American top rider Jonathan Page stays in Europe for the whole winter to improve his cross-capacities.  He's living in Belgium, together with his wife in the family of ex-professional cyclist Franky VanHaesebroucke.  Cyclo-cross.info visited him with some difficult questions.

Jonathan, why the idea to stay in Belgium for some months?  Isn't financially more interesting to stay in the US? 

I wanted to live in Belgium because I really like the weather. 

No seriously, I want to improve in cross and I think this is the place to do it.  The Belgians do something right and I think I can learn a lot by racing with them every weekend. 

As far as the finanacial part: yes, it would be better for me in America but again, I don't think I can improve by racing there.  I am really lucky because Franky VanHaesebroucke and his wife Cindy have allowed my wife and I to stay with them this entire time.  It would not have been possible for me otherwise. 

Can you compare the European races with those in the US? 

Sure.  The races here are much more difficult because the field has more depth.  Instead of 3 or 4 good guys, you have 20 or more.  The courses are also more difficult.  There seem to be more hills here.  More running, more difficult turns, and more difficult transitions from on and off the bike. 

Have you already learned something?  Some important experiences? 

Euh ... yes!  The word for registration is "inscriving".  Please excuse the spelling.  I have learned to get to the races WELL in advance in order to find and get to this place.  Also, in Belgium, if there is a key in the lock on the inside of the door, you cannot use another key to unlock the door from the outside.  "crèpes" (thin pancakes) are GOOD!  Especially with Nutella.  But you "shouldn't" eat them before 3:00 or so in the afternoon and you should NEVER eat just Nutella. 

Back serious now.  Are you satisfied with your results until now? 

Well, not totally.  I have improved a lot from last season but I think there is still a lot more to come.  I think I will learn a lot from my now weekly Wednesday morning training rides.

Do you think you'll be outstanding when you return to the US, thanks to what you've learned here?

That is my hope.  I think that with the high level of racing over here, and the amount of training I have been doing, I can't help but improve. 

Do you want to join the world-top within some time?  Or do you think you cannot manage this. 

I would not have chosen to race in Belgium if I didn't have that as my ultimate goal.  Racing here is hard, especially for a foreigner, but I think you have to race with the best to be the best. 

I think you prefer the fast races, like it will be in Frankfurt next Sunday, don't you?  What's your goal to achieve there? 

Right now, I am better in the faster races but I am trying to get better at all kinds of courses.  My goal is to be top 20 in order to qualify for our Worlds Team.

Who else from the US will start there? 

No other elite riders will start from the US. 

Are there other American talented young riders who can stream through to the world-top? 

I have not spent a cross season in America in a long time so I am not sure who the up and comings are.  There always seems to be one or two fast young guys though.

Probably this article will also be read in the US (via cyclocrossworld.com).  If you have any message..... 

Well, I appreciate all the support and emails I have gotten!  It has been great.  Thanks to my sponsors and Š Hi MOM!

Cyclo-cross.info wishes him a lot of succes in his further career.  (ND - 11-21-2002)

Richard Sachs is a craftsman framebuilder who has been refining his skills for over a quarter-century.  For more information, please contact: