I apologise for the lack of blog posts recently. I will make sure I post on here more regularly.
May was a frustrating month, plagued with punctures and mechanicals but I have come out of it a lot stronger than I entered. Now both legs seem to be working I am noticeably stronger in races. Each race I do my best to forge/follow the winning move and if I don’t I will always try to bridge. I Would much rather finish last in a field in a race where I have left everything on the road and made a race of it, than let a break of 20 or so go and just sit in. To me that isn’t racing. Perhaps this could be why I’m still short of a top 10 here in Belgium. I’m quite Mathematical and calculative in nature and trying to come up with a formula to WIN the race is challenging. However, I feel like I’m getting closer and closer with each race that goes by.
I recently raced in Wallonie a French speaking region of Belgium which happens to be 20km from where I am staying. The races in Wallonie seem to suit me well as they tend to have a few rises in. I was reasonably aggressive from the gun and managed to form a small break early on however it came back together and the next move went of around 7. They had a reasonable gap and I was riding in the top 5 wheels all the time which meant when a chase group formed and there was a split in the group I was part of it. I think there were 15. We worked well together. I possibly did too much work as I wanted to make sure we caught the break and stayed away from the group chasing from behind. We eventually caught the break and formed a group of 22. The course had 3 ‘climbs’. One being significantly harder across the finish line after completing a rough cobbled section. The group of 22 were working really well together. I tried to make sure I lead the climbs and the cobbled sections and ride up them at a reasonably uncomfortable pace to discourage any surges of acceleration. However, I almost worked my plan against myself. I lead up through the finish line and had a bit of a gap at the top of the climb. I then decided it would be a good idea to attack. So I decided to dig deep and try and see if I could do something. Unfortunately I was reeled back in and It was a wasted effort. On the next lap the group then split and I was at the tail end after rolling through. I was poorly placed and didn’t quite have the zip to jump to the front 11. So 11 of us were working through and held the front group to a reasonable gap for a little while. Until 11 became 5. Everyone seemed to be cooked/bluffing so I tried to jump away but everyone was straight on my wheel. We then as a 5 just survived the remaining kms and I decided to try and lead it out with a km to go, hoping they were cooked, but all four came round me in the closing meters! Gutted! I finished 16th. This race really gave me the belief that I can do a lot more over here.
A big bit of motivation for me recently has come from the recent Aussie invasion into the house where I’m staying. 4 Under 23 track riders a road man and the coach. Welcoming in nature, the boss soon analysed myself as a rider, my data and rightfully ripped me to shreds – constructively I must add. For me personally this method works. It was also exactly what I needed. I’m not too sure whether he would like me to name him but for the purpose of the blog and to continue his new nick name I will refer to him as “Gerro”. Gerro and the boys raced the same races as me. This meant I now had someone on the side of the road who was able to give me real feedback of where I went wrong. Which is invaluable when you really do want to succeed. It’s always hard to hear people say you’re doing something wrong but an ambitious athlete needs that sort of evaluation.
The first race the Australians rode was in Merelbeke, I had previously raced in the same area so I had some knowledge of the roads. We rode to the race together along with two of my other housemates and the race was due to start at 3 o clock. I started this race a little too far back. The first move went within the first 100 meters which managed to stay away for the whole race. I wasn’t really as switched on as usual at this race. I made a few digs off the front with a few others but nothing was going. So I sat in the middle of the bunch to recover and be ready to go again. Unfortunately in this time there was a split in the peloton which I was the wrong side of. With it being such a large group I figured that the gap would be closed quickly as it just seemed to roll way. This was my second mistake. Never assume. By the time I moved up to the front the gap is over a minute maybe 2. I could see a group of 4 slightly further up the road so I decided to bridge to them and see if we could work together to close the gap. We worked well for a period of time but unfortunately the 5 became 4 and then it was just myself and one other working against a much larger group of riders. This meant we were caught by another chase group of 10 or more which ended the race for us really. The catch meant there was a lull which caused the front two groups to get further and further away. I finished this race at the front of the newly formed peloton.
The next race was in Wetteren which followed a similar pattern which was unbelievable but I would say it was one of the most negative races I have ever been involved in. The groups split far too easily and there seemed to be a bunch of riders who didn’t fancy riding their bikes that day. Therefore after already analysing this race multiple times I will not divulge into this race any further as it won’t read well on paper.
Bavegem – A hillyish course the day after Wetteren and I was determined to do a good race. I was in a few of the early splits but no moves seemed to be sticking early on. I think I went with almost all of them. After 20km sort of guessed nothing was going so I went to the middle of the peloton and recovered. Lone behold the move went! At this point I decided to move up and try and follow all the moves that went through. Nothing seemed to be working and later on in the race I put an effort in and drove it up the climb and managed to split the group behind. I then flicked my elbow to let one of the Aussies through which was on my wheel and I stupidly stopped pedalling not knowing there was only one rider on the Aussie’s wheel. He put a good turn in and before it was too late I didn’t have the zip to jump on the back of it. I then eased up to maybe get on the next group but again I was trying to jump from almost a dead stop – not my strong point. I then got onto the next group and recovered. I had noticed two of my team mates in the group in front so I could not really chase working as a group so on the last lap I managed to clip off the front and roll home 34th. Not a bad race but a few major errors! Gerro and the Aussies talked me through my errors and I was onto the next race.
