World championship medal winners Iljo Keisse and Matthew Gilmore, stars of the Sixdays track racing scene, have started their first event in this European winter season in Amsterdam, but fell behind one lap on overall standings already on the first night. The two Belgians still have to "find their rhythm", as Keisse explained to Belgian Sporza Radio.
"We couldn't train a lot on the track and now we're paying for it," said Keisse. "But it's not an endurance problem, it's the short efforts that break us. We're finished for this event, but by the end of the week, we have to find our rhythm."
The pair still holds another race as a season goal: the Gent Sixday, taking place in the Flemish University town from November 22-27. "After the medals in the European Championship (Gold) and in the World's (Bronze), we're focusing on Gent this season," Keisse added. "But the deception at the Olympic Games in Athens is completely over." Keisse and Gilmore finished the Olympic Madison in 11th spot.
Topping the current overall standings after three evenings of racing in Amsterdam is the Swiss team of Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart, who will be battle it out with the Dutch riders Robert Slippens and Danny Stam, only one point behind.
