These Internets are something, aren’t they? I just got paid to watch streaming video of the Superprestige stop in Zonhoven and was it ever a giggle.
The Zonhoven course features sand — lots and lots of sand — a run-up so steep that most guys pull themselves along using ropes that line the ascent alongside the course tape, and two steep, deep-sand descents, one of which was stacking up the body count faster than the Oakland PD attacking an Occupy encampment.
There were some spectacular get-offs on that bad boy, including one involving Tom Meeusen and Bart Aernouts. Meeusen screwed the pooch and augured in, leaving Aernouts — who was behind him and to the right as Meeusen’s bike catapulted into the course tape — with nowhere to go but right over the bars and into a world of pain.
Amazingly, both men remounted and finished. I would’ve laid there whimpering piteously until someone brought me a frosty Duvel.
Mad Blog Media 
I have a tough time with ‘cross, either doing it, as we did years ago in New England when it was one of the few areas where ‘cross was popular, or watching it on TV where it’s not much more interesting than watching MTB racing. Neither of them look particularly tough on TV despite my knowing first-hand the opposite is true. I understand the media/industry interest as it’s a whole new category of stuff to sell those who already have a road bike, an “aero” road bike, a TT bike, a mountain bike, a mountain bike with 29″ wheels, a hipster/fixter and whatever else I failed to mention. It just seems too much like the industry’s attempt to regain profits lost when the MTB fad petered out. Just like the reader survey they ask you to complete…it doesn’t take too many questions for them to get to the “how much did you spend on your last car?” question. I really wish the “cycling as competitive shopping” idea would wither away…..
Found a snippet of the downhill and crash on YouTube. Crazy descent – will have to keep looking for footage of the climb.