A Classic Belgium Race

Before the start of today’s race I was finding it hard to get motivated. I think it had to do with racing last Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and then riding 120 miles on Tuesday. So my legs are finding it hard to get motivated to race on this windy, cloudy, drizzling Wednesday.

This is a typical Belgium race with typical Belgium weather. It’s a 5K circuit that we do 20 times for a total of 100K. There are some open sections in the crosswind that will string everything out in the gutter and split the field into pieces. It’s important to be near the front in these races. I quickly made it to the front and had good position but was still in the gutter. Even if you’re sitting second wheel up front you’re in the gutter.

After just two laps it started raining pretty good and I knew the break was going to go but I was a bit boxed in. It went and the field split into pieces. I jumped from one group to the next and settled into the chase of 6 riders. It wasn’t very organized so I got one strong rider to attack the group with me. We got away but with one weak rider who sat on us the whole time. I was cooked and the course was rolling with terrible wind. I looked at the lap counter hoping it was almost over. It read 10 laps to go. Crap, only halfway and I’m dead. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to attack those guys so early.

We kept it rolling and with one lap to go the stronger guy in our group of 3 attacked. I chased since he and the other guy were working against me. I slowly crawled my way back up to him. I think he and the other guy were surprised how strong I still was. I think I surprised myself as well. He wouldn’t come around me so I attacked him out of a corner a couple of time and finally he went around me. I sat there for a bit and then attacked him again but his buddy yelled to let him know. So there I was at the front again.

I attacked again out of a corner and made him work to get back on me. We came around the final corner and I attacked again and kept it going as hard as I could hoping it was too fast for him to come around. I kept digging but on the line he got me. I was happy with my sprint for how dead I was. It was good enough for 5th place and a few euros.

Like any other Belgium race you go into a bar to give your number back. Someone in there bought me a good Belgium beer. It’s been a hard 5 days with four races and a 200K training day. I’m taking it easy today and tomorrow. Sunday we have a pretty good race.