Aalst Natour CriteriumRace to race the up's and the down's for this last month...
Well we can start off the story with some good news atleast that was the race in Drongen which was another podium finish with a 2nd place unfortunately was rather marked person after have strong rides with the pro's.
More good news on the 26th of June got my 3rd win of the season out of a bunch sprint where played the waiting game and came flying from the last wheel to take the race.
Then some bad news hence why there isn't any photo's of early July as raced in Kruishoutem on the 28th where I finished a respectable 4th place but after that my bag got stolen unfortunately it had my camera in it however very lucky my wallet was not in it.
Then anyway moved on and race the following day in Zerkegem which was not such a good day as all I could think about was my camera was gone anyway still finished 12th and had a enjoyable ride home with some mates.
Now into July here we go started off with a slightly bigger kermis on the 2nd in Melle where I finished 2nd also then had 2 pro kermises back to back the first one was in Sint Nicolaas and was on the 6th of july and due to not have enough to drink ended up with cramp in the sprint but still managed to hold on and finish 13th, so it was all about recovery which happened straight away as soon as I got off my bike so I could be in a resonable shape for the race the next day in Melle with the pro's again where I managed to have a strong race and end up riding away with 5 others with 2laps remaining and unfortunately didn't have enough left in the tank to sprint at the end as cramps were been my friend again so finished 5th.
So took it easy the next few days and race on the sunday in Kortemark once again I was heavily marked but that didn't stop me from getting up the road and I finished 2nd again an my team mate Mario Won.
Now here was the race of the season so far on the 12th of July in Vilvoorde-Houtem with the pro's.
I had alot of luck today my legs were feeling great and started off well made the break was last one across to it after 2laps of the circuit were completed anyway heading along the back the distinctive "CLUNK" noise happened straight into the 11 as my rear gear cable snapped with 130k remaining of the race, so since I was in the break a few things were on my mind on what I should do, weather to just pull out as it was a pro race after all and would not have so much hope in against them, then I thought no harm in asking if any of them had a spare bike I could borrow which they all re
plied no, so that when my determination came into play and just pust on with just one gear, so kept on riding for the first hour an half a 70-80 cadance until I worked out I had a little chain ring which was quite spinny, so with changing inbetween the 2 gears managed to stay in the break with 3laps remaining the bunch started attacking each other so made it very hard for me, so I just put it in the big ring and rode as hard as I could and with 2laps to go was in a smaller group of just 6 riders unfortunately it was a block headwind sprint which no gear was any good so ended up finishing a very creditable 5th do to the circumstances.
However the next few days could feel it and in the following little crit I raced could bearly push hard as my back and muscle were really sore so after alot of stretching and massage that problem was put to an end and started in another Pro race in Dentergem on the 18th which raced very strong again but only managed to finish just ahead of the bunch in 9th place, then race the following day and finished 15th and the next day had my first DNF of the season due to my wheel rubbing on my frame pulled out with 3laps remaining.
Enjoyed the next few days went out and watched the other NZ guy's Hayden, Marc and Sam race the pro kermis in Ninove which was nice to see them in amongst it and then went out and saw the fireworks display as part of the Gent Festival which was pretty good that the rain stayed away.
The following day went out for a long ride and met up with Marc, Hayden and Sam and rode for a 3hours before heading back home.
The following day raced in Sint Maria Lierde which was a hilly kermis with plently
of little climbs so started the day off with a train ride to Aalst to sort out the problem with my wheel so got that fixed and rode from there to the race and then raced finished 3rd, and rode back home that was on Saturday so went for a nice easy long ride on Sunday.
On Monday th 25th it was another highlight of the season as started the Natour Criterium in Aalst which is the first one the tour riders ride so got to ride in amongst the likes of
Phillip Gilbert, Ivan Basso, and others which was a new experience and very fun due to the share amount of spectators, the atmosphere was unreal and finished 13th there the only thing was the time it finished was quite late like 9.45pm.
So after having a good nights sleep and waking up far later than usual got ready to race a Dienze again this time had more luck only just as broke my seat rails again on lap 3 and still ended up getting away with 1 other with 8laps remaining and managed to kick away to take my 4th victory of the season in the race last year I finished 2nd so was extra special to win this year.
The next day finished 13th in Dienze and raced feely average as brought a new seat and was to high and could really feel the different muscle operating after a few laps so thats all for now.
