Bever - Kermesse

Yesterday’s kermesse in Bever had a distinctly international feel to it with riders from Belgium, England, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Holland, Kazakhstan and France represented. Situated more or less in the centre of Belgium, another large field of 176 riders took to the start at the slightly later time of 15:30. We were to face 11 laps of 8.8km, on an undulating circuit, which could be distinguished into 2 clear sections – descending towards and past the finish line, before ascending for the second half of the lap on 2 long drags.

The plan for today was not so much going for a result – the race coming between Zellik-Galmaarden and the Affligem Classic (interclub) on Sunday provided the opportunity to treat this as a training exercise. Attacking on the second lap up the main climb of the circuit, I got clear of the peloton with a Kazakh (let’s not go down the Borat route) and South African and joined by 4 other riders, we instantly started working together to increase the gap to our pursuers. However, after 10km (just over 1 lap), we were brought back on the fast descent, and instantly a counter attack went with 8 riders making the group. Unable to go with it, after the hard effort of the previous lap, I could do nothing but sit back in the peloton, recompose myself, and look to counter if the break was reeled back in.

The gap stayed at fairly constant over the next few laps, never pushing more than 20 seconds. However, at the mid-way point, a surge from the front of the peloton on the fast descent singled out the entire field and gaps opened up. Fortunately I made the front split as the peloton shattered, although once partially reformed, few were willing to work on the front, and so the breaks lead eased itself out. Once again, I tried attacking, and although gaining a few seconds lead with 2 other riders, no-one was going to break the elastic of the peloton.

With the break back in sight at only 10 seconds as we heard the bell for the final lap, the pace was raised in a desperate bid to catch the early escapees. What remained of the peloton split once more, and again I made the front selection. As we hurtled towards the finishing line, I clashed with 2 other riders, locking handlebars at 70kph – the incident not bringing us down but loosing position in the group going into the last km put me out of contention for the sprint. Incredibly, the break was caught in the final 100metres providing quite a spectacle for the large crowds gathered at the finish.

All in all, the race provided good preparation for Sunday (averaging 43kph for 120km), and that was all it was really about. Ok so I went one break too early, but still met my target of the early break and had a good aggressive ride. I will have a few easy days now to recover and prepare myself for Affligem on Sunday.