Ninove – on the same course I had rode earlier this year and had a mechanical, there was unfinished business with this race. The parcour suits me as well as Belgian racing can, a few climbs and a few technical turns. I decided to attack from the gun, I had a small gap but nothing too significant, I was hoping 4 or 5 riders may jump across and join me but it didn’t happen and I was just wasting my energy so I sat up and jumped back in the group. I followed a lot of the early moves which put me into the red for a short period. This meant when the actual one went I missed it. After refuelling etc etc I made a few efforts to see if people were willing to bring this back or at least try and bridge to the front group. It seemed to be a group of followers. I then made a big effort and clipped off solo, I was then shouted by my team mate Joachim and we started working together on the climb, we were then joined by another rider. The three of us were working really well together and having Joachim there meant we shared the turns really well and made the other rider work. We had a quite significant gap to close I would guess we were a minute and a half behind at least when we initially set off to bridge. Between us we managed to get the gap down to what I would say was 30 seconds ish. We then started to yoyo with the break, getting further then closer then further. Also riding in torrential rain I looked back my team was struggling and I wanted to bridge with him, but when the other rider didn’t want to ride the front either I had to just plow on. I put my head down and went, looked back and no one was on my wheel. They had cracked unfortunately. Still with a significant amount of the race to go I was trying to bridge 11 men solo. I decided to hit the climb as hard as I could and got within 10 seconds, literally meters behind until the break went mental attacking each other, I could not answer as id been out chasing for a while and I cracked and managed to hold off the peloton to the line and finish 12th. I was obviously not too happy at the time. Being so close but so so far away to what could have been. Reflecting on the race it was probably the best ride I have ever done. The watts that went out that race were crazy!
In conclusion, everything seems to be coming together and I have a few things to work on but I believe I will be able to achieve what I have come out here to do.
Again a Big thank you to everyone who has helped me out, from the CTT to Pedal Potential, the individuals at Crewe Clarion Wheelers and the club as a whole, My family. Even the Aussies.
Thank you.
Not giving in.
Ben
Pictures are from the race at Ninove
May was a frustrating month, plagued with punctures and mechanicals but I have come out of it a lot stronger than I entered. Now both legs seem to be working I am noticeably stronger in races. Each race I do my best to forge/follow the winning move and if I don’t I will always try to bridge. I Would much rather finish last in a field in a race where I have left everything on the road and made a race of it, than let a break of 20 or so go and just sit in. To me that isn’t racing. Perhaps this could be why I’m still short of a top 10 here in Belgium. I’m quite Mathematical and calculative in nature and trying to come up with a formula to WIN the race is challenging. However, I feel like I’m getting closer and closer with each race that goes by.
I recently raced in Wallonie a French speaking region of Belgium which happens to be 20km from where I am staying. The races in Wallonie seem to suit me well as they tend to have a few rises in. I was reasonably aggressive from the gun and managed to form a small break early on however it came back together and the next move went of around 7. They had a reasonable gap and I was riding in the top 5 wheels all the time which meant when a chase group formed and there was a split in the group I was part of it. I think there were 15. We worked well together. I possibly did too much work as I wanted to make sure we caught the break and stayed away from the group chasing from behind. We eventually caught the break and formed a group of 22. The course had 3 ‘climbs’. One being significantly harder across the finish line after completing a rough cobbled section. The group of 22 were working really well together. I tried to make sure I lead the climbs and the cobbled sections and ride up them at a reasonably uncomfortable pace to discourage any surges of acceleration. However, I almost worked my plan against myself. I lead up through the finish line and had a bit of a gap at the top of the climb. I then decided it would be a good idea to attack. So I decided to dig deep and try and see if I could do something. Unfortunately I was reeled back in and It was a wasted effort. On the next lap the group then split and I was at the tail end after rolling through. I was poorly placed and didn’t quite have the zip to jump to the front 11. So 11 of us were working through and held the front group to a reasonable gap for a little while. Until 11 became 5. Everyone seemed to be cooked/bluffing so I tried to jump away but everyone was straight on my wheel. We then as a 5 just survived the remaining kms and I decided to try and lead it out with a km to go, hoping they were cooked, but all four came round me in the closing meters! Gutted! I finished 16th. This race really gave me the belief that I can do a lot more over here.