God Bless
Take Care
Chris
Photos below of win in Dienze
Well we can start off the story with some good news atleast that was the race in Drongen which was another podium finish with a 2nd place unfortunately was rather marked person after have strong rides with the pro's.
More good news on the 26th of June got my 3rd win of the season out of a bunch sprint where played the waiting game and came flying from the last wheel to take the race.
Then some bad news hence why there isn't any photo's of early July as raced in Kruishoutem on the 28th where I finished a respectable 4th place but after that my bag got stolen unfortunately it had my camera in it however very lucky my wallet was not in it.
Then anyway moved on and race the following day in Zerkegem which was not such a good day as all I could think about was my camera was gone anyway still finished 12th and had a enjoyable ride home with some mates.
Now into July here we go started off with a slightly bigger kermis on the 2nd in Melle where I finished 2nd also then had 2 pro kermises back to back the first one was in Sint Nicolaas and was on the 6th of july and due to not have enough to drink ended up with cramp in the sprint but still managed to hold on and finish 13th, so it was all about recovery which happened straight away as soon as I got off my bike so I could be in a resonable shape for the race the next day in Melle with the pro's again where I managed to have a strong race and end up riding away with 5 others with 2laps remaining and unfortunately didn't have enough left in the tank to sprint at the end as cramps were been my friend again so finished 5th.
So took it easy the next few days and race on the sunday in Kortemark once again I was heavily marked but that didn't stop me from getting up the road and I finished 2nd again an my team mate Mario Won.
Now here was the race of the season so far on the 12th of July in Vilvoorde-Houtem with the pro's.
I had alot of luck today my legs were feeling great and started off well made the break was last one across to it after 2laps of the circuit were completed anyway heading along the back the distinctive "CLUNK" noise happened straight into the 11 as my rear gear cable snapped with 130k remaining of the race, so since I was in the break a few things were on my mind on what I should do, weather to just pull out as it was a pro race after all and would not have so much hope in against them, then I thought no harm in asking if any of them had a spare bike I could borrow which they all re
plied no, so that when my determination came into play and just pust on with just one gear, so kept on riding for the first hour an half a 70-80 cadance until I worked out I had a little chain ring which was quite spinny, so with changing inbetween the 2 gears managed to stay in the break with 3laps remaining the bunch started attacking each other so made it very hard for me, so I just put it in the big ring and rode as hard as I could and with 2laps to go was in a smaller group of just 6 riders unfortunately it was a block headwind sprint which no gear was any good so ended up finishing a very creditable 5th do to the circumstances.However the next few days could feel it and in the following little crit I raced could bearly push hard as my back and muscle were really sore so after alot of stretching and massage that problem was put to an end and started in another Pro race in Dentergem on the 18th which raced very strong again but only managed to finish just ahead of the bunch in 9th place, then race the following day and finished 15th and the next day had my first DNF of the season due to my wheel rubbing on my frame pulled out with 3laps remaining.
Enjoyed the next few days went out and watched the other NZ guy's Hayden, Marc and Sam race the pro kermis in Ninove which was nice to see them in amongst it and then went out and saw the fireworks display as part of the Gent Festival which was pretty good that the rain stayed away.
The following day went out for a long ride and met up with Marc, Hayden and Sam and rode for a 3hours before heading back home.
The following day raced in Sint Maria Lierde which was a hilly kermis with plently
of little climbs so started the day off with a train ride to Aalst to sort out the problem with my wheel so got that fixed and rode from there to the race and then raced finished 3rd, and rode back home that was on Saturday so went for a nice easy long ride on Sunday.On Monday th 25th it was another highlight of the season as started the Natour Criterium in Aalst which is the first one the tour riders ride so got to ride in amongst the likes of
Phillip Gilbert, Ivan Basso, and others which was a new experience and very fun due to the share amount of spectators, the atmosphere was unreal and finished 13th there the only thing was the time it finished was quite late like 9.45pm.
So after having a good nights sleep and waking up far later than usual got ready to race a Dienze again this time had more luck only just as broke my seat rails again on lap 3 and still ended up getting away with 1 other with 8laps remaining and managed to kick away to take my 4th victory of the season in the race last year I finished 2nd so was extra special to win this year.
The next day finished 13th in Dienze and raced feely average as brought a new seat and was to high and could really feel the different muscle operating after a few laps so thats all for now.
God Bless
Take Care
Chris
Photos below of win in Dienze
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