Whether it's a great edition of the Gent Six Days or not, it's still quite an experience to walk up through the tunnel for the first time.

Especially if the Dernys are up on the track droning out their monotonous tune, there's the buzz of a thousand conversations, the lights, the throng, the smell of beer, the renners flashing around the bankings, the people piled high up to the roof in the corners - we love it!

Martin and Gillian gave me a lift to Edinburgh Airport and then, in their hire car from Charleroi up to the track in Gent.

We're 't Kuipke - bound. (say "kwep-kih". Means "small oval").

We had a struggle with the radio but once we got the hang of it, there was KC and Barry White.In a winter hire car though, all you really need to worry about are the heater and the radio - all else is incidental.

The track is nestled in the Citadel park - a great setting.

My creds and Martin and Gill's tickets were waiting for us at the ticket desk - get changed and get to work for me; find a beer and a hotdog for them.

Gillian, John Anderson of thebicycleworks.com and Renner fame, and Martin enjoy a wee glass of the local brew.

I'm writing this on Tuesday morning as we pass Basel en route to Zürich for the '4' - that doesn't seem right, somehow.

But '4' [days] it is, down from '6' last and every other year, in an effort to cut costs - Grenoble goes the same way for 2012.

Our rider Jesper Mørkøv takes in some of the U23 racing.

As well as Jesper, we're looking after Franco Marvulli.

Silvan: Dillier: and Claudio Imhof.

So Friday night now seems like a long time ago and I don't remember much about it - except that it was 03:00 am when I got to bed and that top bunk was just braw.

Ed and Kris' domicile for the next week or so.

Gent Six Days - Results from Night Four

Mmmm, kegs.