It has been a long time since my last race report so i apologise in advance for the absence of info but hopefully i will make more as the season goes along.
As to last weekend i headed out to belgium for the 3rd time this year for two local races, and got my best result this season so far over there so here is the race report.
75 junior starters lined up for the 90km road race around a 5km circuit in a small belgian town somewhere in the north. The weather was good but with some nasty headwind on one section of the course, and as with all belgian racing. Everyone looked extremely professional.
I had some good rides the previous weekend racing so i was quitely confident as we awaited the starters pistol.
The race started bruttaly fast as usual as the belgians try and kill off any potential threats, i managed to stay midpack and comfortable at this point while saving energy for later. The main problem in the course was a 500m cobbled section/false flat which skirted round a picturesque old church which some people came down on, but i managed to avoid the accidents.
So we are approaching the final 4 laps and surprisingly for belgium the race has stayed together and nothing had stuck, then finnaly a split happend on the cobbled section and i waited for someone to chase but the look of pain on the riders around me indicated i would have to go on my own.
So i hit the front on my own as hard as i could and crossed the 45sec gap to the 5 leaders in about half a lap. Once there we started to work and i finally realised that we might just stay away.
We hit a lap to go and there is an attack but its brought back, then with 400 to go one of the brits who i had come to belgium with us goes away and everyone looks at each other.
I hit the front to chase but blow spectacularly and roll in 6th overall.
Lessons have been learnt, keep composed and when you are hurting they are most definitely hurting and the guy that wins may not be the strongest but one who takes the risks to win.
National Junior Championships this sunday (i do have a lift now so thats alright)
Hopefully i can give you a good race report on Monday!