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Sorry it’s been such a long time since I have updated my blog. The last few days were crazy as there was a lot of stuff to do including two final races. The first race was in Zwegem which was about thirty minutes from where we were staying. When we got to the start of the race I was surprised to see a small field, about the same size as a junior Crit like Memorial Day. The course, as usual for Belgium, was flat and windy. The race started very slow compared to many of the other races we have been doing, so I let myself drift too far back in the pack, often as far as thirty riders back. This was a huge mistake. As soon as the real action started I was too far back to do anything about it. About halfway through the race 15 guys got off the front of the field. I tried to bridge in the windiest section which was a mistake. I got within about five seconds from closing the gap but eventually had to sit up and wait for the field. By this time Joel was beginning to lay down the hammer, so I was quickly dropped by the field and finished 27th. The team, however, had a really good result. Anders went off the front of the race. The break I tried to bridge up to included Alex and Lawson. Alex bridged to Anders and they came across the line one two and Lawson soloed away from the break and got third. Joel was really strong and would have done really well if he didn’t lose the break, and James finished one place behind me.
The race in Brugge on Sunday went a lot better for me. The entire 20 lap 63K race was on cobbles. I’m light compared to many of the other riders, and I assumed that this meant the race wouldn’t suit me. I started at the back of the race and got stuck behind some really slow riders on the tight course. By the time I got passed them the field was already thirty seconds ahead after only 3k of riding. I was really angry and started doing a full out time trial. I pulled for 10K before I caught Joel who had been dropped from the field. A couple K later we caught James who got dropped from our group quickly. At the end of 25K of racing I counted that I had caught 26 riders that I was now towing to the line. At this point I stopped pulling because I couldn’t see anyone up the road and knew that if I won the field sprint I would finish 6th. With 12 laps to go one rider jumped off the front of our group. The US team refers to him as little Fabian, because not only does he share a resemblance to Cancellara, but he also rides a Cervelo SLC-SL with 808s everywhere no matter how bad the road surface. I was tired and made the mistake of letting them go. With eleven laps to go I thought that it said one lap to go and attacked the group. I was surprised that nobody followed. I got to the finish thinking I had finished and was very confused to see ten laps to go. If I had kept going for another 15 seconds I would have bridged to little Fabian who ended up 5th. After I hesitated I had no option but to sit and wait for the field. In the end I finished 8th because I messed up my sprint and finished second in the field sprint. Joel did a lot of work for me even though he was just as strong. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The team had a great day too. Joel and James both finished inside the top thirty. Anders finished 17th. Lawson was fourth and Alex won again.
I got home Monday and went for an easy spin yesterday. My bike feels really strange but I think I'll get used to it again really soon. I might do the team ride today, I can't wait to see everyone again!