Grain of Sand

Great News. Finally a victory! Not a podium or a top 5 but actually crossing the line first. Hopefully this will continue for the rest of the season cause it feels so gooood. It was even more satisfying as I had a very stressful week at school with work and stuff and was feeling pretty down in general.  It was the first round of the Junior National Series in Abergavenny Wales. I prepared well. I had a really nice dinner with the Dibbens and McClays on the Saturday night. A good move as knowing me I would probably have spent the evening doing something stupid like glute bridging exercises instead of resting. As you can see from the pic below, I thanked Pete (rider in red) for his hospitality. Weather was cold but sunny so kept the knee warmers on. Bike was in fully pimped mode with deep sections. Gear were working nice and smooth. They better have considering I spent 4 hours Friday night and Saturdays morning labouring over changing the cables. I always decide to tinker with my bike a f...

Feeling even better this weekend as still coming off the back end of a cold! Felt rough half way through the week but felt rejuvenated come the weekend. If everything progresses next weekend should be a breeze (ha!). High Wycombe RR was run up where last year's junior Nationals were held, Long Crendon. The weather was real nice again. Plowman Craven had a full team of 8 so they were the ones under pressure. No breaks were going until the last lap when I got in a move of 7. Plowman Craven rider just sat on and won the sprint (Jon Mozley). Tried to catch him out with 2k to go going through a small town but to no avail. Came 5th. Did a hill rep after the race and a couple of sprints just to prep me for next weekend- Cadence RR. Will put some pictures up if I can find some later. Milan San Remo was pretty sick but I wish there had been more attacking on the climbs. Cavendish is too quick!

Last Weekend was another Interclub (Junior Belgian National Series) in Ieper. It was a very picturesque race and we raced under over the bridge and through the town centre. I didn't really notice too much during the race though. I was still in the back end of a cold (can't shift the runny nose a sore throat) so did an easy 1 hour Saturday. Forgot about it when I started racing but a lot of guys got some snot on their faces. It was a beautiful day which would make it a fast race. These are the u23's racing over the Koppenburg the same day. No pics of us. We raced over the Koppenburg, a legendary cobbled climb used in Gent-Wevelgem (where Jimmy Casper annihilated his face) and another berg, but the race wouldn't split. I was top 5 going over the Kop. but nothing happened. South East Team (me, Pete Dibben, Sam Harrison) attacked lots in the run in and we had Dan Mclay for the sprint, but it didn't work out and Dan got 10th and I finished 22nd in the bunch sprint.

Last Weekend I rode the Jock Wadley Memorial. I spent the night before tossing and turning with a really sore throat but decided to ride anyway as I had prepared for it. Weather was a little windy and mild. I got in the main break of the day, but then cocked it up when I didn't react to James Millard's attack quick enough. I got stuck with a few guys who didn't want to chase. Was a very long race and exceptionally tired by the end (some riders were saying it was harder than a premier calendar!). Should be good training for the Cadence RR. It was also my debut in TCC Kit. I finished 17th in the end after attacking the wind- fractured peleton.

8th March- Jock Wadley Memorial Essex 15th- Andre Noyelle Trophy Belgium 22nd High Wycombe RR Long Crendon Oxfordshire 29th Cadence RR Wales- national series 5th April Thames Velo RR Watlington 12th April Hopefully Junior Paris Roubaix 19th Sid Standard RR- Near leiscester- national series 25th-26th Possibly Echelon cycles stage race 1-3 may Isle of Man Junior Tour- National Series Big goals are highlighted

Had Kuurne this weekend. Came 7th after getting in the winning break of 7. Gave it a solo move with around 1.5 k to go but got dragged back unfortunately. Kicking myself as think I should have gone earlier but hey! Good confidence for coming races and training though. No pics as yet even though there were film crews following. Boonen won the big race. My tip Breschel flopped. (I am the one in the white and purple on the right) Training is going well with my new coach. Beefing up for the earlier races and calfs have definitely grown in size.   Check out this really cool website that my brother found of cyclist legs. Last year towards the end of the season mine were getting pretty good but not as good now. I will be like sean kelly by June though.  http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/01/serious-cycling-serious-legs-serious.html