The main aim for the team was to develop a group of 6 riders, mixing UK and Belgian racing in the 1st half of the season, progressing to ride Belgian inter-clubs in the 2nd half of the season.

 For me there were a lot of positives at this club, primarily some funding from the manager / sponsor, enabling me to commit to a full years race calendar without having to return home mid-season to work.  However, being British based, large parts of the early season were spent travelling to and fro between the UK and Belgium

By July it was clear that there was no chance of the club having a team for inter-clubs, or the funding to do them and after speaking to the manager, we decided if an offer came up to ride for a Belgian club I would take it. 

A week later I was put in touch with a local club manager who then came to watch me at several races.  On the 21 July I was invited to join the KW Heist Zuiderkempen Team, and was asked to start the Ronde van Vlaams Brabant, a 5 day stage race, which started 3 days later. 

This was my biggest race to date and a huge learning curve, which despite all the suffering, I really enjoyed from start to finish, and which boosted motivation to new levels. 

Since then, I’ve ridden for KW Heist Zuiderkempen  including another stage race, regular one day “inter-clubs”, countless kermesses and also a pro kermes, with the likes of Tom Boonen, Nico Eechout and Roger Hammond to name but a few! 

In between all that came my biggest win so far; on September 3rd in the British U23 Time Trial Championships. 

I’ve been asked to ride again for KW Heist Zuiderkempen  for the full 2007 season and I’m looking forward to a very attractive race programme.