Thursday, March 28, 2024

Copenhagen Six Day 2010 – Day Four

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HomeDiariesCopenhagen Six Day 2010 - Day Four

I decided not to mention the demise of Franco Ballerini in my reports; the Copenhagen Six Day is a joyous thing and it’s hard to write about a tragic death and be upbeat.

All I would say is that he was a man; any Italian who can come to the North and win the biggest races, has my respect.

His work as Italian boss was excellent; probably the best drilled national team in the World.

Vai con Dio, Franco.

* * *

Copenhagen Six Day
Michael Smith Larsen listens to the Capo.
Copenhagen Six Day
Michael Sandstod.

Sunday is an early finish – 18:00 – at Copenhagen, but it’s still a bit of a sore one because of the early start.

The pro racing commences at 14:25; I got to bed at 02:00, rose at 08:00, wrote up my VeloVeritas diary, prepared for my interview with Daniel Holloway and edited the Day three pics.

I’d scheduled breakfast for 10:30 and to meet Jacob Mørkøv at the track for 11:00, to sort out the kit; I was in the cabin bang on time and Jacob wasn’t far behind me.

Copenhagen Six Day
Alex dislocates Martyn’s arm.

He’s a huge help, he knows all the Danish guys, having raced a bit himself and is familiar with their kit.

Copenhagen Six Day
Daniel Holloway.
Copenhagen Six Day
Chicken Little.

I was supposed to meet Daniel Holloway around an hour before the racing started, but the power died in the cabin and I had to get hold of the maintenance guy and be on hand to explain; ‘electric kaput!

The fact that it was the power was a huge relief; initially I thought I’d broken the kettle.

My mind was racing ahead to what Kris would say; it would have been a wheedling-and-a-half.

I caught up with Daniel about 15 minutes before the rolling presentation but after only a few questions, former Copenhagen Six winner and now race official, Jimmi Madsen arrived with … a chicken suit, for Daniel.

I’ll come back later, dude‘ I said as I left him to struggle in to yellow feathers.

His team mate, Colby Pearce summed it up best; ‘what the f**k is that?

‘Hollywood,’ as they call him, then did the whole of the rolling presentation in the chicken suit – to the delight of all.

I think he’s sealed his 2011 Copenhagen contract, with that one.

Extrovert though he is – I caught up with him later, to finish the interview – he’s an articulate, sharp guy, who knows what he wants to do.

Wasn’t it hot in that suit, Daniel?‘ I asked.

Yeah, after about four laps, I said to Colby, “I don’t know if I’m gonna make it!” but I managed it, somehow.

Copenhagen Six Day
Daniel, inexplicably, in his chicken suit.

He’s a one off – albeit I have received correspondence from Dave Chapman that the Bissell man’s socks are too long and I’ve to ‘have a word!’

And the next time someone tells you that the sixes are a “fixed,” ponder these stats from Daniel’s computer for the previous night’s madison – Distance covered in one hour: 57 kilometres. Highest speed achieved during the race: 68 kph. Maximum cadence: 161. Gear: 50 x 15 – piece of cake.

The atmosphere in the stadium was great today; virtually sold out, except for the new higher tiers, added for the Worlds.

There were hundreds of kids – and Postman Pat – and the buzz was good.

Copenhagen Six Day
Postman Pat.

The riders respond to that; it’s always hard to get a bunch to give it ‘full gas’ in a funereal atmosphere.

Some of the choices of music are inspired, for the dernys, they play; ‘In Zaire’ by Johnny Wakelin, it’s an an old tune but it suits the event perfectly, with the thunderous drums; ‘…seven rounds of torture, there…

We ticked off the last thing Martyn wanted his picture taken, whilst doing … pushing off in the derny.

The Nikon battery went flat soon after – it’s all the snaps I’ve been taking of him!

Copenhagen Six Day
Martyn pushes Franco off.

There was a surprise in the flying lap; Alex and Michael didn’t win – our boy Daniel Kreutzfeldt with his partner, Leon Van Bon took it with 13.161 to the Danes 13.165.

Van Bon has done a good reinvention job on himself; with his glory days of Dutch champion, Tour and Vuelta stage winner behind him, he’s turned himself into a Six Day man.

He was on the podium at Grenoble and won at Appeldoorn with Bartko.

His soigneur is his father-in-law; a good ploy for keeping the temptations of the flesh at bay.

Copenhagen Six Day
Van Bon.

The first time I was at the Berlin six day, I noticed a woman permanently sitting outside Andreas Kappes’ cabin.

Who’s that?‘ I asked a mechanic; ‘That’s his wife,‘ came the reply; ‘she’s here to make sure he behaves himself with the girls!

How many sixes does she go to?‘ I continued; ‘All of them!

Copenhagen Six Day
Big Bob leads the ‘tattie chase’.

The last chase looked good for the fans, but was actually a ‘potato chase’ – an easy one.

The term ‘potato chase’ comes from the old days when the public used to put primes up for the riders to go after. A wealthy local business man might put up a big cash prime for the next lap gain, for the kudos of a name check. But an old farmer with hardly a spare franc in his pocket might just bring in a bag of spuds.

