Not so motivated to write something about the tour so here are some pictures.
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| protecting the leaders jersey |
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Tour des Deux-Sèvres
Just a real quick update on this tour. was a super long drive away, like 6 or 7 hours travel in the car west of Lyon. So im pretty sure it was in a region called 'deux-sevres', and im just guessing that because it was the name of the race. Anyway the region of the race wasn't so important to me. The tour was 4 days, 3 days of 160km road races and on day with a 17km tt and 90km road race, all flat stages.
First stage was pretty windy and on a flat course. ended up splitting at the start and was real hard but all came back together at the end for a bunch sprint. had a few a goes in the stage but had no luck. And it rained.
Second stage it rained ... and rained and rained all day. this day had the tt in the morning and I was hoping for a good ride but just could find no rhythm the whole race and just felt crappy. think I was 30th or something. I then had a nap in the middle of the day and in the afternoon was a 90km stage. Bloody hell this was a sketchy stage because of the intense rain and the course was at times a bit technical so there were a lot of crashes. The worst came half way when about 50 people came down, we were going down a small decent on a straight piece of road and someone pulled their brakes too hard and just slid out taking out pretty much everyone behind them. I luckily missed it and finished the stage unscathed and in the first group. Incredibly lucky when I think back on it because if I had crashed and landed on my shoulder again it most probably would have broken again.
Third stage got in the main days breakaway of 10ish riders only to never get more then a minute because half the people didn't work for some reason, still dunno why. Because of that we were basically doomed from the start and got caught 20km from finish. I then finished in the bunch. Did I mention it rained again?....
Last stage nothing interesting, was controlled by yellow jersey team and all finished together again. It also poured down with rain again for the start of this stage, surprise surprise.
So to sum up was a very well organised tour lots of people watching and team presentations all the time. The racing was flat and hard so a good engine building tour for me. I think I have also worked out that about 80percent of the races iv done this year have been in the rain, and I'm not the only one complaining about it, comments like- "I think I have worn my rain jacket more than my short sleeved jersey in races this year" are very common in the peloton.
First stage was pretty windy and on a flat course. ended up splitting at the start and was real hard but all came back together at the end for a bunch sprint. had a few a goes in the stage but had no luck. And it rained.
Second stage it rained ... and rained and rained all day. this day had the tt in the morning and I was hoping for a good ride but just could find no rhythm the whole race and just felt crappy. think I was 30th or something. I then had a nap in the middle of the day and in the afternoon was a 90km stage. Bloody hell this was a sketchy stage because of the intense rain and the course was at times a bit technical so there were a lot of crashes. The worst came half way when about 50 people came down, we were going down a small decent on a straight piece of road and someone pulled their brakes too hard and just slid out taking out pretty much everyone behind them. I luckily missed it and finished the stage unscathed and in the first group. Incredibly lucky when I think back on it because if I had crashed and landed on my shoulder again it most probably would have broken again.
Third stage got in the main days breakaway of 10ish riders only to never get more then a minute because half the people didn't work for some reason, still dunno why. Because of that we were basically doomed from the start and got caught 20km from finish. I then finished in the bunch. Did I mention it rained again?....
Last stage nothing interesting, was controlled by yellow jersey team and all finished together again. It also poured down with rain again for the start of this stage, surprise surprise.
So to sum up was a very well organised tour lots of people watching and team presentations all the time. The racing was flat and hard so a good engine building tour for me. I think I have also worked out that about 80percent of the races iv done this year have been in the rain, and I'm not the only one complaining about it, comments like- "I think I have worn my rain jacket more than my short sleeved jersey in races this year" are very common in the peloton.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Grand prix du Canton de Glieze
This was the second race of the week for me and I was really motivated after a good performance in my last race. This race suited me a lot better too, it was on a 9 km circuit that had 2 climbs in it mostly low gradient but had a few steep pitches, we did this circuit 12 times and it was then 5 km on a separate circuit that went up a short steep climb to the finish.
From the start I was easily making every split in the peloton, but there would always be a group get away and then small groups from the peloton that would come across so after awhile the break away would basically be the main peloton. From there after each lap took its toll and the group got smaller and smaller. With three laps to go there were about 15 of us left including my team mate Axel. At this point I think we were one of the strongest so we were both attacking a lot. With 2 laps to go Axel got away by himself and I was just covering all the attacks from behind. Unfortunately I just didnt quite have enough on one of the steep parts of the climb after a big effort just before it to go with 3 guys that managed to bridge to Axel. In the end Axel won solo which was cool and I finished 2nd from the group behind in 6th place overall.
I was really happy to see Axel win and glad I could help him out a bit and still finish in a respectable place. The form is coming up really well and I got lots of racing coming up, with my next one being a 4day tour starting on Thursday.
From the start I was easily making every split in the peloton, but there would always be a group get away and then small groups from the peloton that would come across so after awhile the break away would basically be the main peloton. From there after each lap took its toll and the group got smaller and smaller. With three laps to go there were about 15 of us left including my team mate Axel. At this point I think we were one of the strongest so we were both attacking a lot. With 2 laps to go Axel got away by himself and I was just covering all the attacks from behind. Unfortunately I just didnt quite have enough on one of the steep parts of the climb after a big effort just before it to go with 3 guys that managed to bridge to Axel. In the end Axel won solo which was cool and I finished 2nd from the group behind in 6th place overall.
I was really happy to see Axel win and glad I could help him out a bit and still finish in a respectable place. The form is coming up really well and I got lots of racing coming up, with my next one being a 4day tour starting on Thursday.
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| Axel and I getting congratulations from our DS |
Saturday, July 7, 2012
New Update
Not quite sure where to start, because yet again it has been awhile since I have written on here. Seems this broken collar bone has kept me out of racing longer than I hoped and then when I was ready to race there was no racing on because of the french national champs.
I tried to come back racing on the 15th of june, hoping that all would be ok enough to just go easy in the bunch and finish, then I would be able to start a big objective of mine the tour du Pays Savioe the following weekend. Although it wasnt to be and the shoulder and the legs werent quite ready. I finished but was dropped about half way into the stage and didnt start the following day.
