The Last Month Of Racing, From Gravesend to The Dutch Version Of Roubaix. 23-3/7-4

23-3-2013

A week off from Belgium so I set out to ride from Colchester to Gravesend and then race. Waking up to snow blizzards put a stop to that idea. Roller session it was then.

Arriving at Gravesend with wet slippery roads and snow still I was thinking warmth is the key today. Racing with my raceline rear mudguard available from Interbike, Marks Tey. 

With a strong field I thought it would be a tough race, with a rider getting away from lap one, nothing to major and was pulled back soon enough. Staying together for the race, it seemed not many people wanted to put there necks on the line to go for it. With 2 laps to go  I attacked getting a gap, smashing it into the headwind I pulled out a bigger gap.

Finishing 1 minute clear of the rest to take the win. My first victory of the year and for my new team.



31-3-2013

Omloop Van De Braakman - Dutch Roubaix.

Keen for this race I watched the last 3 years of the race on YouTube, and every year the break went early. So I knew what i needed to to and watch the early moves.

Easier said then done. The break went and I missed it sure enough ! Pulling out a 1 minute gap !

With 14km of cobbles per lap and primes at the end of every section it was going to be fast. Hitting the cobbles at 50kph it was tough. Happy I had some hand built wheels made which were super stiff but comfortable across the cobbles.

After 60km of 168km race the break still had 1 minute gap, I attacked and got away with one other rider, and put the hammer down. Pulling away from the bunch and getting closer to the break, the rider who came with me proved to be not strong enough so was only doing 5 second turns leaving me to do the brunt of the work, getting across the 1 minute gap in 5km. 

Riding in the break and pulling further away from the bunch I though I had a top 20 in the bag, only to see the team cars move out the way with 5km to go and a group of 30 coming back to us. 

With spent legs from being in the break all day I tried to limit my losses and wait for the sprint. Finishing 33rd. Gutted with my result but at the same time happy with my performance.



7-4-2013  Sint - Laureins

Traveling out for a day trip on the boat with my parents it was a early start. Arriving at Sint - Laureins to a pleasant 23degrees. Felt like a tropical holliday comapred to the -degrees from this weeks training, it was only thursday I was out on a 5 hour ride with a snow blizzard.

Pre rode the course and realised it was pan flat, and hardly a puff of wind. I knew it was going to be quick. Choosing my wheels wisely, with a few tight corners I Opted for the 50's.

Starting off and we was soon upto speed, looking down after 30km to see we was averaging 44-4kph. The fastest race ive done this season so far. Bit of a shock to the legs, never the less I was persistantly trying to get into a move. It wasnt until the later stage of the race a group got away and i was in the group behind it, nelry getting across to finish 200m behind the winning break and 30th possition.

Not a bad day out, but lots to improve.

Thats all for now. 

Porsche Autostrasse next weekend then back to Belgium for Affligem, then Holland followed by France.


Heres some snaps from my travels.

 Thanks to Graham Strugnell of Tekno Sport for his sponsorship and support.

Ichtegem 17-3-13

First day trip of the year, with the race in Ichtegem just 1 hour from the Euro Tunnel it was a relaxed drive out for a 3pm race.

Arriving and remembering the course from when I raced there in 2008 it was how ever much better weather today as then it was snowing and now it was 60kph winds but dry.

lined up 100th into the 200 rider field, it was a real struggle to try to move up before the dead turn just 800m down the road before being echeloned out across 3 fields with cross wind. then a dead turn and back along a main road with cross wind before a long down hill with tail wind.

This combination split the field, luckily I stayed in the front split. With lots of nervous riders there was crashes left right and centre. One bad crash 4 laps into the 16 lap race saw the front group split in half. with me on the wrong side of the split. Not good. Knowing I needed to get across to the front split I jumped away with a group of 4 working together to try and get across. getting it down to 30 seconds. 

From my group Mario Willems attacked so I went with him and was working to get across the last bit to the gap, how ever on the long straight road Mario proved to be too strong for me for the moment and I lost contact re joining the group I was with.

We worked well but only held the gap. Winning the sprint from my group to take 45th position. A tough bad day in the saddle today.

Jock Wadley 10-3-13

Being a local race to home in Colchester Its always nice to perform in front of friends and Family. Knowing the course well I know where the wind comes from and the course suits me well. Having won the Abberton Road Race on the same circuit last year.

Arriving and being greeted by Snow and Sleet I knew it was going to be a tough day. With top teams like Rapha & UK Youth entered it was a good field of entries.

