Press Release
Dr. Rindal, Seattle Chiropractor, travels to Belguim to work with the Garmin-Barracuda Professional Cycling team during the Spring Classics in Gent, Belgium.
Seattle, March 2012:
This week, I have had the privilege of working with the Garmin-Barracuda Professional Cycling team during the Spring Classics in Gent, Belgium. Prior to my arrival, I did not have a complete understanding of the importance of cycling in Belgium, it is definitely on par with the soccer fanatics of Europe and Brazil, and cycling amongst youth is as prevalent as Little League Baseball. Belgium definitely keeps the spandex industry in business!
While not all technically part of the” Spring Classics,” three of the largest and most competitive single day races of the year will take place within a 50 mile radius of Gent, Belgium: Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke , and Gent Wevelgem Gent. The following two weeks the riders will participate in the historic cobble stone classics Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix. When I think of racing, I think of 6 am on a Saturday morning with a handful of fans, mostly family, out to cheer on the participants. It is hard to imagine, but the first of these races, Dwars door Vlaanderen, takes place at 12 noon on a Wednesday afternoon, and much of Belgium shuts down to watch the best cyclists in the world travel at breakneck speed across the Belgium countryside and climb narrow cobbled roads while vying for position. These races are a preview of what is to come in July at the Tour de France as the top teams bring out their aces vying for a coveted spot on the podium. This year, BMC, Radioshack-Nissan, Sky, Garmin, Green Edge, AG2R, Lotto, and Quickstep where just a few of the teams competing with some of the biggest names in cycling amongst those in the peleton: Tyler Farrar, Mark Cavendish, Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen, and David Millar, just to name a few.
When you watch a cycling race and think, those fans are crazy, and the people driving the cars are even more insane, both are true. I have had the chance to ride in a race vehicle for two races thus far and on several occasions braced for what looked like an impending collision with another vehicle, fan, or other obstacle in the road. I have to say, watching these two races from this vantage point has been one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. This was topped at the end of E3 Harelbeke when I was put in charge of meeting local hero and Garmin-Barracuda team member Sep Van Marcke following his 5th place finish as the media rushed him off for a TV interview while I got a wet towel and scraped the grime off his face and helped him put on a fresh jersey for his television spot.
Working with the team as a chiropractor has also been a real treat. Garmin regularly sends a chiropractor with the team, at their larger events, so the team is very used to receiving treatment on a daily basis. This opportunity to work with the team came about after working extensively with Tyler Farrar in the off season while he was residing in Seattle. Farrar also has a home here in Gent and was able to make things work so that I could provide treatment to himself and the team during the Spring Classics. One of his goal races for the season is tomorrow, Gent Wevelgem Gent, and he is in great form to do well in this race.
What a wonderful experience thus far, I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity and have enjoyed the incredible hospitality of the Belgian people.
Dr. Kevin Rindal, Seattle Chiropractor & Sports Injury Specialist, works at InHealth, which is a sports injury and performance care clinic.
Press Questions?
Please contact Dana Rindal at Dana@InHealthSeattle.com or 206-315-7998.
InHealth
4915 25th Ave NE, Ste. 104
Seattle, WA 98105