daveraynerfund - riders news results, and discussion: April 2009

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Matts March Blog

Back to Belgium

The last time I wrote I was sat in the airport waiting to come home. 2 days later and I was back on “the grid” in a pro Kermess in Wanzele. It was a 170km race on a circuit of about 15kms, it was quite an interesting course with a bit of everything, a few hills and a few cobbles just to make it that bit more interesting. From what I can remember it wasn’t the best race for me or the team, a break went after a few laps with none from An post there, it was only a matter of time before we were on the front riding to bring the break back. It came back after a few ks of hard graft and the fireworks started again. We were determined not to miss the break this time. We didn’t miss one, but unfortunately nothing stuck. Last lap and I was riding to help Nico to the front for the finish. Nico and Kenny were a respectable 7^th and 8^th. My job was done with 1km to go and I went backwards like a stone and rolled in the middle of the peloton.

Waasland

Next was a UCI 1.2 race in the waasland region of Belgium. A pretty typical Belgian race, cobbles and wind for 100km and then a finish circuit with more of the same. I got stuck in all race, going with a lot of attacks and riding well. After a few laps of the finish circuit a group of 10 went clear with Jef Peters of An post there. A good situation to be in for us so we sat back and let the others worry about bringing it back. The break stayed away and Jef was a close 2^nd, just a few cms off the win. I did my job for Nico again and he sprinted in incredibly strong, catching and passing 4 of the breakaway riders and finishing 6^th! A good day out for the boys in green!

Nokere Koerse

Next was Nokere. A semi classic in Belgium and a huge race for the team. We were all full gas for the start making sure we were well and truly in the race. The race was rather uneventful with a bunch sprint looking almost 100% sure. I was feeling good all race and had followed a few attacks and attacked myself numerous times. Nothing worked and we geared up for a bunch sprint. I was sitting ok for the finish, about 20 back with 1km to go and was on for a certain top 15 place when there was a mass pile up in front of me! I managed to stay up after a few meters riding on my front wheel. I scurried across the line, glad to have not lost any skin but gutted to miss out on a result! It was a good day for the Brits as Ben Swift was 2^nd! Nico was 10^th

Road Trip

Next was an 8hr road trip to the Loire Valley in France. Without naming any names, one of the team were full of cold and managed to do his best to pass it round the team to wipe half of us out for the race. Unfortunately I was one of the victims and felt like muck in the race. I stopped after 2hrs. 16hrs in the car for nothing! Not happy!

Ronde Van Grone Hart

2 days later and I was pinning my numbers on again in a Dutch 1.1 race. I was still feeling a bit under the weather but felt well enough to race. When I hear these 2 words together “1.1” and “Holland” it makes me cringe. The roads in Holland are designed to be bike friendly, but not our kind of bikes, the kind that only go 10kph with a bag full of shopping on the back. The roads are designed to slow down the cars so are full of speed humps, random bits of road furniture and some strange obstacles placed in the most dangerous positions you could imagine. Add this with a lot of wind and you have, not a lot of fun and a lot of pain. After 30 kms of racing round the local towns dodging plant pots in the road etc. a few crashes had shed 10-20 of the 200 odd starters. We left the town and headed out onto the open roads into the fields. Soon after we hit the wind and the race was split to pieces. I was sitting nicely in the front group of about 30. Bad luck struck early and I was caught behind a crash. I was held up for a few seconds but that was enough. I ended up in the 2^nd group. That was me for the day. We rode hard all day for about 150 km non stop, “full gas” After about 150km we caught what was left of the front group. 1 few had gone clear and we were racing for the minor placings. I was stuffed and rolled in mid peloton. It was a hard day out! Some good hard ks in the legs was about the only good thing that came out of it!

Bad Times

Next up was not a good few weeks for me. I won’t go on about it as I don’t want to bore you all with my misery. I picked up yet another virus and had to rest for 6 days with no bike. I missed 2 of the biggest races of the year that I was really looking forward too. Dwaars door Vlaanderen and the Brabantje Pijl. Both Huge semi classic races in Belgium. I was sat on the sofa for both of them and witnessed Nico do an awesome ride in the first of the 2 races. He was in the early breakaway and managed to stay clear over the climbs. The race developed behind him and he was joined by the best of the best. He was racing for the win but was outnumbered by the Belgian Quick Step team including Tom Boonen. He finished an awesome 2^nd place after more than 180kms in the breakaway! Well done Nico!

After my virus I got back on the bike, keen as ever I squeezed in 18 hrs in 4 days. This, I don’t advise! A few days later I was back in the Doctors and was diagnosed with a dose of tendonitis. Another forced break from the bike and more sofa time. Not good!

Home Race

Yesterday was the Dwaars Door Het Haageland in Aarschot. A race about 10km from my front door. Luckily im all fixed up, the knee has recovered and im feeling healthy at last. The race went ok considering my last few weeks nightmares, I rode well for the team. Helped to get 2 of our boys in the move and got some good racing ks in! It was almost another disaster with just a few meters to go. I hit the final corner after a fast decent, I was going well over 70kph and was full gas in a lead out for Nico. I hit the corner and gambled on not using any brakes, my heart skipped a beat as both my wheels slipped suddenly from underneath me. Somehow I held it up and survived to live another day! I took the boys as far to the line as I could and they were 1^st and 2^nd in the bunch sprint. It must have been the lead out ! Hmmmm. The guys in the break finished 2^nd and 4^th! Another good day out but still no win for the team! It can’t be long now before we get one!

I don’t want to get into a habit of saying this but I sure hope I have something a bit more positive to write about in the next few weeks! Keep all your fingers crossed for me and the team!!

Until Next time

Matt

Next races for me :

19-04 Beavechain 1.12