Third race of the year

Finished my first race in Belgium, it was a kermesse in Sinaai, Belgium. I was nervous at the start. After three of 14, 8km laps I bridged a couple gaps after the tail wind cobbled section. As I caught the leaders, I kept on driving into the head wind. Only one followed and we dug in, seven more bridged up, and the rotations began. Three of the guys could really drive it at parts. I felt supper but with four 8km laps to go I got the bonk and was dropped form the group with Two laps to go. We had put so much time on the rest of the race the officials had finished them a few laps early. Therefore, I crept around for another lap and the officials felt bad for me and let me finish a lap early. Matt finished with the main pack on lap nine. On the ride home, Dan drilled it into the headwind.

Made it to Gent today and it is just as it was. Got nice and lost and rode some sweet roads in good temps. Maybe I try a race tomorrow and we will see how it goes

Back to racing

It has been a while since I posted on my own blog maybe specifically for the blog since the fall of 2003. I was unmotivated. After living in Gent, Belgium and racing for Royal Antwerp cycling club I could not motivate myself to write much while racing in the states, even though I may have squeezed something out while on Snow Valley and Rite Aid.

So last year was a little rough racing wise it started out great and I was slowly improving. Unfortunately one of my big goals didn’t go my way the tour of Virginia. The tour of VA was going great until I bent a link in my chain on stage four while I was bridging to the break. After getting a chain swap form Sram I was way behind the field and Ian Ayers was yelling out of the broom wagon for me to get in so I did. Ian had stopped to wait on his team leader who also broke a chain but Ian did not grab onto the team car when they gave the team leader a ride back to the race. It is interesting how the officials look the other way for certain people. The rest of the week was not a big deal. Until once the last stage was over and the fatigue and high emotions got the best of everyone and an altercation occurred. I don’t currently feel like going into detail but about the altercation but the real trouble started about a hour after the altercation when the first race official arrived on the scene and promised someone would be punished for the altercation he did not see. So this guy made it his personal intention to give a year break form racing. It all worked out because I was able to focus on my job and it is rock solid and now I have money in my pocket.

I got a 2008 racing license on July 1^st and started of racing Saturday night at the 4th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium. Sunday at a Circuit race in Blacksburg, VA. I survived them both and they felt t like early season training races where I couldn’t turn well and things hurt at times and I felt great at times.

Saturday I am heading for a week in Gent, Belgium. I am hoping to race three times in a week an ride the RvV course while riding and drinking the rest of the time.