Note that I sometimes (rarely) post latest news on LiveJournal, if I can't get full internet access to update this site. You can find my LiveJournal page here.
Fat Nick is off to Berlin to watch the Berliner Sechstagerennen. I'll be at the Berlin six on Monday and Tuesday nights, but I'm also going to visit friends while I'm in Berlin. I'll aim to post a couple of reports from the Berlin Six here.
I often get asked about books about track racing, and particularly about six-day bike races.
A couple of my personal favourite books on 6 day racing are:
De Mannen van de Nacht, by Roger de Martelaere. Roger is an experienced Belgian sports journalist, and a leading authority on six-day racing. My copy dates from 2000, and the ISBN is 90-74128-67.
A more recent publication is The six-day bicycle races, by Peter Joffrey Nye with Jeff Groman and Mark Tyson. This book was published in 2006, ISBN 1-892495-49, and you can get a sneak preview of the book on their website, which also has some wonderful old photos of six-day racing.
Both books are packed with old photographs, race results, and bios of six-day racers over the years. I can highly recommend both of these books on six-day racing.
Manchester Velodrome hosts a whole new season of the wonderful Revolution track meetings!
Fat Nick was there with his camera, taking piccies for cyclingnews.com - click here for Nick's photos from the Revolution 21 track meeting.
Note to self: Really must update this page more often!
Manchester Velodrome hosts a whole new season of the wonderful Revolution track meetings. Fat Nick was there with his camera - click here for 50 photos from the Revolution 17 track meeting.
A sign of the healthy future of cycle racing in Britain, with over 70 young riders competing in this youth omnium track meeting at the Manchester Velodrome. Well done to organiser Matt Winston and his team. Pictures are here
Photos from Revolution 15 track meeting at Manchester Velodrome
9th December 2006
The stars of the six-day world came out to play at the Manchester Velodrome for the 15th in the Revolution series of track meetings. And for British fans, it was a chance to see Graeme Obree back on his bike.... a huge cheer went up when Obree joined the bunch in the opening race, riding his customary monster big gear! There's a whole slew of photos on http://www.cyclingnews.com, as well as full results. And don't forget the final Revolution of this winter, on 20th January 2007!
Sad news - six-day sport in mourning
RIP Isaac Galvez
26 November 2006
With much sadness, I report that Spanish rider Isaac Galvez has died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident during the 2006 Ghent Six. Isaac Galvez was the reigning World Madison champion in 2006, a title he also won in 1999. Fat Nick would like to extend his deepest sympathies to Isaac's family, his friends, and to the six-day community at large. We are all shocked, and we all feel a profound sense of loss.
Photos from Revolution 13 track meeting at Manchester Velodrome
15th October 2006
Plenty of action photos from this exciting track meeting, featuring former top riders such as Andrea Tafi, Franco Ballerini, Rolf Sorenson and Silvio Martinello. Plus, of course, the new crop of up-and-coming young British riders. See www.cyclingnews.com for the photos and results
Photos from Day 3 World Masters Track Champs 2006
14th September 2006
A bunch race of photos from the third day's action (Wednesday) at the 2006 World Masters Track cycling championships in Manchester. My friends at Cyclingnews.com are also carrying results from the Masters Track Championships
Photos from Day 1 World Masters Track Champs
12th September 2006
A handful of photos from the first day's action at the 2006 World Masters Track cycling championships in Manchester. My friends at Cyclingnews.com are also carrying results from the Masters Track Championships
Six-day riders on the "injured" list
Fat Nick would like to wish a full and speedy recovery to Matt Gilmore and to Robert Slippens. Both have been injured during recent road races, and we expect that both of them will have to miss the first few six-day races of the season. Get well soon, guys.
Update 12th Sept: Rob Slippens has been moved from a Belgian hospital to a hospital closer to home in Holland. He is also having further surgery on his broken collar bone, but is making good progress - greatly encouraged by the birth of his daughter while he has been in hospital.
Where are Fat Nick's photos this year?
A few people have asked why there are no new pics on Fat Nick's web site so far this season. The reason is simple: My friends at www.cyclingnews.com are paying for my photos this year. That enables me to concentrate on taking the photos, and the Cycling News team handle the web presentation. In time, my photos will appear on my Fat Nick site as well, but it will have to wait till I have a spare moment!
