a steep learning curve...

Greetings from a slightly tired Dan!

Why tired? Well in the following blog you will see why!


It all began on Saturday. First proper race of the season for myself and a 1/2/3 cat affair.

Now in England when you think of a 1/2/3 race you think of 60 riders, a village hall in the middle of a field and a man and his dog as the only spectators. The racing's usually predictable and negative and once you've paid out a small fortune for the pleasure of rolling round the British countryside, probably with irrate motorists trying to drive you off the road, you're usually ready to go home!

Well I'm pleased to say France is the direct opposite. With a couple of 1/2/3 races in France under my belt over the last 2 seasons I knew the sort of quality and profesionalism these events were run at. Basically they were near to, if not quite Premier Calendar standard...I couldn't wait.

Plan of action was a 2pm start in a town, 10 miles from my house, called Melrand. Picked up by Nick and Tony Mills and Sam Allen we headed off for the HQ. Arriving and already with just over an hour to go there was a convoy of team vans,buses and official vehicles. Into the HQ and a hype of activity greeted us.

Then a problem...Over to sign on and my name wasn't down on the start sheet. Explaining my team manager had entered me at the last minute they wanted to see my BC letter to say I could race in France. Unfortunately I, stupidly, hadn't brought it out (thinking my French licence had been sorted by now) Luckily a quick call to Tony senior and my letter was picked up from my house and dropped off to me at the race.


Due to this delay I only had 30 mins till the start and a rush to pin numbers on in torrential rain made for a very rushed warm up before lining up on the line to await my fate.

What lay ahead was an 87km loop with a couple of KOM climbs followed by 6 laps of a 5.4km finishing circuit, similar to a Belgium kermesse course.

2pm and we were off. Around 170 riders all keen to show in the first big race and very wet roads, this was going to be interesting. The lack of a warm up meant legs felt slightly on the sluggish side and sitting around 50-60 riders back this was not the place to be when attacks went flying off the front. Soon a break had gone and being to far back I could only watch. Soon a gap did appear and I followed a 20 rider split into a windy section of the course. Yet as soon as it formed we were brought back into the fold. The pace was not steady fast as I had previously experienced over here as the bunch surged and lulled in an uncomfortable way. Before long a few groups had formed off the front but I was't feeling it. Legs were heavy and sluggish. New plan for the day was to finish.

Coming into the final climb of the day a 4km affair into Bubry. I got myself to the front and followed the wheels to the top. By now the bunch, still of at least 100 riders were losing interest. Coming onto the finishing circuits became a bit of a procession as we rode round. With the next days race now in my mind I sat in and rolled in mid way in the bunch, about 70th place overall. Feeling very average all day I was glad it was over and was really ready to get my teeth into the next days race.

La Route Bretonne


Sunday dawned and I awoke to feeling surprisingly fresh. Checking pulse confirmed this. This was a good sign as what was to come would be one of the biggest races of the Breton calendar and it was only February!

Another afternoon start, I was told a bit of a drive this time, still only 45 mins in car to La Gacilly, a very picturesque town to the east.

Today's race was an Elite National race. This basically meant some of the top teams in the region and country were down to ride. If the day before was bordering on Premier Calendar standard, today was practically a pro race!


Arriving and it really did look like a pro event with Saur Sojasun, BIC2000, AC Lanester and The National Army Team all sporting team cars, buses and lots of staff. Signed on with, thankfully, no drama today! I pinned up, changed and got a good 20 min warm up in.

1:15pm and we were off for our procession lap. Around 150 riders again today. Soon back through the start, lead car away and we were off the pace exploded the bunch expanded and soon a long line in the gutter had formed!


Now I could explain every aspect of this 150km race but I think I'll just summarise...very fast throughout, although steady fast, lots of gutter action, lots of wind and rain on and off all day!

We basically had a 116km point to point followed by a 6.4km or so finishing lap to be done 5 times. I'd been told to save myself for the finishing lap as it contained a 500 metre or so Belgiumesque 20% climb. With the bunch splitting due to the headwind all day around 100 of us headed for the finishing lap. With the all day break still only 20 seconds or so up the road (their lead had been hanging at 20-40secs all day!) the race was still very much on as the bunch hurtled onto the finishing circuit.

