Spezet: playing catch up

The last your heard of me was at the race at Berne, last Monday. Which I summed up as good circuit, feeling terrible though.

With any sport listening to your body is key. This is something I'm often not good at doing yet think I have improved a bit this year. So this is exactly what I did. Easy week it was.

Looking back at my training log I was scheduled one anyway and after 4 weeks full on it was a sign I needed it! Probably 3 weeks on and a week easy would have been better.

Still the weather was good and I went about taking it easy. Just recovery rides and a couple of days off.

Leaving me nice and fresh by the end of the week for the race at Spezet.


Spezet


Sunday came about, and after some great weather all week, I was looking forward to a nice warm and summery race. I wasnt disappointed.

Waking up, it was a bit overcast but warm. After a week of little ring action I needed to wake my legs up. Out for an hour with some sprints to open up. Feeling fresh and ready to roll I headed back for some lunch and waited to be picked up by my team mate, Laurent and family.

1;15pm and car packed we were away. An hours drive, long by French standards! Laurent using his local knowledge meant we arrived ridiculously early but still better early than late.

Arriving an hour and a half before. We went about watching the kids race. As roads are fully shut for all races its great to see kids able to race proper distances on roads.

So 20 mins before the start and I set about for my warm up. A 3.7km circuit. A long finishing straight, must have been at least a kilometre, which was also a bit of a hill, a twisting back section of the course and not much else to be honest. Narrow roads and a few tight corners thats about it.

So 3:45pm and lined up. It was hot, probably close to 30 degrees. 120 riders for this one. A big field. Lots of Lorient riders present and also Saur Sojasun, in the form of Steve Martin (winner at Bubry, 2nd last weekend at Les Forges) as well as lots of other riders to keep an eye on.

So away we went. 25 laps. Narrow roads meant it was important to stay near the front to stay out of trouble and not to miss the moves.

I was a little to far back and struggled to get to the front. By the time I did moves were going off the front. Moves went and came back constantly over the first few laps. I tried to follow the main guys, especially the Sojasun rider.

A few laps later and a move of 3 went. I wasnt on the wheel but made a big effort to jump across. To big an effort possibly. Getting across it didnt last long as we were soon caught. The counter attack went and just my luck that was the winning break! 15 or so riders away and pulling out a lead.


Still Sojasun was still in the bunch so all was not lost. Another couple of laps and Steve Martin and a Leceumie rider attacked I was quickly onto it and soon we were away. The next 3 or so laps of through and off can be summed up plainly as painful. I was feeling ok nothing brilliant, unfortunately Martin was going like a train. Soon we'd dropped the other rider. But we were in no mans land. The break was in sight, 30 seconds or so up the road but just two of us against 15 was a hard task. About 10km just myself and Martin came to an end when we were caught by a group of 10 or so.

The bunch were long gone by now yet my team mate Phil had made the group with me. 2nd group on the road, a good chance to bridge to the break.

Yet for some reason we seemed to slow down. Soon the gap was over a minute and the break was gone. A few laps more, lots of attacks and the group was thinned down with Phil being dropped.

5 or so laps to go and we caught half the break! Unfortunately 8 were still up the road. We were to fight it out for 9th it would seem. I continued to follow Martin as knew he was the strongest. I was feeling average to say the least.

1 lap to go and a move went. I was just not quite onto it. 2 riders dangling with a couple of kilometres to go. 1km to go and I launched an attack. Head down I had a small gap on the chase yet with 100-150 metres to go the sprint opened up and they surged past. I held off a few but was spent.

Rolling across the line in around 15th (will find out exact place later). Just on the wheel of Martin, typical.

So not a great race really, sluggish and missed the break just down to positioning more than anything.

Still back on it this week, big race at end of week at Lorient so looking forward to that. Hopefully some form and a massage can be found before then!

Roi Morvan: Berne...rien

Rien, nothing

Pretty much sums up how today went.

After yesterday ending the race at Les Forges, knackered, I had to have a miraculous 24hrs recovery.

Compression tighted up and early to bed. To be honest didn't sleep too well and woke early. Made use of morning at least with a bit of Topgear on Iplayer, a clean of the bike and put the washing on before lunching and heading off for the final, of a 3 day block, of racing.

1:30pm and last journey in the team car. Alone again!! Still only 25 minute drive to the other side of Plouay for The Challenge Roi Morvan Series race in a town called Berne.

Arriving and parked up on the finishing straight. Straight it was, flat it wasn't, was on a serious climb.

Normally I would be salivating at this point, as love a good climb. Unfortunately I was worried, very worried as it was safe to say I was going into this race pretty tired already.

This was clearly a lesson in picking your races. Hard for me as I dont know the circuits but in reflection would have saved myself for this one. Instead I had two hard races already in my legs...this was to be interesting!

So a 5 and a bit kilometre lap, a long probably 1-2km climb, windy flat section and fast descent. A small field of 50 or so riders. A good field though. UC Briochine, Leucemie Espoir and AC Lanester as well as a Sojasun rider present to name a few. For the team it was Rene, myself and Laurent.

So lined up, the advertised distance was 17 laps but for some reason it had been cut to 15 and then was told the first lap was neutralised as well! So 14 laps! I wasnt to upset though as the difficultly of the circuit and how I was feeling meant it was a bit of a godsend!