For real insight into six-day life from a team helper's viewpoint, take a look at Ed Hood's excellent article:
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3585
Gilmore / Keisse win 2005 Ghent Six
Heading into the final day of the Ghent Six, it looked to be a three-horse
race between Gilmore / Keisse, Slippens / Stam and Risi / Betschart. The Swiss
pair had looked especially strong and determined on Saturday, and many fans saw
them as potential victors in this race.
In the very first race on Sunday, Risi and Betschart went on the attack, taking
a lap gain during an elimination race - an unusual move, and a sign of their
determination to win. Just minutes later, victory was snatched away from them by
a crash in the bunch that put Bruno Risi out of the race, and also put Belgian
rider Dimitri de Fauw out. Risi injured his left knee, and despite a gutsy and
determined effort to get back on his bike a few minutes later, he had to call it
a day.
Kurt Betschart and Andreas Beikirch formed a new team, but they didn't settle
for just finishing the race. The Swiss and the German rode very aggressively,
trying right to the end to get the lap gain that would give them victory.
In the end, it came down to a straight race between Gilmore / Keisse and
Slippens / Stam, fought out in the final sets of sprints in the Madison. These
are every 10 laps over the last 50 laps. Slippens / Stam won the first one at 40
laps to go, boosting their slender overall lead. But then the Belgian crowd
roared their approval as Keisse won the next sprint, with Gilmore and Keisse
keeping a firm hold of the remaining sprints to win by 8 points overall (with
271 points as opposed to Slippens / Stam with 263).
This was Matt Gilmore's fifth victory in his home six-day race, and the first
win in Ghent for local hero Iljo Keisse. For Fat Nick's photos, please see
www.cyclingnews.com
Friday saw a thrilling evening's racing in Ghent, with all tickets for the evening sold out. Local heros Matt Gilmore and Iljo Keisse regained the lead from Robert Bartko and Scott McGrory, but Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart are looking strong, and Robert Slippens and Danny Stam pulled back one lap of their two-lap deficit, looking very fast as they did so.
Two riders were out of action during the evening: Rob Hayles was suffering with sickness, and Marco Villa was feeling the after-effects of a crash on the Thursday evening. So 18-year old world madison champion Mark Cavendish teamed up with former world madison champion Franco Marvulli for the evening, giving Marvulli an opportunity to pass on some useful tips to Cavendish, wo his riding his first six-day season.
The evening came to an early end when the stadium's lighting started acting up shortly after midnight. Race director Patrick Sercu took the sensible decision to cancel the final madison of the evening in the interests of rider safety. As we emerged from the Kuipke we saw a foot of snow that had fallen during the evening, and it seems that the snow has affected the power supply right across Ghent.
So we head into Saturday with Gilmore-Keisse leading on 246 points, and also a lap up on the rest of the field. Three teams are still in the running, one lap down: Bartko-McGrory on 244 points, Slippens-Stam on 220 and Risi-Betschart on 144. With four teams so close, and with the Ghent track only 170 meters, we are in for an exciting last two days of racing!
Night three of the Ghent Six-day race saw Robert Bartko and Scott McGrory
take over the race lead from local favourites Matt Gilmore and Iljo Keisse.
Moving into the final half of the race, it looks like becoming a three-horse
race between these two teams and the Swiss team of Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart.
The flying Dutchmen, Rob Slippens and Danny Stam, winners in Ghent last year,
are currently two laps down and would need to work hard to pull back that
deficit - although there will be plenty of Dutch fans present in Ghent to give
them vocal support if they try!
Bartko and McGrory have 202 points, leading by 12 points from Gilmore and Keisse
on 190. But under six-day rules, Gilmore and Keisse will be awarded a bonus lap
when they hit 200 points, which will move the Belgians into a one-lap lead even
if they are behind on points.
Robert Bartko is also popular in Ghent. Last year, the big German trackie was
leading the race with Matt Gilmore when Gilmore was taken ill on the final
evening. Within minutes, Bartko went from seeing an almost certain victory to
withdrawal from the race, but he handled the situation with grace and dignity,
earning the respect of the Belgian crowd.
