Thursday, March 28, 2024

Berlin Six Day 2013 – Day Five

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HomeDiariesBerlin Six Day 2013 - Day Five

There’s no wi-fi in the stadium at the Berlin Six Day 2013, you have to go up to the press room; it’s quiet up there, there’s hard wired internet which has your pictures flying in a nanosecond and a fridge full of soft drinks and beer – a runner/journalists Nirvana you might say.

Forgive me if I digress, but my mind goes back to the first time I covered the Tour of Flanders – used to cabinets full of lukewarm mineral water at the Grand Tours, imagine my delight when I opened the chiller cabinet in the press room to find it packed with cold tins of beer – that’s one of the reasons it’s the Heartland.

Anyway, they had what I think was honey beer in the cabinet – and lovely it was, too.

I’d been glugging the stuff straight from the bottle but made the mistake of pouring one – it’s a strange green colour, now I know why I’m having those nightmares.

We were chatting to ‘Stanley’ the Czech soigneur today – his boys are coming straight to Copenhagen from the San Luis Tour in Argentina.

From Contador to Mørkøv – they just can’t get away from those damned Saxo boys.

Berlin Six Day 2013
We’re back into the swing again, night number five. Photo©Ed Hood

The presentations drag, the sprint series runs its course – sprinter time.

Levy tracks the fence, he winds it, the crowd roars, he swoops, the noise hurts you ears, the music cuts in – but what’s that tune, great drums?

Not heard that for a while, it’s er… Gary Glitter, oops!

Berlin Six Day 2013
Bartko’s derny driver is enjoying himself. Photo©Ed Hood

Bartko told Guy to slow down in the De’il – he won’t be saying that in the chase I’m thinking.

The chase is brisk, Franco looks good and so does his partner, Andreas Müller, he gets a little better every year – and he’s one of the ‘good guys.’

Berlin Six Day 2013
The big bikes are prepared. Photo©Ed Hood

Stayers – Zach has good ‘war stories’ from that one; one of the big BMWs cut across his pace bike and Rene Aebi, his pacer had to come off the gas to avoid shunting it, Zach hit the roller twice and had to fight hard to stay upright.

Berlin Six Day 2013
The stayer racing behind these bikes really is mental. Photo©Ed Hood

I’m not sure what was worse,’ he tells us, ‘the pain or the fear!

The bouquets for the stayer duly presented – needless to say, there were none for our Zach – and most of the crowd bolts for the exits.

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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