Still too slippery at BK cyclo-cross in Zolder: “We are going to spread a lot of sand for the afternoon cross-country races”

The Cyclocross Championships in Heusden-Zolder did not start at 10 am this morning, but an hour later. “There was still too much ice at the start and finish zone, it was too dangerous,” organizer Erwin Vervecken explained. “We have spread sand and will spread more sand after the morning race, so that the finish area for this afternoon is less slippery.”

The numerous ice spots in Heusden-Zolder that already looked treacherous on Friday have not yet melted away on Saturday.

On the morning of the start of the Cyclo-Cross Championships it was still too slippery to race. The novice girls, who would normally start at 10 a.m., will complete their championship at 11 a.m., together with the junior women. Nothing will change with the rest of the planning for the time being.

“The organization above all does not want to take any risks,” our man on site reported. “All in all, it’s not too bad in terms of smoothness.”

Vervecken explained the measures: “We postponed the race by an hour so that we could spread sand on the first strip. We also let the girls leave together after the finish strip, so the start has been shortened quite a bit.”

For the afternoon races – the boys’ juniors and women’s elite and promises – the start would take place again at the original place on the climbing strip towards the finish.

“It was impossible to leave there this morning,” Vervecken said. “The ice is 95 percent gone, but they are still spreading sand over it.”

“On the car circuit here, salt is not allowed, because it is not good for the asphalt. Yesterday a special type of de-icing granule was used, which is in principle more effective, but there was still a lot of ice this morning. Because the fog remained hanging and ice was on the ground with the temperatures below zero.”

“You can never control the weather. That suddenly happened yesterday, we had not anticipated it in advance.”

The start and finish here on the car circuit is fairly wide and open, but therefore also dangerous on ice.

Organizer Erwin Vervecken

“Every few years we have a BK with snow and ice. The start and finish here on the car circuit is fairly wide and open, but therefore also dangerous on ice.”

The organization will use the 2 hours between the races to sprinkle a lot of sand on the start and finish lane. “We hope that it will become a little warmer and the fog will lift a bit. It looks like it can continue as normal this afternoon.”

“The sand ensures that there is a little more grip. There is no relief in ice, which makes it mirror-smooth. Sand provides some profile.”

What does Vervecken expect for tomorrow? “The sand that is there today will hopefully still serve its purpose tomorrow. We will be on standby to see how the situation evolves tomorrow morning and to take measures if necessary.”

“If necessary, the start of the new first-year and second-year students can also be taken together at 11 a.m. But that is a decision of the jury.”