UCU 1.2 Hasselt- Spa- Hasselt

Hello Everyone,
I am once again writing from sunny Belgium. Yesterday’s Hasselt- Spa- Hasselt was a very tough race. Apparently UCI 1.2 is almost the toughest races we can do. I found out the 2 means pro continental teams/ division 2 and amateur teams can race them. The race started in about 50 degrees Fahrenheit conditions and it was raining constantly all day. This weather is common to the Limburg region. The race wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated. There were many crosswind sections and when there wasn’t wind there were hills as the race twisted its way from Hasselt to Spa and back to Hasselt again. If any of you have done the Festival of Speed circuit race it was essentially like that race except with many climbs that were about one kilometer long when you weren’t exposed to wind.. I ended up dropping out about fifty- fifty five k into the race. The hills and wind together ended up being too much for me that day. However, I think my main problem was positioning. I found it tough to stay toward the front with a group of just under 200. I started the race near the front and got passed by people but didn’t constantly move up to counter the movements of people moving up. Then I would start the hills too far back and need to move up and go into oxygen debt. Then I would have to move up on crosswinds also and go into more oxygen debt. Then a hill would come and more oxygen debt again. Eventually this amount of time spent in oxygen debt ended up popping me. I think I can finish races over here if I can get that positioning problem under control. But after I was out the race wasn’t over for me. Our director, Chris, told me to wait for the broomwagon. It would eventually come by but never did. Luckily I was off with a Danish rider, Kasper, who spoke English. He told me to follow some red signs that the race followed. A Belgian rider who spoke French directed me in the right direction also. Once in a while I would lose the course because there wouldn’t be a sign. But the fans are really cool here. They cheer for everyone even if they are off the back. And these other Belgians who spoke French following the race helped me find the right direction again. Then a rider from the cycling center caught me and told me the broom wagon would probably never come. This was about three hours and 95 k in. He eventually got a flat and got a ride back to the finish with some fans. I eventually found the finish after four and a half hours and 135 kilometers in rain and cold. At least I arrived to the finish and didn’t get a flat. The way I look at it I got in a good training ride in Limburg since the broomwagon never found me. I will use this experience as motivation to finish my next race. I know I have the ability to finish these races and will try to be smarter in my next race, which I believe is a stage race that starts in Spain next Tuesday.

Until next time,
Winston