I don’t know about any of you but now the season is in full swing the time has flown past since I did my last update!  So much has gone on and I don’t really know where to start! 

Last time I left you just before the Beverbeek Classic; a UCI 1.2 pro race on the Belgian / Dutch border.  I was quite nervous that day because I didn’t really expect to get selected so I felt I had to really show myself!  It was typical early season Belgian weather – wet, windy and very, very cold!  It’s never a good sign when your shivering on the start line and losing all feeling in you hands!  The rest of my body was fine though, burning in fact, as one of the soigneurs had rubbed super hot warm up balm all over 90% of my body! 

The race itself went ok.  The start was crazy and in the first hour we covered over 49km!  From the 200 odd starters I made the first split of about 80 riders, which went after about 60km.  Then it cruised a while, which was probably the worst part of the race as we all just froze!  In the last 60km it picked up again.  I was feeling strong, which was a good job because with 40km to go I had to change a wheel with a puncture!  I managed to get back to the peleton no problems, but by then it was lined out in the gutters and I never saw the front of the race again.  So the placing was a little disappointing but my manager was happy, and there’s still plenty more races to go at hey? 

After that it’s been a bit quiet, I’ve pretty much picked up from where I left it at the end of last year, some good days, some bad, but nothing to shout about yet.  My best achievement so far would have to be 15th in Brussell – Zepperen, (ICN category) which shows some potential for this year.  Bizarrely though, so far this year there have been a lot of bunch sprints, which has surprised most people I think!  Being a bit of a ‘tester’ this isn’t really suited to me but it’s been good to learn how battle it out in big bunch sprints.  I’ve been in quite a few breaks so there are some new good photos on my gallery! 

A quick summary of races this year -

Coming up, I’ve got a 2-day stage race on the 14th/15th, where I am really looking forward to riding the time-trial, then a few kermis races and an ICN and a UCI race at the end of April. 

I’m also moving house in the next few days so I’d advise anyone wanting to send anything to contact me first! 
 
That’s all for now, till next time! 

Dan 11/04/07

Special thanks this month go to -