So away we went. I felt ok and sat in the top dozen or so riders. Then attacks began..I wasnt ok.

I was powerless. Absolutely nothing. Legs werent hurting, I wasnt breathing especially hard just felt dazed and weak!

So the inevitable happened and a break got off the front with Rene in it. Although I was feeling pretty terrible I tried all the tricks in the book to survive in the bunch, namely spinning a ridiculously small gear and hiding!


So a few laps later and surprisingly the bunch had split, mainly due to the climb as riders were coming to a near stop on it. I was in a group of a dozen or so with the break of 8 riders up the road. It seemed like the whole VCP Lorient team was in my group and that meant they chased. Soon the gap to the break was a mere 15 seconds and within touching distance, yet everyone was struggling on the difficult circuit and soon the impetus had gone from the chase and the break went out of sight.

I was hoping after an hour I would come round and ride into it a bit. I was wrong. Still last lap and my group had split to pieces. A group went off the front, I found myself with two Lorient riders. We tried a bit of through and off, yet with a couple of kilometres to go the rest of the group I was in came back to us.

Laurent was present, I was just about! So a sprint from my group for 14th. Well a sprint for some, I rolled in. 2 hours and felt terrible throughout.

Winner was a rider by the name of Maxime Cam, from UC Briochine. A class act. French masters champ was 2nd with Mael Nivinou (winner of the race on Saturday) 3rd. Rene had been caught by the remnants of my group and finished 12th. I was a place behind Laurent in around 20thish. Then what was left of the bunch came in a couple of minutes later.

Surprisingly the break never built much of a lead and was only just over a minute up the road at the finish.

Still pretty much a wasted race for me. Perfect circuit for me just unfortunately legs and head weren't present today.


What's next?

REST and RECOVERY

Whether the lack of get up and go is down to me about to be coming down with something, a culmination of 4 weeks pretty full on racing and training or just going through a bad period. Either way an easy week is on the cards. I had one scheduled in anyway so pretty much to plan!

Light hour or so spins, eat well, monitor HR and health and hopefully after a week be ready for the next block of racing and training.

Les Forges..one extreme to another

One extreme to another in more ways than one.

So after the race yesterday, which to be honest was a bit uneventful, I was ready to get stuck in to the race today.

Awoke and opened my shutters. Now shutters are great for keeping the light out but on days like today they also provide a bit of a shock when opened! Rain!

After such a nice day weatherwise the day before it was looking grim today. So breakfast eaten I pondered whether to do my usual pre race morning spin, with some sprints. After mulling it over and deciding if it was good to get wet before the race, I decided to go for it!

A brief 30 min window without rain, so did a half an hour with some 10 second sprints to open the legs and get yesterday's race out of them as well.

So lunched and ready for the off. As like yesterday I was to drive the team car. Alone for another journey it would seem and with no radio in the car it can be a lonely drive!

The race today was in a place called Les Forges. Luckily I have the use of my Garmin 705, which although is a bike computer doubles up as a sat nav for the car as well. I literally dont know what I would have done without it this year (used a map possibly!)

This race was in French terms a bit of a drive at 45 mins away. Most of it on the motorway so pretty easy driving. Although with rain and dark skies on the way it was looking like a soaking was in store.

Arriving and parked up right near the podium. A party atmosphere was in full swing with a barbecue, beer tent, music and even a bouncy castle!

Signed on. A pretty small field for this one yet some quality with 3 Sojasun under 23 riders being the favourites. For the team it was myself, Rene and Phil.

Kitted up and 20 minutes before the 3:30pm start, I headed off for a warm up. The circuit was a relatively small one at 3.7ish kilometres to be done 27 times. The circuit was also, on paper at least, not to challenging with a drag to the finish a drag round the back and some farm tracks. Quite flat and very Belgium kermesse-like.

So lined up and away we went. Although overcast it was now dry and very humid. First few laps I made sure I followed the wheels and the correct ones. I sat near the Sojasun guys and made sure I stayed off the front. A few moves went and came back as the bunch were keen to keep it together, for now at least!

A few more laps and Rene launched an attack. A good one at that and was soon away with a Quimper rider. They were dangling off the front and were finally joined by one other rider to make 3 away. Soon they'd built up a minute or so's lead. Sojasun were still in the bunch and I was in for a free ride.

Sojasun chased and the only real action was the bunch thinning out lap after lap as primes, the pretty dead roads and speed started to take its toll. I sat in a used the team mate up the road card.

Another few laps and a Sojasun rider attacked across to the break, now 4 away. You would have thought that was game over. Yet the remaining two Sojasun riders seemed happy to keep the chase on! Why when they had a rider up the road I do not know!

Even though I was sitting in I was really starting to struggle on the drag as the pace was stop start all the way up it.

Soon the bunch was a mere 20 or so riders. The gap to the break was 15-30 seconds and it stayed that way for lap after lap. The only major change after a few laps was me giving  myself a shock by grounding my pedal round one of the down hill right handers, one way to keep myself and the following riders on their toes!

4 laps to go and the bunch had exploded. Around 10 of us now in a group. I was feeling it, especially on the drag. Fed up with the change of pace I decided to take it on instead and went into hack mode up it. Surprisingly by the top I had a gap. 4 laps to go though surely a bit far. I put my head down all the same yet the rest of the group were soon onto me.

