As I write this blog, I am well into my 2024 racing season and have just finished my First UCI 1.1 race in Belgium,GP Criquelion. With 6 world tour teams and 6 pro continental teams, it was always going to be tough besides the other factors of 200km and rain and cold. As this was the first 1.1 after opening weekend, a lot of teams wanted confidence and to win and to gain some Points for the UCI standings, with us being a smaller continental team and especially on a parcour like this one, the best thing we could do is try to get ot the back end and see if we could play or cards (easier said than done). I think for all of us we showed that we are at the level of pro races with 3 of us finishing in the second group only due to a few mistakes and being involved in crashes.
I took away positives and learning`s from this race and now it has fueled the fire to race more against top riders and teams.
A week prior I started my first races in the UK, a 11 mile Time trial and a handicap road race called the Clayton Spring Classic, the time trial was my first one on a hillier course and I enjoyed it as it tested physical and technical abilities on all terrain, I was happy to take the win and gain confidence from this event which I can use in more time trials in the not so distant future.
The Clayton Spring Classic was a 90KM Handicap road race on challenging terrain. I felt good and attacked with another rider after 20km and we worked well together with 70km out front it was no easy feat until we got caught by 2 other riders inside a KM to go. I luckily had one kick left and could win the sprint and win my first race on the road in what felt like forever after some problems in the last 2 years.
I can`t wait to get stuck into more as the seasons goes on
Big thanks to Saint Piran and Pedal Potential for providing me with the opportunity.