The next weeks all I was able to do was training as best as I could with my shoulder only limiting me a little but it was always getting better each day. But I was very motivated to get back some good form so I was doing a lot of big rides and extremely eager to start racing again.
It was good to have my dad come visit me last week as he was in europe for work so he came by Lyon to stay with me for a couple of days. Was very cool one day we rented a car and drove to Grenoble so I could ride some famous alpine climbs there. I did Alp d'Huez and few of the other long climbs around there also, we had some amazing weather about 35degrees and I did 75km with 3500m vertical meters was pretty epic. The second to last day my dad was here he came to watch my 2nd race back. It was a regional cat 1 race on a 6km circuit 18times. It was a bizzare day because the previous days there had been extremely hot weather and then for the race the weather took a complete U-turn, pouring with rain and down to 13degrees. I wanted to test myself a bit in this race and did so by going in the early break with 4 others and was really pushing myself and really feeling that I hadnt raced in awhile. At about midway our group was eventually caught by a group of ten and that ruined our rhythm and everyone was attacking all over the show and I had nothing and ended up dropping back to the main peloton and finished with them.
I had my next race was yesterday night (friday) it was a nocturn criterium so the race didnt start till 7.30pm. I had a bit of drama in getting there. I went to the race with a guy who helps out the club a bit and he is 75 and I think he is half blind because he drives everywhere at 50km/h and sometimes randomly brakes when there is nothing on the road infront of us... anyway we got to the town where the race was but he didnt know exactly where the start was so we spent the next hour driving around trying to find it. I pretty much thought I wasnt going to make the start, but luckily we found it with 5 minutes remaining before the start so I changed as quick as possible, got to the start line just as the commentator was about to set everyone off. I got my number and luckily he held up the start a few minutes to wait for me. But still because I was late I only had my training wheels with 60psi in each (I would normally run 120psi for a race). Anyway I started and was motivated. I made all the early moves and eventually was in a group of 15 ahead of the peloton. With so many people it wasnt working together so well so I got away with 3 others including 1 team mate. We worked together really well for the next 60km. then in the final 10km I got away with 1 other guy and we got to the finish together and unfortunately he beat me in the final sprint, but I was still happy with second but obviously a little disappointing to miss a win.
Hopefully this will be the start of some good results to come, I am starting to feel really good and I hope I can transfer that into results. The final months of the season will be important for me after missing alot of races during the middle of the season so I am very motivated for my upcoming races.
I tried to come back racing on the 15th of june, hoping that all would be ok enough to just go easy in the bunch and finish, then I would be able to start a big objective of mine the tour du Pays Savioe the following weekend. Although it wasnt to be and the shoulder and the legs werent quite ready. I finished but was dropped about half way into the stage and didnt start the following day.
The next weeks all I was able to do was training as best as I could with my shoulder only limiting me a little but it was always getting better each day. But I was very motivated to get back some good form so I was doing a lot of big rides and extremely eager to start racing again.
It was good to have my dad come visit me last week as he was in europe for work so he came by Lyon to stay with me for a couple of days. Was very cool one day we rented a car and drove to Grenoble so I could ride some famous alpine climbs there. I did Alp d'Huez and few of the other long climbs around there also, we had some amazing weather about 35degrees and I did 75km with 3500m vertical meters was pretty epic. The second to last day my dad was here he came to watch my 2nd race back. It was a regional cat 1 race on a 6km circuit 18times. It was a bizzare day because the previous days there had been extremely hot weather and then for the race the weather took a complete U-turn, pouring with rain and down to 13degrees. I wanted to test myself a bit in this race and did so by going in the early break with 4 others and was really pushing myself and really feeling that I hadnt raced in awhile. At about midway our group was eventually caught by a group of ten and that ruined our rhythm and everyone was attacking all over the show and I had nothing and ended up dropping back to the main peloton and finished with them.
I had my next race was yesterday night (friday) it was a nocturn criterium so the race didnt start till 7.30pm. I had a bit of drama in getting there. I went to the race with a guy who helps out the club a bit and he is 75 and I think he is half blind because he drives everywhere at 50km/h and sometimes randomly brakes when there is nothing on the road infront of us... anyway we got to the town where the race was but he didnt know exactly where the start was so we spent the next hour driving around trying to find it. I pretty much thought I wasnt going to make the start, but luckily we found it with 5 minutes remaining before the start so I changed as quick as possible, got to the start line just as the commentator was about to set everyone off. I got my number and luckily he held up the start a few minutes to wait for me. But still because I was late I only had my training wheels with 60psi in each (I would normally run 120psi for a race). Anyway I started and was motivated. I made all the early moves and eventually was in a group of 15 ahead of the peloton. With so many people it wasnt working together so well so I got away with 3 others including 1 team mate. We worked together really well for the next 60km. then in the final 10km I got away with 1 other guy and we got to the finish together and unfortunately he beat me in the final sprint, but I was still happy with second but obviously a little disappointing to miss a win.
Hopefully this will be the start of some good results to come, I am starting to feel really good and I hope I can transfer that into results. The final months of the season will be important for me after missing alot of races during the middle of the season so I am very motivated for my upcoming races.
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| A coffee stop ride with Chris Ward, the waitress thought it would be a good idea to put an ashtray on our table after we arrived...... |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
the road to recovery
Well I have had a few people asking me to write something on here, sorry for the wait but I have been been trying not think so much about cycling while I'm not able to ride and filling my time with other things to pass the days untill I could do some training again.
So picking up from where I left it, I went and saw the specialist and fortunately I didnt need an operation which was good, all I needed was to wear a fancy strap to pull my shoulders back to make sure the collar bone would line up properly while healing. She also told me I couldn't ride my bike for 2 weeks, which I already saw coming after reading a few articles on the internet. Luckily instead of having to sit in my apartment for 2 weeks and being bored as hell, I was able to catch a train up to Holland and stay with my aunty, uncle and their two kids. Was really good for a change of scenery and i got to do a few touristy things and mostly chill out and treat the time as a holiday. I also did a bit of walking everyday to keep the fitness up a bit.