What a savage circuit! Lots of 90 degree corners, mostly down hill in the wet, a small pave section and the 20 % hill, felt like trying to do a Tour Series race after 3hrs of flat out racing!


Soon the rain began coming down again and the splits in the bunch, due to the immense pace, were forming. With such a tight finishing circuit I was to far back and knew it! Trying to move up when I could it was soon to late as riders began getting dropped, sitting up or forgetting how to corner! Now I'm renowned for not being good in the corners but the French in the wet are a whole new level! Soon the cold and wet, mixed in with the splits meant I was in a new group of 5 or so with a number of groups behind and a fair few in front. Annoyed as it was positioning rather than strength that let me down I plowed on to a disappointing 65th place.

Cold, wet and tired I could barely get kit off. Route Bretonne complete, only about half the field finished this savage test.

So what have I learnt in last couple of days...Best is to look at it in positives and negatives



Positives: Seemed to recover well in between races, actually felt better on the Sunday race than the Saturday, I am eating and fuelling myself well on the bike, When the hammer does go down I have the strength to stay with it and finally I had 270km of racing in my legs and 370km racing in total and it was only February!


Negatives: Positioning!!! However strong being 50 riders back won't help, Measuring efforts, there's 100 riders all of the same level, unlike England, and gauging the effort can really help later in the race, No results this weekend and disappointed not to be at sharp end of races which I usually love to be. A good warm up is needed especially over here where neutralised zones aren't very neutral! Finally my jump (or lack of it) something to work on there mixed in with some motor pacing in next couple of weeks!

So all in all lots of lessons learnt, experience gained, a whole new style of racing and good training for later in season. Can safely say I love the style, speed and way French racing is run, can't wait to show in these races in coming months what I can really do fully race fit....watch this space!

Now for an easy week I think!

the moment of truth?

salut!


Bienvenue from my 2nd week in France, a crucial one at that. Crucial as this week is the first big weekend of the French racing calendar.

This starts with La Melrandaise 1/2/3 race tomorrow, a 150 rider field affair over 120km or so, and then La Route de Bretonne on Sunday, around 150 riders and 160km. Intending to do both I have been told to think of it as a Premier Calendar event on the Saturday and practically a pro race on the Sunday, with teams such as Saur Sojan and Roubaix-Lille Metropole present.







So what have I done this week to prepare for such a weekend? Well after last Sunday's race I took Monday easy with a spin for just over an hour up and down the canal to ease my legs out from the day before, and as per usual it poured with rain throughout!

Tuesday, and feeling abit more recovered I set out to do a steady 3hrs with some 10-20 second sprints thrown in to, one, mix the ride up a bit, two, to work on my shoddy sprinting! Three, to stop me getting to cold in yes you guessed it rain again!

This brought me onto Wednesday, and after a morning spent cleaning the bike (a daily occurance at the moment) I headed out for an hour and a bit before meeting up with the team for a ride. Heading out and on cue the heavens opened. To be honest by now I don't even realise its raining I've had so much! Out to Bubry and round I put Lochrist into my Garmin and headed off for the 2pm meeting at my team mates house. Arriving at Lochrist I realised something wasn't quite right. The church I was intended to turn left at to my team mate's house had disappeared. Even the hopeful scoot round the block couldn't uncover it.

1:55pm and it dawned on me....I was in the wrong town! Luckily I managed to phone my team mate who told me it was Languidic we were meeting in, about 12km away! This then meant a "hack" was in order as I sprinted through Lochrist up a 1km hill and along a main road into Languidic!

Thankfully they had waited for The Stupid English Man (my words not theirs fortunately!) With 6 of us out we headed off and with banter flowing, all be it in fast French, we tapped along at a good pace in the rain towards Plouay and back to Pont Augan where they delivered me to my door! Clearly they didn't want to risk me getting lost again! 4hrs done and dusted I headed for a much needed warm shower.


