For the second consecutive year, Melbourne based cyclocross racer Lewis Rattray packed his Giant TCX bikes and left Australia to take on the European cyclocross scene. In the winter of 2011-2012 he participated in three World Cup races and wore the green and gold jersey at the World Championships in Koksijde. He has been lucky enough to compete against the Belgian pro’s, including cyclocross legend Sven Nys. This year, he’s doing it all again. We caught up with him halfway through his trip.
MarathonMTB.com: Hi Lewis, welcome back in Belgium! You had a great experience racing here last year. What made you come back?
Lewis Rattray: I viewed last year as a privilege. I was very lucky to be able to compete due to the scene being very new in Australia. This year, I felt like I had earnt the right to compete overseas, the level of competition has lifted ten-fold. I’d intended on competing in the USA, but seeing as you had so generously offered to have me to stay, I couldn’t say no! The crowds are absolutely insane, it almost becomes addictive. Even as a rider in the back of the peloton, the amount of support you recieve is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.
M: You raced World Cups and the World Championship and learned a lot from racing against the big names of cyclocross. What is your overall aspiration for this year?
LR: I had four main goals coming into this season. So far I’ve finished top 50 in a World Cup and won a race in Belgium. Still on my list is to finish on the same lap as the leaders (my best is 1 lap down) and I would love to beat 6 riders at the World Championships this year. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’m trying to be realistic.
Proper warm ups – essential for ‘cross. Photo: Roeland Suys
M: You arrived in Belgium one month ago and still have a month ahead of you before the World Championship. How has that first month been and what’s still coming?
LR: So far this season I’ve raced three World Cups, a few UCI races, and a few club races. I managed to score my first win at a club race last weekend which is a great boost to the confidence. I’m currently in the middle of the busy Kerst periode (Christmas period) where I’ll race five races in 10 days.
M: For the first time in the 60-year history of the sport, the World Championship are being held outside Europe, in Louisville, Kentucky. Will you make the trip to the US?
LR: Thanks to my results in the previous World Cups, I’ve secured my spot in Louisville. It’s going to be an awesome experience and I’m really looking forward to it, perhaps for the after party as much as the race itself!
Alex, Roeland and Lewis. All smiles.
M: Cyclocross is not only gaining popularity in Australia, it seems to be getting big in Japan too.
LR: Yeah, Japan has a fairly strong presence in Belgium, their riders are amongst the top 30 in the World Cups for both the women and men. The Japanese team were kind enough to help me out last year, letting me use their heated van and warm up tent. Ranjit Laevens, their Belgian soigneur looks after them year after year and is also looking after me this season. They have a laid back attitude which is more familiar with racing in Australia than Europe. In February, after the World Championship, I’ll be heading to Japan for an exihibition race in Tokyo.
The fields are pretty impressive…
M: And from your experience, what is the biggest difference between cyclocross in Belgium/Europe and Australia?
LR: The number of supporters on course at the UCI races is insane. The supporters in Belgium are fanatical, and the riders are pretty much celebrities. It was beyond anything I could comprehend when I arrived last year. Aside from that, the talent in Belgium runs as deep as club level, it’s so competitive. You can see how they have absolutely dominated the sport since the late 90’s.
Thanks for the interview Lewis! Good luck with the rest of your European season, and with any luck we will see a number of Australians follow in your footsteps!