I am now back in Lyon and have started riding my bike on the erg and I must say I feel so much better finally being able to get on my bike even though im feeling very slow. The shoulder is feeling ok holding the handlebars at the moment and the pain is slowly getting less everyday and I can move my arm almost normally without to much pain. I think by the end of the week I will be able to start some training on the road so im looking forward to that. But will know for sure after my x-ray at the end of the week.
So picking up from where I left it, I went and saw the specialist and fortunately I didnt need an operation which was good, all I needed was to wear a fancy strap to pull my shoulders back to make sure the collar bone would line up properly while healing. She also told me I couldn't ride my bike for 2 weeks, which I already saw coming after reading a few articles on the internet. Luckily instead of having to sit in my apartment for 2 weeks and being bored as hell, I was able to catch a train up to Holland and stay with my aunty, uncle and their two kids. Was really good for a change of scenery and i got to do a few touristy things and mostly chill out and treat the time as a holiday. I also did a bit of walking everyday to keep the fitness up a bit.
I am now back in Lyon and have started riding my bike on the erg and I must say I feel so much better finally being able to get on my bike even though im feeling very slow. The shoulder is feeling ok holding the handlebars at the moment and the pain is slowly getting less everyday and I can move my arm almost normally without to much pain. I think by the end of the week I will be able to start some training on the road so im looking forward to that. But will know for sure after my x-ray at the end of the week.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
bad luck
So I sit here in my apartment typing with one hand feeling sorry for myself, with my other arm in a sling because of a broken collar bone. Not really what I wanted to be writing about nearing the middle of the season.
Starting on Thursday was a big objective of mine, the Rhone Alpes Isere tour, a UCI 2.2 4 day race around where I live. The last 2 months I have done the most training I have ever done before and was feeling super motivated. The first stage was the flattest of the four stages with only a few hard hills in the finishing circuits. A break of 20 from the start managed to stay away and i finished in the diminished peloton of 25 1 and half minutes behind. And the good sensations were definitely there.
The next day everything turned to shit. We woke up to find that out team van had been broken into during the night and there were 7 bikes stolen (we weren't the worst off, one other team had all their bikes and wheels stolen). My bike was one of the bikes stolen so it was a mad rush to get some new bikes sorted. luckily our service course was nearby and we got some spare bikes from there. We also got some new frames from our bike supplier O'rka, who's factory is also nearby. Luckily I got my bike all finished up just less than an hour before the start. Unfortunately my bad luck didn't stop there, 70km into the stage there was a crash in the peloton right infront of me and I had nowhere to go but straight onto a pile if bikes and people and then over the handlebars into the ground. I felt straight away something wasn't right, I couldn't move my arm and when I felt my shoulder I could feel a bone sticking out. So I was taken in the ambulance to a nearby hospital and the whole time all I could think about was the amount of extremely hard work I've put in the last couple of weeks that all in one crash has gone to waste with no results to show for it.
I have an appointment with a specialist tomorrow to decide whether i need an operation so will update after that. but for the moment I think i'll be out for a month.
Sometimes life is a real bitch
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| x-ray |
Starting on Thursday was a big objective of mine, the Rhone Alpes Isere tour, a UCI 2.2 4 day race around where I live. The last 2 months I have done the most training I have ever done before and was feeling super motivated. The first stage was the flattest of the four stages with only a few hard hills in the finishing circuits. A break of 20 from the start managed to stay away and i finished in the diminished peloton of 25 1 and half minutes behind. And the good sensations were definitely there.
The next day everything turned to shit. We woke up to find that out team van had been broken into during the night and there were 7 bikes stolen (we weren't the worst off, one other team had all their bikes and wheels stolen). My bike was one of the bikes stolen so it was a mad rush to get some new bikes sorted. luckily our service course was nearby and we got some spare bikes from there. We also got some new frames from our bike supplier O'rka, who's factory is also nearby. Luckily I got my bike all finished up just less than an hour before the start. Unfortunately my bad luck didn't stop there, 70km into the stage there was a crash in the peloton right infront of me and I had nowhere to go but straight onto a pile if bikes and people and then over the handlebars into the ground. I felt straight away something wasn't right, I couldn't move my arm and when I felt my shoulder I could feel a bone sticking out. So I was taken in the ambulance to a nearby hospital and the whole time all I could think about was the amount of extremely hard work I've put in the last couple of weeks that all in one crash has gone to waste with no results to show for it.
I have an appointment with a specialist tomorrow to decide whether i need an operation so will update after that. but for the moment I think i'll be out for a month.
Sometimes life is a real bitch
Monday, May 7, 2012
tour du chablais
Finally had a race that wasn't raining this weekend which was very nice for a change. Felt like I hadn't raced for ages as last weekend the race I was supposed to do was canceled because of bad weather. Anyway the race this weekend was an elite national and on some hard parcours which started on the edge of lake geneva in town called Thonon-les-Bains. Was a really cool place with the sun shining and looking across the lake to Switzerland. The race basically went up a mountain, down to the valley then back up and down to the start again.
The first 50 km were flat before the climbing began and my plan was to just sit in for this section. Unfortunately a large break of 15 riders got away here and once again our team had nobody in it which I didnt understand because we had 13 riders on the start line and for 9 of them their job was to get in the early break... this caused a huge fuss and our team were the only team chasing and the DS was not a happy chappy.
At the first climb I was pretty much attacking all I could but unfortunately I seemed t have a problem with my chain it was so stretched it was slipping every time I attacked which was less than ideal (I had planned to get changed after this race, obviously a little to late). this sort of screwed me up a bit but I just dealt with it and stayed active for the next 80km.
By the final 20km there were just 15 left from the peloton and we had swept up all but 4 riders from the early break. From my team there was still me Sebastien and Jeremy. I was really hurting from all my earlier efforts and so was sebastien a bit and jeremy had just been sitting in so we decided to help him out. We set jeremy up pretty good for the last climb and he got away with 4 others. They didnt catch the 4 out front by the end and Jeremy got 8th. I arrived in a group sprinting for 11th place and I came in 20th place.
