DE KARPER & the U23 Nation Cup

I know, I know, "De Karper" is not a coffee house! But .... they serve coffee if you really want. And altough they have no barista working behind the bar, they still serve a nice brew. And yes it comes with a cookie and a chocolate.
"De Karper" is a cycling related sports bar. And if you are a die hard soccer fan, you will say that the bar is a soccer bar. Long story short, it is a sports bar with damn good beers and a damn good service.
It is what we call in Belgium also a "brown" cafe. The ceiling, the walls, the floor all in wood gives it a very cozy and warm character.

This is the place were hundreds of cycling fans get together through the season to discuss, celebrate wins or watch races on one of the seven flatscreens. From the classic 'Het Nieuwsblad" who starts four hundred meters away untill the Gent Six Days, the indoor velodrome is only five hundred meters away till the winter cyclo cross races. Always British, Australian, American, Dutch cycling lovers mix amongst the Belgians. Talking about gears, cobblestones, teams, their own rides....with the right beer.
And let the bar owners be the father (Ronie) and the sister (Drieka akka 3K) of top professional Iljo Keisse (Deceuninck-Quick Step), winner of several road and track races.

When you enter the place you immediate see the great collection of jerseys. Iljo's team tricot of each year is hanging above your head.
Also an important detail, check the beerlist, almost every famous Belgian beer is present. Yes they have Orval, and yes they have Orvelo (the best cycling beer).
Stand Up comedians, Benefit nights (such as 24hours on rollers for charity), a real cycling club (weekly rides) and lots of students. And I can tell you, all you need for some great nights.

DE KARPER - Kortrijksesteenweg 2 - 9000 Gent 
http://www.cafedekarper.be/nl/blog


The U23 Nations' Cup

Some good news for the U23 New Zealand riders, as we found some funds (and some help from Cycling New Zealand) to organize again a start in the famous Belgian classics.
Again, with the help of some volunteers such as my partner Lieve and Darryn, Paul, Peter. Last year we could even put up an extra feed station thanks to Joris.
Our goal this year is a Top 10 result. That would be fantastic, we count again on our motivated young athletes.
Six riders can start in these classics. With National Champion James Fouche, Ben Hamilton, Matias Fitzwater, Tom Carter, Ethan Batt, Liam Cappel, Paul Wright and.....it will be hard to select.
(For the final selection I am waiting for the final advise of Graeme Hunn in New Zealand).

Put it in your agenda:
Gent Wevelgem U23 (official Kattekoers) : March 31th - start and finish in Ieper
Ronde Van Vlaanderen U23 : April 13th - start and finish in Oudenaarde

See you out there

PUUR M & Finn FISHER BLACK

I dare saying that Sint Martens Latem, more or less ten kilometers from Gent is one of the most beautiful villages in Flanders. The place was well known as an artists' colony before World War II.
Now it is a wealthy resedential little town, nice for walking and riding your bike. Great way to leave the city of Gent on a training ride towards Deinze and further on to West Flanders.
In one of the side streets of the N43 towards Kortrijk is a pleasant coffeebar, "Puur M".
Once you turned right on the main road (coming from Gent) into the street you find the small place on the left with a little terrace outside. In winter time, like last Saturday you walk in and find yourself a nice place in the comfortable seats for a brew or get a table if you want to have some food as well. I recommend to make a reservation because at lunchtime it is pretty busy.With only few tables and mostly full house, don't panic as in the back is a wonderfull (heated) winter garden.
Don't worry about your expensive bikes as you can park them along the side of the house.

The "M" stands for Maud, the always happy lady who owns the place. We ordered cappuccino and a espresso macchiato, both served with style. Accompanied with nice butterwafles and a chocolate muffin. I must admit that the cappuccino was delicious. Lieve confirmed the same about her brew.

I can also advice the place if you come back from your morning ride for a nice lunch. In the past I tried the panini, but there is a whole range of pasta's, wok meals, tapa's etc... Again, you can finish it off with a nice coffee.
By the way, Maud's partner happens to be the uncle of "coming man"-six day rider Jules Hesters.