All eyes at the 2005 Ghent Sixday will be on the pairing of Matt Gilmore and Iljo Keisse, riding their first Ghent Six together. Last year, Gilmore went into the final night in the lead partnered with Robert Bartko and had to withdraw from the race due to illness. Based in Ghent, and holding Belgian nationality, Gilmore has been the local favourite since Etienne de Wilde retired from the six day circuit. Keisse is also a local Ghent rider, and has huge support from the Belgian crowd, so pairing the two of them together is a guaranteed crowd-puller.
Keisse looks very young, but is actually an experienced six-day rider now. He notched up his first six-day win in this year's Grenoble Six, partnered by the experienced Gilmore.
Top six-day pairing Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart will also be keen for another win in Ghent. And German Robert Bartko, who looked good partnering Gilmore last year, is keen for a win with experienced Aussie six-day man Scott McGrory. The flying Dutchmen, Rob Slippens and Danny Stam, will also want to win again after their victory in Ghent last year. And for an outsider bet, keep an eye on the amazingly fast Franco Marvulli, riding this year's sixday races with his new partner Marco Villa, who is himself a multiple sixday winner.
There is always a strong British contingent in the crowd at Ghent, and the British interest will focus on World Madison champions Rob Hayles and Mark Cavendish. This is their third six day race together, and Cav looks to be getting used to the routine now. It is widely acknowledged by fans and riders alike that the first year of riding sixdays is a period of learning - and suffering!
For full results and photos of the 2005 Ghent Six day race, please click here for results on www.cyclingnews.com
Fat Nick went along to the Noël Foré memorial track meeting in Ghent, Belgium. This track meeting has a long history, and is traditionally held on Armistice Day, a national holiday in Belgium to mark the end of World War I. You can see my pics on cyclingnews.com - click here for a link.
The Noel Foré Memorial track meeting in Ghent attracted a strong field from Belgium, The Netherlands, Great Britain and France. The race meeting features Under23 riders, as well as an encouraging number of junior and Under16 riders. The Nations Cup, fought out during the course of the day, went to the Belgian team. The highlight of the afternoon's racing is the 200-lap Noel Foré Memorial Madison, which saw a thrilling battle between the top teams. The Dutch pairing of Jonkman and Sluimer looked to be on top with 50 laps to go, but their compatriots Stroetinga and Terpstra managed to claw back a one-lap deficit to win the Madison by 3 points. All other teams finished at least one lap down. Entry to the race meeting was free for spectators, and the enthusiastic crowd enjoyed traditional Belgian refreshments of beer, sandwiches and sausages.
Where are Fat Nick's photos this year?
A few people have asked why there are no new pics on Fat Nick's web site so far this season. The reason is simple: My friends at www.cyclingnews.com are paying for my photos this year. That enables me to concentrate on taking the photos, and the Cycling News team handle the web presentation. In time, my photos will appear on my Fat Nick site as well, but it will have to wait till I have a spare moment!
And the six day season is started - the Amsterdam Six kicked off this evening. At the end of the first night's racing, Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart led from Rob Slippens / Danny Stam.
Photos from a super night's racing at Revolution 9, with 15 world champions on the track, are available now on cyclingnews.com.
This winter, most of my photos will appear first on cyclingnews.com. I'm going to be working more closely with this world class cycling web site this year. Since they're paying for my time, it is only fair that they get to publish my pics first. My photos will appear here on my own Fat Nick's web site a few days later - but if you want to catch the action, as it happens, pop over to www.cyclingnews.com
Fat Nick has published the six-day racing calendar for the 2005 - 2006 winter season. Check out the dates for your favourite six-day races!
Well done Rob! Other things have got in the way of my cycling lately, but I'd like to offer a really heartfelt "Congratulations" to Rob Hayles and Mark Cavendish on becoming World Madison champions. Rob has had more than his share of bad luck in world championships and Olympic madison races, and I was delighted to see it all come right on the day for them. Much kudos also to Mark Cavendish, who has launched his own cycling career in spectacular style with this victory. I will look forward to seeing the rainbow jersey worn with pride during this winter's six-day races!
