{"id":12252,"title":"Alicia Franck - CX Star","description":"The 2021 Belgian National Cyclocross Championships bronze medallist has had many ups and downs in her short cyclocross career. We find out what keeps Alicia Franck going.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

The 2021 Belgian National Cyclocross Championships bronze medallist has had many ups and downs in her short cyclocross career. We find out what keeps Alicia Franck going.<\/p>

Alicia Franck - still smiling <\/strong>\"\"Picture courtesy of Alicia Franck<\/em><\/p>

Alicia Franck burst into Belgian cyclocross riding a borrowed bike in 2016. Within a year she'd signed for a top team. But then her hopes were dashed by constant illness. We sat down with Alicia to discuss her profession, the importance of her supporters and what fame means in cycling mad Flanders.\u00a0<\/p>

A background in mountain biking<\/strong><\/h3>

Alicia\u2019s family are not cycling fans but had always encouraged her athletic pursuits. She'd tried many sports, and made lots of friends without finding a sport that truly inspired her.<\/p>

Fun bike rides with her Dad became occasional non-competitive sportives. Aged twelve, Alicia had outgrown her city bike and chose a mountain bike instead. She joined a cycling club that focussed on skills and didn\u2019t start racing seriously until she moved into the Nieuwelingen category (for under 16s).<\/p>

Alicia having fun on her MTB <\/strong>\"\"Picture courtesy of Alicia Franck<\/em><\/p>

By the summer of 2016, she'd finished second in the elite Belgian mountain bike championships, aged just 22.<\/p>

Muddy fun<\/strong><\/h3>

The previous winter her local bike shop tempted her into cyclocross with the promise of cold, wet, muddy fun. Riding a loaned bike and starting part way through the season she won her first race, a 'B' cross (one down from a UCI C2).<\/p>

Alicia was immediately \u201ccharmed\u201d by the intensity of the racing and the compelling atmosphere. By comparison, Belgian MTB races tend to take place in the Ardennes where there are few fans. Suddenly, she was a cyclocross convert.\u00a0<\/p>

Alicia was charmed by cyclocross<\/strong>\"\"Picture courtesy of Alicia Franck<\/em><\/p>

She started her first full season the following year with Bike 7. Within a month she was snapped up by top team Marlux-Napoleon Games. Bike 7 graciously released her from her contract. Marlux seemed the perfect environment to develop her promising career.<\/p>

Injury and illness<\/strong><\/h3>

If you believe in such things, then Alicia has clearly walked under a very large ladder. The next few years were beset by bad luck, injury and illness.\u00a0<\/p>

A fractured collarbone and concussion from a crash at the Tour de F\u00e9minin were followed by a spiral fracture of her fibula racing at Boom. She was even knocked off and suffered knee damage whilst riding to university.<\/p>

Finally, in November 2018 she was diagnosed with a blood disorder, Mycoplasma which affected her results for some time.<\/p>

In between misfortune and racing, Alicia continued her studies at the Odisee University of Applied Sciences where she obtained a distinction in Mechanical Design.<\/p>

Despite her best efforts to keep bouncing back, she was released by Marlux at the end of the 2018-19 season.<\/p>

Success at Experza<\/strong><\/h3>

For 2019-20 she signed for the Experza team. She notched up wins at Ottegem, in the Czech Republic and at the Derby round of the UK\u2019s National Trophy series.<\/p>

Although she achieved success with Experza, the team were unable or unwilling to offer her a professional contract.<\/p>

Turning professional<\/strong><\/h3>

In March 2020 Alicia signed a professional contract with Proximus -Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini. It's been a successful year with third place in the Belgian championships and ninth in the European championships as highlights.<\/p>

Perhaps best of all, it was a full season of racing without major injury. As well as being injury-free, she's been extra motivated having signed a professional contract. She feels she has more to prove than ever.<\/p>

Alicia is putting the dark times behind her<\/strong>\"\" Picture courtesy of Alicia Franck<\/em><\/p>

It must have felt relief after those dark years. I asked what had motivated her to persevere and keep coming back to cycling. Alicia responded that she wanted to be the one who makes the decision as to when she quits and didn\u2019t want to use her misfortune as an excuse.<\/p>

Behind Alicia\u2019s smile, there's obviously a \u2018backbone of steel\u2019.<\/p>

Receiving a decent salary as a professional cyclist and cyclocross rider is important to her. She didn\u2019t want to be financially dependent upon her parents to fund her hobby. She believes that if teams want a full-time commitment from riders then they should be paid, at least, the national minimum wage.<\/p>

