Dutch Revolution
Callum Skinner | Saturday 24th April, 2010
Hi everyone since last
time have been training hard and making some really good progressions, catching
up on lost time during winter illnesses. Had some good time down at Manchester
with the ODP boys and girl the week after the senior worlds. This was really
productive getting some good indoor track time and gym sessions with the other
ODP guys. Since then Ive also been back on Meadowbank, Id like to say its
improved since last year but at least the chairs have come back as they were
missing earlier in the month??? So far ive been lucky as most of the time its
been sunny with no wind…the t-shirt tan is making a come back.
Im writing this from
Holland at the moment. I was lucky enough to recive an invite out from one of
the Dutch guys that came over to do the Edinburgh GP last year. It was looking
so so as to wither I would be able to make it with the ash issues hitting
Europe but seemed to clear up ok so I travelled out yesterday. First night of
racing was yesterday. It was a sprinters omnium (match sprint and kerin). All
the races were one round so there is more pressure than usall not to make a
mistake as that is the end of the comp. We were riding on Alkmarr track, I’d
ridden it before last year with the Scottish Cycling team on a training camp so
was relavily familure. It is wodden and mega sticky although is almost like a
bowl with no transition to take advnatge of during the flying efforts. I
therefore think that I slightly over estimated what gear to use for the
qualifing so was disappointed with my 11.1. Although having travelled that day
and only knowing about the comp on Tuesday guess it wasn’t too bad. Geared down
and then the heats went much better. First round was a three up with the first
through. I drew 3rd but lead from the front and just eased it on and
on until I finished 1st. Next was the semi finals against Theo
Boss’s brother who qualified 10.8. This was a close race with a track stand
also, I was the sencond to iniciate the stand, this usally means that when you
reech the 30 second time limit you are still able to hold onto 2nd
position. The rule didn’t seem to apply as this was not a strict competition,
more the dutch version of the Revolution Serries. I ended the track stand and
lead from the front, it was a photo finish that I won next was the finals. In
the final I was up aginst the fastest qualifier. I wanted 2nd
postion in this race as so far I head lead from the front and the back seemed
to be the postion that the dutch riders preffered. I managed to get the back
after going straight up the banking in the first lap, he didn’t follow. He then
tried to box me in aginst the barrier after backing off a bit and a couple of
flicks it happened agin so decided to go over the top. I got ahed of him and
stoped him from getting a gap. This was another photo finish and was one of the
closest races I had ever rode. This time he won and I had to settle for 2nd.
Next up was the kerin just one round to finish the omnium. Their was a bit of
confusion at the start. The bike usally takes one lap then pickes up the riders
on the gun the next time round. This guy just went straight from the start of
the back straight. Managed to capitalise on this confision getting the bike
from 3rd position on the line. For about a lap another rider on my
out side tried to get the derny off of me although he moved back after a lap.
Onece the bike pulled off i kept looking back keeping an eye on possible
attackts, their were two and I reacted to both of them. I wasent sure if they
were trign to move up the bunch or were comminting to reach the front but no
one came over. Their was then the final attack with 1 ½ laps to go I jumped as
well and kept him on my hip through the banking but he took the front in the
straight. Anotehr rider was on his wheel and followed, I finished 3rd
and 2nd in the overall sprinters omnium. The event was really good
fun was a bit unsure at the beginning as I was by my self as Kev pulled out (thank goodness, he's really fast!!!!!) and
Chris Prittchard was missing? Althogh despite not knowing any dutch not even;
hello, yes, no… managed to get chatting to the durtch sprinters as the night
went on…thankfully all of them spoke good English. From the event I was put in to
a taxi to the B&B that I am wrting this from now. Not really quite sure
where I am now, but am getting picked up tomorrow to go to another event. Im
really looking forward to it sounds like a drag race on a stretch of road for
300m, apparently Levy and Boss have ridden before and there are good crowds,
although still don’t really underand the format.
Inother news ive been
luck enough to revive sponshersip from Scottish Widows as part of their golden
hopefulls programme. This is a mentoring as well as funding programme similer
to the Loyyds TSB Local Heros. They currently have two mentors that are available
that we can talk to, they currently have Roger Black and Shara Story onboard,
for more info you can visit: http://www.scottishwidows.co.uk/london2012/goldenhopefuls.html
Id like to thank
Scottish Widows for their support.
In the mean time im
tweeting way most of the time with pictures http://twitter.com/CallumSkinner
Sorry for the bad
spelling and punctuation and the odd incomprehensible sentence/paragraphs.
Thanks Callum Skinner
