Good Fighters

Hi there!

just like to share a littlebit of my racing experience last sunday. As I’ve competed in an earlier “bergrace” stage (Wagening, 27th place) I thought it was a good idea to test the legs again in another stage, located in Arnhem. This course was no comparison with Wageningen, this was the real XC shit! Anhem has numberous steep climbs and on top of that a bad-ass stair which can be descended full trothle! As the guys from the Ventoux racing team ran a warm-up lap we concluded that this was an excellent track, especially according to dutch standards. To make things especially interesting, this race has an open prescription, meaning that riders from all categories compete eachother here.

Since I’ve finished 27th last time, I was permitted to start 2nd row, which is kinda relax since you don’t have to push for position, wasting a lot of power. As the start whistle had blown and the pack went onwards, I came to the conclusion it was definetely a good feeling I had  in the legs, and as the first round was completed I tried to keep up with a 5 man group (including myself). Since I don’t ride with a heartfrequency device I do have to trust on my feeling during a race, and as our little pack turned into the 3th round, Idecided to let go the group. Surprisingly, as I did’nt close the gap, the rider behind me did no effort to trie bridging the gap himself. The next complete round, I took the lead of the two of us, but when we where on the tarmac again, I subtally stretched my back and took a gelly (can’t get used to that flavour, jech ). This however forced the poor man to lead a round himself, and the next time we crossed the tarmac I asked him : “Hey man nice pace…are you going well? “. He responded: “yes sure, but man I do start to feel my legs!” This was the right signal for me to attack him since we had still half a course to complete and I didn’t suffer to much at the time (man I’m modest). At the tarmac part folowing, a bitchy slow uphilling section, I looked behind and concluded that my mate for the time being had lost my wheel (as a matter of fact, I had to concentrate to recognize him at the horizon haha) The second part of the race  went quiet well..I finished my laps constant, bumping of the stairs and pressing myself uphill..and I did’nt blew up this time! All and all, I finished 12th overall (175 participants). Couldn’t get my smile of my face the rest of the day and can’t wait to compete again!

Arrrivederci,

Sjoerd

Hi there!

since my last post was about a year ago (shame  shame) i thought i keep you guys updated on my marathonseason this year. My motivation has really gone up since i’ve trained way more this winter, and the results are skyrocketing as well!

After spending the winter in the gym really giving my utmost at spinninglessons (recommended by a friend, a way to get through the snowy winterdays) and training on my roadbike in order to get my kilometers, the will to compete started to arise. That;s why I signed up for my first goal of the season, the bergrace in Wageningen (150 minutes race). Starting at 250th position, I really stepped on it trying to reach the bikers in the front of the race. After pursuing 4 laps, I picked up a group I thought was right for me. However, after the effort reaching the front and losing my 2nd waterbottle, I had to let go of that group, giving up position 15-20.  After that, the suffering started . In the last lap I gave up 7 positions and I barely could see straight (damn man why didn’t I eat haha ). Reaching the finishline my  teammate said he’d never see me that beaten up! Some serious character building there! However, 27th overall wasn’t bad for a race that early in the season and afterwards I couldn’t wait to test my strenght in competition again.

The Next event in the season was the first race in the “RWP mountainbike plus marathoncup”. A 120 km marathon (altitude difference of 2900) located in Gilserberg, Germany. A 4 hour ride, that is, if the highway between Essen and Dortmund hadn’t been closed. Next to me sitting was Lynn, my girlfriend and let’s say that the mood has been better than that day, in the end we were sitting in that car for 8 hours! (lynn: “we could be in Paris right now instead of shitty Dortmund!”) Next day I competed in the marathon. Normally I’m the guy that hates it when people are covering for themselves in advance of a race saying they’re sick or feeling weak, but really: I had a freakin cold! The legs didn’t feel bad though and I started riding in the first pursuing group, lets say position 15. After 30 km, I ran a flat tire and from that moment I realised I had to pursue al race, so that’s what I did. Since my girl was standing by the track, I had to look a little rough too although I really had a hard time trying to get back upfront, haha that must have been a funny face of mine! After all, I managed to get back a lot and in the end I Finished 22th, not bad with 174 participants!

As you imagine, after that marathon I really started to become anxious how I would finish the next RWP marathon, in optimal fitness and (hopefuly) without bad luck. The 2nd round in RWP marathoncup was the Shark Attack marathon in Saalhausen, a 95 km ride with a 3200 altitude difference! This was gonna be a bad ass marathon! In the week before the race I felt it in my legs: TOP! The sunday before I did a 120 km mtb training, without even feeling my legs the slightest bit. Along with the team, we left on friday (thanks for letting me leave early at work guys at VENTOUX tilburg!) and we had lots of fun eating the greasiest potatoes ever baked, honestly! However, the grease really made me lose the final pounds at the toilet the next morning, really a recommendation! Right from the start, I decided to pick the wheel of Rob vd Werf, a true champ in my eyes. After a while, we started to run in at the others (again a tail start) and I decided to take all my courage and lose Rob. I remember thinking by myself: Man I’m gonna regret this! But as the race proceeded, I picked up more guys while not pushing myself too hard. My heart really lifted when I reached the guys of the Peerkes Bike Team. Great guys, and before I wasn’t able to finish ahead of them. I rode passed Wil and Guido and after a while, I closed in at Frank who had slipped away, but was paying the price afterwards. The last 15 k’s were extremely though, but I had saved myself enough to keep momentum and drove past Ad den Brabander of the Mitsubishi Bike Team (hurray!!). I couldn’t believe it as I crossed the finishline ahead of the people I couldn’t keep up with last year. That day I crossed the line 13th overall, (163 finished). Also congrats to my Ventoux team mates that did an excellent job that day as well!

Next race on the schedule is the Arnhem bergrace, can’t wait!

I’ll keep you guys updated from now on,

greets,

Sjoerd