Now then! busy last weekend with the three races back to back, but it was good timing to get me back towards after a week out with a nasty stomach. It started with 130kms on saturday, on mostly flat roads with 4 or 5 steep little climbs and a not too shabby field of riders. It took a while on the rolling roads for a break to get away and so the first half of the race was very quick, eventually it did split and i was driving in the front for most of it. But after around 120kms i hit a wall and blew spectacularly, for the last 10 or so kms i rode with the team car next to me; constantly handing me all the supplies of food and drink they had left, and finished probably a while down on the 20 or so that were in the front.
The following day i had recovered nicely, and started a criterium; that took place in a town centre and was 100 laps of just over a kilometer circuit with 200m of uphill ahead of the finish line. I attacked a lot of times as i usually do and ended up in the front with 8 guys; we lapped the field of 80 quite quickly and annoyingly many of them stayed with our group and were working for their teammates in the breakaway, chasing down everyone of my attacks. It was bloody frustrating and so i ended up sprinting in on the little hill for 3rd; a tidy little result coming back from illness.
The race on monday was a similar situation; a criterium which goes round a circuit so many times you worry for your mental health afterwards. This time i missed the break, but with an attack on the last lap i bridged to it alone and caught the group of ten on the line to finish 11th.
All in all i was happy; i felt better as the weekend went on, i got another podium place, i won some money for the rent in intermediate sprints; and after the weekend i recovered very quickly and feel stronger. I've done some good training these last couple of days coupled with a lot of sleeping, and the good form should eventually have chance to build, i'm trying anyway.
Next weekend i've been told there is not a right lot on, just sunday and a reet long drive to get there by the looks of it. So perhaps i'll take the weekend off and get some training in the mountains done for some of the races more suited to my characteristics in May.
On another note i have seen the time i set on the "steps" climb for eureka cycles has been bettered; well.... i'll be back!