PUUR M - Maenhoutstraat 82 - 8930 Sint Martens Latem
https://www.facebook.com/Maenhoutstraat82/  - closed on Sunday and Monday

"Monsieur Finn" did it again !
Outstanding performance of U19 trackie Finn Fisher Black, after a great ride last week finishing few seconds of a new world record.
But at the track nationals few days ago, he did it. He set a new World Record on the junior 3000m individual pursuit. His time : 3.09.710
“It is a pretty special day. This morning I went out faster than I was scheduled to but I just kept hitting it out at the lap times and held on. Unfortunately, that time didn’t count for an official record. I tried to rest up as much as I could and that ride was only a second slower so I was pretty stoked. Now the world record is official. It’s overwhelming really,” said Fisher-Black. (pic credits, Ian Hepenstall)

WEEK 5 - Jenna MERRICK and COFFEE IN THE PELOTON (part 2)

This was the last big race before most of the riders start thinking to pack their suitcases, say bye bye to the family and jump on a plane to race in Europe. That last race, the Herald Sun Tour for men had no U23 Kiwi's on the start, the Lexus of Blackburn Women's Sun Tour instead had ten young girls from New Zealand to fight for the wins.
Divided over two teams (four for the National New Zealand Team and six in the Mike Greer Homes Team).
In the first stage on Philip Island the time gaps between riders were pretty small, less then 30'' between winner Chloé Hosking and 54th Jessica Mundy. The race was still open.
So everyone knew that stage two would decide who was gonna win this edition. With two climbs, one of third cat. (8.7km from Boolarra to Mirboo North) and a cat 1 gravel road climb of 3.6km in Jeeralang.
Stage two winner Lucy Kennedy, was the strongest in this hilly race. She was also the best climber.
A fantastic ride from New Zealand youngster Jenna Merrick with a 4th in GC, winner of best young rider and 6th in KOM). This great effort made her U23 rider of the week.
Three more young women made the top 20, Deborah Paine (17th), Amanda Jamieson (18th) and Niamh Fisher Black (20th).
On the picture all teams represented for the Australian race, and now .................................................................................Europe here they come!

Coffee in the Peloton (part two)
In October last year I made a kinda resume of the coffee brand or coffee related sponsors in the professional road race peloton. But some of my blog "followers" tapped on my shoulder. I actualy forgot a whole lot of other names that has been seen on the jerseys.
How could I get around Segafredo, since 2016 the co-sponsor of Trek, a team that included riders as Fabian Cancellara and Stijn Devolder. And this year we find Alex Frame back in the team and the women's team can win big races with top female riders as Armitstead, Longo Borghini, Neff and others.
Many years the Canadian brand, Jet Fuel Coffee, was actif in the American/Canadian circuit. Andrew Randell was probably the most famous rider that rode for this team, altough in  2001 they had a Kiwi in their ranks when Brendon Cameron joined them for a season.

A bigger influence of New Zealand riders was seen in the Marco Polo cycling team when they merged with the in 2011 founded Doncker's Koffie team. In the 2012 no less then five Kiwi's signed for this continental team, Shane Archbold, Chris Macic, Marc Ryan and two "trainees", Cameron Karwowski and Kieran Hambrook. The team was registered in Ethiopia. Former Dutch national champ, Leon Van Bon was a team member.

Italy had with Universal Caffé also a coffee sponsor from 2005 till 2007. Later in 2010 they came back for one year as co-sponsor for a Hungarian Conti team.
In the blog last year I also wrote that the Gent coffee bar "Bidon" was inspired by a London coffee house. Well when I recently went to a cyclo cross race I was talking to British female CX champ Helen Wyman, when I saw behind her on her camper the name of the London coffee house. (look mum no hands!)


That's it for now, talk to you soon. Have fun on your bike and stay safe ......and don't forget to have a coffee after your ride!