Cyclo-Cross

For the first time since I started racing, I will not be competing in cyclo-cross racing this winter. Having spent the year racing full time in Belgium, I feel ready to totally specialise in road racing as a viable option for my future, and will spend the winter months preparing solely for my return to Belgium next summer. It feels a shame to leave such an interesting and growing sport, but I need to rest up and recover, before returning to training to build for the road season, and cyclocross racing doesn't fit that plan. 

I'm sure I won't evade cyclocross totally this winter though, and will no doubt be dragged into pit assistance some time very soon!

Haaltert

With my dad arriving in Kumtich Sunday morning, it was time to leave Belgium and head home back to England. However, eager not to miss an opportunity to race, my brother Andrew once again joined me as we headed to Haaltert for 'one final hurrah' this season. Walking to the sign on, we bumped into none other than Joe Perrett, team mate from my previous 2 years at Glendene!

With a 20 minute delay to the race, as police removed a parked lorry from the road circuit, we lined up for the second time, annoyingly missing out on our front row seats – I had already decided to be the chopper who attacks from the gun, before being reeled in a few kilometres later, on the very rare chance that it would actually work. A few kilometres later, I was reeled back in. However, being my last race, and not feeling at my best after yesterdays efforts, I maintained position near the front, and went with every attack that moved! Eventually, a group of 30 went clear, and despite being part of what seemed the worst break group in the history of cycling, the handful of occasions people rolled through to do some work on the front was enough to maintain a slender lead over the peleton.

However, after a 2 or 3 laps we were unsurprisingly caught, and with the race all back together the counter attacks started immediately. With the peloton strung out, I found myself out of position, resting too far to the rear, and as riders dropped wheels, another group disappeared up the road, and quickly built up a lead of 2 minutes: it was race over.

From then on I was in a group of 20, and despite a couple of attacks, remained largely together until the final few kilometres; the winner from this group would take home 38^th place... With my brother on my wheel, I attacked on the fast descent, spinning out the 53/11 at nearly 70kph, before a tight left hander and onto the climb to the finish, with my 'perfect' lead out, he jumped ahead for 38^th whilst I rolled in 41^st, with my summer season finally over! Joe meanwhile, was attending matters at the business end of the race, and took a fantastic win on the hill finish! Well done Joe!

With the long season finally over, I'm enjoying a good rest now at home, before the hard winter months start in a couple of weeks time. I can only be pleased with how this season has progressed: a win, a podium and 9 times in the top 10 is a set of results I would have bitten your hand off for at the start of the year!

Obviously, the blog will be a little quieter now, with no races to report on, but I will endeavour to keep it updated throughout the winter!

Final Weekend

Having found out I would be unable to start the pro race the team had entered on Thursday (due to me not having a Belgian licence – my team gaining a wild card entry), I decided to end the season this weekend with 2 races in Dilbeek and Haaltert.

Dilbeek

Saturday I headed to Dilbeek for a notoriously tough race around the town circuit. A couple of tough climbs, made worse by the 'imitation cobbled surface', although a lack of wind did allow for some respite. On these tricky circuits, the opening pace is always relatively slow, perhaps those with experience of the race wait a little longer, knowing what is to come later in the race. With the opening 3 laps of the 6 km race complete, the serious attacks started as groups attempted to go clear. A few more laps in and 30 riders had split off the front, steadily maintaining a minute gap.

However, its very rare that groups this size stay clear, and always in sight on the main climb on the circuit, the peloton steadily reeled in the group, prompting many counter attacks to move clear. Once again, I found myself missing the move as riders disappeared up the road, but with not far to go in the race and a favourable power climb up to the finish, I took my turn on the front to ensure the chase would continue, but without over exerting myself. Sure enough, as the race progressed the draggy climbs, with those imitation cobbles, gradually wore down the legs, and with 1 lap to go, the race was all together, albeit with 20 or so riders abandoning.

With 3 riders going clear at the beginning of the lap - including training partner Hamish Haynes whose guidance, advice and friendship throughout the season has been invaluable – and held on to contest the win. With 3 km remaining, I attacked from the peloton taking 2 like minded with me. Driving hard up the climb, and receiving little help, I couldn't close the gap to the 3 leaders, and despite dropping one of the 2, I was attacked over the summit, and couldn't jump onto the wheel. Still holding a few seconds over the peloton, I knew all I could do was initiate my sprint for the line nearly a kilometre out, dropping down the fast descent, round the off camber poorly surfaced corner, and up the 300 metre climb to the line.