I felt really strong and was a real good hit out before Rhone alpes tour next week (uci 2.2) and the results were more reflected on tactics rather than strength so I'm happy with how I went, I had planned to attack more from from further out than wait for the final.
The first 50 km were flat before the climbing began and my plan was to just sit in for this section. Unfortunately a large break of 15 riders got away here and once again our team had nobody in it which I didnt understand because we had 13 riders on the start line and for 9 of them their job was to get in the early break... this caused a huge fuss and our team were the only team chasing and the DS was not a happy chappy.
At the first climb I was pretty much attacking all I could but unfortunately I seemed t have a problem with my chain it was so stretched it was slipping every time I attacked which was less than ideal (I had planned to get changed after this race, obviously a little to late). this sort of screwed me up a bit but I just dealt with it and stayed active for the next 80km.
By the final 20km there were just 15 left from the peloton and we had swept up all but 4 riders from the early break. From my team there was still me Sebastien and Jeremy. I was really hurting from all my earlier efforts and so was sebastien a bit and jeremy had just been sitting in so we decided to help him out. We set jeremy up pretty good for the last climb and he got away with 4 others. They didnt catch the 4 out front by the end and Jeremy got 8th. I arrived in a group sprinting for 11th place and I came in 20th place.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
This week I have been staying at Kieran Hambrooks (my NZ team mate from 2 years ago) apartment in Saint Etienne, which is just 45min by train from Lyon. Has been really good riding somewhere different and chilling with another New Zealander, almost like Morteau days. Weather is still average, been battling the wind the last few days.
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| Kieran at the top of a climb. |
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rain...
Was a very average weekend of racing. I had 2 races and both in the rain and cold. They don't really deserve much of a report, finished in the bunch on the first race and didn't finish the second one after doing a lot of work on the front when none of the team made the break.
Thought I'd just put some pictures instead.
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Thought I'd just put some pictures instead.
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Monday, April 16, 2012
Tour du Loir-et-Cher
Last week I had a UCI 2.2 tour up northern France, just below Paris in the Loir et Cher department. The tour was basically pan flat most of the time and had some long stages, it was 5 days and 900km all up. Was a cool experience racing with lots of pro teams, only 5 amateur teams including us out of 27. Was also only 4 french teams and the rest Belgium, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, Austrian, Japanese, English and American. There was more english than french spoken in the peloton which was a welcome change!
Stage 1- 190km
first stage was completely flat and super fast. right from the start is really hard as there were alot of turns going through small towns and with 170 odd riders all trying to be at the front there were also heaps of crashes, I saw one rider hit a hole in the road that he didnt see and lost control of his bike and headed straight into a fence dragging his face along it... Luckily I stayed out of trouble and a break eventually got away and the pace cooled down a bit. Until we got to a cross wind section a group of 10 or so split of the front and bridged to the break. So with a large group up the road and most teams represented there were only a couple of teams chasing. In the end the group stayed away and won by 3 minutes. I finished in the main bunch. The average speed for the stage was 46km/h. Also was cool to see another kiwi Mike Northey win the stage and take the yellow jersey.
Stage 2- 210km
This stage was controlled fairly well by the top 3 teams on GC, but again it was really fast (45km/h average) as the break didnt get away untill 110km. After it was established the peloton settled down to a controled pace. It was prety easy untill we reached the finishing circuits at 200km, 4 times round a tight circuit with a 500m steep climb each lap. The Russian drilled it on the front and easily reeled in the break away while dropping most of the feild. I managed to hang in there finishing front group in 30th place.
Stage 3- 201km
You could say this stage was like a 'rest' day for the peloton. It was a flat stage again and the break got away in the first 5km and the rest of the stage was controlled by the yellow jerseys team. everything came back together for a bunch sprint. just a cool 43km/h average today.
stage 4- 190km
This was by far the hardest stage. The forecast was for thunderstorms so I made sure I brung my rain jacket, but for the first 50 km the race was flat out with the break not able to get away and with the sun shining I was getting really hot and re thinking my decision to wear so much kit. But all of a sudden 70km in started pouring with rain and then was so cold hail followed and continued for the rest of the stage. At about 80km crosswinds also added to the mix and split the peloton. I was a bit caught out and was only in the second group but worked hard and managed to make my way back to the front by 100km. From there I was feeling good and had a couple goes of the front as the terrain was a bit more up and down. The final 40 km were round another hard finishing circuit with 2 small climbs and with rain and cold the peloton was getting smaller and smaller. By the end there 10 up the road and I finished in the group 35seconds behind in 37th place. The stormy conditions definitely took their toll as 70 riders didnt finish.
Stage 5- 100km
The final stage was on 8 km circuit around the town where we were staying. It was fairly uneventful as it was controlled by the leaders team and came together for a bunch sprint which was on a bit of an uphill. I wasnt really confident in my sprint so was in a bad position, but in the end I felt good and was moving up alot of places so I was a bit annoyed I didnt try a bit harder to keep a good position at the front. I finished 42nd on the stage.
I was fairly happy with how I went as it wasnt a tour that suited me very well but I finished 25th overall and 6th U23.
Stage 1- 190km
first stage was completely flat and super fast. right from the start is really hard as there were alot of turns going through small towns and with 170 odd riders all trying to be at the front there were also heaps of crashes, I saw one rider hit a hole in the road that he didnt see and lost control of his bike and headed straight into a fence dragging his face along it... Luckily I stayed out of trouble and a break eventually got away and the pace cooled down a bit. Until we got to a cross wind section a group of 10 or so split of the front and bridged to the break. So with a large group up the road and most teams represented there were only a couple of teams chasing. In the end the group stayed away and won by 3 minutes. I finished in the main bunch. The average speed for the stage was 46km/h. Also was cool to see another kiwi Mike Northey win the stage and take the yellow jersey.
