26th
Aug
2011

After blogging a part 1 I had to blog a part 2 - despite not particulary feeling like blogging about my second race since it didn’t go my way again and excuses don’t make up for results.

A couple of days off to get back to strength and I headed down the cycle path which runs through “The Valley of the Sun”. Still not feeling 100% I opted to avoid the course in favour of a gentle spin. The heavy landing on my arse seemed to be improving and on Thursday I set out for a couple of laps.

The course at Val di Sole is one you can only ride on way: hard. You basically traverse the side of a mountain, climbing at least 5, what must be 20% hills. I would say it plays to my strengths; the climbs are just what I like and technically there isn’t anything crazy or long enough to let me down.

It wasn’t playing to last weeks strengths though, whatever they were. Sitting in the saddle trying to produce power, I found the damage I had done to my glute in Czech reawakening and limiting my legs. After training it was sore again and uncomfortable to move. Practice on Friday was a similar scene but I tried to eliminate it from my mind and hope the rush of racing would mask it. 

1400, Saturday came along and at least this week I wasn’t afraid of making a mess in my skinsuit. For once I wasn’t held up by the crash 50m from the start (150 guys, handlebars overlapping, all clipping in at the same time, a crash is inevitable) and was able to take advantage of it, placing myself mid pack through the start loop.

The prospect of a good WC start was buzzing in my mind, right until a rider closed a gap on me as we came back into the arena, clipping my bars and pulling me down. I was left out the back of the field and once again on the back foot. Of all courses Val Di Sole is not one you want to have a gap. Rather than into singletrack which stops with traffic, allowing the mishap struck rider to get back, we race up a lung busting grass climb.

In the group everyone is pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, trying to tap into that on your own is not easy. I pushed hard and did manage to catch the field at the top of the climb but still, once we hit climbs in the saddle I couldn’t get the power out. The climbs are so steep and loose that you have to remain in the saddle for most of the time. I become frustrated and despondent. I wanted to give up by the end of the first lap as I was no longer in the race as such but was encouraged to carry on, I finished the second and got pulled. 

Not a good couple of races. I don’t like being off the back, I find it embarrassing and like I’m just being a World Cup tourist, an image I don’t want. It was a great trip though and I certainly don’t regret going. Next year I intend on doing a lot more international races to gain more experience, rather than straight in at the deep end.

John.