So Close Yet So Far

Arriving back in Belgium from a week in the Alps on Sunday, (blog coming soon) today I headed to Lebbeke for an under-23 kermis. Having taken the last few days easy to recover, I headed to the race feeling fresh, and ready to race. The 50 riders who signed on for the race were greeted on the start line by a distant yet ominously loud rumble of thunder - the sound of air frantically rushing from tyres was a clear sign of things to come.

With the wind picking up and the sky darkening, the pace around the twisty, narrow circuit was fast, as riders tried to break clear early from the peloton. However, nothing was sticking, and I decided to wait a little in the protection of the wheels before playing my hand. After an hour of racing, I felt ok, not spectacular, perhaps missing the race pace, but able to stay comfortable near the front of the race. However, as the rain started to fall I started to feel stronger and stronger. These are the type of conditions I revel in and coupled with the incredibly cautious Belgian style cornering in the wet, I moved to the front and put the pedal down, easily moving off the front almost at will! Getting a little excited, I even had a quick dash for a mid race prime which turned into flat out sprint to the line with one other enthusiastic rider. I won.

Eventually I got away in a 14 man break, and we quickly distanced ourselves from what was left of the peloton. However, as always with a group this size, a few decided to sit on and with 2 laps left, I decided to attack to see if I could shake off a few of the parasites. To my surprise no-one came with me, and I made the choice to push on, now completely committed to racing to the line. Into the final lap, and one rider bridged up to me. We held a 15seconds gap and pressed hard for the final 5 kilometres.

However, with impeccable timing the puncture fairy reared its ugly head just as I entered a tight corner - before I knew it I was eating tarmac. As it went, the rider I accompanied soloed to the line, holding off the chase. Make of that what you will.

Looking ahead, I’ll be riding the Memorial Henri Garnier Beker Van Belgie on Sunday, and I’m assured it’s going to be a hilly one! Then the 5 day tour of Vlaams-Brabant where I hope to pull a big ride out!

Final thought: if you think you can win, then you might win. If you think you can lose, you will lose.

  

10th in Herenhout

Heading north into the Limburg, it’s almost a given that the race will be a stereotypical Belgian affair - flat and fast. In fact, I could have easily written this blog before the race had even started: a large field, a fast average speed, and a stunningly boring parcours. It’s possible even triathletes could have successfully negotiated their way around without crashing. Well, perhaps. One hundred and thirty six riders signed on for another 6pm start to face a 110 kilometre cadence work out.

Predictably the early pace was high, as riders constantly pinged off the front in futile attempts to break clear, and although a few gaps were opened, there was never any danger of moves going clear, the pace in peloton sitting over 45kph. With very little wind, and an easy going circuit, I decided the best option was to sit in, save my energy, and get some well needed speed back into the legs.

As often happened last year in these types of races, a winning move goes clear within the final lap as riders start to look at each other and save themselves for the bunch sprint. 130up gallops to the line not exactly being my forte, this was exactly my plan – to wait until the final lap and try to jump clear from there.

In all honesty, nothing really happened until then and so as we hit the bell lap it was now or never for my planned and sole attack of the race. Spurred on by some true classics of Belgian radio - ‘Busteds’ moronic expedition to the year 3000 sickeningly stuck in my head - I went clear with 8 similarly minded riders, and battled on toward the line, holding a slight but definite gap over the charging peloton.

However, with 500metres to go the gap was shut and a bunch sprint was on to decide the winner, with the fast moving, and fellow Brit, Dan McLay taking another victory, while I rolled in to round out the top ten.

I’ll take that result. These fast, flat races are not my type of terrain, but I raced with my head, stuck to my plan and it very nearly paid off. That’s it on the racing front for a bit, as I head off to the Alps on Friday morning for a week of pain and suffering in the stunning mountain passes. Back to racing on the 17^th once I’ve killed all the speed from my legs and over-trained myself into the ground.

On a side note, consuming copious amounts of caffeine in evening races is useful during the event but not especially conducive to a good nights sleep after, hence the lateness of this blog appearing. I'd like to also suggest here, that anyone who voluntarily listens to Busted or equivalent needs to be shot. And their family. And friends if they have any. Get out of my head, and let me sleep.

3rd in Zwalm-Rozebeke!

On Sunday, I headed west to Zwalm for a hilly 104kilometre kermis. The 56 starters were to face 13 laps of the figure of 8 style circuit, with constant climbs and tricky descents to master; each lap consisting of a gradually steepening 2 kilometre climb, before a fast descent into a 90 degree corner (providing many crashes on the opening lap). The course then rose again before two tricky cobbled corners and into a fast switching descent, with patches of gravel thrown in just for good measure, before beginning the ascent to complete the lap. With a stiff wind blowing across the relentless circuit, it soon became apparent this was a race of attrition, and sure enough the peloton began splitting after only a few laps over the top of the climb.

Each lap I rode hard over the false-flat summit to stay at the business end of the peloton, and soon enough I found myself out front with 7 other riders for company. By the half way point, there were 3 early escapees ahead, my group of 6 and behind the remains of the peloton. Crucially I was joined by three Omega Pharma Lotto-Davo riders, whom had the interests of their team mate ahead, and so added nothing to the chase. With 2 laps to go, and feeling strong I attacked out of the group on the climb, and set about closing the gap to the leaders with 20kilomtres to go alone.

Into the bell lap, I had distanced the break, and quickly caught and passed the third placed rider, who by now seemed to be going backwards rather than forwards after a long day out front. Pushing on, I could see the rider in second over the climb, but never had enough to quite close the gap. Really working on my limit, the line couldn’t come soon enough but I had done enough for third. It’s a really satisfying result, and a real confidence booster– I hope that elusive win this year is not far away now! 

Back in Belgium: Oplinter Kermis

Closed roads, passive smoking with commissaires and more prize-money for winning than it costs to enter. Yep, I was back in Belgium, and the real bulk of my season had begun. With exams finished last Friday, I headed to Kumtich for the Sunday, highly motivated for the racing ahead but it was not until Thursday for my first test back on the Belgian roads.

The race was an evening one, in Oplinter, just a few kilometres down the road from here. With about 100 riders signing on we departed for 117 kilometres of undulating roads at the later time of 6pm. Content to sit back in the peloton to find my race legs again, I was quickly offered a rude awakening. This is kermis racing, and “to sit back in the peloton” isn’t really much of an option. It was not long before we were singled out and groups of riders disappeared up the road, and although many were futile efforts, soon enough a large group of some 22 riders broke the pelotons elastic.

They quickly built up a good lead of a minute, and feeling stronger than anticipated, I offered a hand in joining the chase effort before throwing in a couple of attacks of my own. With 4 laps remaining I managed to sneak clear in a group of 5 on the main rise of the circuit, and settling into a good rhythm we set about closing the gap to the leaders. As we pushed on, the front group came back into sight, and slowly but surely we were making up lost ground. However, we were quickly running out of laps and as the bell rang, we were still down 20 seconds, and noticeably slowing, feeling the effects of the tough roads and strong winds. As the gap stretched out again, we capitulated, conceding the chase was over. Comfortably clear of the peloton, we all began to look at each other and prepared for the sprint, a slight uphill long head wind drag. With no-one willing to take it on we crawled toward the finish, and opening up the sprint from 200metres out I kicked hard and held it to the line, taking the sprint and 23^rd on the night.

It’s a solid start, and it was good to see where I stood after so little racing over the past few months. It was a result I could build on and yesterday reaped the rewards already after a 3^rd place finish in Zwalm-Rozebeke, full report to follow soon.