Stage 2- 210km
This stage was controlled fairly well by the top 3 teams on GC, but again it was really fast (45km/h average) as the break didnt get away untill 110km. After it was established the peloton settled down to a controled pace. It was prety easy untill we reached the finishing circuits at 200km, 4 times round a tight circuit with a 500m steep climb each lap. The Russian drilled it on the front and easily reeled in the break away while dropping most of the feild. I managed to hang in there finishing front group in 30th place.
Stage 3- 201km
You could say this stage was like a 'rest' day for the peloton. It was a flat stage again and the break got away in the first 5km and the rest of the stage was controlled by the yellow jerseys team. everything came back together for a bunch sprint. just a cool 43km/h average today.
stage 4- 190km
This was by far the hardest stage. The forecast was for thunderstorms so I made sure I brung my rain jacket, but for the first 50 km the race was flat out with the break not able to get away and with the sun shining I was getting really hot and re thinking my decision to wear so much kit. But all of a sudden 70km in started pouring with rain and then was so cold hail followed and continued for the rest of the stage. At about 80km crosswinds also added to the mix and split the peloton. I was a bit caught out and was only in the second group but worked hard and managed to make my way back to the front by 100km. From there I was feeling good and had a couple goes of the front as the terrain was a bit more up and down. The final 40 km were round another hard finishing circuit with 2 small climbs and with rain and cold the peloton was getting smaller and smaller. By the end there 10 up the road and I finished in the group 35seconds behind in 37th place. The stormy conditions definitely took their toll as 70 riders didnt finish.
Stage 5- 100km
The final stage was on 8 km circuit around the town where we were staying. It was fairly uneventful as it was controlled by the leaders team and came together for a bunch sprint which was on a bit of an uphill. I wasnt really confident in my sprint so was in a bad position, but in the end I felt good and was moving up alot of places so I was a bit annoyed I didnt try a bit harder to keep a good position at the front. I finished 42nd on the stage.
I was fairly happy with how I went as it wasnt a tour that suited me very well but I finished 25th overall and 6th U23.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Tour du Charolais
Had another elite national race this weekend. It was 160km on an undulating loop with a couple finishing circuits with some short steep climbs.
Felt pretty crap for the first hour or 2, but didn't have to do anything anyway as a break got away and the team had to guys in it and one of the bigger teams had nobody so they were chasing all day. I started to come right when we hit the finishing circuits. The pace really shot up and the peloton easily pulled in the break. So with about 40km to go it was attack after attack. My team mate Sebastien got away with another guy so behind we only had to cover the attacks.
On the last lap with about 15km to go I got away with 2 other guys and we bridged up to Sebastien at the front. about 5km later Jeremy from my team also got across with 2 others. We were holding about a 40second gap to the peloton and it looked like we were gunna stay away, until 5km to go everybody started pissing around playing cat and mouse so we ended up being caught by the peloton less 500m from the line. I ended up 25th in the end and team mate Alex got 2nd in the sprint. Bit annoying for me but felt strong again, just waiting for a result.
Felt pretty crap for the first hour or 2, but didn't have to do anything anyway as a break got away and the team had to guys in it and one of the bigger teams had nobody so they were chasing all day. I started to come right when we hit the finishing circuits. The pace really shot up and the peloton easily pulled in the break. So with about 40km to go it was attack after attack. My team mate Sebastien got away with another guy so behind we only had to cover the attacks.
On the last lap with about 15km to go I got away with 2 other guys and we bridged up to Sebastien at the front. about 5km later Jeremy from my team also got across with 2 others. We were holding about a 40second gap to the peloton and it looked like we were gunna stay away, until 5km to go everybody started pissing around playing cat and mouse so we ended up being caught by the peloton less 500m from the line. I ended up 25th in the end and team mate Alex got 2nd in the sprint. Bit annoying for me but felt strong again, just waiting for a result.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Tour du canton Bourg-de-Péage
Had a fairly good race here, I felt good and I have no regrets with how I raced just unfortunate I didnt get the best result. It was a really cool course just south of Lyon, a circuit with 2 separate loops always undulating with no climbs over 3km and was super windy, 150km all up.
There were 120 starters so again was important to be at the front from the start with the strong wind always threatening to split the peloton. But when everyone is trying to do the same there were alot of close crashes and riding on the grass etc. It wasn't until 50km a group got away on one of the climbs which I managed to get in it and we stayed away for the whole race, there were 16 of us and also Sebastian from my team was also there.
We worked together well and got a big lead and knew the winner would come from our group. With 45km to go we went up the hardest climb and I was feeling good and the group was a bit big for my liking so I put in an attack and one guy came with me, but dropped after a km. so I was away by myself and was hoping a couple of guys would bridge up to me but the group ended up catching me but we were now down to 10.
Basically to the finish it was flat with a couple small pinches. With 25km to go there were alot of attacks and 4 got away including my team mate Sebastian so I was just sitting in behind not chasing. The four stayed away and I knew from my group I wouldnt win the sprint for 5th so I attacked with 2km to go, but unfortunatly I was caught just on the line and got 10th.. Still happy with my race and the form is definitely on the up.
There were 120 starters so again was important to be at the front from the start with the strong wind always threatening to split the peloton. But when everyone is trying to do the same there were alot of close crashes and riding on the grass etc. It wasn't until 50km a group got away on one of the climbs which I managed to get in it and we stayed away for the whole race, there were 16 of us and also Sebastian from my team was also there.
We worked together well and got a big lead and knew the winner would come from our group. With 45km to go we went up the hardest climb and I was feeling good and the group was a bit big for my liking so I put in an attack and one guy came with me, but dropped after a km. so I was away by myself and was hoping a couple of guys would bridge up to me but the group ended up catching me but we were now down to 10.
Basically to the finish it was flat with a couple small pinches. With 25km to go there were alot of attacks and 4 got away including my team mate Sebastian so I was just sitting in behind not chasing. The four stayed away and I knew from my group I wouldnt win the sprint for 5th so I attacked with 2km to go, but unfortunatly I was caught just on the line and got 10th.. Still happy with my race and the form is definitely on the up.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Annemasse-Bellegarde
I was really hoping to have a good result in this race I had some really good weeks training leading up to this and the team also did a course recon the Wednesday before, and after also racing it last year I knew the course really well, its 180km long with the first 50km undulating and the last 130 has 4 main climbs with the last one being the hardest at about 6 or7 km long but the top is 25km from the finish. Also this race is one of the oldest ameture races in France so its a pretty big thing for the frenchies, there were 160starters.