Edging ever closer to the line, searching desperately for the flag, I was over taken by one rider in the final 10 metres, leaving everything I had on the road to take 6^th place. As I have said in previous posts, I knew some good form was coming, and I hope I showed it in that final lap – its not the win I wanted, but a good way to (nearly) end the season!

Hoegaarden

Sensing good form from Sundays ride in Overijse, yesterday I headed just 5km away to Hoegaarden for a kermis race. The long 14km circuit, to be raced over 8 laps was predominately flat, with only very minor drags, and a good uphill finish to detract from high speed racing. A large field for this time of the year (remembering back to the start of the season where 200 seemed the norm!) of 120 riders lined up for the 4 o'clock start.

The opening pace was fast, and I found myself slipping back early into mid-peleton mediocrity, notably finding myself caught behind team sky's sole representative in the race; a fat middle aged bloke, with more money than sense/fitness/style. This was not a welcome sight as we flew into a wide exposed road, with a fierce cross wind forcing echelons, as the field singled out into the gutter. Surviving this, and the peloton somehow coming back together, moving to the top 20 wheels became a must, but this was easier said than done. The long circuit not providing any tight corners, where braking late and cutting up the inside (the Belgian racing line) meant gaining places would mean riding into the wind.

Despite this lack of corners, the circuit did provide plenty of crashing opportunities, with 1 rider hitting a garden wall, and another totally misjudging the line of an 'under construction' roundabout, taking another one with him...

Knowing how difficult it had been to reach the fore of the race gave some comfort in that it would be easier to stay there. Well perhaps. 30 riders now sat out front, splitting in the cross wind, but the lead hovering at just 15-20 seconds, almost always in sight but just too much to jump alone, and no-one really willing to work, as the gap seemed so easily closable. With 2 laps to go, a bit of through and off later, the junction was almost there. In such a situation, its so easy to sit back and wait for the race to come together, the danger of such is that everyone assumes this and the break again moves clear. The opportunity to jump presented itself perfectly, and sitting top 5 wheels I attacked through the finish climb, and joined the rear of the group, only to find they had sat up to wait for the peloton. My plan had been foiled, and I sat a lonely 10metres from the break, as they accelerated away down the hill!

Frustrated, and knowing it was race over, I continued to attack hard, initial joined by 1 and then a group of 5, we rode the final lap hard through and off, until I broke ranks (not a welcomed move) and bridged to a group of three 2km out, (with the other 6 making it 30 seconds later and apparently annoyed at my attack – we were racing for 40 something, why did it matter?!

It's a frustrating result, to have felt so strong, and come out with no result is disappointing. I've certainly felt a lot worse, and achieved better results elsewhere this season. 3 races left now, I'm going for that final push with my eyes on another victory before the years up.

Overijse - Maleizen

Having competed in this race earlier in the year, albeit this being an U23 version, I knew what to expect. The rolling course with its centre-piece steep climb, and following uneven cobbled descent (made treacherous by the wet conditions) makes for a tough race of attrition. With the soaking roads on the opening laps, it seemed every corner on the circuit led to gaps being opened, and although sitting comfortable, a wheel ahead of me was dropped on the now, quite patently dangerous cobbled descent. With no chance of overtaking on the narrow lane, I worked hard to get back into the peloton, but even within the first lap, riders had disappeared off the rear of the race.

Eager to avoid wasting energy in this way, I moved to the front of the group, only to miss a strong break of riders move clear. Despite my efforts to jump up to the group - now hovering at 30 seconds lead - on the favourable climb, it was too difficult to break the elastic of the peloton.

Doing a fair share of work within the now “broken” peloton, and pushing on up the climb most laps, I finally went clear in a group of 8 with 2 laps to go. As it turned out however, this soon became the peloton, as the predictably attrional nature of such a course forced many to abandon early, and those who remained were too far back and pulled from the race.

With a surging Kevin De Jonghe however, by now some 4 minutes ahead of the chasing group, and my group a further 2 behind that, we were given our final lap 1 lap before the official race distance. Despite a flurry of attacks, the group stayed largely together, and poorly positioned into the final corner, I could only manage 3^rd in the sprint, and 13^th overall.

