An awesome Christmas present

Manny Goguen at US 'cross nationals (Image credit: Mitch Clinton)

Belgium, January 1, 2009

After the first few days I got the hang of living at the USA cycling house. It's pretty simple and routine, actually. We get up at 8am (unless there is a race and we have to leave early), eat breakfast and head out for our ride by 10am. After our ride we eat lunch and then we hang out until dinner. During the hang out time I'll usually get on my laptop for a little while and sometimes head to the store or Wall for a snack.

Right around 6pm we hear the famous dinner call. Everyone heads down, grabs a plate, serves themselves and sits. The table is huge! It sits 10 on each side so we usually have multiple conversations going on. If we wanted to have just one, we would have to play telephone to get it from one end to the other. After dinner we all pitch in to clean up. Then it's time to watch some TV, read or get on our laptops.

For its sixth consecutive year, the Euro 'Cross Camp will travel to Izegem, Belgium for two weeks from December 20, 2008 to January 3, 2009, with some of America's most promising cyclo-cross talent. Euro 'Cross Camp Director and US National Team Coach Geoff Proctor selected 19 male riders to take on some of the toughest courses and strongest riders abroad and to prepare for the World Championships in late January. The camp has helped the careers of racers like current US National Champion Ryan Trebon, Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll. Read these diaries for hints of who may emerge from this year's crop of three elite, eight U23 and eight junior racers as America's future 'cross stars? Coach Proctor and his riders will take turns contributing diary entries.