A Trip with Johan Museeuw

I was recently lucky enough to be attending the Wheels in Wheels Training camp in Almeria in Spain.  This was a great chance to ride and network with fellow professionals form the Cycling industry plus the great "Lion of Flanders" himself Johan Museeuw.

If you don't know Johan Museeuw then here is a quick run down of his career,

UCI Road World Championships: (1996)
UCI Road World Cup: (1995, 1996)
Tour of Flanders: (1993, 1995, 1998)
Paris–Roubaix: (1996, 2000, 2002) 

E3 Harelbeke: (1992, 1998)
Amstel Gold Race: (1994)
HEW Cyclassics: (2002)
Paris–Tours: (1993)
Züri-Metzgete: (1991, 1995)
National Road Race Championships (1992, 1996)

In 1998, one week after winning E3 Harelbeke and the Brabantse Pijl in the same weekend, he won the Tour of Flanders, thereby equaling the race's record of three wins. One week later, Museeuw made a horrific fall in Paris–Roubaix on the Trouée d'Arenberg cobbled sector, leaving his kneeknap shattered.

On top came a dangerous gangrene infection which nearly forced doctors to amputate his left leg.  He fought back and resumed cycling after a long healing process, finishing third in the Tour of Flanders of 1999 and ninth in Paris–Roubaix, exactly one year after his horror crash.

In 2000 he won Paris–Roubaix a second time after a 44 km solo. Upon crossing the finish line in victory, he lifted his left leg, pointing to his knee as a reminder of the injury that had almost ended his career two years before. ( Source Wikipedia)

 Later that year, he was again injured in a motor cycle accident, causing a severe head trauma and several days in a coma. His dogged determination and powerful riding style won him legions of fans all over the world and made him all the more popular in his native Flanders.

Not bad at all, although his last year as a professional did not end well with a one year ban for a doping offence.

I took some time to get to know Johan, who was travelling with his some Stefano also a professional at the tender age of just 19.

Johan met the group for a long ride on Sunday, a very relaxed chap but obviously incredibly talented on the bike, able to control a group whenever needed.

 The camp was located in Spain around 2 hours from Alicante, great riding, empty roads and some leg sapping climbs.  What could be better?

I am trying to look cool here in the new Lucid Jersey and Onyx Bib shorts and I really was up for some big miles after a long U.K. winter.  Although I had to contend with some pretty fit riders including Johan Museeuw.

With views like this though the hard work was well worth the effort.

Finally after 5 days of riding and over 400 miles the camp came to an end, what a pleasure it was to meet the group, discuss the industry and of course get to know the "Lion of Flanders".  A great time had by all and hopefully see you all next year.

 ( Source Wikipedia)

Cover image - By Matheus Katharus - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47536867