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Swishing down the Lenniksebaan I pass Lindemans with its bulbous copper kettles gleaming at me The destination of today's journey is Geuzestekerij De Cam — owned and operated by one-man-army Karel Goddeau Leading up to my visit is a weekend of sour beers in Brussels and I'm eagerly awaiting my encounter with the renowned blender we take the back roads south-west through Payottenland over green belt landscapes scattered with sleepy towns We move through the municipalities of St Pieters-Leeuw where most traditional sour ale breweries and blenders reside But the art of lambic extends far beyond your average wheat The most distinguishing aspect being the brewer’s yeast The Senne River Valley lambic brewers leave their warm sweet wort (unfermented beer) in open fermentation vats (known as koelschip or coolship in the States) and let the presence of wild yeast (Brettanomyces Bruxullensis and brettanomyces Lambicus) do the rest Because of the varying results of employing wild fermentation blending is a key element in perfecting this type of beer Early recipes show that this way of brewing dates all the way back to 1559 With the rest of the world turning to industrially-produced lagers in the late 20th century only three blenders in the whole of Belgium remained.  and today lambic is a very sought-after style among craft beer drinkers Best known in the category is probably Brussels-based Cantillon lambic’s modern-day popularity has encouraged many of the breweries who previously only produced sweetened versions to add unsweetened lambics to their lineup as well After a 70 Euro cab drive we arrive in Gooik at 8:28 AM two minutes prior to our scheduled meeting with Karel The cab takes off and we're left standing in a desolate People in the beer business that I've met have all had something to say about Karel — generally painting a picture of a great guy Standing there in that small village in the middle of Belgium I mostly think: "honestly a white minivan spins into the parking lot and Karel steps out Any worries I might have had disperse immediately creamy fresh cream spread made from soft cheeses we stand in the Flanders morning sun feasting on our unlikely breakfast Karel is a serious character when it comes to his lambiek (Flemish spelling) but otherwise a relaxed and cheerful guy who quickly immerses us in his stories DeCam (Cam is an Old-Dutch word for a brewery) was originally started in 1997 by Belgian beer legend Willem Van Herreweghen When Willem left three years later to pursue his career as technical advisor for Palm Breweries (among others) Karel saw his chance to acquire the company As we walk down the aisle of the brewery lined by green barrels on either side Karel tells the story of how the 45 barrels were bought from Plzeský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) and then transported from the Czech Republic to Belgium Pointing at the chalk scrawlings on a barrel he also explains that this is the signature of the wort brewer Karel relies on the wort produced by nearby breweries With an annual production of just 150 hectoliters (128 barrels), DeCam could be considered a nano operation: but then again, this is only a side-project of Karel’s, as he works during the day as a full-time brewer at nearby Brouwerij Slaghmuylder DeCam is a rather ambitious and well-regarded operation sometimes selling whole batches directly to a unique importer in the U.S While the Kriekenlambiek (cherry lambic) and Framboisenlambiek (raspberry lambic) are fermented in stainless fermentation tanks the regular lambiek is developed in wooden barrels and we continue talking and drinking around the wooden table outside All of these lambieks have yet to gain the characteristic sour taste so the fruit beers are full of fresh cherry and raspberry flavors Clasping the bottle in his experienced hands Karel holds the maturing lambic to the light scrutinizing the development of brettanomyces yeast in the bottle with the insight of a long-time professional brewer "Whereas most yeast strains grow and develop in a straight pattern the brett on the other hand radiates like a feather This tells us how far the fermentation process has gone." he explains.  DeCam and Karel lie at the intersection between the past and its traditions and the new opportunities and globalism of the modern beer world Karel believes in the traditional way of doing things and struggles between what he considers ‘right’ – producing and selling the beer locally – and the recent global interest in the style of beer he produces becoming a lambic blender was not a choice but a way of life: "I was infected by brettanomyces or perhaps himself: "what will happen if lambiek falls out of fashion among today's beer drinkers” But perhaps Karel’s careful progression will see change in the near future: during my visit he was close to sealing the deal on a nearby farm a place where he could grow both cherries and his business.  