First up was Koksijde World cup, its not called the dune cross for nothing! One of the many features of the course is a massive sand dune which you have to try and ride to the bottom of through deep sand then run up and make your way back down running or riding whichever you can manage. In previous years I have found the sand really difficult to ride and get to grips with, however the experience of last year and more racing in Belgium is starting to pay off and I found myself riding the sand much better technically than previous attempts.
With lots of English support there including my 'fan club', I really wanted to do a good ride but after a couple of laps I knew this was not going to be the case, my legs simply were not there backing up my motivation. I ended the race in 34th disappointed but I could understand why my legs had not been great. Being ill two weeks before had left me drained and it would take a while for them to come round, there was nothing more to think about except getting on with some good solid training in the following weeks.
That's exactly what I did, the week following Koksijde I managed twenty steady hours on the bike; I say managed because the weather was awful, never more than six degrees and a lot of rain during the week made it a good volume of training and my legs were starting to feel good again, I would never have been able to do the training in such conditions without the support of the Schlamm clothing, it's simply awesome for winter. I sat and watched the World Cup in Spain on TV and I did not wish I was there, the course looked heavy going and the riders did not look like they wanted to race.
After a couple of easy days I got back on the bike and started with my split days, these consist of two hours steady in the morning and then varying intervals in the afternoon. After three of these days I was ready for a day off! Last weekend was the big stand alone race at Overjise, in previous years it has been a really hilly tough course which I was looking forward to. However due to a field being off limits to the course designers a new course was put up which did not offer the same amount of out and out climbing and for me was a rather poor course for such a prestigious event on the 'cross calendar...
After a really good start the race went wrong for me over the first few laps, because on four separate occasions the rider directly in front of me crashed. Each time I was left with no where to go apart from off the bike and round them loosing valuable places. It's difficult to keep your head during these frustrating races, my legs felt good but the course did not allow for much time to be made or lost compared to the riders around me. I put in some real good laps towards the end of the race but was un-able to make up any places and finished in 29th. I should have got a much better result here but sometimes that's the way cross goes and another day I may have all the luck in the world! A good point from this is the fact last year I would have been satisfied with this result but this year I am unhappy and wanting to do better and better.
This week my legs have been quite tired but have pushed on through trying to wake them up! Its not easy in this weather which has turned really cold, today I had to break out the Schlamm thermal all in one suit, what a piece of clothing! In minus 2 degrees and a bitter wind I was toasty warm flying round the cross course near the house.
Next up are the two World Cups over Christmas one at the infamous Zolder race circuit on Boxing Day and another at the regular venue of Kalmthout on the 20th. However all my training is geared towards Nationals and Worlds so I am not expecting too much along the way, just technically solid rides picking up valuable UCI points, World Cup points and start money.
Ian
Hargroves Cycles
Schlamm Clothing
Cyclocross Stuff
For Goodness Shakes
Koolstop
Bottlesport
