First races in Belgium

Within a week of me arriving to Belgium I had two big "interclub" races lined up.

The first was on Wednesday, International Wieler Trophee. It was 168km over many of the famous cobbled climbs from the spring classic Tour of Flanders. It had been almost 12 months since my last road race, as over the track season I didn't end up doing much road, instead a lot of track racing. The pace was on from the gun and I got over the first few rollers then up the first long cobbled climb I found myself at the back of the race and caught up amongst the convoy of cars, then decided I wasn't going to get back on and had to shut it down after only 40km of racing, I was pretty gutted. I went out and did some more riding while the race was still on. Unfortunately for us due to a few crashes and some bad luck, none of the kiwi team finished the race! I feel I was still a bit tired from the lag, not in the right frame of mind to fight for positioning, and it just lead to a bad day on the bike.

Had a few days to get things together before Dwars Door het Hageland, which was our local race, only 8km from home. It was 180km, with a 84km loop, followed by 7x14km circuits around Aarschot, in over 30degrees, a bloody hot day. My goal was to make it to the finishing circuits, and help set one of the other guys up for the finishing laps. I rode much better position, in the top 30 riders most of the race. I made it to the finishing laps, feeling alright. There was a long, gradual climb, followed by some downhill, then a short sharp climb before it looped back around and down to a fast finish in the middle of Aarschot.

All five of us were in the bunch, and the race had all come back together. The third time up the long and gradual uphill my legs were fatigued and I started to go backwards through the bunch. I had another go to try get back on but that was the end of my day, and I was much happier than on Wednesday. A group of 3 riders got away in the final laps, and the other 4 kiwis finished in the bunch, a pretty good day for the boys, with many of them being involved in moves on the finishing circuit laps. It can only been onwards and upwards from here for me.

For now we have a "Power Block" this week. It will involve some high power days and efforts on the road bike, erg and a day of the velodrome in Gent.

Thanks for reading.