So thats the training for the week done, a day off yesterday and an easy hour and a bit today before tomorrow's big test! Quite apprehensive but also excited about what's in store over the next couple of days. So early in the season to have two big races it will be a real test but definately one I'm ready to take on! Whether I get a result in one, both or neither it will be much needed race miles and will be a stepping stone to the rest of the season!

Wish me luck!


below is my race calendar for the next month:



 February



26th La Melrandaise race 1/2/3

27th La Route De Bretonne ELITE

March


6th Manche Atlantique ELITE
13th Baud-Moreac ELITE
20th La Fleche De Lochmine ELITE
27th Le Boucles Gegonnaises ELITE

photos from yesterday

premiere semaine, premiere course et premiere top 10!

Salut!

Welcome to my third installment of my blog. Since I last blogged it really has been all go! So be prepared, grab a cuppa, its a long one!


The Grand Plan

I think the best word to sum up training last week would have been "damp", actually thats an understatement! I got ridiculously soaked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. My plan for the upcoming weeks training wise is a sort of pyramid week, so Tuesdays is sweetspot, which to keep me content I'm doing up hill! Wednesdays is a long steady ride and thursdays sweetspot again before easing off for weekends racing. As the season begins proper I will be throwing in some VO2 efforts and sprints within my Wednesday ride.

Anyway, after resembling a drowned rat after a few days and cursing the fact I didnt bring a turbo or rollers with me, I had infact found some good roads and had a good few days training.


Deliveries a plenty

Saturday and I was relieved to be told a group ride was going out in the afternoon, with some of my new team mates and Sam Allen, a Brit who rode out here last season for the team I'm riding for and with good results has moved to the DN1 team in the area.


Saturday morning, I think can be described as hectic! First, I had a visit from one of my new team mates Sebastien, who brought my new team kit over to the house and also a calendar of upcoming races. With his English not that good and my French decidely worse it was an interesting hour spent talking about races, training and kit.

Just as Sebastien left I had another knock on the door, this time Nick, Tony Mills' son, who had brought across the remainder of my clothes and wheels. Very grateful I was to as I had been living out of a single jumper the previous week! Suddenly I had a full wardrobe and the conundrum of where to put everything!

Rearranging my room, The third delivery of the morning arrived with my energy bars from Zipvit. As if I wasnt trying to cram enough in my bedroom that morning!


Finally calm...and after a spot of lunch I went out for a 3hr spin with the guys to open the legs up for Sunday's race. Now usually group rides meet at some unearthly hour somewhere in the middle of know where, yet the French seem to take a more civilised approach as we met up at 1:30pm, early for a group ride over here so I'm told! In new kit and cruising along in barmy 15 degree sunny February weather (mad considering the previous few days!) I was trying  my best to construct a meaningful conversation in French whilst looking at road ahead, you could say a challenge!

With lots of joking and conversation somehow in full flow we rode into Plouay, home to the famous GP Plouay race and previous host of the UCI World Champs, only ten or so miles from where I'm staying. There we stopped briefly for a look at whats said to be one of the best bike shops in the area owned by a local cycling legend by the name of Frank. Soon off again and after a relatively flat loop I was home.


Ride done and in high spirits, Sunday's race was beckoning!


2011 is GO!

Sunday...day of reckoning...first race of 2011 season and an Interclub of DN1 and DN2 teams in the local town of Camor. With the race in the afternoon and feeling slightly apprehensive I was happy to sleep in a bit and after a quick wipe down of bike and pack of kit bag I was soon ready to roll!

Picked up by Nick Mills, We drove the 20 mins or so to Camors, the otherside of Baud. Arriving the first thing that hit me was the finish was up a long, straight, open road...savagery! With barriers up, a commentary and sign on van and food stalls it was very Belgium like.

Soon Tony senior and junior arrived and we went to sign on. The great thing about France is all races are paid by the team so literally a quick signature and I was ready to pin number on, get bike set up and head off for a lap of the course and a warm up.

With slightly chilly conditions I made sure I had a good half an hour warm up and an especially good look at the circuit that consisted of a small drag to the finish another slightly steeper hill round the back, a twisty decent, quite a bit of open, windy farm track and a lot of badly pot holed roads!

