Here they are … the top three of the men’s Ronde van Vlaanderen (left to right): Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel.  Champions with champion smiles.

I’m proud of myself for doing what was needed to show up on the Taaienberg on Sunday.  Bus, train, bus, 45-minute walk.  And then the reverse in the evening.  All for a few seconds of the men blowing by me on the cobbles.  Sadly, I didn’t see the women on the climb.  Oh well.

I could have chosen the luxury of my couch, experiencing the flow of both races in real time.  A completely different experience.  And … I’m glad I had my moment with Tadej and Mathieu.

***

My return walk to the bus stop in Maarkedal featured leaden feet and labouring lungs, but I was on a mission.  I wanted pasta in Oudenaarde before heading home, and Colosseo on the Stationsstraat was happy to oblige.  Penne arrabbiata!  With a miraculous garlic tomato sauce (plus a Ename Blond beer).  If my tongue could talk, it would tell you a story.

Life was looking good for catching the 8:33 train from Oudenaarde to Gent – a half-hour trip.  Except it wasn’t.  About 85 minutes.  Officials stopped the train for awhile because there were too many people aboard.

For twenty minutes or so, I was standing with my folding chair and backpack, wedged against other cycling fans.  I was hoping that some young person would offer me their seat.  No one did.  Everyone looked enthralled with their friends.

Feeling a possible future of falling down, I decided to act:

I think I’m about to fall down.  Would one of you please offer me your seat?

A girl’s eyes opened wide.  She smiled and leapt up, gesturing to her chair.

Thank you

And so ensued probably a 40-minute conversation with five young people and one old one.  We talked about life.

I had questions for them.  Here’s one:

Having a beer with your friends seems really big in Belgium.  If someone you know doesn’t want to drink alcohol, does the group reject them in some way, maybe pressure them to join in?

The response?

Yes

***

It was a helluva day

I got to live it

In the company of others