Hi everyone
I returned
to Spain after the British Champs and Beaumont GP (my blog here), to rejoin my team
mates in Opel Ibaigane.
The weather
here has been scorching all month, a 44 degree training ride the
other day was an extreme. But the humidity in my races has been the
biggest challenge, With the hot air from the south, the rivers and
forests, the mixture can be an absolute killer, racing in it at
times. Although now I feel I am acclimatising better.
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| Village roll out in the Antzuola U23 race |
My first
weeks were dodgy as a certain family member passed me on a stomach
and kidney virus which meant I could barely eat for a whole week. I
lost a bad few kilos and when I did feel better to race the next week
end, it was a waste of time. The legs were so depleted I could barely
ride 20 mins of the race. Difference a week makes when I felt strong
doing the 90 mile Premier Calendar.
However, by
mid July my appetite came back and I regained strength and my results
picked up.
I was able
to attack in the Soplana race which is a race I have done the past
two years, and get 16th.
I didn't quite have the strength for the steep uphill finish but it
was a confidence booster that I could attack and climb into the lead
groups.
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| On the attack in the Soplana RR |
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| At the front of pack as the pace steps up in one of the many climbs in the Beasain Classic |
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| Nearing the top of the last mountain climb of the Antzuola RR |
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| High pace in the Soplana RR |
My most
recent race in Cos, Cantabria, the Trofeo Santiago, a Spanish
federation elite race, proved that I am now reaching my best from of
the season. I was 10th in a strong field of many top ex pros and
strong teams.
I made it
into a small select lead group as we climbed the second big mountain
of the day reaching 700 metres (2,300ft). Team Lizarte were pressing
on to get their man Dayer Quintana, younger brother of Movistar's
Nairo, the win. The climbing was hot and long but the descents were
just as challenging. Some of the most technical we have come across,
sharp corners with plenty of mud and gravel thrown in. I got down
them safely but a few of my team mates behind came off nasty down
them.
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| On the first climb mid way through the Cos Elite race in Cantabria |
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| The final big climb, Quintana and the leaders full gas |
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| Flat out trying to get bridge back up to them, really warm! |
On the
final climb of the day, our small group disintegrated and everyone
had to go their own pace.
The race
started at 4pm in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day, but it
got cooler as race and the terrain got tougher so you were still
needing lots of bottles. The team cars were miles back behind groups
of riders but luckily the commisaires gave us a few small bottles of
water to keep us going. Over the top and on the descent I was with
three other riders and the leading few were just up the road.
We had a
short run in back into the finish in Cos however it felt like it had
kept dragging on and on. There was a big chase group gathering behind
so I had to press on.
Two of the
elite riders broke clear and I beat the other rider in the sprint to
claim a top ten. Much better result and shows good progression.
Looking forward to the next race!
More pics of the Cos race here.
I will be
racing here for the next two months. There is a lot of good races on
at this time of year, sometimes three in a week. I also have the four
day Vuelta Valencia in early September which will be good.
Thanks for
reading
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