brad's blog

After almost not starting today due to being a bit sick lately I was happy I did. It was another 100K Kirmas course with 6K laps 120 riders and some more wind and rain. We started out dry but on the second lap it started to spit a little. There were 6 guys barely off the front. When it starts to rain a break usually goes so I attacked to get up to the group. When I got up to them they were disorganized and seemed to be waiting for the peleton. I attacked again and one rider came with. I figured we’d go for a bit and then get caught by a small group or the peleton.

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.

Whenever you're finishing well racing is fun. Last night we road from our house to a race in Belgium. The ride only took us 30 minutes and it was a beautiful evening. The race started at 6:00 in a small town with lots of character and lots of people who love cycling.

Like many of these Belgium races you have to walk through a smokey bar with lots of old guys drinking and carying on. It's a great way to start a race. Many of the old Belgium men you could pick out of a crowd of old men from all over the world. Their faces are like stone but real worn looking.

Yesterday we headed to Belgium for a race that was 110K of 7.5K laps 17 times. Not to bad except there was a big climb that we had to do 17 times and there were 161 riders. Two other things I’ve noticed about racing out here is instead of 15 guys thinking they can take the win there are about 70 guys. The other thing is the race start out fast and only gets faster (that’s Belgium).

Well I’ve completed my first UCI 1.1 race in Europe. The Sparkasse Giro in Bochum, Germany consisted of 12 laps that equaled 175K total with lots of big teams and riders there. To name a few Voigt, Zabel, McEwne, and Patacci. Most of the big team were there which also draws the big crowds. Around the 15K loop there was always someone and around the start finish line they were standing 8 deep. It’s amazing the fan support they get here. On parts of the loop there were some good BBQ’s going on and if I were to pull out I know where it would have been. It should be on TV at some point.

The last three days the team has been in Germany amongst some of the stars of the tour de france racing some crits infront of huge crowds. The first one had a pretty hard uphill section with small cobbles on them. After coming around on the first lap you could hardly think straight it was so loud with people lining the sides 5 or more deep screaming and cheering us on. We really don't do much as it's more for the pros to show off for the crowds. I got to the front once and helped chace a break with Jens Voigt on my wheel.

I’ve now had the opportunity to race in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. I must say Germany has been my favorite. The riders there are a little more chill and don’t feel it necessary to run you off the road. We did a UCI 1.2 race in Belgium with a few pro teams and it was nuts. For 180K it was flat out and with lots of narrow roads and few sections of cobbles. I think of the 200 riders only 60 finished. I’m not sure where I ended up but was happy with how I felt considering I had landed in Europe less then 24 hours before.

Monday I set out at 5:30 am from Mike Carter’s house in Littleton for Vail. It was just Mike and I as we watched the sun come up on our 140 mile journey that would climb 15,000 ft. It was a perfect day with no clouds and a cool feel to the air. Then again it was 5:30 in the morning and you’re in Colorado. We went up Deer Creek Canyon and made our way up High Dr. and then down into Evergreen. We were in Evergreen just over an hour!

The final race before heading home went well for the team and myself. After trying to establish a few breaks we finally got one that stuck with 8 guys. We still had 110K to the finish but had a strong group. With about 25 miles to go we had a good gap and my teammate Robin thought he would attack. After his attack got brought back Pol on the team went as well. The rest of the people in the break were quite annoyed with the early attacks. I was riding an old Trek of the teams that was very uncomfortable and I had the seat way to low.

Today’s race in Holland I shouldn’t even have started. It’s was about a 4K lap that we did 36 times for 120 Kilometers. Within the first 2K I got a flat. I asked the guy if I get a free lap and he said no and sped off without giving me any help. It wasn’t the fastest wheel change ever as the guy had to take his seat belt off and give me the correct wheel. When you’re a minute down on the peleton in the first lap you can forget it. I chased for about 2 laps and then waited for the group to come around. I figured I can at least train.