Night One
Daniel Holloway does the countdown at the Copenhagen Six Day 2018 in his Californian-Swedish, ten down to six; the crowd takes over from five down to one, the cannon report just about bursts everyone’s ear drums, then there’s the smoke.
For a split second nothing happens, everyone is too stunned by the noise and reek of gunpowder.
But there’s the bongos – and Paul Delicato’s velvet voice; ‘Cara Mia why, must we say goodbye…‘
It can only be the Copenhagen Six Day; this was the first Six I worked, back in 2005 when Jakob Piil and Jimmi Madsen won.
Both are long since retired but Jimmi now organises the race along with ever-smiling Michael Sandstød.
It’s good cop/bad cop deal with Jimmi very much the one who would beat a confession out of your granny.
The first chase is 75 minutes, in a world where 45 minutes is now a long chase that’s a long, long chase.
Home fave and six times winner, Michael Mørkøv pairs with Oudenaarde’s finest and current king of the pine boards, Kenny De Ketele, they wear the legendary ‘Danish flag’ number seven tricot.
Competing for second place we have:
Team one, quality Dutchman Yoeri Havik who’s just off winning in Berlin with Wim Stroetinga (who doesn’t ride, he’s now into preparation for the World Championships) paired with De Ketele’s usual henchman, skinny but rapid Belgian Moreno De Pauw.
Then there’s the