Even as I sit in the back of Karel’s white minivan looking out of a stained window at dusty farmland and dirt roads the future of DeCam and his lambics looks very clear to me Editors NoteThis travel story comes from a great beer friend of mine, Tobias Göth of Sweden. He's a great storyteller and photographer, and his passion for craft beer travel rivals that of my own. We met a couple years ago in a park in Stockholm for some bottle sharing I'm excited to bring you what I hope is the first of many great articles from Tobias' travels — all with a very personal look at some of the best breweries in the world and Publications that’ll drive you to drink Archive Architecture Belgium’s biggest futsal team and Belgium’s biggest football club become one RSC Anderlecht and FP Halle-Gooik start a new and ambitious story together.  A partnership which was written in the stars And both clubs also share strong ambitions on a sportive and commercial plan FP Halle-Gooik will play as RSCA Futsal as of the 2022-2023 season FP Halle-Gooik is the leading club in Belgian futsal the club is well on its way to winning the title this year as well FP Halle-Gooik is also a well-established side in Europe In recent years it has been continuously in the top 10 of the UEFA Futsal Club ranking and they play almost annually the Champions League The home of RSCA Futsal will be the brand new top sport hall Belleheide in Roosdaal A state-of-the-art sports center which meets all European standards and which has a seating capacity for 1 100 fans A new home for the Mauves on the border of East Flanders and Pajottenland And just 15 kilometers from the Lotto Park The complex will be inaugurated in early August with a fantastic gala match against the European topteam Benfica Are you interested in the commercial opportunities at RSCA Futsal? Contact us by sending an e-mail to [email protected] Futsal is a discipline in full commercial development we now have a new club which puts the development of talent first and which wants to push the sport in Belgium to the next level and aspires to reach the European top." "Despite our long-standing status as number one the project gradually ran up against a number of limits The move to the brand new infrastructure and the cooperation with the record-breaking champion is the start of a new and ambitious chapter It is a privilege to now be part of this fantastic club and to be able to achieve new successes together."  Jean Kindermans (Director youth academy RSC Anderlecht): "In addition to the required technical ability intensity and decision making is also increasing in modern top football Futsal is an interesting addition to Neerpede's football development program." "This partnership is the culmination of years of growth for the club We can't imagine a better partner to take this new step than RSC Anderlecht." Round two of the Belgian Grand Prix set for Thursday Sven Nys lost his gloves on the ice and had to ride bare-handed.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Sven Nys (Belgium) racing at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Canberra Australia(Image credit: Tour of Japan)Sven Nys will exchange his skinny tires for fat ones on Thursday when he kicks off his summer mountain bike race season with the Fidea Mountain Bike Cup in Gooik Nys wins seventh Belgian cyclo-cross title Banned: Nys tests Dugast's Diavolo spiked tyre on ice Nys, Stybar top final 'cross showdown For the past two weeks, the Belgian cyclo-cross star, who also races his mountain bike, has been training on the island of Majorca. "The training went very well. I've mostly worked on my general fitness, that is, high mileage," said the Landbouwkrediet racer. "During the first week, we had the best weather with temperatures at around 30 degrees Celsius." Encountering wet weather during the second half of his stay, Nys said, "I still pulled of my plan and got the necessary hours sitting on the bike. Here in Belgium it is also more like autumn than spring." The Fidea MTB Cup Gooik will serve as round two of the Belgian Grand Prix of Mountain Biking. "With the return to fitness, it is now time to step into racing and to raise my level. Gooik is one of the many brand new mountain bike races this season, which I can only applaud. The motocross site is a beautiful location and good for organizing a MTB contest. I'm looking forward to it. I'm even starting to get a bit nervous, and that is a good sign." "I'm pleased that there are more and more mountain bikers doing both of the two disciplines I do. The popularity of our sport is growing and Belgium can only benefit from an increase in the level of elite mountain biking." The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! In the women's race, this weekend's winner Laura Turpijn (Merida Combee) will aim to keep her streak alive. She will face challenges from Anne Terpstra (Stappenbelt MTB Team), Petra Mermans (Trek KMC), Joyce Vanderbaken (Rendementhypo) and Sanne van Paassen (DSB Bank). Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews.  She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage. We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. She's twice been crowned Australian road race champion, but Canberra's Gracie Elvin admits her first-ever European victory is "kind of a big deal". Elvin fought off mounting pressure in rainy and windy conditions on Sunday to win Belgium's Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. Canberra's Gracie Elvin has taken out her first European win.Credit: Jeffrey Chan The 26-year-old ORICA-AIS rider finished the technically difficult 137km race ahead of fellow escapees Ellen van Dijk, the Dutch four-time world champion, and Mayuko Hagiwara of Japan. She took advantage of her expertise on sharp climbs and cobbles, saying she was pleased to have stayed with the pack despite shaky legs. "I just kept telling myself all day that I just had to keep going," Elvin said. "When I attacked, it was during a good moment. When I managed to stay away with Ellen and Hagiwara, I knew we were racing for the win. "I was really happy with myself today, that I got it right. "It's my first European win, so it's kind of a big deal for me and I was hoping to get one this year." She's twice been crowned Australian road race champion, but Canberra's Gracie Elvin admits her first-ever European victory is \\\"kind of a big deal\\\". Elvin fought off mounting pressure in rainy and windy conditions on Sunday to win Belgium's Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. \\\"I just kept telling myself all day that I just had to keep going,\\\" Elvin said. \\\"When I attacked, it was during a good moment. When I managed to stay away with Ellen and Hagiwara, I knew we were racing for the win. \\\"I was really happy with myself today, that I got it right. \\\"It's my first European win, so it's kind of a big deal for me and I was hoping to get one this year.\\\" Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.Get the latest with our sport podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.Watch on SBS SportSport News Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Canberra cyclist Grace Elvin will use next year's European season to set herself up for a crack at Olympic Games glory at Rio de Janeiro ​The 26-year-old has re-signed with Orica-AIS for next year after breaking through for her first win in Europe this year Canberra cyclist Gracie Elvin has re-signed with the Orica-AIS team for next season.Credit: Jeffrey Chan Elvin's victory in the Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik in May came after she went close earlier on in the season She backed that up with a stage victory at the Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen in June "I had put a lot of pressure on myself over the Spring Classics and didn't quite get the results I was hoping for so to get a win not long after was a relief as much as it was exciting," Elvin said "It gave me the confidence I needed to know I am heading in the right direction with my training and to go for more results for the rest of the season "Only a month later I won another race and I finally felt like I'd earned my place among some of the best professional riders." Elvin turned professional in 2012 and won the national championship in the women's road race in 2013 and 2014 Her focus for next year is to become more consistent and to be hitting her peak at the Olympics in Rio "I want to step it up again in 2016 and be consistently competitive with the top 20 riders in the world at the big races," Elvin said "The Olympic Games is my biggest goal for next year and I will be working very hard with that event in mind "I will also be focusing on the Spring Classics as theses are my favourite races of the season." Orica-AIS sport director Gene Bates said the team always had confidence Elvin would be able to handle the step up in class "It took Gracie a little while to get her first European win but once she got it she really didn't look back," Bates said again at Thuringen and took multiple other placings too "It really confirmed to us what we've been looking to get out of Gracie for the last couple of seasons - that ability to race a Classics style one-day race "She's really maturing into that racer and we know she can win big races." Orica-AIS confirmed it had also retained another former national champion Canberra cyclist Grace Elvin will use next year's European season to set herself up for a crack at Olympic Games glory at Rio de Janeiro \\u200BThe 26-year-old has re-signed with Orica-AIS for next year after breaking through for her first win in Europe this year Elvin's victory in the Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik in May came after she went close earlier on in the season \\\"I had put a lot of pressure on myself over the Spring Classics and didn't quite get the results I was hoping for so to get a win not long after was a relief as much as it was exciting,\\\" Elvin said \\\"It gave me the confidence I needed to know I am heading in the right direction with my training \\\"Only a month later I won another race and I finally felt like I'd earned my place among some of the best professional riders.