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.  

Summer Update

I’m currently in the middle of exams, so what better way to procrastinate than an overly-long and long-overdue blog entry. Last time I posted here was way back in May. There’s not been a lot of racing going on, but here it goes anyway:

Having missed the ferry due to 2 hour traffic delays in Belgium, the original plan of driving straight back to Loughborough was put on hold and so I was homeward bound back to Chelmsford, a rare destination for me these days. Departing for Loughborough the following evening, I took the opportunity for a quick spin on one of my old training routes, a pleasant change from the bumpy Belgian concrete I’d been on for the last month (if you’ve ever ridden in Belgium, you’ll know exactly what I mean...) Finding time for a quick coffee stop with a certain Mr Dowsett (a guy I have huge respect for, having attended school and watched progress right through the pro ranks), it  was soon time to return to Loughborough.

Next race on the agenda was the BUCS road race championships, a home race for me as it is organised by the student club here, and one I wanted to get a result in. With a small field of 50 or so riders, and 15 having bought day licences, it wasn’t really a day to hide in the peloton. The course is tough, after a short neutralised section, it heads to Belvoir Castle with strong tailwind, before cutting back to Harby with a relentless block head wind before the centrepiece climb up to the finish line, unhelpfully having just been resurfaced and left with deep gravel to negotiate!

Jokingly, I attacked as soon as the flag went down, and in almost comedy fashion the entire peloton sat up and watched 5 riders disappear instantly down the road. Knowing 3 of the riders, Wojciech Szlachta, Tom Durno and Joe Skipper, and an Oxford representative we worked hard to push the gap out, realising that this could, almost accidentally, be the winning move. Distancing the peloton, we took the climb steady each lap, pushed on to take maximal advantage of the tail wind and setting a good tempo into the headwind section. I was quickly reminded of why British racing is so terrible, as no sooner had an old man doing his weekly shop swung across the road in front of us, than a tractor blocked the entire road as he searched for the entrance to he’s farm. This could only happen in British racing.  As time gaps came and went, we started to lose riders, and the tough conditions took their toll. With two laps to go, it was just me and Wojciech left out front, with a 25 rider peloton chasing at 2-3 minutes.  Leaving everything on the road, 150 kilometres later, and 3 riders chasing at a minute, I had to finally relent to the fierce tempo on the final climb, as Wojciech took a fantastic and well earned victory. I was still very happy with second place, and hats off to him - the strongest guy on the day won!  

Give or take the weekly local 10, my next race was the campus crits, superbly organised again by LSCC. It’s not often you get to race past your front door, and I was very motivated for a result here. However, that was about as good as it got, my heart rate went through the roof on the climb and never came down again on the descent. 20 minutes in, and that was that, I crawled home disappointed, my confidence taking a big knock. I pretty much came to realise that I had got my training wrong. Without a big lecture on periodisation etc. etc. etc. I hadn’t trained for the specific short sharp race efforts since returning from Belgium. I could ride in a 150km break away, but a hilly crit? Not a chance. The last few weeks I’ve cut the volume, increased the intensity and I’m feeling a lot before for it.

Last weekend, myself and training partner Mike Thelwell made the trip into the peak district last weekend for a short 90km but potentially hilly (it was hilly. Very hilly) E/1/2 near Buxton. Despite a 7 minute warm-up, (it being a lot further away than we had imagined) and a shaky start, I came on strong in the second half and solo’d across a minute and a half gap to a group of 8 riders, with 1 leader a few trillion miles out front. Predictably just as I bridged the gap on the climb (bole hill) with 1 lap to go, the group split in 2. I recovered over the climb, and set about chasing the 3 who had jumped clear. Dragging 3 others with me, 2 of whom seemed to think they shouldn’t work because they had been in the break and were a bit tired... We never caught the group and so raced on for 5^th, with me easily winning the tough hill sprint to the line, that was my kind of finish!

So there we have it, I’ve been racing a few local crits at Mallory and Darley Moor and some evening 10’s, but they’re only really training. I have slightly higher ambitions than to win the Thursday night world championships. Although apparently team Raleigh don’t. 

I’ve set up a Twitter account so follow me @davetherave1991 (I didn’t choose the name!) for some shorter updates on my life. It’s back to Belgium on the 26^th, so expect some more updates from the continent soon.

