Friday, May 26, 2006

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

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Arrival to Izegem



Hello Everyone,
I arrived in Izegem yesterday after an 8 hour flight from Orlando to London filled with babies crying, but I somehow managed to get four hours sleep. Once in London I connected to Brussels via a much less eventful forty minute flight. Once at the Brussels Airport I proceeded to the place where taxis are, believing to find someone waiting for me. I stood there for a while. Then I called my mom. My mom wanted me to call Noel but my cell phone had no bars and for some reason it didn’t work to call Noel by the pay phone. My mom got in touch with him and he said someone had been looking at me for forty minutes and to go back where I was. I waited again and could find no one. Eventually after about two hours of this I called my dad again, and he told me someone was waiting for me with a sign. I went there and found Herman, a Flemish man of around 60. He spoke very little English also. On the ride to the house it was quite windy. So windy in fact, that a tree blew over on the interstate. A semi hit the tree and kept going. Part of the tree he our windshield but that was it.
I got to the team house in Izegem yesterday and Els, Noel’s wife showed me around and everything that was expected of me. There is a list of chores and some of our names are next to chores and we have to do them for that day; like take out the trash or wash dishes. There are also signs around the house telling us things like no shoes upstairs, turn off lights,etc. This was all done while the mechanics were putting together my bike. I didn’t end up riding at all yesterday because by the time my bike was set up the Giro was on and I was jetlagged. It is pretty sweet that there is coverage of races like the Giro here everyday on about three channels. It was also pretty sweet that my friend, Rudy Robaina from VMG, happened to be here and rooming with me for the night because VMG is doing a race in Luxembourg. They all left today. There are some pictures of my room below. It is pretty cramped, having three people living in it, but it is great to be here.
Today I woke up rather late for me, 8:30, after going to bed at ten. I was surprised I slept so late, as I usually sleep for about 8 hours. But I guess the traveling took it out of me. First of all I had breakfast and then went on a journey to find an adaptor from an American to European adaptor. The weather was typical Belgium This journey ended up taking about an hour as I went to many stores and most people only spoke Flemish. I finally got to a store where a man spoke English and directed me to another store. Then I rode for about two hours on a narrow canal road. There roads are nice because they aren’t crowded at all and it is pretty much impossible to get lost on them. After I rode I went to downtown Izegem for a sandwich for lunch. I took some pictures of the downtown area and they are above. Tomorrow I will try to remember to take my camera when I ride. Also, I learned today that I am doing the Hasselt- Spa- Hasselt race this Thursday, which is a UCI 1.2 Top race. I don’t really know what 1.2 mean, just the first number means one day, and Top means it is part of the Top race series they have over here in Belgium. From what I can hear this race is supposed to be very tough and hilly. I am very excited about finally getting to race over here.

Until next time,
Winston