The result wasn't spectacular, but the performance was a marked improvement from the last couple of weeks. Not racing since last Saturday offered some respite from what seems to now have been a non-stop summer of racing – I'm now hovering around the 50 mark, and can't say I'm feeling as fresh as I could be! I was able to attack the climb, and go with moves, but just failing to give the killer acceleration and power to drive clear right now. I think it's coming, but with only 2 weeks of my season left let's hope that peak rears its head soon.

Pecrot

With all intentions of racing in Molenbeek-Wersbeek on Sunday, Saturday was originally planed as an easier preparation day, however after a search of http://www.fcwb.be/ (races in Flanders and the Walloon region are on different websites) via lastminute.com on Friday evening, there was to be a race in Pecrot: a local area I have often used for hillier training rides. Despite an early evening visit to the turbo for my favourite set of intervals (favourite - naturally because its the hardest), I felt far too compelled to ride, knowing the area well and having found most of my success this season on the hillier courses.

Morning came, and unlike any other race this year, this was to be a solo effort. Packing my licence, pins, and an extra energy bar into my pockets, I rode the 25km out to the circuit as a test, still undecided over my participation in the race. Of course arriving at the sign on, and huge start/finish banner, any doubt was quickly removed and irrelevant of the slight fatigue from yesterdays efforts, I was fully into race preparation.

The course featured many of the roads found in the Ottenburg kermis from earlier in the year. After a fast downhill start, the course dragged upwards, onto the Ottenburg 'Bergprijs' climb. After the straight 2km long descent, it was onto a section of cobbles, before a cross wind blast back to the finish - a short sharp climb, followed by 400metres slight descending. It was a super circuit, which seemed to compile all aspects of Belgian racing into one 10km loop.

With just 40 riders taking to the start, I tried a few attempts to move clear but was surprised to see the peloton sticking together until well into the race. With a lot of marking of each other from those who were either self-appointed, or genuine contenders for the win, nothing was able to gain a real lead. However, after 8 of the 12 laps completed, a move finally went clear, on the long decent, and a slight hesitation to move around seemingly disinterested riders was enough for them to move clear. Knowing this was the move to go with, I rode hard up to the main climb of the circuit, perhaps too hard, and 'when push came to shove' I didn't have enough left to jump onto the counter-move over the summit, haunted by the maximal efforts of yesterdays turbo session.

Of course, this counter group quickly bridged the gap, leaving 15 riders up ahead, and the race out of my grasp. However, not content to sit and wait, after a couple of attacks I went clear with one other rider for company. Working well around the final 2 laps, I dropped my compatriot 3km to the line and continued the solo effort looking back to see what remained of the peloton bearing down on me all the way to the line, and indeed coming in on the same time but I just had enough to hold onto 16th.

Riding home again whilst I scraped the barrels of my drink bottle, I clocked 185km for the day, but it was all too apparent how much a difference having support at races makes. I cannot thank enough my Belgian host family for their relentless support this year, without which I could not be racing at this level.

A cracked bottom bracket bearing put pay to any temptations to race Sunday in Molenbeek-Wersbeek, and so I will have a break from racing this week until a return to Overijse on Sunday.

Tan Lines

Embrace them.

Rummen

After 2 days off training with a niggling knee pain, Rummen was simply a test rather than a race, so really very little to report on here. 140kilometres, figure of 8 circuit (we really did go down the finishing straight in opposing directions twice a lap – any more than 6 minutes down and your out the race!) and 126 starters.

With groups clipping off the front left right and centre, I eventually found myself in a group of 10 or so racing for 50th place, (but more importantly the final 10euros of prize money for the race...)

I won the sprint from the group, but putting the result aside, my knee was pain-free, and that was all I wanted to achieve from the race. Next race Sunday in Molenbeek - Wersbeek.

Glabeek-Kapellen

Last Sunday, I made the short trip to Glabeek, just 10km away, for another kermis race, hopefully a littler more recovered than my latest racing endeavours. Keen to move away early from the 82 strong field, I went 'cyclo-cross style' – clipped in and attacked from the gun (albeit with more success than my average cyclocross start), taking one like – but perhaps not so great - minded rider with me. On the wet, undulating and windy circuit, we were soon reeled back in after half a lap or so, and I settled down at the front of the peloton. Moving into a couple more attacks, nothing seemed to be sticking and I soon found suffering from the 'kamikaze' approach. Sitting back in the wheels and singled out with the high pace of the peloton (44kph), there was little I could do as groups of riders clipped off the front.


