Unlucky Page confident he can be on the podium again

By Brecht Decaluwé and Bjorn Haake in Gavere

Jonathan Page had an unlucky day in the Superprestige 'cross in Gavere and finished in 16th place. His whole day was marked by mechanicals and crashes, which made a better result impossible, but the American is confident that better days will come again.

The misery in Gavere started in lap one which the American entered in about 12th position. But in one of the many deep-mud sections, his handlebar got turned sideward and he crashed. Others crashed on top of Page and eventually there was a bit of a traffic jam in the mud near the Gavere castle. "I wasn't bad," said Page, "but you've got to have a good start here and of course luck needs to be on your side as well."

Luck was clearly not on Page's side and things got even worse after that first lap. "I then broke my derailleur." On a gray day, Page wasn't finished with all the problems a racer can have. "I punctured as well." Despite relatively quick changes on both mechanicals, the day was over for the Planet Bike rider.

A muddy Page came to the finish almost five minutes behind the winner, but left with a promise to Cyclingnews. "I am sure someday I will be on the podium again."