Words by Adam Rachubinski, Team Director of Alpha Bicycle Co. Groove Silverthorne CX Team
Photos by Ethan Glading
In a year with so much change and uncertainty, there are still a few moments of normalcy within the cyclocross community. This week marks the start of Kerstperiode and the holy week of Belgian cyclocross.
A Different Kind of European Campaign
Due to the current state of affairs, the entire Alpha Bicycle Co. Groove Silverthorne CX Team could not travel to Europe for this blissfully intense week of racing.
However, young Jules van Kempen took advantage of his Dutch passport and his large extended family living in Belgium and The Netherlands to travel to Europe for some racing.
In a normal racing situation, this would be a daunting task for any young rider. But when the Under-23 races were canceled, it presented an entirely new and more profound set of challenges for Jules.
Without hesitation, the 18-year-old decided to throw his hat in with the world's best cyclocross stars and race the Men's Elite field.
Learning on One of Cyclocross's Iconic Courses
When the current Canadian National Champion and former Continental Champion finish a race like this in the 30s and 40s, you know it was a challenging day on course.
Add a young rider like Jules to the mix, and you know it's going to be an uphill battle from the gun. But there is simply no substitute for the experience gained on iconic courses like Namur.
Each chance to race, no matter the result, is a stepping stone for the future.
A Baptism by Fire
It was a baptism by fire out at Namur. As expected, the race had its challenges, and now it's time to learn from the experience.
Jules knows his trajectory is set toward the 2023-24 season, where we'll see what he's capable of as a professional 'cross racer. Each of these opportunities is a huge part of that development.
And this year, more than any other, any bit of normalcy or consistency is a welcome opportunity.