Putting in a few digs later on, I moved off the front of the peloton, before being swept up within the final lap, ending second in the sprint for the line, in 23rd place.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

Guest blog by Andrew Nichols

Never having ridden in Belgium before and having not raced at all on the road for two months, it was with some trepidation that I lined up in Wambeek for the start my first kermis. As had been immediately obvious from riding up the cobbles of the Kauterhof the day I arrived, Belgium is certainly nothing like Essex. I had no reason to expect the style of racing to be similar either. Taking Dave's advice, I adopted a strategy of hiding in the peloton for the first few laps to avoid expending too much energy. Within seconds of the race starting it became clear that even this is easier said than done. Unlike in British racing, the lack of a neutralised section provides the opportunity to attack from the start line. An opportunity that it appears is seldom missed in kermis racing. Having survived the opening laps, I reached for a gel. Struggling to open the packaging, the wrapper split leaving most of it's contents over the bike. Being aware that I would have to spend most of the next two hours chewing my handlebars to stay in the race, it was comforting to know that they at least now had some nutritional value. As the race progressed, the bunch began to split over the cobbled climb and with three laps to go I found myself in a small group off the front of the peloton but some distance behind the race leaders. Believing that we would surely be pulled from the race before the finish I began to attack more and broke away from the group on a climb before riding over to two other riders a little further up the road. Despite numerous attempts no one was able to ride away from this group and I remained there until the end, finishing in 27th place and looking forward to the second part of the race two days later. As it turned out, this was considerably shorter than expected with my chain breaking just one lap in.

Disappointed by this, we decided to ride again the following day in Jauche, a race that was characterised by a long, exposed, drag and it's accompanying crosswinds and fast decent. At 5'4” and 58kg, it was always going to be a struggle but spurred on by the possibility of a top 20 finish I kept pushing only for a slow puncture to cause me to stop 2 laps prematurely in 29th place. My final race was to be the following day in Ruiselede. Feeling quite exhausted from the previous days efforts and knowing it was likely to be one race too many, but costing only three Euros to enter and being on the way home, it seemed worth giving it a go despite the bad weather. Three quarters of an hour of holding on to the back of a fast moving peloton later and sprinting out of a corner proved one acceleration too many and I was dropped out of the back of the group. After a few minutes, I was joined by another dropped rider and as I perhaps should have expected by now of kermis racing, he attacked and raced me for what must have been about 60th place. (Somehow don't think I've ever seen that happen at Hog Hill). This move typified the attitude of riders fighting for every place, that seemed a fitting summary of my week in Belgium.

Jauche, Ruiselede

Jauche

With Andrew's chain snapping on the first lap in Wambeek the previous day, we decided to change plans and took to the start line in Jauche on Tuesday.

Again strong winds battered the wide expose course, and feeling fatigued I knew all I could do was follow wheels and see how the legs felt later on. With constant attacks the pace was furious and slipping too far back, I found myself having to close gaps to hold my place in the peloton. Of course, in the battering winds, the field split to pieces, and I found myself with Andrew, in the second group on the road, with the early break group gaining a good gap. With a few riders not content to sit and work with the 15 or so man group, the pace very changeable, and as their futile 2 minutes attacks went and came back, the leaders gradually extended the lead. With Andrew puncturing 3 laps out, and riders loosing contact, we came into the final lap with 9 riders together, and despite a favourable uphill sprint, the efforts from the previous day proved too much and I had to settle for 4th from the group, 13th overall with 9 riders still up the road.

Ruiselede

Despite knowing how fatigued I was, and for an unknown reason even now, I again joined my brother at his final kermis of the week before heading home that evening. The pain flat circuit, combined with a fine drizzle, meant we were destined for a 'brake/sprint' situation at every corner. Not the type of circuit for, by this time, dying legs...

Inevitably the entirely fruitless task of taking on the race was evident, both of us dropping out at the hour mark...

Lesson: 4 races in 5 days: may have bitten off more (bar tape) than I can chew with this one.