43. Bremer 6-Tage-Rennen, Day 6

The 43rd Bremen Sixdays are official over. 131,500 people came to watch the show.

The grand finale
Tonight was a night dedicated to hard racing. Klaus and Klaus were gone, and there were more people in the stands than anywhere else. Bob, Kurt, my mother, and I went to watch the furious finale. In the end it was as close as it could have been, the final decision was only made in the very last sprint. Here are the results. Of course, there was never any real doubt that Zabel/Risi were going to win. In fact, my father remembers a Bremen Sixdays in which the final chase was technically over, but Kappes was still in second place, so Sercu simply decided to let the race continue, and continue it did until Kappes was first and won the event. Creative accounting, if you will.

For a moment, however, it looked as though the plans might have been foiled because Andreas Beikirch took a tumble, and with him went Erik Zabel and Andreas Kappes. Beikirch was done, but Zabel and Kappes were able to continue, and the blazingly fast chase continued. These guys were really going all out, even if the outcome was clearly pre-determined. That was one of the hardest hours of racing I have ever seen. Over the last 60 laps points were given every ten laps: 10, 8, 6, 2. The riders managed to sprint in a way that the leader board was re-shuffled with every sprint. Amazing. Of course, the last night was not just the riders' last hurrah, but ours as well, and we made the best of it. Here goes.

The Radio Bremen Girls insisted on having their picture taken with me.

The little drunk guy was also having a great time.

Afterparty
Bob, Kurt, and I went to the infield after the races were over and talked to a pair of carpenters, who were already busy tearing down the whole thing. It takes them two days to build the track, and one day to tear it down. The whole thing is basically disposable (except for the aluminum trusses) and built from 36mm x 36mm Siberian pine, the same wood used in L.A. I will report more about the details of construction in a follow-up post, so stay tuned.

At 52 degrees, the Bremen track is even steeper than ours.

When we were down on the track, we also got a glimpse of the riders' quarters, which were hidden under the stage. It's not too comfortable, but has everything they need during their longs nights of racing.

The riders' cots, now deserted, are normally hidden from public view.

Trophies
Kurt must be one of the most efficient trophy hunters I have ever met. His experience goes back to the superband circuit, where rumor has it he tuned guitars for the likes of Brian Adams and Guns 'N Roses. He never worked with Bonnie Tyler, though. Perhaps she was too big for him.

As I had already mentioned, Kurt managed to have dinner with Zabel on Sunday night. Now Zabel remembered him and gave him his jersey after the races. He did not have to be asked or reminded, he came out of the tunnel with the jersey in hand and gave it right to Kurt. I would say that is pretty large of a superstar.

Erik Zabel gave Kurt his jersey, complete with signature and crash marks.

But Kurt would not be Kurt if that was enough for him. While Bob and I were busy with the carpenters, Kurt snuck into the now empty riders' quarters and like the pro that he is rummaged through the garbage that was left behind. He scored all kinds of paraphernalia, most notable among which were Andreas Kappes's shorts, which he must have taken off after his crash and left behind because they were torn.

When Bob and I were finished with the carpenters, Kurt, true to form, asked if he could have a piece of the track. One of the carpenters, with German efficiency, got out a chainsaw, and seconds later Kurt was in possession of the 40 meter mark. Nicely done, Kurt. You would be my hero, but you never worked with Bonnie Tyler.

Don't try this in Blaine.

Dancing with the stars
After the races were finished, we hung out for a while and managed to get some nice pictures with some of my favorite riders. As I have already said, Erik Zabel is my all-time favorite rider. Bruno Risi is a living sixday legend. Robert Bartko is the best pursuiter in the world. And Franco Marvulli was voted "Best in Show" by our female companions. So where do I fit in?

I am bigger than Erik Zabel.

I am bigger than Bruno Risi.

I am bigger than Robert Bartko.

And I am bigger than Franco Marvulli (by weight).

Leaving Bremen
Tomorrow morning I will fly back to Minneapolis. I have a few more things to post, but video transfer is very slow with the connection here, so you can, for now, look forward to video clips of the six final sprints of the Bremen Sixdays, as well as coverage of some victory celebrations. Until then.

Reporting (almost) live from Bremen, B & B.