 2:30pm and lined up ready. 13 laps of 7.5km so not a long race but a perfect one for the first of the season. With about 60 or so riders and some quite good teams with DN1 Hennebont Cyclisme and AC Lanester fronting what seemed like 10 riders each it was gonna be an interesting test. Away we went and I made sure I got near the front in the top 15 to avoid the madness of the descent in the first lap. Up the hill on the first lap and literally 3km in to the race attacks began. As many of you know, and some who do now, I love a break and although the plan was to get round and see how I felt after an hour I couldnt resist and soon got myself into the first break of about 8 riders.

This was short lived though as although I was up for it my legs were in shock, as sprinting constantly out of corners is not something they had done for a while! Before not to long I began to lose the wheel and drift back. Not panicking I sat up and saw another group was clipping off the front of the bunch. As it came thundering through I jumped hard and got on and we were away!

 Before long we were the chase group of about 8 riders, through and off we went and after approximately 40km we had caught the front group. Just as the catch was being made, a number of riders attacked off the front group leaving about a dozen of us in the second group on the road. Soon the 5 away began pulling out a gap. Half way into the race and with two team mates in the chase group with me we were in an ok position, although Hennebont Cyclisme and AC Lanester had 4 or so riders each in our group as well!


Five laps to go and the realisation this was the first race of the year and it was February was beginning to tell for me! Powerwise I was good but jumping about, not so, (more work on V02 and sprints needed!) Coming into 3 laps to go a Hennebont Cyclisme rider attacked and keen to make an impression I followed. Soon another Hennebont Cyclisme rider joined us. Outnumbered again! I decided with 2 of them a one of me I'd sit on and let them work. Soon we were flying along and with a lap to go we picked up 2 riders from the front group.

Last lap and due to my sprinting skills (of what there is none!) I had to go on the attack, With 6 of us in the chase group, 3 Hennebonts, 1 AC Lanester and another rider and myself it was gonna be hard. Attacking with 3km to go I got a gap into the headwind and put my head down, 4th place here I come! Or not! As after a few hundred metres I was pulled back. A sprint it was, Oh Joy! Sitting 3rd wheel I thought I'd just hang on a see if I could get round in last few metres but it wasnt to be. 9th place it was.


Race done, and after a quick chat to team manager (who seemed happy) a slab of cake was handed to me as well as a bag full of cake, the benefits of a team sponsored by a cake company!

 So there we have it first race of 2011 done and dusted, first top 10 of 2011 and hopefully a good starting point for  more results and hopefully some wins later in the season!

1 – Florian AUBERGER (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
2 - David CHOPIN (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
3 - Gwenael SIMON (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
4 – Romain GUILLOU (AC LANESTER 56)
5 – Jérémy LORIC (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
6 - Jordan LE GAL (VC LANGUIDIC)
7 – Romain PINOT (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
8 – Erwan GUIANVARCH (HENNEBONT CYCLISME)
9 – Daniel KOGAN (UCL HENNEBONT)
10 – GAULTIER Matthieu (AC LANESTER 56)







   




 

1st week and its all go!

Thought I'd give a brief run through of first couple of days so far...

after an early start sunday, Myself and Tony Mills boarded the train from London down to Southampton. This was in theory a simple journey and even with a last min platform change (cue legging it down flight of stairs with bike box,bag and suitcase!) it was a stress free journey to airport then a 45 min flight, on a ridiculously small (propeller!) plane to Rennes. There we were met by Tony Mills senior who drove us the hour or so to Pont Augan, a very small town/village in Southern Brittany. After a nice roast dinner put on by Mrs Mills I was all ready to hit the hay!


Monday, and first ride on French soil! A very wet one at that. Rode down into Hennebont and back on rather big roads. Not wanting to get lost it was an out and back job, but still with very little traffic was a breeze. 2hrs to get sunday's travelling out of legs. A quick lunch later before heading into town, with Karen, the lady I'm currently staying with.

There I had a list, a big one at that!

first step, French phone, I was now in communication! Then a trip to supermarket to stock up. Food sorted! As the nearest supermarkets in Baud, a good few miles away it was a chance to get some much needed supplies.