Whilst the big riders weren’t interested, those tatties would be more than welcome as a prize by the minnows in the field and they’d race for them – hence; ‘potato chase.’

Copenhagen Six Day
Daniel Kreutzfeldt chills.

It just wouldn’t be possible to ride every chase at ‘full gas’ – much as the organisers would like it – or many riders wouldn’t get through the race.

This is Bruno’s last race and there was a wee soiree in his cabin after the race, to which – as his partner, Franco’s runner – I was invited.

I enjoyed a glass of wine and made my apologies – I can recognise an impending, ‘heid like a burst couch’ when I see one.

‘Eddy no mates’ headed back up to the track to avail himself of the wi-fi and send my pix over to Martin at the VeloVeritas HQ for your enjoyment – hope you like them.

Copenhagen Six Day
Martyn and Franco.

It’s 08:15 on Monday and I’ve just received an email from John Hardie with the questions he wants me to ask Danny Clark; I’d better get to work on that.

Ciao, ciao.

Results

Sprint 1

1 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 5 pts
2 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 3
3 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 2
4 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 1

Sprint 2

1 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 5 pts
2 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 3
3 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze) 2
4 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den) 1

Sprint 3

1 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 5 pts
2 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 3
3 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA) 2
4 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 1

Sprint 4

1 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 5 pts
2 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze) 3
3 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den) 2
4 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 1

Sprint 5

1 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 5 pts
2 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 3
3 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 2
4 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 1

Sprint 6

1 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 5 pts
2 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 3
3 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA) 2
4 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den) 1

Derny 1

1 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 10 pts
2 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 8
3 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned) 6
4 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 4
5 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 2
6 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze)
7 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den)
8 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze)
9 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi)
10 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA)
11 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den)
12 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den)
13 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den)
14 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger)

500m Time Trial

1 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 0:00:27.625
2 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 0:00:28.393
3 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 0:00:28.443
4 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 0:00:28.590
5 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze) 0:00:28.742
6 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze) 0:00:28.987
7 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den) 0:00:30.075
8 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned) 0:00:30.580
9 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den) 0:00:30.581

Derny Sprint

1 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 10 pts
2 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 6
3 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 5
4 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den) 4
5 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze) 3
6 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze) 2
7 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger)
8 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi)
9 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den)
10 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel)
11 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den)
12 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned)
13 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den)
14 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA)

Flying Lap

1 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 10 pts
2 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 6
3 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger) 5
4 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 4
5 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 3
6 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned) 2
7 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze)
8 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel)
9 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den)
10 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den)
11 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze)
12 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA)
13 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den)
14 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den)

Giant Sprint
1 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den) 10 pts
2 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger) 8
3 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA) 6
4 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze) 4
5 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 3
6 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 2
7 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze)
8 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi)
9 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi)
10 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den)
11 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel)
12 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den)
13 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned)
14 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den)

Madison

1 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 20 pts

One lap behind
2 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 12
3 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger) 10
4 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA) 8
5 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den) 6
6 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 4

Two laps behind
7 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 2
8 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned)
9 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den)
10 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi)
11 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi)

Three laps behind
12 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze)
13 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze)

Four laps behind
14 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den)

Overall Standings after night four

1 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 173 pts
2 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 169
3 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 161

One lap behind
4 Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger) 111
5 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned) 86

Two laps behind
6 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 112

Three laps behind
7 Léon van Bon / Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Ned/Den) 167

Nine laps behind
8 Colby Pearce / Daniel Holloway (USA) 76
9 Andreas Müller / Jesper Mørkøv (Aut/Den) 62

Eleven laps behind
10 Alexander Aeschbach / Michael Færk (Swi/Den) 79

Twelve laps behind
11 Sebastian Donadio / Tristan Marguet (Arg/Swi) 77

Fourteen laps behind
12 Alexei Shmidt / Jiri Hochmann (Rus/Cze) 25

Nineteen laps behind
13 Aloïs Kankovsky / Petr Lazar (Cze) 33

Twenty Three laps behind
14 Michael Smith Larsen / Michael Berling (Den) 61

UIV Cup

1 Sebastian Lander / Christian Kreutzfeldt (Den) 14 pts
2 Bob Stöpler / Bouke Kuiper (Ned) 4
3 Simon Bigum / Rasmus H. Lund (Den) 3
4 Emil Hovmand / Mathias Greve (Den) 3

One lap behind
5 Mike Lauge / Nichlas E. Sørensen (Den) 12
6 George Atkins / Jonathan Mould (GBr) 8
7 Frederik Schwartz / Casper Degn Larsen (Den) 7
8 Ian Moir / Kit Karzen (USA) 5
9 Damien Corthésy / Loïc Perizzolo (Swi) 4
10 Lasse Norman Hansen / Daniel Mielke (Den) 3
11 Philip Frank / Mikkel Mortensen (Den) 3
12 Mathias Øllegaard / Stefan Linné Jørgensen (Den)

Two laps behind
13 Davide Comolino / Andrea Comuzzi (Ita)
14 Jonas Jørgensen / Sebastian Refsgaard (Den)

Copenhagen Six Day
When your’re stars, you can’t just bolt for the door.
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

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