Goodbye, Pieter

(Photo: Luke Seemann)

When I think of Pieter, I'll always remember this excerpt from Luke's Spring Prairie blog post from last year:

"Halfway up the hill, I could tell I was going to get caught, but I was startled to see myself get caught in such a blaze of glory: Here was Pieter screaming up the left! He flew up the hill faster than anyone I've ever seen climb. Great! A counterattack! The move was brilliant.

Except it wasn't an attack: Pieter had thought we were on the last lap, and this was his big finish. It was a shame, because nobody could have ever matched his rapid ascent. (Afterward, impressed with his amazing tuck as much as his climbing, I asked him, "Where'd you learn to ride like that?" "Belgium." But of course.)"

It was the first that I'd heard of this talented rider, and since then I always thought I would soon hear that he would be upgrading to join us on the xXx cat3 squad. Now, I'm just left feeling helpless and sad. Another amazing person lost... when I read about his fiancee and his art, it is just devastating.