And so, I have found myself full of confidence recently after a handful of strong showings in the last few races. I've been reading the races well enough to get myself in the right breakaway more often than not so far this season, achieving some top 10's and learning from the many mistakes that can be made when in a small group racing for the win. I know that I am improving and getting stronger every race because of this, it's now a case of maintaining consistency and trying new things.
The races last weekend, in Wervik on Saturday and Wijnendale-Torhout on Sunday took a little bit more mental strength than previous races, mainly because of the conditions, but on Saturday I came from absolutely no where in the race to a solid result within 30 km.
 |
| Following attacks in early laps. Photo Credit Pol Demeyere Pomer. |
I had started the race with very high intentions, but for some reason had a slight lack of confidence in how I was feeling, I tried to think past it and focus on getting in the early breakaway again. 3 strong riders clipped away pretty soon after the race had started, clearly with the same pre-race intentions that I'd had, however whilst they were executing the tactic perfectly, I was left hesitant, in the pack of riders only interested in sheltering from the wind, afraid of what might happen if they so much as push on the pedals, that little bit harder. Soon after, I made a couple of attempts to go across, with a lack of success though and fell back into the grasp of the peloton. 2 more riders jumped clear at this point and eventually got across. 5 riders well over a minute in front now, race over? Quite possibly. I felt somewhat disinterested as riders took off looking to distance themselves from a jittery peloton and perhaps make inroads into the gap to the leading 5 riders. A forcing of the pace from my team mate Peter Hawkins in the crosswind section of the course provided me with the motivation I needed to start riding hard and with intention. As the peloton sat up, I pushed on, riding away with a handful of riders on my wheel, creating the 3rd group on the road. Having distanced the peloton, it was looking good for us to now catch the 2nd group which was out of sight, 30 seconds to 1 minute in front with the front group 2 minutes ahead, with half the race remaining, 50 km approximately.
 |
| Wervik. Mid-Race in the 3rd group, going nowhere. Photo Credit Katrien Quartier. |
The group was made up mostly of riders unwanting to chase though, so after a couple of laps I decided to attack, to try and bridge across to the 2nd group. I was joined by a VL Technics rider and we took it in turns to set the pace. It took 2 laps, but we got across, now I was thinking of how I'd dispatch of them to finish in the best position possible based on the circumstances. 2 laps to go! Several attacks took place in these last 2 laps, which my team mate Marc Potts and I covered pretty well. Coming into the last lap, I knew where I wanted to attack, so I bided my time till that moment. As we approached the drag with the wind coming from the right, the group bunched up and I attacked flat out in the gutter, looking back after a couple of hundred metres to see if I'd got a gap, I had, now it was time to ride as hard as I could for the last 3 kilometres or so. I felt pretty strong and knew there was little chance of being caught, but for race practice, I pushed on anyway.
 |
| Wervik. 1 lap to go, slight look of tiredness in this group... Photo Credit Pol Demeyere Pomer. |
6th. I crossed the line, very pleased with how I'd ridden in the last few laps, but was definitely disappointed that I hadn't been aggressive enough in the early stages to get myself into that front group of 5. I took time to reflect on the race as I normally do, on the journey home, looking to improve in the race on Sunday, in Wijnendale-Torhout.
Sunday 29th March, Wijnendale-Torhout. The weather was storm like, constant rain and howling winds, gusts of around 80 kilometres an hour were going to make this a very tough and dangerous race to say the least. Thankfully, as we lined up, the rain became lighter and less frequent, improving the conditions, ever so slightly. I was nervous, as I always am but knew what I needed to do, ride hard from the start as a race can be over before you know it in wind like this and I was determined to fight for my position.
Within the first 2 laps the race had split to bits, a front group of around 25 riders had formed and a constant forcing of the pace meant riders were constantly fighting for shelter behind the rider in front. In moments like this, I always find it is better to get into the echelon of riders in the first few positions than struggle further back, working just as hard, if not harder to merely hold your place in the group. So this is what I did and followed the attacks that created a 9 man front group within 30 km, this group worked well, each rider doing what was necessary for it to be efficient. Another 30 km later and a group of 6 joined our group to make 15, making things a little bit more nervous as there were now more possibilities to consider.
 |
| Wervik. Coming into the finish, by myself to take 6th place. Photo Credit Katrien Quartier. |
 |
| Moving up on the first lap, just before splits occured. Photo Credit Lynn Huyghe. |
As riders attacked for primes and made attempts to forge clear, I rode hard behind, deciding I was better off riding at a strong tempo than wait for the punchy attacks and splits that were likely to occur. I was finding it much more comfortable this way and kept this tactic for the remainder of the race. I missed that all decisive move though, with just over 20 km to go, 3 riders attacked clear, riding strongly and going on to contest the win. Behind, I was beginning to tire, but who wasn't. After several attacks, we approached the final 5 km as a group of 9, 30 seconds behind the leading trio. The attacks had calmed for a moment, but that was just a moment as you could sense tiredness and therefore an opportunity to escape for a result off the podium places. Riders attacked in 1's and 2's, after following one attack which came to nothing, 3 riders went clear before I attacked and put my head down as the 5 riders behind were transfixed by who would chase. I crossed the line. 7th, 30 seconds behind the win and 10 seconds from 4th.
 |
| A never easing pace. Photo Credit Donald Peuteman. |
The weather conditions made it an awesome race, I was proud to of been in the front racing positively, I am learning a lot from every race, I now have an idea of how I can improve things further and can't wait to try new things in the upcoming races.
We race in France next, our first stage race of the season, a 2 day Elite National called Boucles De L'Artois. There are 3 road stages, the first being 160 km on Saturday before a 90 km morning stage and 80 km afternoon stage on the Sunday, it will be a different experience but one that I am really looking forward to and hope that I can be competitive for the top placings.
 |
| A decision without much thought, to chase the 3 out front. Photo Credit Lynn Huyghe. |
 |
| Crossing the finish line, race over. |
