I definitely hit the ground running once I arrived back in Belgium. First race back was an Interclub ( a national calender race) on the Saturday. A 170k blast out to kick start the legs. I was still feeling a bit wrecked from driving 10 hours the night before from Germany. Though old habits keep me good for a peleton finish coming in 63rd/155 riders. I backed up the next day with another Interclub 140k though I really did not feel fully recovered and after 100k I lost touch with the peleton and pulled out.
With 20k to go another breakaway of 10 riders got away and this end up being the winning group. I was just so spent I had nothing to chase, and I came in with my group 28th. In the end because of the race rules of which if you are 2 minutes behind the leaders your pulled out the race, basically the whole peleton was pulled out. So their was only 45 finishers out of 111 riders. Thats how strong the winds were that day, So i was happy to have made the main breakaway though on the same hand was disappointed to have come so close.
Finally it was time to step up with the big boys. My first Professional Kermesse race the 82nd Textielprijs in Vichte, Wow was I in for a treat. 168k on a punchy hilly course, our first hour we averaged 50k/hr, to follow our second hour 48 and third 47.
To tell the truth the first hour I was barely hanging on but after the initial shock I got more comfortable in the pack. By the third hour though the speed was taking its toll and I couldn't respond when the peleton split up.
I end up merging with some of my teammates and rode to the finish line coming in 96th out of 157 riders. Definitely not the best result but none the less a great learning step.
So now I had gotten the first pro race out the way. It was time to keep the ball rolling with another one 2 days later ;). The 89th Kermesse Pro de Stekene, 157k long and on a dead flat course, I was strapped in for a fast race. The weather was nice and warm and my legs were feeling super fresh. I played all my cards right staying in the top 30 riders the whole race.
A small breakaway got away mid race but was pulled back with 20k to go. I was getting ready for a bunch sprint and I got to say shit just gets crazy near the end. With 5k to go people are just overtaking each other anyway possible. Riding in gutters,on the grass,walkways,dirt tracks however to get near the front. With 2k to go I was sitting peachy in about 15th position but then a touch of the brakes of the guy in front dodging a pothole sent my speed from around 60k to 30k and that was it, I couldn't regain for a good sprint. I pulled in for 50th out of 109 riders. I was very disappointed as i knew i had the legs to go much better. But thats racing, although I was glad for my second pro race to feel fresh and be up front all day.
That race was one of the last of the season, So afterwards I deiced I wanted to do one more race In Germany to finish the season off strong. Stay tuned for my final write up of the season.
After a few days of rest and a nice visit to my coach for a crack and straightening. I felt much refreshed and my next race was in Roeselare with a quick 70k Criterium. Off the bat I felt great and moved into a early breakaway. Although we got caught with 10k to go and it came down to a Bunch sprint were I only managed to come in 17th. Though was very pleased with the legs.
My 3rd Interclub, 134kms in Meerhout, was a real test of strength. Though the course was quite flat, with an exception of a little hill in the middle, the typical strong winds of Belgium rocked up that day. It started fast and within the first 50k a bunch of 20 riders got away. With the winds how they were, there was no chance for bridging the gap solo you needed at least a good 10 man group with you. After sitting in the peleton getting inpatient, I with another team mate made a move and just got lucky that we had enough working people come with. We got clear of the peleton and were on the chase down of the front group. The next 30k I was in a world of pain burying myself to finally bridge the gap.
With 20k to go another breakaway of 10 riders got away and this end up being the winning group. I was just so spent I had nothing to chase, and I came in with my group 28th. In the end because of the race rules of which if you are 2 minutes behind the leaders your pulled out the race, basically the whole peleton was pulled out. So their was only 45 finishers out of 111 riders. Thats how strong the winds were that day, So i was happy to have made the main breakaway though on the same hand was disappointed to have come so close.
Finally it was time to step up with the big boys. My first Professional Kermesse race the 82nd Textielprijs in Vichte, Wow was I in for a treat. 168k on a punchy hilly course, our first hour we averaged 50k/hr, to follow our second hour 48 and third 47.
To tell the truth the first hour I was barely hanging on but after the initial shock I got more comfortable in the pack. By the third hour though the speed was taking its toll and I couldn't respond when the peleton split up.I end up merging with some of my teammates and rode to the finish line coming in 96th out of 157 riders. Definitely not the best result but none the less a great learning step.
So now I had gotten the first pro race out the way. It was time to keep the ball rolling with another one 2 days later ;). The 89th Kermesse Pro de Stekene, 157k long and on a dead flat course, I was strapped in for a fast race. The weather was nice and warm and my legs were feeling super fresh. I played all my cards right staying in the top 30 riders the whole race.
A small breakaway got away mid race but was pulled back with 20k to go. I was getting ready for a bunch sprint and I got to say shit just gets crazy near the end. With 5k to go people are just overtaking each other anyway possible. Riding in gutters,on the grass,walkways,dirt tracks however to get near the front. With 2k to go I was sitting peachy in about 15th position but then a touch of the brakes of the guy in front dodging a pothole sent my speed from around 60k to 30k and that was it, I couldn't regain for a good sprint. I pulled in for 50th out of 109 riders. I was very disappointed as i knew i had the legs to go much better. But thats racing, although I was glad for my second pro race to feel fresh and be up front all day.
That race was one of the last of the season, So afterwards I deiced I wanted to do one more race In Germany to finish the season off strong. Stay tuned for my final write up of the season.
