20th May Tour Of Milburys-
So after a positive trip to france I was feeling good for todays tour. It was a 1 day 2 stage race so a good morning tt was key.
The tt was 4miles long and pretty much all up hill. It wasn't long enough to really suit me but I was till up for a good ride. I came home 5th and not to far behind the winner so it was all up for grabs in the RR!
The RR was a couple of hours later and the course was tough! a very grippe, hilly circuit built for tough racing! I was feeling good and went up the road many times, but due to a yellow jersey and overall up for grabs people didn't allow anything to go to far. Although with 4 to go I went on a very tough climb and in a section where the wind was blowing across the road hard! I soon had a break and joined by 5 more later on. This was the winning move and by the last lap had 1min30sec in hand. But due to being to animated early on and concentrating on getting away so much I didn't eat or drink. this meant the eventual bonk came! I was gutted and blew my doors with half a lap to go! I was the virtual leader on the road, a real shame but learnt an awful lot from it!
overall I finished 18th.
25th May GP Danny Rasson, Belgium-
Today we headed of to sunny Belgium for an elite kermesse.
The race was 120k and perfect 26degrees so hydration was key!
the course was lumpy and the hilliest I've raced in Belgium so it was going to be a hard day out!
The usual fast furious pace was set for the first 1hour and the break went in this time, I just missed it but thankfully we had a rider in the move. from then on everyone was trying to get across to it so it was very tough going with the constant attacks but with 2 laps to go I went on the main climb on course and bridged a small group up the road, we worked well together and pushed all the way keeping a healthy gap from the peleton. later on we picked up stragglers from the break, coming in to the finish line I went quite early but was feeling good so managed to keep the sprint going, I crossed the line 3rd in the break and 17th overall.
Although I was disappointed to miss the winning break and chance of top 10 I was happy to get the result in a strong elite race.
28th May Veralum RR-
After a strong ride in Belgium and hard race I was feeling up for Sunday and trying some new moves learnt from Belgium.
The course was a very short 2.2miles so pretty much a kermesse!
the pace was pretty quick from the go but nothing was really sticking until 15laps to go where a strong move went on the drag to the finish line. I wanted to get away so put in a very big attack to get across on the climb but didn't quite make contact so meant I was stuck in no mans land! eventually the peleton crossed to me and then we eventually got working with around 4 other riders to bring the break back. we did with 8 to go but then a counter went and once again I done too much work to try and bring it back so didn't have the legs to go with it. It was frustrating because whenever I seemed to attack other riders would follow and then just sit on not helping to try and get a break! this was frustrating and meant it came down to a bunch sprint and after many not doing anything all race they appeared from behind to pip me on the line. I came home 11th.
Coming up in June I have some big National B races some of which are 100miles+long. It will be good to see how the endurance is still going and mix it up. I should also be going back to Belgium for more racing with the team.
Thanks For Coming
George
So after a positive trip to france I was feeling good for todays tour. It was a 1 day 2 stage race so a good morning tt was key.
The tt was 4miles long and pretty much all up hill. It wasn't long enough to really suit me but I was till up for a good ride. I came home 5th and not to far behind the winner so it was all up for grabs in the RR!
The RR was a couple of hours later and the course was tough! a very grippe, hilly circuit built for tough racing! I was feeling good and went up the road many times, but due to a yellow jersey and overall up for grabs people didn't allow anything to go to far. Although with 4 to go I went on a very tough climb and in a section where the wind was blowing across the road hard! I soon had a break and joined by 5 more later on. This was the winning move and by the last lap had 1min30sec in hand. But due to being to animated early on and concentrating on getting away so much I didn't eat or drink. this meant the eventual bonk came! I was gutted and blew my doors with half a lap to go! I was the virtual leader on the road, a real shame but learnt an awful lot from it!
overall I finished 18th.
25th May GP Danny Rasson, Belgium-
Today we headed of to sunny Belgium for an elite kermesse.
The race was 120k and perfect 26degrees so hydration was key!
the course was lumpy and the hilliest I've raced in Belgium so it was going to be a hard day out!
The usual fast furious pace was set for the first 1hour and the break went in this time, I just missed it but thankfully we had a rider in the move. from then on everyone was trying to get across to it so it was very tough going with the constant attacks but with 2 laps to go I went on the main climb on course and bridged a small group up the road, we worked well together and pushed all the way keeping a healthy gap from the peleton. later on we picked up stragglers from the break, coming in to the finish line I went quite early but was feeling good so managed to keep the sprint going, I crossed the line 3rd in the break and 17th overall.
Although I was disappointed to miss the winning break and chance of top 10 I was happy to get the result in a strong elite race.
28th May Veralum RR-
After a strong ride in Belgium and hard race I was feeling up for Sunday and trying some new moves learnt from Belgium.
The course was a very short 2.2miles so pretty much a kermesse!
the pace was pretty quick from the go but nothing was really sticking until 15laps to go where a strong move went on the drag to the finish line. I wanted to get away so put in a very big attack to get across on the climb but didn't quite make contact so meant I was stuck in no mans land! eventually the peleton crossed to me and then we eventually got working with around 4 other riders to bring the break back. we did with 8 to go but then a counter went and once again I done too much work to try and bring it back so didn't have the legs to go with it. It was frustrating because whenever I seemed to attack other riders would follow and then just sit on not helping to try and get a break! this was frustrating and meant it came down to a bunch sprint and after many not doing anything all race they appeared from behind to pip me on the line. I came home 11th.
Coming up in June I have some big National B races some of which are 100miles+long. It will be good to see how the endurance is still going and mix it up. I should also be going back to Belgium for more racing with the team.
Thanks For Coming
George