Mid season came around fast..

 Time for another installment, I am now 32 race days deep in the season. Racing 1-3 times a week there is definitely a lot to write up about. But I think you can tell from my blog I am more of a picture man so dont worry ill let the pictures do the talking ;)

Carrying on from the last race write up, was Vilvoorde a 120k pan flat square circuit, nice and fast. The legs felt fresh and I was able to cover and go for some punchy breaks.

Clipping off the front with a small group

4 man breakway

 Unfortunately once I came back from this breakaway a counter attack went which went on to be the winner break went with a group of 10. I came in for a bunch sprint coming in 43rd/170 riders.

Driving

Take a look at the picture above, this sums up the next race in Zelzate. A tough wet/cold/dirty day on the bike. Up near Holland the skies opened up as we lined up for the start. It was a circuit with 2 long straights which then joined into a few tight corners  to finish in through town, producing a challenging but fast course. Coming straight off Vilvoorde the day before the legs were still quite tired but I managed to push aside the pain and hit the front. Not long into the race, I managed to pop off the front with a 4 man group. We worked well together but as time went by, riders starting missing turns and it wittled down to just 2 of us. With the fast straights we were eventually pulled back in with 50k to go. That was my day done it came down to a bunch sprint and I rolled in for 34th/104 riders.

Kicking off

Establishing a gap from peleton behind

Down to 2, in the hurt locker

Next in line was Herne a nice hilly course, with a touch of cobbles. I would say this was'nt my best day with a early breakaway heading up the road it basically came down to a game of chase. Was happy the boys from ASFRA came together to try bring it back but it was to no prevail.

Up the cobbles

Then it was back to Germany for "Rund um Keltern" A tough 4k short circuit with a 15% climb over the finish line which would be tackled 25 times. Was a hard day in the saddle but came in for 23rd.

On return to Belgium it was straight into a double for the weekend. First up was Geaardsbergen a flowing hilly course. Felt strong but missed the late breakaway of 4 and rolled in with the pack for 46th.

Geaardsbergen

The next day was yet again another hilly course in St Martins Lierde. Feeling the efforts from the day before I took rest in the pack for the early half of the race. As the race came towards the end the legs felt better and you could tell it would come down to a Bunch sprint. So I positioned well but heading into the last corner were the road narrowed was forced to hope a gutter then as I tried to come through to open the sprint was boxed in came in for 42nd/118 riders.

Afterwards I headed into the Belgium Ardnennais region, an area best know for the famous classic race Liege-Bastone-Liege. To race Tryptique Ardennais a tough 3 day hilly stage race with average days of 150k with 2000m climbing. Day 1 I pulled through fine but come Second day with a miscommunication on time, lead to no warm up and straight into a 15k climb, this put me in a bad position from the get go and I would later not make the time cut and was done for the weekend.

 With frustration from the previous day still pumping I took on a local kermesse in Bottelare the following day coming in 39th. This would be my undoing as I had been fighting a fever the previous week before the stage race but was on the list to start, so just put my head down and rode. I had forgotten the golden rule of  listening to your body, which lead  to a 2 week lay off from the bike due to sickness.  I headed back to Germany where I basically was a zombie sleeping most the days. It would be a big blow to my form but in the long run I guess I needed the break to recharge the batteries both physically and mentally.

Letting the frustration out

Coming back to Belgium I was greeted with 2 tough races off the bat. It was a cruel reminder of the pace and I was spat out back quick smart. After the initial shock though the legs have come good and form has felt great. Over the last 3 weeks I've had a handful of tough interclubs which have been great to lift the form to where I hope it can take me to some nice results.

Beveren Interclub

Start line Geluwe

With house mate duncan at Geluwe

Hitting out the corner

Can you spot me (in red) small group of us in the break

Felt good so why not try a solo. Geluwe

Unlucky all brought back for a Bunch sprint. 30th

Lets head home..

Ichtegem interclub came in 38th/155 riders

Trying our luck, Ichtegem

Got to still have a social life, out with the roomies

On last section of cobbles at the Tour De France stage 4

Froome still in yellow

 So as Summer is about to approach the race program is full with Interclubs,Pro Kermesses and Top competitions along with many 1.12 Kermesses. The mood and form are high so will keep striving for that top step.