Life on the Road
David Smith | Thursday 10th March, 2005
David Smith |   |
So, the racing season is underway again and once more I'm back in Europe (this year's base camp is in Belgium). My first race of the year was the Beverbeek Classic, a UCI 1.2 in northern Belgium. Things went as smoothly as could be expected for me in a pan flat race, I finished in the safely in the bunch avoiding all the days crashes! The only obsticle of the day was a motorway flyover, harmless enough I hear you say but you'd be surprised. I think the Van Vliet rider (a Dutch continental team no less!) who had to be pushed over by a team mate should be fired immediately! Still, it provided me with some mid race comic relief.
The following day we loaded up the van and attempted to negotiate Brussels with a map of the whole of Belgium to get to a kermesse on the other side of town. I don't recommend this, tempers fray! Anyway we made it on time and many of the riders from the previous day were there, the Comnet team and Cyclingnews and a stray Rabobank rider even decided to get in on the act. I had an early dig and a was soon joined by aforementioned Rabobank and two others. I lasted 3 laps with them before lack of race fitness + strength of companions lead to me being tailed off. I went straight to the back of the bunch and there I remained until the final 11km curcuit when all of a sudden the legs came round and I had another go. 7 came with me and we rode hard to chase the 3 leaders but to no avail. I got pasted in the sprint finishing 7th of 7 so 10th on the day. I thought that was ok considering it was race number two of the year and there were 150 starters!!
Last weekend we took a 4 day round trip to the south of France for Trophée Mont Luberon, another 1.2. The car journey left me slightly jaded to say the least but I gave it my best nevertheless!. After 20km I got caught out in a cross wind section when AG2R turned the screw but fortunately I got back on! I was dissapointed not to finish in the front group, I was only dropped with 5km to go after letting a gap go on a crosswind (theme developing here?) descent. I had even put in an attack on the last GPM so I felt I should have been there in the end. I think I was about 50th or so.
This weekend its Paris Troyes, 180km UCI 1.2 again and looking forward to it!
à bientot!