Close, but no cigar: 2nd in Harchies

Yesterday I made the long West-bound journey to Harchies, into the Walloon and approaching the French border. Another sunny day greeted us for 19 laps of the “6.2” kilometer circuit. After a warm up recce around the flat, exposed and very windy lap the race got underway at 3 o clock, with 85 riders signing on.

Instantly the race exploded into life, even by Belgian standards, led by team mate Dom Schils, as riders attacked through the twisty town to make the head of the race before the first cross-wind section. With the peloton strung out across the road, and gaps opening I worked hard to remain at the fore. As we hit the 2 kilometre long straight head wind section, the pace was relaxed and the peloton reformed. This did however; serve to set an attacking precedent for the race.  

After the start and feeling strong, I adopted a distinctly amateurish, albeit confidently fool-proof plan of going with every attack until one eventually stuck. It was very much a case of riding with my legs rather than my head, but I was feeling strong and seeking a reward for my efforts. Eventually, after about an hour and a half, the elastic snapped and a group of 14 went clear riding hard into the strong cross winds. With a couple of laps ‘through and off’, the motorbike marshal arrived and revealed a time gap of 35 seconds to the peloton. Realising this was not enough, and indeed well in sight on the long straight sections, we pressed on until the lead slowly extended from seconds into minutes as the beaten peloton surrendered behind. For the 14 of us however, it was race on, which invariably meant the shelter available at the rear of the group became a whole lot more appealing to the weaker/lazier riders, not willing to contribute to the pace setting.

At the 100km mark, and the gap uncatchable, a few speculative attacks went, but I was content to stay with the main group and save my energy in the fierce wind. With only 2 riders ever distancing themselves, and only gaining 5-10 seconds a time, there was little risk of them staying away - only digging themselves into a hole 20metres up the road. Managing to miss the lap board on apparently every lap, I’d guessed from my Garmin at around 2 laps to go. Noticing the lap counter next time through, I was a little bemused at seeing still 5 laps remaining – the billed 117km race clearly somewhat underestimated (I had 137km at the finish line!). For the final 40 kilometres then, I had no gels and no food, my only hopes of a beautiful victory resting on the firm shoulders of 2 bottles of warm coke.

As we approached the final lap, being decisive was going to be key. In a couple of races last year I’d gambled sitting in the wheels and relying on others to close gaps to those attacking in the closing kilometres, saving my effort for the sprint. However, this always allows groups of 3-4 to ride off and no-one willing to give chase, as I recalled from Tielt-Winge last year. I was confident of waiting for the sprint, a headwind straight drag up to the line played into my strengths and I was prepared to place myself in the leading group at all times, even if that meant offering a free lift to riders in my wheel. With no-one giving half a wheel, it ultimately came down to a 14 up finale. Poorly positioned and caught in the middle of the group as it swelled across the road around the final bend, I was left floundering in 7^th – 8^th wheel as the sprint took off. Finding a gap on the right hand side of the road I got my head down and unleashed my bid for glory, passing all but one rider at the line. It’s frustrating - with another 5 metres I had the race won, but encouraging knowing I had the strength, if lacking the tactical nous, to get that win. But it’s coming.

Quite predictably, just as I get into some good form, my 4 week Easter tenure in Belgium has to come to a halt, as I return to Loughborough for the final term with exams looming. Ah well, at least I can use it over the next few weeks on the club chaingang, local 10’s and mid-week crits around Mallory. Who wants to race in Belgium anyway...?

I’ll upload the podium pictures when/if I find any! And here it is:

Al Murison: livin' the dream..

"Basically first I decided to ride to the race, but had to ride my tub on the back wheel, which of course I then punctured on the the way there. Get to the race, 2 minutes before the start find a spare wheel but its the sh!ttest thing I've ever ridden. The race was disgustingly hard, and my roommates got dropped. I thought I was on for a good result, except punctured my front wheel with half a lap to go, in the process nearly killing myself and half the bunch. By the time i get back to the start line, my roommates WITH my spare tub have ridden off home. Plus I still have my punctured tub. Have to walk to the train station, except when i get there theres not a train for 2 hours and then eventually get a lift back with a randomer who thought I was Dan Patten and I couldn't be arsed to correct him. A bad bad day."

