Copenhagen Six Day 2012 – Day One

The gun fires, the bongos rattle, ‘Cara Mia’ blasts, the rattle of chains and rumble of rubber on wood builds and the chase which kicks off the 50th Copenhagen Six Day is up and running.

But it’s not any old chase, since I first walked up the steps from the tunnel when we arrived here on Wednesday afternoon the lap board has been displaying a short but grim message — 400.

That’s 400 laps at 250 metres for each lap; I’ll help with the arithmetic — 100 kilometres.

The music is good and loud, the lights are bright, the track surface advertising has all been re-painted and the track looks cool — it’s all a Six Day should be.

It’s just a pity there aren’t so many people here in the Ballerup Super Arena in the suburbs of Copenhagen.

The track record is 1:56:31 for Danny Clark (Australia) & Jens Veggerby (Denmark) set during the 1989 Six Day – will it survive?

We have six men to look after here – home boys, reigning Copenhagen champions and former World Madison Champions, Alex Rasmussen and Michael Mørkøv; World number one rated Six Day rider, Franco Marvulli of Switzerland paired with Michael’s younger brother, Jesper; Jackie Simes of the USA and Worlds Omnium Silver Medallist Shane Archbold.

Jackie rides with German former Grand Tour rider, Björn Schröder whilst Shane rides with Suisse Claudio Imhof.

With so many riders on the boards in our care it’s hectic being the runner — it’s my job to fetch the discarded bottles, clean them then refill them.

We had thought that the race would drag but far from it, the laps rattle down and with 300 still to go there are men suffering.

It’s half distance before we know it and as Alcazar’s classic six day song, ‘Crying at The Discotheque’ surges from the speakers there are some big errors of judgement being made up there — riders hurtle through the middle of exchanges and the abuse flies.

The situation with the bottles is crazy, I can only grab a moment here and there to take some pictures but then it’s back to trotting round to the banking to retrieve the bottle — sometimes three — and return to where Martyn and Kris are standing in the back straight, wash the bottles, dry them, refill them, fill them and pass them to the boys.

One of the young Danes has his mechanic handing up drinks and he keeps dropping them — more colourful language.

The young mechanic is getting stressed and runs up the straight to retrieve the bottles but doesn’t look back to see where the string is as he bends down to retrieve them — ‘dangerous’ isn’t the word.

But we’re all stressed, it’s been a long season and the riders are scared of the distance.

As the laps click past the small teams can’t even contemplate taking a lap, just holding the wheel is what it’s all about for them.

With 76 to go it’s Shakin’ Stevens and ‘You Drive Me Crazy’ — a few of the riders would like to dedicate that to organiser Henrik Elmgreen and his desire to go back to the ‘old days’ and ‘proper’ chases.

I had thought a 100km chase was a bad idea when I heard about it, but standing beside the track I have to admit that it’s a real spectacle — this is no procession, this is a race.

The big surprise is Blaha/Barth who lead with 50 to go but inevitably the big guns draw level; there’s pride at stake here as well as kudos — it’ll maybe be the last time a rider can ever say he’s won a 100km madison.

Keisse is a little under-the-weather with a cold and Hester doesn’t look to be enjoying it but they’re one of the strongest; Michael still looks good, Alex doesn’t, but they’re ‘par #7’ and national pride is at stake.

Bartko is hurting and from where I’m standing Lampater is doing a better job; Danny Stam has found his legs again — maybe because it’s his last race – but partner Stroetinga is even more scrunched up on his bike than usual.

The bell, and Iljo goes from a long way out, whilst Alex is the sprinter, Michael is no slouch, especially at the end of a long hard race and he locks on to the Belgian — but he has work to do on that last lap.

Crack! The gun fires, both men claim it, I get the caps and towels ready — but it’s Iljo and Marc Hester’s picture which flashes up on the score board.

Damn!

I have Michael and Alex’s cabin, they’re hardly in before the microphones and tape recorders appear; ‘one minute, please!’ I have to tell one journo as I try to get Alex into a dry vest.

Keisse/Hester win on the zero lap with 20 points from Mørkøv/Rasmussen 0/12, Stam/Stroetinga 0/10 and Bartko/Lampater 0/8 with Barth/Blaha, de Ketele/Mertens and Marvulli/J. Mørkøv: all at one lap.

Jackie and Shane and their respective partners lost eight laps but not their self respect and are now two of the few men who can talk with authority about what it’s like to ride a 100 kilometre madison in a Six Day.

And the last word goes to Danny Clark; ‘I ain’t happy – they took a minute off me track record!’

Copenhagen Six Day 2012 - Results from Day One