Final couple of laps and Phil, who was in my group was dropped. The break was also in pieces with two of the original 4 coming back to our group. A lap later and we caught Rene. A couple of riders, the break, were now dangling off the front. Now was the time to go with just over a lap to go. Yet I was empty.

Last lap and survived the final drag. 1km or so to go I gave it one last dig. Going for 3rd I gave it a go, but legs were gone. A few hundred metres to go and I was dropped. I literally crawled over the line. Knackered is an understatement. You wouldn't believe it another 15th! At least I'm consistent.

Rene finished just ahead in 12th and Phil 18th.

Sojasun royally mucked it up coming 2nd, 4th and 5th!


So why the blowing up with a lap to go? Two things I think, one didnt drink enough (schoolboy mistake) and two its the final week of what has been 4 pretty full on weeks of racing and training. Easy week next week on the cards.

So a pretty dodgy drive home followed. Luckily my lovely landlady had made rice and a big piece of fresh fish for me so at least dinner was covered! Compression tights on and early to bed. Last race of the block tomorrow...Berne.

Meant to be really hilly, just hope legs are better than today. Then a week of recovery rides and hopefully good weather for some sun bathing!

Challenge Elle Isole not as challenging as before!

Well this is blog is gonna be slightly different in that today's race was so uneventful I will instead explain what Ive been up to this week in training, a quick recap of the race and what's happening next!

So sit back and enjoy...

After the slightly disappointing race last Sunday at Hennebont, I set about a good week of training. I needed a big block as I want to make sure I am going well for races later in the season, for example the amateur version of  GP Plouay, a big target for me.


So training was to be a 3 day block. 3 hours easy with Sam Allen on Monday. Was probably more a steady 3 hours due to lots of wind! Still a nice and most importantly dry ride down to the coast to visit the nice beaches of Belz and Erdeven.

Tuesday and a hilly ride on the cards for me. Alone I headed of to the hills.  A good 3 and a half hours finding as many hills as I could and basically hacking up them! April showers pretty much sums up the days ride. Unfortunately not good for July. Cape on cape off!

If I thought Tuesday was bad weatherwise. Wednesday was terrible another 3 and a half hours alone. Hilly ride again and rain throughout!

So a couple days easy afterwards and my first of 3 days of racing today!


Challenge Elle Isole Bannalec


A relatively short 30 mins in the car to the race. 112 riders lined up for this one. Part of a series, which I had done the previous round at St Thurien (see previous blog)

A 7.4km circuit to be done 14 laps. Just myself and Philippe from the team present at this one. Favourites were yellow jersey Mael Nivnou of AC Lanester, Cyrille Masse of Leucemie Espoir and the French masters champion.

Still a lot of other riders in the mix as well. 4pm and away we went. The pace was pretty controlled and although moves were going off the front they werent getting far. The circuit basically was not hard enough and the race favourites were cancelling each other out.

So basically it stayed quick and ended with 3 riders clipping off the front in the final few kilometres and holding onto a 100/200 metre lead all the way to the line with the bunch, and myself coming in altogether.

So pretty much a bunch sprint. I'd realised quite early on into the race it was gonna suit a bunch sprint so saved as much energy as possible. Not to disappointed as was good speed work and training.

Tomorrow off to a race at Le Forges, another 100km or so race, lets hope the circuits a bit harder and more challenging and I can get away in a break...dont do these bunch sprints!

Sorry it was a bit of a brief blog but hope tomorrow have more to write about, a win or podium for instance?!

GP Leclerc Hennebont...a strange one

Rain rain go away come again another day, preferably on a rest day!

So from that opening line you can guess the weather has been playing up recently. The race at Mauron was a great 27 degrees and sunny. Today 15 degrees and rain. What's going on!?

So after Mauron on Thursday I did an easy hour on Friday and met up with my parents for a farewell meal with my team mate Sebastien, his family and Sam. A nice creperie and a good way to end a nice week with the parents.


So back on it and today's race.

GP Leclerc Hennebont


From the name of the race you can see it was a local one! 3km from my front door in fact. But that was nothing compared to about 50 metres from Sam's!

So as per normal I headed out this morning for half an hour of sprints to open up for the race this afternoon. Feeling pretty good and ready to roll. The skies were grey though and rain was looming.

Back, showered, ate and rode off to meet Sam at his house. 10 min ride away and meeting we headed off to sign on. A mere 2 roads away! Signed on and we both knew the circuit pretty well. A 20 min spin round it was in order though to warm up.

The circuit was a very unimaginative and pretty naff one to be honest. A long drag to the finish with a tailwind. A twisting descent with a fair bit of road furniture to negotiate and then a couple of left turns at roundabouts to finish it off. Not a hard circuit at all. A strange one as it felt like the majority of it was down hill!

Lined up 3:15pm. Over 100 riders. A quality field. VCP Lorient, Saur Sojasun under 23, BIC2000, Hennebont cyclisme and Lucemie Espoir to name just a few. The inform Zelinski was also present and a clear favourite having won the last 3 races he'd done. UCL Hennebont had myself, Rene, Gurvan and Pascal present. Also present was fellow Brits James Mclaughlin and Chris Seviour. So 4 Brits and lots of French!


