Figured it was about time for an update.

Why the lack of posts? you ask
well 2 reasons,
1 i have been crook the last week and a bit with a nasty cold/flu which has kept me from training and racing properly, so i havent really had much news worth sharing.
and secondly, what can i say... iv been lazy :)
Now back to feeling 100% the weather has decided it would become nice again instead of the cold conditions of the last two weeks, and with the sun shining and the trees growing their leaves back there is no better place to ride than along the tree lined canal.
Here are some pics from one of our group ride to holland and back.

Hobken (belgium) and Beauchamps (France)

Over the w/e i had 2 big races, one in belgium and then another in northern France. The first being a UCI (1.2 B) Ereprijs Victor De Bruyne (Belgium) on the Saturday and the 2nd being UCI (1.12 FR) Prix de la ville Beauchamps (France) on the Monday.

Saturdays race being a 1.2 meant that there would be continental pro teams as well as amateur teams competing, and with the course being long (185km) and flat it was destined to be a fast race. And that it was with the first of the three 45km laps being completed in just under an hour. There were quite a few aussies in the field with Drapac Porsche ariving in Belgium 2 days before the race, and using it as their opening race in belgium.
"On the Front of the Grid"

With the high speed it was going to be difficult to take on biddons, and so our teams soineurs decided they would find a spot out on course where the field would be slower, and as ther were not in the main feed zone instead on their own i didnt know where they were and didnt see them on the first lap, meaning i was out of water, and despite still feeling alright, cramped with 40km to go and went backwards fast.
Here are some more pics from the race
"Our DS Dieter Lefevre and Soineur Noel"

"Dieter Later on in the Race"

"Stretching the Elastic Band"

"Before the Race"



Beauchamps, the town of Mondays race is a small french village in the provence of Picardy, in northern France and was much hillier than belgium and actually reminded me of some of the landscapes of northern tasmania. The weater was cold and wet and with Sevral of these (see below) scatterd around the course ther was no chance of a calm day.
"Windy Much?"

The course was not exactly easy either with a 2km wall followed by 12 km of narrow, pot holed exposed roads back around to the bottom. And by the 3rd lap the race had exploded into 5 groups with only about 15-20 riders including 2 team mates still in contention.
Then it was time for the 3 hour drive home, as i was not selected to stay on in France and Race the stage race much to my dissapointment.
"Scenery near the Race Start"


"View from the van after Crossing A Rater Large Bridge"