By Chris Milliman, VeloNews.com
Photo: Chris Milliman
It took him five years of struggle and sacrifice, but over the course of a single hour in slippery conditions at Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, American Jonathan Page confirmed his status as the greatest cyclo-cross racer the U.S. has ever produced.
Page led the Elite Men’s race for much of the 2007 UCI World Cyclo-cross Championships, with only a small bobble on the last quarter lap opening the door for Belgian Erwin Vervecken to dash away for the win. Page rode home in second, the first time an American man has stood on the podium at the Elite ‘Cross Worlds.
For a rider who has opted to live and race primarily in Europe, the Belgian-based Page has endured unimaginable bad luck over the years. From illness to injury to ill-timed mechanicals, a dark cloud seemed to hang over most of Page’s biggest races. But those same clouds parted in Hooglede-Gits on Sunday, allowing the 30-year-old American to show the skill and strength that five years of racing on the European ‘cross circuit have honed.
VeloNews spoke with Page after the shining moment of his career.
VeloNews: At the beginning of the day did you think you’d be standing on the podium?
Jonathan Page: I’d dreamt about it and I knew I could do it, but think I could do it? I don’t know.
VN: It seemed like all the other major players were making mistakes and you weren’t, that finally the bad luck was with others and not you.
Photo: Chris Milliman
JP: Yeah I hoped only that I had no bad luck today, that was the only thing I asked for. Because then I could ride my own race and that’s exactly what happened. A lot of others had bad luck but it was super slippery in that one section.
VN: Was that the best you’ve ever felt in a race?
JP: Yeah, it didn’t hurt much. It’s the best I ever felt and it was a great day to have that. I knew I had great form but a lot can happen in a race, I didn’t make any stupid mistakes today.
VN: Do you feel like this is a big vindication for you, for your decision to live and race in Europe?
JP: Definitely. Thank goodness. Everything flashed through my head during the week and I was up at night, of course, laying awake and hoping. It was great.
VN: Apparently you didn’t even know you were winning the race about 40 minutes in?
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JP: I thought I was up there but wasn’t sure. My mechanic told me I had a gap and because I was comfortable there I knew it was going to be a great day.
VN: You saw Bart Wellens crash right in front of you. After that did you decide to ride more at the front?
JP: Right, I almost crashed into them. People were yelling to me to wait a little but I knew it’s a man-to-man race so I chose my position wisely. Being at the front was fine for me on any section. On the last lap Vervecken would switch then I would switch into the front. But I always wanted to make sure I was in front on the hard sections.
VN: Did Vervecken say anything to you after the race?
JP: He’s just a nice guy, a stand up man. He told me good job. It means something coming from him.
VN: It seemed like an unimaginably good weekend for the U.S. team.
JP: How great is that? Cyclo-cross from the United States is now on the map.
VN: So do you think this will kick start things for you as far as a contract for next year?
JP: I just heard two teams have already called so that’s nice. It’s a good way to start a future for our family.