Away we went 27 laps of the 3.7km circuit, so 100km. First lap and was a calm one. With drizzle, lots of road furniture and a nervous bunch it only kicked off as we came across the line for the 2nd lap. The line of riders soon stretched and the race was on.

Now to be honest I am not sure exactly of what happened in the following few laps, probably the story of the day for me. Moves went and came back. It was a pretty stop start race with the finishing drag a series of riders jumping about constantly. Not a real hard pace, but for me the jumping about was terrible.

A few laps later and a big group had prised itself off the front. Sam was present as well as lots of Sojasun and  all the big names, well all expect for Zelinski and Beret it would seem. I dont know what happened but I'd missed it and coming into the finishing straight I knew I had to get across to it.

James was also still in the bunch with me and gave me a shout. I knew it was time and I accelerated hard on the drag taking myself and James away. Yet James was flying and coming through I just couldnt get on his wheel as he bridged with ease to the break. I was left alone between the big bunch and the break, just 100 metres up the road.

No problem though as glancing round saw a Sojasun rider and one other rider come storming across. I just managed to jump on the wheel and hung on for dear life as they bridged the gap. I was now in the break. 20 riders probably. It was looking good with Rene also there.

Yet a few laps later and lots more jumping about it all came back together. I was suffering from the constant stop start style of the course. Soon more attacks had gone and to be fair I dont know why but I watched them. Not good in a normal racing situation and over here with such a fierce style of racing if your not onto it straight away you can wave goodbye to the race.

So a big move had gone Rene and James had got in it as well as most of the big hitters. I was not content to call it a day though. Another move went this time with Sam in it. I again somehow missed it and made life really hard for myself as I bridged alone up to it.

Constantly missing the moves and having to use, what were pretty strong legs, to get across alone, was wasting a hell of a lot of energy.

Still I was in a chase group, not sure how many were out in front but knew they were along way ahead. Last lap and I gave a pretty half hearted attack. Didn't get very far and rolled in with the group at the finish.

A pretty rubbish race to be honest. Struggling with the jumping about on the finishing drag, combined with what felt like quite a negative circuit meant I was playing catch up all day. Had reasonably good legs just wasnt "on it" today. Shouldn't make excuses as that's racing. I just need to work on weaknesses.

 James did an awesome ride though for the win! A real talent and surely wasted in the UK.

So for me, strength in legs just missing the jump. Plan for next day is a steady 3hrs tomorrow, 3hrs with hill sprints Tuesday, working on jump, Wednesday another 3 hours probably working on sustained power and then ease off for 3 races at the end of the week. Banallec Saturday, les Forges Sunday and Berne on the Monday.

Then an easy week, after a good 4 weeks of pretty hard racing.

All I can say is I hope the weather improves!

Full on at Mauron

Hello and greetings from a very summery Hennebont!

Finally some good July weather has arrived. Good as its coincided with my parents visit this week! So after Locoal Mendon race last Sunday I knew I had a few areas to work on. Namely getting a bit of grunt back in my legs.

After a nice night spent at the gite with my parents I headed out on Monday morning for 100km of hills and sun! I have been needing this, as although it was only 3 and a bit hours it was the first time Ive done this length of ride for a while, due to lots of racing and recovery rides. I am one of these people who likes a good hack in training as well so riding alone in the hills around Melrand for 3hrs is perfect training for me!

Tuesday and a day off. A full on day spent with my parents. Showing them Hennebont, Port Louis for lunch, Pont Scorff and finally dinner at a nice pizzeria at Lochrist. Really nice to see them.

Wednesday and back on it. A 2 and a bit hour steady ride alone. Sun, hot weather...love it!

Thursday and a half an hour morning spin to pick up the team car for the afternoons race.

Mauron

With a lot of my races recently they have been semi nocturnes. Meaning late night and little sleep. Luckily being Bastille day today meant everyone was off work and the race was to start at 3:30pm in the afternoon, a much more sensible time!

Picking Sam Allen up at 1pm we had a bit of a drive to Mauron, near Rennes. 1hour, so in UK terms a short drive! Arriving and signed on and had a quick look at circuit as the support race was on. It was already really hot and with little in the way of shade it was gonna be a "tanning race".

Off for a couple of laps warm up. 2km circuit. A drag up to the finish, a couple of tight right handers, a descent and that was basically it! Not very imaginative or picturesque. Very Belgium kermesse like and very windy!

3:30pm and lined up. 50ish riders. Some big names as well. Maxime Daniel, Saur Sojasun, his team mate, lots of VCP Lorient riders, including the Pole Zelinski, Hennebont Cyclisme, UC Briochine, UC Cholet, AC Lanester and US St Herblain as well as Lionel Beret of Lucemie Espoir, to name just a few. A tough field. 

UCL Hennebont had myself, Gurvan, Rene and Pascal present for the 50 laps of kermesse fun! I was a bit worried as it couldn't have suited me any less! Sprinting and a short circuit...a race I needed to use my head for, more than ever!