Starting off i rolled out and made my way to the front. Knowing from previous years the break had gone early, Being blistered by the cold temperatures and snow everyone was feeling it.

And we were off to a quick pace across the Reservoir with riders already being dropped from the off.

A few laps passed with gaps opening and yet more riders being dropped. I sat near the front and followed most attacks which looked dangerous but it wasn't until 3 laps in that the move finally went and I was in it. A group of 6 of us had chipped away and opened a gap followed by a bigger group of 10 and then the bunch. after 2 laps we joined to a bigger group making 16 of us pulling clear of the bunch. 

Into the closing stages 2 UK Youth and a rider from NTFO chipped away and built a 40 second lead.

I was feeling strong but didnt want to take any risks as I hadn't eaten or drank anything all race 150km due to being too cold to reach to my back pocket to get food.

Onto the last lap and the 3 were still away, and my group began to chase to try and bring it back followed with a few attacks. Onto the last 3 miles and 3 riders jumped clear maybe 5-10 seconds nothing major but i sat and waited for the line, with Rapha Uk Youth and Raleigh and Sigma in my group it would be a good finish. 

As the line approached I started my sprint from 300m out hoping to catch the 3 just ahead for the race for 4th place however on my first pedal rev of the sprint a spoke snapped, gutted, I had to back off and be satisfied with 7th.

Happy with my Race I now look forward to next weekend in Belgium.

Vollezele 3-3-13

Vollezele.

Arriving at the race with plenty of time, signed on and prepared both bikes for the race. Soon it was time to start. With just under 200 starters I figured it was going to be a good race. Going up the CongoBurg 8 times (cobbled climb).

From lap one a small group was away but still in sight, attacks going left right and centre, I followed a few but nothing was going to go away. Within a few laps the break had been pulled back and another went but still not far ahead.

I felt strong throughout the race, I had a good turn of speed to be able to follow a few moves and create some. The conogoburg was tough but it did a fine job of whittling the bunch down. over half way and we was down to probably 70 riders in the bunch. 

onto the last lap and the break was still just ahead with a few riders behind it, smashing it towards the line across the cobbles and tight corners I held on for 21st place. Gutted with my result as I felt strong throughout and was thinking i could achieve alot better. Onto the next one now.

This coming weekend I am to race Saturday and Sunday in England, Saturday in Elveden & Sunday is the Jock Wadley. Should be a good weekend racing. 

Over and Out.

Start of the Season - Tournai Belgium 24-2-2013

To start the season I was off to Belgium to race Brussels - Opwijk , Pre rode the course on saturday and felt good, pre race massage saturday afternoon and a good nights sleep.
Waking up Sunday to 2-3 inches of snow the race was cancelled along with pretty much every other race in Belgium apart from one close to Lille. (Tournai)

After a split second decision and a call to the organiser the race was on, so off to Tournai I went.

Arriving with a slight down pour of snow but nothing settling I was soon on the line ready to get underway. 

From the off there was attacks going, average speed 40kph avrg Heart rate 168bpm.

A group of 20 got a 30 second gap, I then managed to get away in another group and pulled clear of the bunch.

the wind was consistent and temperature cold. We stayed away from the bunch and kept the 30second gap to the break. With 1 lap to go Dom Schils and I jumped away and finished clear of our break in 24th position. 

Happy with my 1st race of the season, and looking forward to next week in Vollezele

.

2013

Hello and welcome to my new revamped Blog, ready for a fresh kick start to a exciting season.

A lot has changed for the 2013 season. I have signed a contract for a Belgian Team called Zannata Cycling Team (www.zannatacyclingteam.be). I will be riding a season of thrilling Belgian races from Kermesse to Interclub's & Belgian Cup Races.

Training has gone extremely well over the winter, with only a month to go until my first race in Belgium I am very happy with the form I have currently. 

I am off to Mallorca on Training Camp Pre-Season to finish off a great winter and finish off preparation for the season.

Below I have attached a few photos of some exciting new product of which I have been provided by my Sponsors. 

More to come soon.

Watch this space . 

August

After finishing up 15th in the British Elite National Championships it was time to sit back and watch the Olympics take place. Happy to see a Spanish friend Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez racing for 15th place. It was soon evident that the domestic racing scene in the UK was put on hold and only a handful of races put on during the period.

Occupying myself with the Thursday League at CycloPark Gravesend I notched up a few wins and a few more points towards my Elite License.

Sept looks to have more races on starting off with the Jef Schils Memorial Race on the 2nd, should be a cracking race.