Weekend Report 06.07.04 (3:50 am) So I am really learning what it takes to be a pro here, and yesterday was just another example. We raced the Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo a UCI 1.5 that started in a town named Warve, about an hour south of Hertsberg. It was a really good race for me, not so much in the sense of finish placing, but because of how well I was able to race considering how last week went for me. And I would have to say that racing well yesterday, brings on almost as much confidence as getting a really good finish. What brings this all on, well after getting blown out on Monday at Fleche Hesbignonne / Cras Avernas. I got really sick and I stayed that way up until Saturday when I was at least feeling well enough to get a good pre race ride in with some openers. I am actually still a little sick. I only was able to ride about 4 hours during the week, mostly inside on the trainer. So to finish even though I was in the second group was a huge accomplishment for me. Especially since the field was once again no slouch, D1 Rabobank, Cycling News.Com, Deschutes were all there. The race was a good one as usual, the first 50km had 6 pretty big climbs for around here and I rode really well on them, I was in the top 10 over everyone, and I even made the split the only time it got really hard, but the climbs weren’t the crux of this one, it was the cobbles at the end. I spent the whole morning at the front patrolling and trying to make the early split, so we could keep it easy for Austin and Eric. I did a good job but it took a bit out of me. After the climbs there was 35k of flat ground to cover until the real test started. I ended up running out of liquid so I made the decision to go back to the car, no one else on the team had water either, and for me it was get water or not finish. I made it to the car and back with no major problems, and I got some bottles up to teammates too. And not too far after that the proverbial shit hit the fan. There was a huge wreck at the entrance of the cobbled section, and I made it past with the tail of the group, I would find out after the race that Eric was the guy at the front hitting it so hard. I made the split but not really, I was barely hanging on and one of the guys in front of me popped and then I blew sky high trying to close his gap. I went straight through the chase group back into the peleton where I was able to recover, once I was sound my teammate attacked the peleton got a solid gap and I went with 3 guys to bridge. Our group of 7busted ass for two local laps about 30km and made it back to the chase group that contained 30 or so. It was hard, I mean really hard I thought that every time I pulled through it was going to be my last, but we made it, unfortunately the race was over not more than a km after we caught back on. We finished 7 min back from a group of 40 or so. The thing that pleased me so much was how well I raced the start of the race, and then how deep I was able to dig in the end, and all of that after a week of no training and being sick. Like I said they teach you how to be a pro here and when those guys race 100 times a year it seems inevitable that you are going to have weeks like I did. And to make it through, that seems like a good lesson. Thanks for reading. Tot Ziens, paco [image]paco_322514424.jpg[/image]   posted by: newbie post date: 06.07.04 (3:08 am) All right! Hang in there! posted by: newbie post date: 06.07.04 (9:51 am) Paco, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you are coming back a roadie!!!! I hope you'll still moto with us :)