Away we went and after a lap steady the race was on. 3 Brits here as well, myself, Sam Allen and James Mclaughlin. I was sitting top 15 and knew I had to follow the wheels and do as little as possible. I am no sprinter so saving as much energy for the sprints out of the corners is crucial. I followed the wheels and watched as groups went off the front only to come back into the fold. 

The weather was a major factor as well as with such heat I did a 750ml bottle in 45 mins! Making sure I ate and drank well I continued to hide and watch as riders started to suffer. 

Coming up to the half way point and favourite Maxime Daniel, attacked. Myself and a few others followed for what was to be a very painful two kilometres of through and off! Yet back into the bunch it seemed.

Just over an hour in and a break of half a dozen or so went. I was ready to show my hand and although missing the break I got in the crucial chase group. Crucial as the front group had a lot of the lesser riders with all the big names in my group. Around 15 of us. The race for the peloton was over.

I was the only UCL rider here, and with lots of Lanester and VCP Lorient riders I hid as much as possible.

Yet the group wasnt working well together and took a long time to bridge up to the front group. 14 laps to go and we were there. I was in the lead group and it was all to play for. Riders were struggling yet I was feeling stronger and stronger.

10 laps to go and a move went. I hesitated and unfortunately that was it. I missed it! Still after a bit more attacking I found myself in a newly formed chase group. 4 laps to go and the front group had 6 riders, including Mclaughlin, I was in next group of 6, then the remains of chase group and finally the bunch, now in pieces!

We were lapping groups and working well together. A lap to go and going for 7th. 1km to go I had to try something. I chose the flat windy back section and moved to the other side of the road and did my best Cancellara impression! It worked and soon had a 5-10 second gap. Could I hold it to the line though!?

400 metres to go and the big wide finishing straight. I was 100%, head down, 2 riders 100 metres in front, and the group I was previously in breathing down my neck. 200 metres to go and the line just wasnt coming fast enough. 150 metres and the sprint opened up behind. Led by Florian Hervo, an amazing sprinter. I was swamped. 11th place.

So close to line as well. Couldn't have done any more. 

So 11th on paper doesn't sound very good yet I am relatively happy. Mainly due to how I rode. I saved tonnes of energy, nearly got it all right and came away beating some good riders, including the Sojasun duo! On a course so flat and sprint like I had taken my chance and gone with a kilometre to go... hadn't worked this time but surely will some time. 

Team manager happy and team mates saying how well I rode is nice as well. As for the other Brits, James did an awesome ride for 3rd behind winner Zelinski and Sam was in a group a few behind me. 

A hot, hard race but really enjoyed it...next stop GP Leclerc Hennebont on Sunday. 3km from home and in previous years a hotly contested race...can't wait!

here's top 15 and a link to yesterdays race: 

http://www.sportbreizh.com/Actualites-330-10118-0-1.html

Arrivals and Trophee Twinner at Locoal Mendon!

Sunday 10th July...just any other Sunday right? Well nope, I had The Trophee Twinner race at Locoal Mendon and even more importantly my parents were over to visit for the week!


Morning. As per usual a ridiculous lack of sleep after the race at St Thurien. I awoke at silly o'clock and headed out for a 30 min spin and to pick the team car up from the garage. All done I returned home for a bite to eat and then headed off to Locoal Mendon.


Locoal Mendon, a town around 25 mins away, near the coast and like a lot of French towns, a pretty sleepy one!

Arriving with just over an hour to go before my race. 3pm the start today. The earliest start I think I've started in months! Much happier racing earlier as means you can eat at a sensible time afterwards and (attempt) to get to sleep early as well!

So parked up and Sam rolled up. Due to him having lots of stage races coming up and not racing the Saturday, he had ridden there so was nicely warmed up. I headed to sign on and glanced down at the list of riders.

Was basically a whos, who of the best amateurs in Brittany! Saur Sojasun under 23 had 5 riders, there was BIC2000, UC Nantes, UC Cholet, VCP Lorient, Hennebont Cyclisme, AC Lanester and Lecemie Espoir, to name just a few! UCL Hennebont had myself, Rene, Laurent, Gurvan and Phil. So it was a very high quality field and what looked to be a real hard race of just over 80 riders.

A lap and a bit warm up. 6km a lap. A couple of climbs, lots of windy drags and that was basically it. 3pm and away we went. I had said a very quick hello to my parents, who were watching, just before the start and knew it was their first experience of a French race...better make it a good one!

First lap and sitting 20 or so riders back. The roads were narrow and soon attacks were off. Like the day before I wanted to bide my time, follow the wheels and get in the right move. This was not how today was to pan out. Soon riders were clipping off in quite some numbers. My legs were feeling ok but I was feeling in a daze.

This probably due to a hard race the day before and around 5hrs sleep! So soon a very big break, including Sojasun, Lanester and Nantes and lots more, had gone and that was the last we saw of them. 6km in and the race of 20 riders was gone, up the road.

Yet all didn't seem completely lost. In the bunch, of 60 or so riders, was still a lot of big hitters. David Chopin, probably one of the best amateurs in Brittany was still there as was Simon Gouedard, another class rider. A couple of laps done and a move went. Sam was in it and so was Rene. It looked good with around 6 or so riders. I tried to react when it went but was struggling on the climb and couldn't get on. No worries though as looking round I saw Chopin, alone, hacking across to me!