For the first 50km I made sure I was at the front as there was a bit of wind and I wanted to stay out of trouble. The peloton pretty much stayed together most of the time but I was always following attacks on all the climbs and feeling good, but I think there was a slight headwind most of the time which made it hard for any groups to stay away. On one of the hardest climbs at 100km I got away 3 other guys and we were all pulling really hard but we got pulled back just after the decent. The group then stayed together till the final climb which was pretty bizarre for an ameture race in France for no group to get away earlier especially on a hard course.
Up the final climb I was starting to feel it a bit, I had no problem staying at the front but when 2 guys got away I wasn't quite good enough to go with them so over the top I was with a group of 15-20just behind the 2 in front. On the decent a few people managed to make it back to our group but we never managed to catch the 2 out front and they stayed away till the end. I finished in the group behind of about 40. I finished 33rd.
Pretty guttered the race wasnt harder during the middle section where i thought a group would get away so I spent a lot of energy attacking and following all the best guys.. didnt quite go to plan but owell thats racing and on the bright side I was feeling really strong.
For the first 50km I made sure I was at the front as there was a bit of wind and I wanted to stay out of trouble. The peloton pretty much stayed together most of the time but I was always following attacks on all the climbs and feeling good, but I think there was a slight headwind most of the time which made it hard for any groups to stay away. On one of the hardest climbs at 100km I got away 3 other guys and we were all pulling really hard but we got pulled back just after the decent. The group then stayed together till the final climb which was pretty bizarre for an ameture race in France for no group to get away earlier especially on a hard course.
Up the final climb I was starting to feel it a bit, I had no problem staying at the front but when 2 guys got away I wasn't quite good enough to go with them so over the top I was with a group of 15-20just behind the 2 in front. On the decent a few people managed to make it back to our group but we never managed to catch the 2 out front and they stayed away till the end. I finished in the group behind of about 40. I finished 33rd.
Pretty guttered the race wasnt harder during the middle section where i thought a group would get away so I spent a lot of energy attacking and following all the best guys.. didnt quite go to plan but owell thats racing and on the bright side I was feeling really strong.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
La Transversale des As de l’Ain annulée
Unfortunately this race was 'annulee' or in english, canceled. After a week of awesome weather, 20 degree days without a cloud in the sky I got some really great training in and I was really looking forward to having a good race. But the weather turned for the worse on race day, it was pouring with rain and only 5 degrees, anyway we went to the race start and got all kitted up and just when everybody was ready we get the call from the officials that the race was canceled because there was to much snow on the climb that we had to go up... Its fair to say there were a lot of pleased riders but also some really pissed off, and to be honest I was feeling pretty motivated so I was a bit annoyed.. So everybody got changed again and we headed home.. bit of a waste of a day and I ended up doing an hour on the erg.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
GP Serra-Delorme
This was an elite national race on a hard circuit done 10 times with a decent hill every lap and 150km all up. I did this race last year so I sort of knew what to expect but the big difference this year it was super windy, and with 150 starters and on small roads it was all about staying at the front.
I was holding really good positioning from the start so I never found my self in to much trouble and each lap the group was getting smaller as the wind and the hill took its toll. I was really active all race having lots of digs off the front and was in all the serious moves. It took 100km before a group managed to get away and at first I wasn't there but on the hill I got off the front with a couple other guys and we bridged to the front in the crosswind.
On the 2nd to last lap at the top of the hill 2 guys attacked at the top and I went with them but I just didn't have the kick in my legs to get on their wheel so I was stuck in between them and the group. 2 others then came across but decided to attack past me so I didn't get on their wheels either. I ended up going back to the group and I had lost out on the winning move which was a bit disappointing.
I also had 3 other team mates in the group so we decided to work for one our guys Sebastien to see if we could get him to the front group. For the last lap I was on the front with the 2 others in my team but we didn't manage to catch the front guys. We arrived to sprint for 5th place and I ended up 15th.
Fairly happy with my form and the race was a really good test, it was so hard only 30 odd finished.
I was holding really good positioning from the start so I never found my self in to much trouble and each lap the group was getting smaller as the wind and the hill took its toll. I was really active all race having lots of digs off the front and was in all the serious moves. It took 100km before a group managed to get away and at first I wasn't there but on the hill I got off the front with a couple other guys and we bridged to the front in the crosswind.
On the 2nd to last lap at the top of the hill 2 guys attacked at the top and I went with them but I just didn't have the kick in my legs to get on their wheel so I was stuck in between them and the group. 2 others then came across but decided to attack past me so I didn't get on their wheels either. I ended up going back to the group and I had lost out on the winning move which was a bit disappointing.
I also had 3 other team mates in the group so we decided to work for one our guys Sebastien to see if we could get him to the front group. For the last lap I was on the front with the 2 others in my team but we didn't manage to catch the front guys. We arrived to sprint for 5th place and I ended up 15th.
Fairly happy with my form and the race was a really good test, it was so hard only 30 odd finished.
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| Add caption |
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tour de l'Ardèche
This was a cool tour just south of Lyon and there was some great weather, it was the first time I have ridden in just shorts and a short sleeved shirt since I got here! and to top it off we had a really strong team and we ended up winning the tour!
1st stage was a short 100km but was pretty hilly. Like usual it was on from the start and there were basically my team and another team that were the strongest in the race so there was always someone from my team up the road. At about 40km there was a 4km steep climb that split the race up and there were 20ish left at the front and I had my whole team there and basically from there each of us would attack until eventually one got, so a bit of luck was needed to get away. In the end Jeremy from my team got in the winning break and ended up coming 3rd on the stage. I finished in the bunch behind.
