For a group of 14 US teenagers who have enjoyed success at home cyclo-cross races, competing for results in Belgium with the EuroCrossAcademy took an unexpected back seat to lessons in humility and patience during the intense two weeks of racing at 'kerstperiode'.
Graden Daume of Missoula, Montana, and Matthew Crabbe of Buford, Georgia, both 16 years old, who will race in the 17-18 division in 2026, admitted that he larger fields, elevated level of competition, and highly-touted course conditions were indeed formidable and downright "fast and messy".