A big bit of motivation for me recently has come from the recent Aussie invasion into the house where I’m staying. 4 Under 23 track riders a road man and the coach. Welcoming in nature, the boss soon analysed myself as a rider, my data and rightfully ripped me to shreds – constructively I must add. For me personally this method works. It was also exactly what I needed. I’m not too sure whether he would like me to name him but for the purpose of the blog and to continue his new nick name I will refer to him as “Gerro”. Gerro and the boys raced the same races as me. This meant I now had someone on the side of the road who was able to give me real feedback of where I went wrong. Which is invaluable when you really do want to succeed. It’s always hard to hear people say you’re doing something wrong but an ambitious athlete needs that sort of evaluation.
The first race the Australians rode was in Merelbeke, I had previously raced in the same area so I had some knowledge of the roads. We rode to the race together along with two of my other housemates and the race was due to start at 3 o clock. I started this race a little too far back. The first move went within the first 100 meters which managed to stay away for the whole race. I wasn’t really as switched on as usual at this race. I made a few digs off the front with a few others but nothing was going. So I sat in the middle of the bunch to recover and be ready to go again. Unfortunately in this time there was a split in the peloton which I was the wrong side of. With it being such a large group I figured that the gap would be closed quickly as it just seemed to roll way. This was my second mistake. Never assume. By the time I moved up to the front the gap is over a minute maybe 2. I could see a group of 4 slightly further up the road so I decided to bridge to them and see if we could work together to close the gap. We worked well for a period of time but unfortunately the 5 became 4 and then it was just myself and one other working against a much larger group of riders. This meant we were caught by another chase group of 10 or more which ended the race for us really. The catch meant there was a lull which caused the front two groups to get further and further away. I finished this race at the front of the newly formed peloton.
The next race was in Wetteren which followed a similar pattern which was unbelievable but I would say it was one of the most negative races I have ever been involved in. The groups split far too easily and there seemed to be a bunch of riders who didn’t fancy riding their bikes that day. Therefore after already analysing this race multiple times I will not divulge into this race any further as it won’t read well on paper.
Bavegem – A hillyish course the day after Wetteren and I was determined to do a good race. I was in a few of the early splits but no moves seemed to be sticking early on. I think I went with almost all of them. After 20km sort of guessed nothing was going so I went to the middle of the peloton and recovered. Lone behold the move went! At this point I decided to move up and try and follow all the moves that went through. Nothing seemed to be working and later on in the race I put an effort in and drove it up the climb and managed to split the group behind. I then flicked my elbow to let one of the Aussies through which was on my wheel and I stupidly stopped pedalling not knowing there was only one rider on the Aussie’s wheel. He put a good turn in and before it was too late I didn’t have the zip to jump on the back of it. I then eased up to maybe get on the next group but again I was trying to jump from almost a dead stop – not my strong point. I then got onto the next group and recovered. I had noticed two of my team mates in the group in front so I could not really chase working as a group so on the last lap I managed to clip off the front and roll home 34th. Not a bad race but a few major errors! Gerro and the Aussies talked me through my errors and I was onto the next race.
Ninove – on the same course I had rode earlier this year and had a mechanical, there was unfinished business with this race. The parcour suits me as well as Belgian racing can, a few climbs and a few technical turns. I decided to attack from the gun, I had a small gap but nothing too significant, I was hoping 4 or 5 riders may jump across and join me but it didn’t happen and I was just wasting my energy so I sat up and jumped back in the group. I followed a lot of the early moves which put me into the red for a short period. This meant when the actual one went I missed it. After refuelling etc etc I made a few efforts to see if people were willing to bring this back or at least try and bridge to the front group. It seemed to be a group of followers. I then made a big effort and clipped off solo, I was then shouted by my team mate Joachim and we started working together on the climb, we were then joined by another rider. The three of us were working really well together and having Joachim there meant we shared the turns really well and made the other rider work. We had a quite significant gap to close I would guess we were a minute and a half behind at least when we initially set off to bridge. Between us we managed to get the gap down to what I would say was 30 seconds ish. We then started to yoyo with the break, getting further then closer then further. Also riding in torrential rain I looked back my team was struggling and I wanted to bridge with him, but when the other rider didn’t want to ride the front either I had to just plow on. I put my head down and went, looked back and no one was on my wheel. They had cracked unfortunately. Still with a significant amount of the race to go I was trying to bridge 11 men solo. I decided to hit the climb as hard as I could and got within 10 seconds, literally meters behind until the break went mental attacking each other, I could not answer as id been out chasing for a while and I cracked and managed to hold off the peloton to the line and finish 12th. I was obviously not too happy at the time. Being so close but so so far away to what could have been. Reflecting on the race it was probably the best ride I have ever done. The watts that went out that race were crazy!
In conclusion, everything seems to be coming together and I have a few things to work on but I believe I will be able to achieve what I have come out here to do.
Again a Big thank you to everyone who has helped me out, from the CTT to Pedal Potential, the individuals at Crewe Clarion Wheelers and the club as a whole, My family. Even the Aussies.
Thank you.
Not giving in.
Ben
Pictures are from the race at Ninove