Manchester: Fat Nick was writing web reports about the superb Revolution 8 track meeting for British Cycling. Click here to see Nick's reports, and Larry Hickmott's action photos from Jens Fiedler's last ever bike race, from a Madison with most of Europe's top six-day cycling stars, and more besides!
Manchester: Sunday (day 3) photos from the Manchester round of the UCI Track World Cup.
Manchester: Saturday (day 2) photos from the Manchester round of the UCI Track World Cup.
Manchester: Happy New Year! Fat Nick has posted Friday (day 1) photos of the Manchester round of the UCI Track World Cup.
Fat Nick had a highly enjoyable evening at the Revolution Six track meeting at Manchester Velodrome. With a sell-out crowd, top six-day pros in fast racing action and races to encourage young, up-and-coming riders, the Revolution series represents cycle racing at its best. More info on booking tickets for the next Revolution meeting on 29th January 2005 at www.cyclingrevolution.com
Ghent: In between bouts of beer-drinking in the wonderful city of Ghent, Fat Nick found time to visit the track on Saturday evening to take some more photos of the excellent bike racing action. The race is heading towards a showdown between Slippens/Stam and Gilmore/Bartko....
Fat Nick is in Ghent for the six day race. Pictures of the Friday night's action are available by clicking here.
Thirty-something action photos from Revolution 5 track meeting at the Manchester Velodrome. See all Britain's Olympic medallists in action! More info on booking tickets for the next Revolution meeting on 4th December 2004 at www.cyclingrevolution.com
Fat Nick has published his Calendar of winter track racing for 2004-2005. Check out dates for six-day races, World Cup track meets, and one-off track meetings across Europe.
Sunday action pictures from the Manchester round of the World Cup Track series (Sunday's pictures).
More action pictures from the Manchester round of the World Cup Track series (Saturday's pictures).
Forty nine action pictures from the Manchester round of the World Cup Track series (Friday's pictures).
Twenty five pictures from the highly enjoyable Revolution Four track cycle race meeting at Manchester Velodrome.
Manchester Revolution: 48 photos from the excellent Revolution Two track race meeting at the Manchester Velodrome.
Be sure not to miss the other Revolution track meets on 28 February and 20 March 2004 - Click here for details of dates and tickets.
Twenty photos from the excellent Revolution track race meeting at the Manchester Velodrome.
Fat Nick went to the European Derny Championships at the brand new velodrome in Newport, Wales. Click on this link to see his photos from the race.
Fat Nick is off to the 2003 Ghent Six-day race. Take a look at his preview of the 2003 Ghent Six.
Flash : Pics from Thursday night's action
Another Flash : Pics from Friday night's Ghent Six action
Ghent Six 2003 final results: Wiggins and Gilmore win - see the photos.
Fat Nick went to the European Derny Championships at the brand new velodrome in Newport, Wales. Click on this link to see his photos from the race.
Fat Nick has posted details of the 2003-2004 winter six-day calendar, and details of how to buy tickets for the Gent Six in November 2003.
Photos from the Manchester Velodrome, where the Yashumitsu Schlapp cycling club put on a track race meeting. Take a look at these photos of bunch racing, sprinting, and women tandem riders on Europe's top velodrome.
Fat Nick is off to the Stuttgart Six-day race - watch out for photos!
Fat Nick and his camera went to the Ghent Six (or the Zesdaagse van Vlaanderen, if we wish to be precise)
Fat Nick and his camera are off to the Grenoble Six - Photos now up!
News of a charity race evening at the Manchester Velodrome on 9th November 2002.
Photos of the 2002 Amsterdam Six-Day race,.
Fat Nick will be visiting three six-day races before Christmas. He'll be taking his camera along to the Amsterdam Six, to the Grenoble Six and to the Ghent Six.
Fat Nick has posted a page with news of the Amsterdam Six.
OK folks, this site has been kinda quiet lately. But for a good reason! Fat Nick became a proud father on 15th March 2000. Son Max weighed in at 7 lbs 4 ounces. Spending time with the little man explains why this web site has been a bit quiet for a while.
There - that got your attention. Fat Nick shares his thoughts on a couple of contentious issues.