post 4th of July post

Happy Independence Day

Het Volk was unsubstantial; form was compromised from the fall at Romsée. The legs were firing well on the climbs, but my top end was at top end. Lined up for the field sprint, and got stuck on the outside of a turn in the last 700 meters.

A three day training camp in the German/French speaking Ardennes just finished. Practice spinning up the steep climbs will serve well at the Tour de Liege beginning July 17th, around one week from now.

The short run calls for a Tour of Flanders style UCI race this Saturday in Pittem as a prep for Liege followed with the Tour de Liege the 17th possibly with the Ronde Van Vlaams Brabant beginning the day after, both UCI 2.12's and 5 days long.

The day after Vlaams I fly direct to Salt Lake to train at altitude in prep for the Tour of Utah, though still tentative for the team.

coming up

UCI 1.12 Het Volk this Saturday the 27th, flanders style cobbled and paved climbs.

Recap of Romsée-Stavelot-Romsée, began well bridging to the breakaway on the first, but went down in a crash shortly afterword, bike was fine and I rejoined the front of the peloton on the descent. Covered the second climb in the front 10, the third climb as well, but got my front wheel tangled we formed the front eschelon over the top. A slow wheel change ensued as many small groups rolled past. A teamate gave me his wheel but the race was gone.

Podium photos; Bertem

Bertem UCI 1.12 report

3rd place.

176 starters, and 156 km of steep rolling hills.

Around 90 kilometers into the race, I went with a small group to catch the breakaway which we did shortly.

At about 30 km remaining, I went clear with 5 others, and together we stayed away. Then with 7 km to go two riders took off solo, one then the other. I mixed around with the three still with me, and got them to chase together to bring back one of the two riders. The leader stayed away, clearly stronger then the rest. I positioned myself in the field sprint, and held for 3rd place, 2nd of my group of 4.

Romsée-Stavalot-Romsée is Tuesday for me. Het Volk is next Saturday for me.
Slainte

coming up

UCI 1.12 this Sunday, June 21st in Bertem, Belgium.
160 - 170 km single day race, hilly.

UCI 1.2 this Tuesday, June 23rd, Romsée-Stavalot-Romsée, Belgium.
Single day, Liege-Bastogne-Liege style race.

UCI 1.2 next Saturday, June 27th, Het Volk, in Belgium.
Single day, classic Flanders style race.

UCI 1.12 Moresele

I ended up 15th yesterday in a 70 rider field sprint remnants of 192 starters covering 166 km, bright and sunny day with little wind and warm temps.

Decided to ride the breakaway to hedge my bets, and went with 19 riders within the first 14 km. We stayed clear with maximum 2 minutes, but were caught with 65 km remaining.

The remaining peloton went to the line in bunch sprint. I had a clear line on the left with 400 meters, but it was too early.

The next race is next Sunday, June 21

Laarne

In the local laps, turning off of the finishing stretch. This photo was around 130 km in the race with 40 km still to go. Here I'm contemplating on which of the 5 laps remaining we will catch the escape, didn't happen.

The bike I am on is the Fuji SL, very lightweight and yet very strong. After several races plus a stage race, I cannot find a single fault in the bike. A good fit helps, but if it can handle cobbles and the racing here then it's good enough for me. The SRAM Force group is new issue to me for the year, but the same group I raced last year. Shifting is responsive, braking is powerful, cranks are stiff, all I want and need.

The pair of white dashed lines on the road mark a bike lane, while the raised pavement lined with cobble stones is another bike lane. Bike lanes and paths like these are constant and everywhere in Belgium.