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This is a email sent from Bernard Moerman, Director Sportif of the ABC- Cycling Center Cycling Team and founder of the Cycling Center, one of the best options for development for an aspiring American Cyclist. And one hell of an incredible person.
-Paco
“You are an American from Hertsberge huh, I saw you on TV.”
The season 2004 is over, it was long, hard but very good. The results
and the
media-attention made it happen that the people of Hertsberge now talk
about
“Our Armeicans”.
Our riders had very good results in both our own Cycling Center-jersey
and the
US National Team jersey. Those results start inspiring several
Europeans to
join the Cycling Center programs. But…. First things first.
First of all we need to thank all of our sponsors who made this season
as
successful as it was.
XANGO, SAFECO, BIONAL, ING-bank, RUDY PROJECT, LITESPEED, MAXXIS,
COMPEX,
PENTA-travel, Restaurant UYLENSPIEGEL, COMPUTRAINER, CS-ware, FIZIK,
Restaurant HET SCHAAK, ARTSON, BERRY-FLOOR, VOMAC, OVAL CONCEPTS,
SAMDAM,
SAMSONITE, TACX, COCA-COLA, INTERBREW, Volkswagen TAVERNIER and
ALL-EVENTS.
With these sponsors we could start the season after and entire winter
of
rebuilding and remodelling the actual facility in Hertsberge.
The selection of riders we had this year has never been better. The
mentality,
the seriousness and the desire to find their limits was super. Our
racing
program was very hard but from May on, the group started to show big
improvement. From then on we had lots of races where our riders played
a big
role in the end-decision. Lots of top-10 started to come.
But what was even more impressive was the fact that we started to have
several
riders at the same time hitting good form and getting good results.
The positive attitude and the good results of the riders were
recognized by
European riders and coaches as well. This way we build out friendships
with
teams such as Van Hemert (Holland) Credit Agricole (France) and
Cyclingnews.com
(Australia).
The unique approach and the improvement of the riders was noticed by
the
media.
The result was over 30 minutes of Prime-Time TV in Belgium and Holland.
Several major articles appeared in main newspapers and magazines in
Belgium,
Holland, France and the USA. Even Californian Scott Coady came by for
some
extra shots for his new DVD.
Since our TV-appearance the riders became local heroes and are
recognized all
over the country now. Lots of times people come up to our riders
saying: I saw you on TV.
All these good things are resulting in even more ambition to grow to a
higher
level the next years. At this time we are finishing all plans for next
season.
Becoming the ultimate educational experience in cycling is even more
then ever
our goal. Therefore we are building out staff and equipment so that our
selected team can compete with the best.
Our riders are now finishing their rest-period. The time ‘zonder fiets’
(without bike). Now they are all home I want to say thanks for the
season, the
results, the efforts and the friendship.
But before I say “goodbye, see you next season” I need to say THANK YOU
to some
very special people who contributed big time to this years’ success.
Thanks Dr. Dag your guidance, knowledge and drive is incredible
Thanks Barney King for all the help at the training camp and the races,
Thanks Ben Sharp for all the assistance at the races,
Thanks Francis Van Oost for all the massages and good spirit,
Thanks Herman Boyden for all the support
Thanks “Uncle” Gert De Mey for all the help, patience, introductions
and friendship
Thanks Ann, without you there is no Cycling Center
Thank you for visiting and supporting and know that when you are in the
area
and you wear our team out-fit people might come and say:
“I know who you are, You are an American from Hertsberge huh, I saw you
on TV.”
See you next season,
Bernard
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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
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