Cyclocross World Championships are a weekend affair, with three days of racing drawing athletes and spectators from all over the world. There is an insane crush of bodies, the intense beat of bass coming from techno rave tents, and above it all the smell of frites and fried goods wafting through the air. Over 50,000 flag-waving face-painted people arrive to the small town of Hoogerheide, Netherlands to bear witness to the event that will cap off a season of racing rivalries from Puck Pieterse and Fem van Empel to Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
Photographing a cyclocross race turns into a sporting event for me, too. Cyclists race around the same, loopy racecourse six to seven times over the course of 50-60 minutes, which means I need to be strategic about what spots I want to shoot, when I want to shoot, and in what order. It’s like a puzzle figuring out the most efficient way to cover a variety of locations, racing by foot to get ahead of the riders. Earlier this year I recorded myself photographing a cyclocross race with Strava. I ran over two miles! As an endurance athlete I find myself falling into the same pre-race routines - a snack of simple carbs about an hour out from start time, one last bathroom run, adjust my layers so I won’t overheat, gear up, and head to the course.
After watching the Kerstperiode (a block of 12 races in Europe throughout the winter holiday season) and subsequent World Cups from the comfort of my home in sunny Los Angeles, I was excited to see these incredible riders up close. Both their elegance and strength on the bike as well as their personalities interacting with their team and fellow riders. For those not racing there is a lot of hurry-up-and-wait time during the days leading up to the main event. Mechanics waiting in the pit as their riders test their gear during pre-ride, and photographers pacing the sidelines figuring out their preferred shooting locations. Taking advantage of this downtime I get to know a lot of the support staff, trading stories of our experiences over the season, what we think the outcome of the races will be, or the weather and how it will impact the course. I take time to get to know the riders when I can as well, some I’ve seen at races in the states, and some only on TV and social media. Everyone greets my camera with a smile, their enthusiasm for the event to come is palpable.
There’s something incredibly special about witnessing people who are experts in their field perform at the highest of their ability. This is their Oscar-winning performance, their PhD presentation, a moment to define their career and set a new standard for what they and others are capable of. It’s a privilege to capture, truly. I love being a photographer, it’s my job to make friends!
I view traveling and experiencing different cultures as research. If I can understand someone’s lived experience more deeply I am therefore able to take a better image of them, to approach an interaction with them with more understanding and respect. I will always prefer to take portraits with eye contact and a conversation to lead into the creation of the photograph, but photographing races gives me context to what these athletes do, and ultimately tells a broader story of who they are.