Onto his wheel...hold on for dear life. I lasted about 2km! To the next drag where he dropped me! I kept plugging away though and alone glanced back to see Gouedard coming across alone. 3rd time lucky!?

Again the same scenario. Hang on for dear life. I was able to pull a couple of turns and after a couple of kilometres we had bridged to the chase group. The bunch were out of sight. Looked promising as the break was a minute up the road and I was now in a good group with lots of race favourites.

Yet it wasn't to be. No one seemed committed and soon the bunch caught us again. Race over. The break pulled out to 5mins and a lot of riders called it a day and got off. I though wanted to at least finish and rolled round the next 30km to get some miles in the legs.

So that was Locoal Mendon. Won by a BIC rider, who's stagiairing for Bretagne Schuller at the end of the year! Not a good race for me but neither for a lot of riders. I didn't really feel all there to be honest!

You need to be switched on in these races and with the arrival of my parents, lack of sleep and a hard race the day before I just don't think I was really psyched up enough for this one.

A shame but it did highlight some problems:

1. my climbing! Absolutely shocking at moment. Not quite sure why, maybe too many flattish crits

2. Endurance, with all races so short and lots of them I am literally racing and recovering. So short rides all round. Not good as I always go well off so 3hr plus training rides, which I haven't seemed to do for weeks!

So what's next? Well today I headed out for 3 and a bit hours alone. Wind, lots of hills, sun, big gear work, working on endurance and power.

Probably same tomorrow, easy on Wednesday and race at Mauron on Thursday. Of course will also be catching up with parents and showing them all the delights Brittany has to offer as well!

Challenge Elle Isole at St Thurien...definitely challenging!

I wish I was as fast on the bike as I am at updating this blog. Always feel its good to get thoughts of the race out of my mind asap and move on to other things, so here goes!

After Wednesday nights, surprise podium appearance, at the ridiculously hard, GP Hennebont, I crept along on Thursday for a hours recovery ride, on the flattest road I could find. I think a mixture of a hard race and lack of sleep after a semi nocturne means I am basically a walking zombie the next day!

So other than that a day watching the Tour! Friday feeling a bit better although still pretty tired. I headed out for an hour and a half easy spin. Keeping check of HR and power I was still tired it seemed. Thankfully I missed the rain, which when it did come down literally didnt stop for hours.


Saturday morning, dull, grey skies....meteo Anglaise it would seem!  Off out for an hours pre race open up. Meaning half a dozen sprints. Feeling alot more rested I headed back ate, caught a bit of the Tour and then was met by Pascal and his family at 3pm for the 40 min drive to the race.

 The race was in a town called St Thurien, Finestre region. Arriving and this race was a pretty big deal. Part of The Challenge Elle Isole Series. Made up of a number of rounds and including KOM, General and sprinters classiments. As this was the first one I'd done (and I think the 6th or so in the series) I was in no contention of getting in these classements. Still I was fired up and ready to race!

 Signed on and 100 riders for this one. Guys to watch were a couple of AC Lanester riders, Cyrille Masse of Lecumie Espoir (leader of the GC) the recently crowned National Masters Champion from Scaer and a handful of Lorient riders, to name a few.

Just myself and Pascal from the team for this one as well.


So the race itself...made up of 14 laps of a 6km circuit. So as per usual a short race! Not ideal but the circuit made up for it! Constantly rolling, a nasty wind, lots of drags, a hard climb with a KOM sprint each lap at the top and lots of twisty roads.


5pm and we were off. 100 riders meant I needed to stay alert and out of trouble. I sat myself on the KOM leaders wheel (polkadot jersey..easy to spot!) and watched as riders attacked and were brought back due to the fast pace in the bunch. The peloton were really shifting, considering how hard the circuit was.


A couple of laps in and I was sitting top 15 in the bunch. The pace was on and I was not feeling good. Legs just felt a bit hollow. Still a prime was on offer and 1st. 2nd and 3rd across the line got money. I was up for giving it a go. One rider opened up the sprint. I couldnt get on but did manage to get off the front of the bunch. At the line and pipped by one rider...3rd, a pretty poor 5 euros won!

So another few laps and splits started to occur. 5 laps in and the elastic broke. Not so much a break more a split in the bunch. 25 or so of us away. Lots of the big hitters, yet the GC leader wasnt there. We had to hack...and hack we did!

The remainder of the race can be summed up pretty simply. Riders going off the back on the hard circuit, myself having fun and games getting myself over the climb (not sure what was going on today!) and with 3 laps to go, my bottle coming out of the cage. Not the end of the world you would think. Unfortunately it wedged itself on the frame and for some really stupid reason, at 50km/h, I reached down and tried to free it. In doing so I somehow put my hand through my wheel. Thankfully I got it out quick enough and came away with all fingers intact and just a small cut...stupid boy!


2 laps to go and it was really hard now. Soon attacks were going. I couldnt react and the break split into 4 groups. I was in the 3rd. Last lap and I was in a group going for 12th. Rolled across line,15th place. Pascal came in in a group  around 5 minutes later in 25th.


Winner was a guy from VS Plabennec, winning solo, with his team mate second and an AC Lanester rider 3rd.

 A hard race, well over 1000 metres climbed, over 40km/h average and felt a bit underpar throughout!