Chin up son.

GP Affligem Interclub

On Sunday I raced in the GP Affligem a 160km interclub around many of the notorious sections of the Tour of Flanders, including an alternative route up the ‘Muur’ and straight onto and up the Bosberg. Of note here is a certain E Merckx who won the race in 64 and 65. We were to face a 100km opening lap before four times around a fifteen kilometre undulating finishing circuit.  I had a good feeling during my 20minute spin out on the rollers in the morning, and started the race confidently, although it wasn’t long before I was found myself drifting toward the back of the 200 strong peloton. However, with the ‘Muur’ approaching I moved toward the front and indeed had my 15 seconds of fame (actually 1.5 seconds) leading the peloton toward the rapidly approaching ‘berg’.

Hitting the foot of the climb, I was well positioned and held my form over the steep ascent. With just 5km separating this and the Bosberg, the peloton was singled out as chaos arose in the splintering field. Summiting the Bosberg, I felt strong but with over 100km of racing left, perhaps not brave enough to attack into what turned out to be the 11 strong race winning break. With riders ahead and the peloton massively reduced in size, we cruised around the remainder of the large opening lap, almost the calm before the imminent storm of the finishing circuits. The 15km lap featured a couple of long drags, and the main short sharp climb 1km from the finish line. I knew I was having a good day and always felt as though I could jump into a break. After a couple of attempts, I got away with 30 km remaining with one other rider, and bridged to form a chase group of 20 or so. With the pace lifted by well represented teams, Bianchi with 4 of their 6 riders in the break, we soon distanced ourselves from the peloton, but with the leaders still out of sight, it quickly disintegrated into a free-for-all fight to the line rather than a collective chase effort. Knowing a top 20 position at least was possible, I kept pushing on but each time I found myself back in the group, as riders seemed unwilling to attack out of it and join me, preferring to keep the group together.

As we approached the final few kilometres, a couple of speculative attacks went but to no avail and we faced a 20 up sprint for 20^th place. I stayed in 5^th wheel up the final climb, knowing the false flat to the finish would be too far for an attack on the climb itself. Initiating my sprint, I instantly got the jump but paid the price for my earlier efforts falling 5metres short with one rider piping me on the line!

Nevertheless I am very pleased with the result. It’s only 21^st - 20 people still beat me, but to put it in perspective in the same race last year I lasted 40km before blowing up on the Muur and spending the next 20km grabbing onto the team car until I was pulled out... It’s a huge step up, and is a welcome result. I had good sensations throughout and it’s given me the real boost of confidence I needed, and hopefully a good sign of things to come. 

Bever

 It’s always difficult coming to that ‘next race’ after dropping out of the previous one and my confidence had taken quite a beating. However, spirits were raised once the ever professional Al Murison, a team mate of mine at Glendene, appeared on the scene 20 minutes before the start: “Have you got a track pump? And cable ties?... And anyone to hand you drinks”. Nice Al, nice.

Today’s race was a return to Bever, the same race as last years edition , with some 250 riders starting the mid-week affair.

After an unexplained 15 minute delay the race got underway at 3.45 and it was not long before the obligatory crashes occurred in a peloton of this size after the early panic of 250 riders aiming for the top 20 wheels before the main climb of the circuit. Starting slowly, I twice found myself caught behind unexplainable crashes which split the peloton, both occurring at exactly the same place on the wide, smooth, open road... Similarly to last year’s edition, the complete road closures synonymous with Belgian racing were poorly instrumented and seemingly every corner we were greeted by newly parked busses, tractors. And crashes. I knew we had travelled West, but didn’t realise we’d made it back to England already.

As the race progressed - while avoiding various scraps of carbon- I felt surprisingly strong, a vast improvement on how I have felt so far this month, and held a good position at the business end of the race, even offering my hand in a couple of attacks although with no repayment for my efforts. A couple of breaks did manage to gain ground, although the fast speeds generated by the charging peloton put most attacks on hold. Into the final lap and a 4 or 5 man group had just done enough to fight it out for the win. With a downhill finish, I backed off a little in the sprint, 150 riders diverting off course into a separate finishing straight isn’t exactly my forte - coming in 41^st place.