Many women riders are not paid by teams, although Alicia accepts that there has been a big increase in the number of professional women riders in the last five years. This coincides with the full TV coverage of women\u2019s cyclocross in Belgium from the 2015-16 season onwards.<\/p>

Many TV viewers in the UK and fans in Belgium agree. Women's cyclocross is often more exciting due to the closeness of the competition. For every race, there are several prospective winners.<\/p>

2021 World championships<\/h3>

Alicia\u2019s 2021 World Cyclocross Championships started well, moving up from the third row to fifth place halfway through the first lap. Then disaster struck. Coming off the tarmac onto the sand she nose-dived into a hidden dip. One that was to catch out many riders.<\/p>

The bike flipped around and whacked her in the head. It took an age for her to get up and for a while, clearly in pain, she held her head. She rode on in a daze of concussion to a remarkable 17th place. I can\u2019t help but think \u2018what if?\u2019.<\/p>

Watching the incident again, I'm also surprised that the UCI commissaires didn't pull her in for a medical check.<\/p>

Support network<\/strong><\/h3>

Talking to Alicia, it\u2019s clear that her parents have played an important part in her career, although not cycling fans. They have always provided constant support to her.<\/p>

Dad helps in the pits, looking after her three team-issue Ridley bikes. He\u2019s not a coach but offers her fatherly encouragement. \u201cI hope he likes it\u201d, she says. Every father knows the answer.<\/p>

Through her Mum\u2019s job as a Marketing Consultant, Alicia has been working as a Marketing Associate for the IT company Waylay.<\/p>

Alicia has enjoyed success on the road too<\/strong>\"\" Picture courtesy of Alicia Franck<\/em><\/p>

Working from home, she fits the work around her cycling and training commitments. Given she trains up to twenty hours a week and with the additional time for travel and rest she doesn\u2019t work every day. It\u2019s an arrangement that suits both parties.<\/p>

The unofficial Alicia Franck fan club consists of about fifty friends and family who support her through social media and at races. Regardless of her results, they are consistently supportive of her and it is something she truly values. At the end of each season, she throws a party for her supporters to say thank you.<\/p>

Belgian fans<\/strong><\/h3>

Alicia is well known in her home town of Lochristi, just east of Ghent. Flemish cyclocross fans are renowned for their fervour and it can get a bit feisty at times, especially when fuelled by Jupiler.\u00a0<\/p>

Alicia observed that from her experience of racing in the USA, American fans encourage every rider. Belgians typically cheer only their rider and often laugh cruelly at the last-placed competitor.<\/p>

Alicia provided examples of the double-edged sword that fickle fan support brings. Her local butcher might say \u201cI have some special chicken fillet for you, to help you win\u201d. Fellow customers will wish her luck for the weekend. But the following week will indignantly say \u201cAh, you were only 10th\u201d.<\/p>

Prior to the 2021 Belgian National championships, she had pushed Sanne Cant hard at Bredene finishing a single second behind the three-time world cyclocross champion.<\/p>

The expectation of her was high. Over 1,000 people wished her luck beforehand via social media. But as few as one hundred offered congratulations when she \u2018only\u2019 took the bronze medal.<\/p>

By contrast, Alicia's four-year-old neighbour draws pictures of Alicia on her bike. As a thank you for her artwork, Alicia handed the youngster a spare bidon. The girl's face lit up and she beamed with delight. A moment that Alicia will treasure.<\/p>

Future<\/strong><\/h3>

What does the future hold for Alicia? She wants to be the best cyclist she can be and will stop when she can no longer improve. She wants to be proud of herself but importantly wants to be happy doing what she is doing.<\/p>

She\u2019s started riding mountain bikes again and finished third in the recent Three Nations MTB Cup at Wijster. She's looking forward to the coming veldrijden season and hopes to be at her best when it matters. Next season may see her riding the spring classics with her Proximus team.<\/p>

Our sincere thanks to Alicia for her time and wish her the best for the coming season.<\/p>

Personal sponsors<\/h3>

Alicia is personally supported by Challenge Tyres<\/a> for cyclocross, Superior bike<\/a> frames for mountain biking and she likes to relax with an il Magistrale<\/a> coffee.<\/p>

8 August 2021, Tim Costello.<\/p>

\"grrbpemyywmusal5merxugim70nijvc2vqzqxpkx6vlx83lu.jpg\"<\/p>

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