Happy then I used my head, not legs and got in break. Bunch was in pieces,with riders all over the course. Still another race at the sharp end. Locoal Mendon  tomorrow, another really hard one on paper.

I hear its flat, fast and includes lots of Sojasun riders...lets hope legs are there then!

Pain, pluie, primes, pave…podium!?

A strange concoction of words you might think. Well that’s because it was a pretty strange race!

After Sunday’s heatwave at the race at Bubry,  Monday was equally if not hotter. A 750ml bottle in fact was consumed within half an hour of my recovery ride, still shouldn’t complain!

Tuesday, and this was why I shouldn’t complain! It was hacking down with rain. Luckily, after 8 days and 3 races I was scheduled a rest day. This also coincided with The Tour de France visiting the region.

So meeting up with Sam we jumped on a bus and headed off to Lorient to watch the riders roll out for the 4th stage. Other than sitting around for a long time and getting very wet the day was a success and made it back to Hennebont to catch the last 30km in a café, awesome.

So Wednesday. Race day! Awake to Sunny skies and strong winds. Out for an hours spin with some 20 seconds sprints to open up. Power was good and I was feeling good.

Race was a semi nocturne. I have been bleeting on in previous posts how races are so local and quick to get too over here. Now this had to be a record for a local race. It was The GP Hennebont, hosted by my team and starting literally 500 metres down the road in town! Definitely a new meaning to the word local.

So 6pm and began getting stuff ready. All day the wind had been howling yet the skies had stayed bright, until now. The rain came and the storms began! 6:45pm and Sam Allen rode round to meet up before heading to town. Literally a 2 minute ride into town.

We arrived to lots of barriers, a big podium and just a lot of activity. This was a well known race and a real classic from what I could understand.

Signed on, got number pinned on sitting in bus stop, I was ready to head off for a warm up. The rain was lashing down now and the 2.4km circuit was, shall we say not suited to these conditions!

The 2.4km consisted of 200 metres or so of uphill cobbles on the finish, a nasty drag, a very open false flat, a sharp kick and then a dangerous descent. Then of course there were tonnes of white lines, zebra crossings, spilt diesel and road furniture to contend with as well! At least it wasn't far to ride home if it didn't go well!

Being just about 60kg I'm not exactly built for semi nocturnes, with tonnes of sprinting, yet factor in wet cobbles you could say I wasn't too confident.

Still, lined up 7:30pm, and due to the conditions the organisers had decided to cut 5 laps off the race, so 30 laps of 2.4km to do. The field was a small one, but literally had some of the best riders in the region in it.

David Chopin (ex Credit Agricole stagiaire) and a strong Hennebont Cyclisme team, UC Cholet, BIC2000, VCP Lorient, UC Nantes, Rennes, Lucemie Espoir and AC Lanester, who had to on form Vincent Ragot, winner of the weekend previously's Manche Ocean Elite National race. UCL Hennebont had myself, Rene and Pascal. So not a big field at all but not a rubbish rider in sight either!

Away we went and I was comfortable sitting in the top 10 or so riders, that's because it was a neutral lap! Second lap and definitely wasn't comfortable any more! The pace exploded the roads were like ice rinks and the circuit threw riders left right and centre. I was having fun and games not sliding out on the white lines whilst   going 100%, we'd only done 5 mins!

Onto the cobbles and I was struggling, legs felt strong just couldn't get over cobbles well. Over the next few laps I tried everything. Out of the saddle, in saddle, on hoods, on drops, on tops, big gear and small gear. I just couldn't seem to stay on the wheel in front on them. No Paris Roubaix for me then!

After a few more laps I even shouted to Sam for some advice. He plainly put it, big gear and hack!

That's what I did from then on and it was slightly more bearable.

Half way through and literally everyone looked like they'd done a 4 hr race let alone 50 minutes, lots of pained expressions and gaps opening, closing constantly. I should though say one rider was pretty much having a wail of a time, Piotr Zielinski, VCP Lorient, who by some force of nature had ridden away and was riding the race solo off the front...axe!

So half way through and the bunch was down to 20 or so riders. I was in the red, yet I seem to be able to stay there for basically the whole duration of the race! So through the uphill right corner. A Lucemie Espoir rider two riders up decked it. He was a big guy but still the noise he made as he literally slid up hill, wiping out a Pontivy rider in the process. I was on inside of corner so managed to avoid it, still nasty stuff.

10 laps to go. Finally the bunch split. By now the rain had stopped, the roads were still wet though. 11 riders, all the strong guys, clipped off the front. I had no answer, neither did the remainder of the bunch. A lap later and Sam rode up to me and asked for a drink of my bottle. I handed it to him and then did something stupid.

I put my head down and hacked. Taking away a Lanester and a VCP Lorient rider with me and unfortunately leaving Sam in the remains of the bunch with my bottle and me with no drink for the remaining 20km!

Still I was now in a 3 man chase group. Going for 13th place.


We all worked well together and soon the bunch were gone out of sight. 6 laps to go and the cracks started to appear. I was suffering as was the Lorient rider. The AC Lanester rider was going strong, a Danish guy by the name of John Ebsen. He decided to shout at us to work and after a while I just turned to him and in a few more colourful words, said we were both knackered!

