Finding My Belgian Legs

In my last post i said that i was racing on wednesday at the coastal town of De Haan, but with a few off the bike issues affecting my focus on the bike i chose not to race, and after along chat with the team manager, had found a solution, and focused my attention on the weekends U23 Kermese In Meigem.

With a clear head we headed out for the 32km ride to the kermese, before signing on and rolling a lap of the course (9.2km Flat Twisty And Exposed). There were pleanty of places where the field could be split as well as a cobbled "S-bend" about 3km from the start, so it was improtant to start at the front of the pack. And as it turned out it was VERY important to stay at the front, with a substancial break of about 15-20 riders getting clear in the first kilometer, with James Tennant (South African) returning for a second year at the team, Christoph one of the teams belgian riders, and myself in it.
"The three of us before the move went clear"

With 3 fuji riders in the break we were the best represented team and christoph took the 2nd intermediate sprint and the 25 euro + apricot pie prize, and i took the 3rd intermediate sprint getting some $ and a pie of my own
"Winning my Apricot Pie"

but afterwards I found myself in trouble after the break was put in the gutter the following lap. Dropping back to the similar sized chase group. Conveniently with 2 team mates in the lead group i took the oppertunity to sit on for a lap and when the chase caught back up with the lead group found myself with fresh legs meaning next time the group was put in the gutter i had the legs to hang onto the front group which had been reduced to about 12 riders. I was the only rider from our team in the front group and managend to hang in while 2 more riders found the crosswinds too tough, leaving 10 of us to fight out the finish. Determined not to finish last in my group I used what little i had left to hang in for 8th place, my first top 10 finish :)
"Some more pics of me in the break"



After collecting my winning and demolishing, with help from my team mates, my apricot pie it was time for the 32km ride back home.

All in all a solid 183km day