Next stage was a 6km time trial, 3km flat then 3km uphill at 7 percent average gradient. This made it a bit tricky for deciding whether to use a tt bike or just the roady... I ended up using the road bike and I was 6th, with same time as 4th and 5th just split seconds separating us. Im not sure but I might have been faster with a tt bike because everyone in front of me were on one but all good I was still happy with my time. Jeremy ended up with the yellow jersey after the stage.
Last stage was another 100km hilly again but this time we had Jeremy in yellow so it was up to us to control the race. We pretty much rode the stage perfectly, from the start we were on the front just setting a good tempo and making sure we had someone covering any dangerous attacks. There was only one point in the race that we almost lost it, when we over one of the harder climbs there was only me and Jeremy from the team in the front so I had cover everything for 10km before some more team mates got back up to us, but all good. Basically for the rest of the stage I was on the front with 2 other team mates till the final climb to the finish and I was smashed so I went backwards. But Jeremy ended up 5th on the stage and won the overall so happy all round!!
1st stage was a short 100km but was pretty hilly. Like usual it was on from the start and there were basically my team and another team that were the strongest in the race so there was always someone from my team up the road. At about 40km there was a 4km steep climb that split the race up and there were 20ish left at the front and I had my whole team there and basically from there each of us would attack until eventually one got, so a bit of luck was needed to get away. In the end Jeremy from my team got in the winning break and ended up coming 3rd on the stage. I finished in the bunch behind.
Next stage was a 6km time trial, 3km flat then 3km uphill at 7 percent average gradient. This made it a bit tricky for deciding whether to use a tt bike or just the roady... I ended up using the road bike and I was 6th, with same time as 4th and 5th just split seconds separating us. Im not sure but I might have been faster with a tt bike because everyone in front of me were on one but all good I was still happy with my time. Jeremy ended up with the yellow jersey after the stage.
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| doing some work on the front |
Friday, March 2, 2012
Circuit Bedat, and other things
Firstly after my last races the knee problem I got didnt just go away unfortunately I had to take it really easy for a week, I was only aloud to ride in the small chain ring and I went to see the team physio every day. In the end he said it was a tight ITB band which was most probably caused by the change in pedals. But now I'm back to the pedals I had before and I have to do stretching every day. It was a real bummer I missed out on the weekends racing because they were pretty good races for me, but it only the start of the season and its better to make sure this small injury doesn't turn into a bigger problem.
The next week I still had to take it fairly easy, luckily the pain had gone but I just couldn't do any efforts. I decided to try it out in the race in the weekend and the knee held up real well, it pretty much felt normal so that was a massive relief. I actually didnt feel to bad in the race, i managed to make a breakaway of 20ish riders but I had more bad luck come my way, I punctured and there was no support cars behind the break yet so I had to wait for the peleton to go past before I could get a wheel. The break I was in didn't end up getting caught either so it was a bit of a missed opportunity for me but owell.
Now this week I'm back into my training progam, and the weather has come really good too! clear skies and 20degrees right now... big change from the minuses last week so I hope it stays like this. Yesterday we had our team presentation which managed to take up the whole day. First thing in the morning we went to the O"rka bike factory who are our bike sponsors and we got a factory tour and had lots of photos taken. They then put on a nice lunch for us. We then had more photos done in a park in Lyon, and by the time that was finished it was 4pm and almost time for the team presentation, so we got to sit down for an hour and was straight back into it. But was worth it for the mean feed we had afterwards.. hopefully all the fancy french pastries I ate wont weigh me down to much this weekend..
Will put some photos up from the presentation etc when I get them.
The next week I still had to take it fairly easy, luckily the pain had gone but I just couldn't do any efforts. I decided to try it out in the race in the weekend and the knee held up real well, it pretty much felt normal so that was a massive relief. I actually didnt feel to bad in the race, i managed to make a breakaway of 20ish riders but I had more bad luck come my way, I punctured and there was no support cars behind the break yet so I had to wait for the peleton to go past before I could get a wheel. The break I was in didn't end up getting caught either so it was a bit of a missed opportunity for me but owell.
Now this week I'm back into my training progam, and the weather has come really good too! clear skies and 20degrees right now... big change from the minuses last week so I hope it stays like this. Yesterday we had our team presentation which managed to take up the whole day. First thing in the morning we went to the O"rka bike factory who are our bike sponsors and we got a factory tour and had lots of photos taken. They then put on a nice lunch for us. We then had more photos done in a park in Lyon, and by the time that was finished it was 4pm and almost time for the team presentation, so we got to sit down for an hour and was straight back into it. But was worth it for the mean feed we had afterwards.. hopefully all the fancy french pastries I ate wont weigh me down to much this weekend..
Will put some photos up from the presentation etc when I get them.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Tramontane and Ronde du Canigou
So first two races in France were bloody cold and windy, both races there was around 70 - 90 km/h winds and with the wind chill the temperature was in the minus. I don't think I have ever worn so much kit for a race....
Tramontane
This race was on a 30 km circuit done 4 times with 1 decent climb in it of about 6km. would have been a really good race for me had there been no wind.. From the start the first 3km were head wind then a right turn into a massive cross wind. The peleton instantly split up with people dropping wheels all over the show, there was a group of 20 at the front and that was the race already decided. I was in the 3rd group by the time we made it to the hill and I managed to bridge up to the second group in front on the hill and stayed with them for the rest of the race. I finished in 36th. Only 50 finished out of 200 starters. I was feeling ok but just suffering in the cold, especially in my lungs.
Ronde du Canigou
Second race was on a big loop fairly hilly with one long climb of 6km again and then 3 finishing circuits at the end. This race I had much better positioning in the wind and made the 2nd group before the first hill. I was really feeling good on the climbs and I managed to bridge up to the first group with one other guy so there were 24 of us at the front. I was with them till 60km when in a cross wind section I got blown of the road and into the gravel, luckily managed to stay on my bike. But when I was back on the road I couldn't get back on the group. Unfortunately I had to wait for the group behind and ended up finishing with them in 32nd place. Again only 50 out of 200 finished. Also during this race I have picked up a bit of a knee problem which I think was from my new pedals, so Iv changed back to my old ones and I'm just trying to rest up my knee at the moment and really hoping its nothing to serious..................