4 laps to go and a prime. There was only 3 of us away yet the French love primes and on the line there was 20 euros and 10 euros on offer. Unfortunately the line was on the cobbles, so all I could do was watch as Ebsen and the Lorient rider took them.


2 laps to go and a final prime. This time I was determined to get it. Last 50 metres and came off the wheel, yet to late and missed it by half a wheel. 2nd in the prime, still 10 euros.

Last lap and Ebsen attacked. No answer from me, I was long gone! Lorient rider tried, yet couldn't get on terms and the 3 of us, separated my a handful of metres spent the final 2km time trialling it.

Across the line. I don't think I have felt that tired for a very long time! Only 70km of racing yet close to 1000 metres climbed, lots of wind, drags cobbles and sprinting and no rest. I was playing catch up every lap after the cobbles and basically spent 1 hr 50 minutes at full gas!

Surprise then that I was then ushered onto the podium! Why?

Well I was best UCL Hennebont/local rider! That meant a nice trophy and an interview. I was so knackered I could barely string a sentence together and ended up saying the word "dure!" a lot of times. Still never been on the podium before for 15th place!

So a real hard race. I couldn't have done any more, well maybe held onto my bottle! I am pretty pleased with that result, considering the circuit couldn't have been any more unsuitable for my riding style!

I'd come away with some money, a trophy, a hard workout and a top 15 in a quality field...thankfully it was only a short ride (crawl) home afterwards!

If Carslberg did road race circuits....

I am on a high! Did I win...no, but I got bloody close and had probably one of the most enjoyable races for a long time.

I am writing after what has been one of the hottest races of the year so far.


So after a frustrating race on Friday and little sleep that night, Saturday was an easy ride and chill out day. With such warm temperatures, I lounged about in the garden.

Sunday

A much better nights sleep I awoke to another beautiful morning of weather. Kitted up I headed out for my usual mornings spin to open the legs for the afternoon's race. I find a few sprints in the morning really helps wake me and my legs up.

Back and lunched and car packed I headed off to the race at Bubry. Just 20km or so away. Perfect a nice local affair.

I was pretty excited as most races recently have been by the coast, thus relatively flat. Bubry is one of my training loops and I knew it was in the middle of a tonne of hills...perfect!

Arriving and it was boiling. A fete was in full swing with funfairs,candy floss and crepes on offer, a real party atmosphere. Watching the finish of the kids race and a bunch sprint for the win didn't inspire me with confidence that it was a hilly circuit.

Luckily I was proved wrong. Pascal, my team mate, took me off for a warm up round the 8km loop.

The circuit was made up with a 2km climb, with a headwind, an undulating back part and a bit of a descent, savage, but hilly and hot, usually a good combination for me.

So 4pm and lined up. Series leader was called up and then every rider was called forward individually! This meant we didnt get going till 4:15pm. Good job it was warm, as standing on the startline for 15 mins isnt ideal!

A small field again, yet some quality Briochine fielding a strong team as were Scaer and even a Saur Sojasun rider. We had myself, Pascal and Laurent present for the team. Soon we were off. I was keen to hide as much as possible and save as much energy as I could whilst hopefully getting in the moves.

This also meant I saved my legs, climbing in the little ring. Big ring was for later!

I was told by Pascal to watch Maxime Cam, a Briochine rider, who has won numerous races this year and is always up there. I basically therefore marked him out!

We had 8 laps to do and after a lap the attacks started flying. Now usually on a climb I get carried away and use tonnes of energy. Today was different. I followed the wheels and soon after another 3 laps a split had occurred. 15 or so of us.

The group included myself, Pascal, Maxime Cam, one of his team mates, Lorient rider and Saur Sojasun, to name a few.

We soon started working well together and the bunch were soon out of sight...race on!

Well not for some of my fellow breakaway companions. Literally in the space of 2 corners and 5 mins, 2 crashes! Just one rider each time. The French and cornering is something to behold!

Luckily I was ahead of both crashes.


Half way through and the heat was on. With 30 euro primes and baking temperatures the break was starting to show cracks. I was feeling good. I seem to always go well in the heat and used the climb to recover each lap.

Thankfully a helper from the team was on hand to pass up bottles as the temperatures soared to 26 degrees.

2 laps to go. We were in a good position. Myself and Pascal both feeling good. Group of 13 riders. I knew we needed to whittle the group down so put it in the big ring and attacked hard up the climb. Cam was straight onto it though. Not yet it would seem.

Last lap and I wanted the win! I attacked half way up the climb, Cam onto me again. Another attack, another rider onto me, 3 or 4 attacks later and I was getting frustrated. I felt strong just couldnt break the strangle hold of the break. We did manage to drop 3 riders though. Last kilometre and last chance.


I attacked really hard, giving it 110% and got a small gap. Yet the break were keen on a sprint and with 600metres to go I was caught. Spent.

As sprint opened up I was dropped. Pascal though being a sprinter managed a great 2nd place getting pipped just on the line by the Sojasun rider. I rolled across the line a little later in 10th.

So a "nearly" race. Brilliant circuit, great weather, good legs, used head but wasn't to be! Still looking good for upcoming races and happy for Pascal with a well deserved 2nd place. Another top 10 for me.


Next time though be nice to get that win...can't be far off now!