Finally a visit to the docs and using my best French managed to get a letter giving permission for me to race in France. All the better, unlike England's GP wanting to charge me £85 for a letter, the French doc did it for free!


well that sums up first couple of days, a busy couple but once settled in should calm down a bit


Ill check in later in week for more musings and insights into my first week en France!

bienvenue!

Welcome to my first of many blogs, giving an insight into a British rider's experiences of training, racing and hopefully winning and succeeding in one of the holy grails of cycling, France!

I will try to keep this blog as upto date as possible and hopefully some one will find it of interest! (if not I won't take it personally)


Well, better get started... a bit of background info....

My name's Daniel Kogan, friends call me Kong, and I am a 22 year old cyclist from East London, (just outside the hood, some say).

My cycling journey started in Epping Forest on a heap of a mountain bike and over the years I have raced all over the country in some really good races (and lots not so good) and against some great riders. I have been a member of the Lee Valley Youth CC, Ciclos uno, Glendene Junior Squad, BMC UK RT and Orbea FGS and over that time have raced everything from National Buckley Series races, Belgium Kermesses and Premier Calendar events to the Tour Series.

Yet although progressing and getting stronger I am often my own worse enemy in races and training.  All this into consideration I can say I haven't delivered my full potential...Let's hope that's changed for 2011!

2011 really started for me in 2010. Yes, strange I know but I think this is a common trend in cycling and teams as arrangements for the following season happen well in advance.

Having, over the last couple of seasons, raced a few times in France, I had been bitten by the French racing bug! Yet until this year I hadnt done anything about it. This winter there had to be a change, as 2011 is to be my final year as an under 23/Espoir rider and so really a big mile stone.


With that in mind I got about researching how to get over and race in France. Harder than you would imagine. I did the usual of speaking to Brits already out there and a couple of teams but was getting no definitve answers of the best way to get out and race.

Then I came across The John Ibbotson Fund.; a fund set up in John's memory to aid young riders achieve their potential abroad.

Speaking to Russell Clarke, a friend of John's and one of the key members of the fund, I was given lots of advice and help to get my dream of racing in France off the ground. Lots of emails and phone calls later and being introduced to Tony Mills, ex pro, living in France, and his sons, I was told a team had been found. Undoubtedly without the Mills', Russell's and The Ibbotson Funds help this would have just been a pipe dream so I am incredibly grateful for all the time and work they put into making this possible.

Through the Ibbotson Fund I was also able to partake in a heart screening through the charity CRY, a charity set up to raise awareness of condition that can lead to young sudden cardiac death. This was an invaluable examination and I thoroughly recommend it to all young cyclists. With a clean bill of health and no heart abnormalities I have the peace of mind that I can push myself to my full capabilities.


So with the team and health  check done it just leaves the training. After a few winters of training I have begun to find what works well and what not so well. Yet with me it's often the case of reigning things in a little! This is where my ex team mate Andy Lyons, former GB rider and Essex axe on a bike, comes in. After a few seasons seeing me race and often not achieving the results I had the potential to get I teamed up with Andy for some training advice and guidance.

This meant a slower start and a more gradual build up to winter than in previous years. After spending the last couple of the months of 2010 MTBing and riding on feel I felt fresh and ready to start training proper, starting by upping the miles in January and a training week with my good mates Andrew and Niels in Majorca.

Coming out of this block of training feeling strong, the last few weeks I've been adding intensity and hopefully complimenting strength with some speed! Also through The Ibbotson Fund I was put in touch with Garmin Cervelo Pro Dan Lloyd, a long supporter and ex team mate of John, who has given me some great advice on training and adding more intensity.

So that leaves me now, sitting on my laptop typing away in a house on the outskirts of Baud, South Brittany. The season is a mere 6 days away for me, as this time on Sunday I will have my first race of 2011, for French team UCL Hennebont, under my belt. Excited...yes, apprehensive...yes, motivated...you bet!

2011 starts here and hopefully over the next 7-8 months you will follow me on my journey through the inevitable hard times and hopefully the many good times along the way.


thanks again to The John Ibbotson Fund, Tony Mills and family, Dan Lloyd and my very patient parents!

until next time check out
http://www.johnibbotsonfund.com/
http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/index.htm