Turned up to the race with a nice 50k in the legs before lining up for 110km Kermesse, and finally the sun had come out, was close to 30degrees! 17 laps of a 6.5km circuit, with quite a few corners, a long uphill drag, a kilometer or so through a forest before heading into a S-Bend (90degree right hand, up a short 100m rise, then another 90degree left hand before 200m to the finish line). It was an Under23 race, with around 90-100 starters.
As usual the attacks went from the gun, and as usual, Cam and I were near the front, getting amongst it, but nothing significant managed to get away early on. It was a very fast course and I had a feeling that it was either going to be a bunch sprint, or a large group would get away, and as expected, about half way through the race there was a split in the bunch, and 18 riders rolled off the front. Up the long drag I decided to pull one hard lap up and over the hill to make sure the pace was on in our group, and surely enough we slowly put time into the bunch and disappeared out of site. We both seemed to ride ourselves into the race, and feel better as the race went on. Cam and I were both in the front group, and a few other teams had 2-3 riders as well, with one team having 4 riders, I thought they would be the ones to watch when it came down to the last few laps....
It was a hot day, so was important to keep up the food and drinks, I think both Cam and I went through 4 bottles in 2.5hours! Coming down to the last few laps, I told Cam to be aware and aggressive, as the "winning moves" would start to be made in the last 2-3 laps. It was far less aggressive than I anticipated, had it been an open race, I think our group would have been split to pieces with the weaker riders being dropped. It got down to the last lap and no one had really attacked, it was time for us to really be on our game.
The team with 4 riders had a few attacks, but both Cam and I were near the front jumping on anyones wheel that was attacking. With around 2km to go it was still together, we rolled on the front just to keep the pace decent, as the forest road was quite narrow so we weren't going to miss anything from now till the finish... With 1km to go I rolled to the front, and it felt like a track sprint, with 18 guys! I lead out right up until the last 2 corners, the S-Bend, when a Russian rider jumped inside me, I got straight on his wheel, 2nd going into the last 2 corners with 200m to go to the line, I knew I at least was on the podium...
I hit the last 2 corners HOT!It was fast, and luckily got a slightly better line than the Russian rider out of the last corner which meant I had a bit more pace than he did. He hit the last corner all wrong and his back wheel skipped out 3 times, eeeeekkk! I thought "f**k, this is me down!!" but he managed to stay up right and I somehow swooped out of the last corner and went around straight around him on his right hand side between him and the barrier, and put my head down and went for the line. I jumped past him pretty easy but still had 100m to go to the line, I kicked again then had a little look around, and I was sweeet.... Sat up, took my hands off the bars, and threw my hands in the air! My first win in Belgium, you beauty.... But I wasn't the only one to salute, Cam threw his hands in the air as I crossed the line, he was 3rd, and just about as excited as I was! YOU BEAUTY!! My first win, and Cam's first podium, we were fizzing. 180km in the legs after I rode home, first win, pretty solid day on the bike I'd say!
What a good feeling!
Average was 44.7km for 110km, it was fast! All and all we couldn't have asked for a much better race really. Was good to feel like I helped Cam during the race, a few little words is all it took to make things easier for both of us, in the last few laps we were both ready to be aggressive, and it worked a treat! He is as strong as an ox, and will be up for a win soon the way he rides races, always at the front, and always aggressive!
Interview after the race, was gonna be on Belgium TV!
Russian 2nd, me 1st, Cam 3rd
6 years ago it was Cav, this year it was my turn.
My fake flowers are now in front of Cav's at our house in Blauberg!
I'll leave them and the trophy here, so this is all you'll see of them sorry Mum...
This week will be pretty full on, we are at the track in Ghent on Wednesday and Thursday, then the following Monday, with our last Kermesse race in between these sessions, this coming Saturday. After the track we pack up and head down to Aix-en-Provence for a 4-day road tour, before heading to Bordeaux, France, where the real hard work and team atmosphere for the Commonwealth Games will begin!
Myron
Top stuff, Myron!
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