\\\" Elvin turned professional in 2012 and won the national championship in the women's road race in 2013 and 2014 \\\"I want to step it up again in 2016 and be consistently competitive with the top 20 riders in the world at the big races,\\\" Elvin said \\\"The Olympic Games is my biggest goal for next year and I will be working very hard with that event in mind \\\"I will also be focusing on the Spring Classics as theses are my favourite races of the season.\\\" \\\"It took Gracie a little while to get her first European win but once she got it she really didn't look back,\\\" Bates said \\\"It really confirmed to us what we've been looking to get out of Gracie for the last couple of seasons - that ability to race a Classics style one-day race \\\"She's really maturing into that racer and we know she can win big races.\\\" Australian sprinter to take on more responsibility with Mitchelton-Scott next year 2019 could yet be even better as the Australian takes on more responsibility on the team Roy wins Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik OVO Energy Women's Tour: Roy wins stage 3 Roy: D'hoore told me how to ride in the final "I'm very excited to be stepping into the sprinter role for the team now," Roy said on Mitchelton-Scott's website. "I learned a lot from Jolien this year, and feel I've gained lots of experience that may have been missing in my earlier years. "Being the sprinter for the team will change the way I'm utilised in some of the races, and will be a bit of a mental shift for me after being the final lead-out rider this season," she continued. 

"Now, in those races in which I'm sprinting, the actual team result comes down to me in the last few hundred metres, which in the past has felt like a lot of pressure mostly from myself. But a few years on, the team and I are ready for it." D'Hoore's move to Boels-Dolmans for 2019 has opened the sprint door for Roy. The Belgian's four victories this season, including two stage wins at the Giro Rosa, may be missed, but if Roy is able to slip into D'Hoore's shoes, then the transition period could be lessened. "Jolien was very generous with her knowledge and a really positive influence throughout the season," Roy said. "The work we put in as a team to dial down the lead-out train helped develop us as racers and was also really fun. Roy can look back on a successful season that has built on her three previous years on the team. Stage wins at the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in 2016 and the OVO Energy Women's Tour in 2017 showed that Roy had a bright future, but her two victories in 2018, along with a string of other top placings, proved that the time is right for her to take the next step. "Those few results I achieved personally were really nice. It's good to have a little confidence booster like that for yourself, your coach, your team and all the people in your corner." "This season for me has been a career standout for sure," she said. "I'm really humbled by the entire year. Thinking back on it makes me quite emotional, actually. "From the amazing work with my coach over the Aussie summer, to being part of Australia's silver medal [for Amanda Spratt] at the road world championships in September, it's all been pretty amazing, and I feel like I've grown into a new person and athlete." Roy pointed to the Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile – the Giro Rosa – as a particular highlight, where the team finished second in the team time trial on the opening stage, took six stage wins via D'Hoore, Spratt and Annemiek van Vleuten, and won the overall classification thanks to Van Vleuten, with Spratt finishing in third. "It was such an incredible 10 days of our lives, even though of course there were many more days put into the planning and preparation for it. But those actual 10 days of racing were unreal. "As a team, we have done some really amazing things this year," she continued, "but we've also made a few little mistakes here and there that we've learned from, so we can take all of this positivity, momentum and these lessons into 2019 and do even better." Aside from leading the team in bunch sprints next year, Roy also wants to show herself at the spring one-day races. "I plan to target the cobbled classics next season," she said. "The team and I are really keen to show ourselves there. "We have a really strong Classics team and all of my preparations now are for March. I'm really looking forward to it." Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999 and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.