My first National title!!! 
I'd had this event as a target from the previous year, believing if everything went well in the run up to the event and on the day, I had as good as chance as anyone of winning. 


Signing for KW Heist Zuiderkempen 6 weeks before the event was good for morale, however a packed race programme including 2 big stage races, a few single day classics as well the local kermesses for the sponsors, left no time for getting organised for the time trial.  I ended up getting back to the UK 3 days before the event having not touched my TT bike since February!


I got to ride the course on the Friday.  After a few laps warming up on the road bike I got the TT bike out for a few more.  I found the course rolling and a little twisty at times, but nothing too challenging.  Towards the end of the day, I did 1 lap at just below race effort, and compared to recent events on the course, I had a decent average speed.  So although my form was now starting to dip after some big races in Belgium I still had some confidence remaining


I came up with a plan for the ride itself and stuck to it well.  After my start I had a time check at about 15kms in, from a random bloke at the side of the road (I had no one with me on the day so didn’t know how accurate this would be) who said I was 30seconds, but there were still the ‘seeded’ riders to come.  With only one incident where I had to dodge through the traffic, I had an almost clear run and timed 47.58.  I was relatively happy with it, but was wondering how much faster I would have gone if id done a bit more specific training before the day.



I got to the village hall (typical CTT style) when they were putting up the results and watched the lady put the little arrow with “1st” next to my name and time.  Job done!

After the men’s event I was told I had the highest average speed on the day, which was another little bonus for me.  After the presentation, it was straight back to my sponsor’s house; pack my bags ready to leave for Belgium in the morning!