It’s a vast improvement, and a much needed one. GP Affligem this Sunday should be a good test of that statement. A couple of times up the Muur and Bosberg will certainly tell me all I need to know about my form.

Not going to plan.

It’s only a short blog this, but there’s very little to write about...

I knew it was never going to be easy coming to Belgium in April with no racing under my belt, but after all my hard work during the winter I’d hoped for more than this. Hoeilaart went ok last weekend, 21^st of 198 starters with only 60 finishing but sitting in and having a dig for the final few laps to finish outside the top 20 isn’t exactly my style – but it’s all I can do for now, and even that was an impossibility after an embarrassing 45minute stint in Heers yesterday before the rear of the peloton disappeared up the road.

To top things off, in 2 races I’ve managed to crack another Zipp rim – these seem to break just by putting them into the bike: I’ve had the rear rebuilt after spokes randomly snapped, front and rear rim cracked and rear hub rebuilt, has anyone else had problems with the 404 tubular?

Return to Belgium

With perhaps a slightly ambitious turn-around time and a race thrown in for good measure, it’s fair to say I had a fairly hectic weekend planned. However, I’ve only 4 weeks break now until starting the final term in the beginning of May, and am determined to make the most of it. I’m planning 2-3 races a week and it started last Sunday.

With term finishing last Friday, I arrived back in Chelmsford Saturday morning, and it was straight to the Chelmer Cycles workshop for a ‘surprise’ visit to prepare my Cannondale SuperSix for the next 4 weeks of Belgian kermising. With a complete service to do, tools were put down my bike was worked on all afternoon and into the evening to get it ready for the 5.30 departure the following morning. These guys are legends. I’d like to suggest there are few bike shops around who would refuse to put tools down and work well past closing time to complete the job. What I’m saying is, if you want your bike built (and built with anal precision), then pay Chelmer Cycles a visit. 

After a late night, early morning and plenty of travelling, racing was perhaps a little ambitious on Sunday, my thought process being that my first race was never going to be great - it never is - so why not get it over with? 50 minutes later, it was. My second season in Belgium had begun. And I knew it.

With the next race not until yesterday, I re-convened after the long winter with Hamish Haynes - http://www.hamish-haynes.com/ - for a good training week, including a near 7 hour epic in the Ardennes, with over 3000m height gain. A realistic ride for the Alps! Who said Belgium was flat...?

Yesterday I raced in Heist op den Berg, a 110km evening race on a totally flat circuit, blessed solely with 3 corners, good road surfaces and not even the slightest breeze to contend with. 208 riders took to the start on what promised to be a fast race – and hopefully a chance to get some speed back into my legs after an elongated winter period. The plan was just to sit in, get some race kilometres in and see how it played out. Half way through the race and 25 riders hovering a minute or more up the road, I moved toward the front and tested myself with a few efforts. With 5 of the 20 laps to go I attacked into a 12 man chase group and quickly distanced ourselves from the peloton, but had left it too late to bridge to the leaders. After the longest sprint in bike racing history – 3 of us side by side for 800metres?! – I finished 28^th overall. The result being irrelevant, I had good feelings during the race and felt I was riding well in-side myself during the chase effort; all good signs for a hilly one tomorrow in Hoeilaart. 

OptimumNutrition?

When a small* Irishman told me eating Weetabix with my skimmed milk in the morning was bad, and that his diet consisted of over 50% fat, I feared the sport nutritionist we were meant to be seeing had cancelled and a bald* Gillian Mckeith had stepped in as a last minute replacement.

How wrong I was.

After an eye-opening seminar from Barry Murray of OptimumNutrition4Sport, I am now working with him to get the most from my diet. Barry provides leading-edge, expert sport nutrition and has revolutionised the way I see food and its potential for performance gains. I couldn’t possibly do Barry justice in explaining his approach to nutrition but the staple pasta and low fat diet has gone, replaced by good fats and low GI carbs. Controversial? Perhaps, but a visit to Barry’s website, and facebook page may just open your eyes too.

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”  La Rochefoucauld


*Barry assures me he is "5'9' and 'light' on top"