Loy (BEL). Thanks for saying hi, and always giving me a word or two about how you feel about the course. Amazing woman, who has a full time job being an educator, outside CX racing.

Thaipusam 2014

I have been fascinated by Thaipusam since I was young. Perhaps, it was a festival that looked fearsome. Perhaps, I was amazed what people will to do to themselves for their faith.

For the 2014 festival, I used only one roll of film, and a sound recorder. I focused on one family. I observed their preparation at the temple, and walked all the way with them to the finish. It was a beautiful experience. I got more insights into the festival, and I now have real names, stories, and motivations of why people do this festival. I am still in touch with the family, and they have invited me for future festivals.

An Unexpected Meetup

About a year ago, I visited a hairdressing shop in the Serangoon area. The shop, New Chay Hong Lady Beauty Parlour 彩虹女子電髮院, had been at the same premises for 60 years. My friend experienced a "cut and wash", and I was just looking around. It was more of a novelty, and a chance to look at traditional businesses that are slowly vanishing.

A few days ago, I ran into the hairdresser in the subway. I said "hello", but of course she did not recognise me. Still it was an unexpected, yet pleasant meeting. She mentioned that now, the shop is having a 6-month rolling lease, to be renewed every 6 months. The next renewal is in June 2014. "And then I'll see", she says. "Hopefully I keep going on as long as I can." I guess, there's a real possibility that the shop may be closed down soon.

She gave me her home telephone number, and asked me to call next time before going to visit. I said I would encourage more female friends, especially my friends from abroad to go. It would be a very nice cultural souvenir to experience a "cut and wash" from a traditional hairdresser.