The rest of the training camp went really well. Most of the guys are the same from last year so that's good. I am back at the apartment now and its snowing which is not so good.
In other news me and Martins bought a new coffee machine. Goes real good
Tramontane
This race was on a 30 km circuit done 4 times with 1 decent climb in it of about 6km. would have been a really good race for me had there been no wind.. From the start the first 3km were head wind then a right turn into a massive cross wind. The peleton instantly split up with people dropping wheels all over the show, there was a group of 20 at the front and that was the race already decided. I was in the 3rd group by the time we made it to the hill and I managed to bridge up to the second group in front on the hill and stayed with them for the rest of the race. I finished in 36th. Only 50 finished out of 200 starters. I was feeling ok but just suffering in the cold, especially in my lungs.
Ronde du Canigou
Second race was on a big loop fairly hilly with one long climb of 6km again and then 3 finishing circuits at the end. This race I had much better positioning in the wind and made the 2nd group before the first hill. I was really feeling good on the climbs and I managed to bridge up to the first group with one other guy so there were 24 of us at the front. I was with them till 60km when in a cross wind section I got blown of the road and into the gravel, luckily managed to stay on my bike. But when I was back on the road I couldn't get back on the group. Unfortunately I had to wait for the group behind and ended up finishing with them in 32nd place. Again only 50 out of 200 finished. Also during this race I have picked up a bit of a knee problem which I think was from my new pedals, so Iv changed back to my old ones and I'm just trying to rest up my knee at the moment and really hoping its nothing to serious..................
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The rest of the training camp went really well. Most of the guys are the same from last year so that's good. I am back at the apartment now and its snowing which is not so good.
In other news me and Martins bought a new coffee machine. Goes real good
Saturday, February 4, 2012
2012!!!
Firstly welcome to all my readers it has been awhile! but don't worry I am back writing for the 2012 season with Team Vulco! Before I get into what I'm up to now a quick catch up on my time in NZ. Basically I spent most my time catching with mates and working so not a massive amount of training was done, but all good I have all year to some of that. It was bloody good to get back home and see everyone again, and after a week at home it was like I hadn't even left I'd just slotted straight back in which was cool. Cheers for everyone back home for a sweet as summer although the summer weather wasnt all that great....
I did a few races back home but never found any form so that was a bit shit but almost to be expected as I'm really aiming for the season away in France so just gotta look at the bigger picture. For sure the most enjoyable race I did back home was the NZ cycle classic in Manawatu, for team Armstrong motor group with Ryan Sissons, Chris Macic, Jason Christie and Kieran Hambrook. I didnt have any decent results but I was really starting to feel good on the bike again. The whole team got on really well and we managed to have some good laughs off the bike, so a really huge thank you to Tim Stephens who put the team together it was awesome!
Well now I'm back in France after some hectic times, with only a day after the NZ cycle classic finished (in which I had to go the docter and the dentist and pack my bags) I was on the plane back to France via Osaka, Japan and Frankfurt. When I touched down in Lyon I was greeted to snow and -5 degrees a bit of a shock after coming from a New Zealand summer. Luckily it was pretty easy to settle in to my apartment as it is the same as last year so it almost felt like coming home........
Unlucky for me the next day I had some testing to do on the bike. Because in France if you were in the top 300 riders the previous year you must do some testing to make sure your all good and healthy etc. Feeling a bit jet lagged I had little choice but to do it this day because the team was leaving for a training camp the following day. For the tests I had to do an eye test, have my heart scanned, check my lung capacity, height weight BMI and fat percentage recorded, eating habits recorded, teeth checked, general check up and a V02 max test on the bike. Was a shit load just to get a racing licence if you ask me.... Just in case you were wondering I passed everything and I have my licence.
I am now in Spain for our training camp and luckily down here the sun is shining and the temperature is a little higher just getting above 0 degrees. The team has 2 races this weekend which I'm not doing as I'm still a little jet lagged, and then we have 2 again next weekend which I should be doing. Being one of the few not racing today gave me the chance to ride my new bike for the first time and I must say I forgot how good it is to ride a brand new bike!
I did a few races back home but never found any form so that was a bit shit but almost to be expected as I'm really aiming for the season away in France so just gotta look at the bigger picture. For sure the most enjoyable race I did back home was the NZ cycle classic in Manawatu, for team Armstrong motor group with Ryan Sissons, Chris Macic, Jason Christie and Kieran Hambrook. I didnt have any decent results but I was really starting to feel good on the bike again. The whole team got on really well and we managed to have some good laughs off the bike, so a really huge thank you to Tim Stephens who put the team together it was awesome!
Well now I'm back in France after some hectic times, with only a day after the NZ cycle classic finished (in which I had to go the docter and the dentist and pack my bags) I was on the plane back to France via Osaka, Japan and Frankfurt. When I touched down in Lyon I was greeted to snow and -5 degrees a bit of a shock after coming from a New Zealand summer. Luckily it was pretty easy to settle in to my apartment as it is the same as last year so it almost felt like coming home........
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| Looking out the window of my apartment the day after I arrived (there's nowhere near as much snow as the day before) |
Unlucky for me the next day I had some testing to do on the bike. Because in France if you were in the top 300 riders the previous year you must do some testing to make sure your all good and healthy etc. Feeling a bit jet lagged I had little choice but to do it this day because the team was leaving for a training camp the following day. For the tests I had to do an eye test, have my heart scanned, check my lung capacity, height weight BMI and fat percentage recorded, eating habits recorded, teeth checked, general check up and a V02 max test on the bike. Was a shit load just to get a racing licence if you ask me.... Just in case you were wondering I passed everything and I have my licence.
I am now in Spain for our training camp and luckily down here the sun is shining and the temperature is a little higher just getting above 0 degrees. The team has 2 races this weekend which I'm not doing as I'm still a little jet lagged, and then we have 2 again next weekend which I should be doing. Being one of the few not racing today gave me the chance to ride my new bike for the first time and I must say I forgot how good it is to ride a brand new bike!
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| Training in the Hills and looking down on where our hotel is |
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| New Bike |
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