Belgium 2006, entry 6

U23 Liege- Bastogne- Liege

May 1^st 2006

What an opportunity I had yesterday to take part in yet another U23 World Cup Race! The field quality was certainly high, with teams from around the world present and ready to race this epic course. Teams from Belgium, France, and Holland were obviously there and were joined by Spanish, Swiss, and American squads. The Cycling Center Team was represented by Steven, Arne, Derek, Aaron, Chris W, and me. We arrived in Houffalize on Sunday afternoon and after spinning the car ride out of our legs we checked into our hotel. Bernard and the staff arrived just before dinner and as we loaded carbs into our bodies for the next day's battle, we listened attentively to Bernard's directions. There was no point in sugar coating this race: it was going to be hell and there was going to be suffering. With constantly rolling terrain, about 10 climbs of at least 2km, several open crosswind sections, and rain in the forecast we were in for a tough day in the saddle. Bernard expressed his desires for the race and made it clear how he wanted us to approach the day. Our preparations were good and focus was there. All we needed to do was race hard, race smart, and as Bernard says 'Do the right things, and do those things right.'

On the morning of the race, we gathered for breakfast and some pre-race pasta and laughed as Steven told everyone about my sleep talking and sleep gestures. Apparently I was talking in my sleep, which I am known to do on occasion, and was saying how we needed a higher cadence up La Redoute (a famous climb). I don't remember any of this but Steven said that I shouted the name of everyone on the team and ordered them to have a higher cadence. The funniest part is this: I was moving my arms in a cycling motion during the whole affair! I'm still trying to figure out if it's a good or a bad thing that I'm dreaming and sleep talking about races. Anyway, we drove to the start line a bit later and made all the final preparations. The weather wasn't looking too good so I grabbed my vest and long gloves out of my rain bag just before the start, something I would be grateful for later in the race. As the peloton rolled off the line for the neutral start I remember thinking how awesome it was to be doing this race. I wanted to do my best to make the most of it, I was ready to go.

The peloton wasn't too nervous in the beginning because the big climbs didn't start until kilometer 80. The first 80km, however, were by no means flat and was by no means easy. I tried very hard to race smart and save my energy for the big climbs, but made the mistake of racing a bit too far to the back. I know it sounds easy but position is the key and I am still searching for the balance of racing smart and racing aggressive. I'll probably continue to improve on that balance for years to come. I made it safe and sound to the first climb when things got messy. On climbs of 2-4km, trying to hold the pace of the leaders can sometimes cause you to 'blow up' so instead of jumping from group to group I climbed at my own pace and got into a small group at the top of the climb. We caught back onto the peloton on the decent and I knew that the next climb would be a lot worse. I did my best to move up into a safer position and at the beginning of the second climb I had trouble keeping in contact with the group. I wasn't the only one having trouble, it was more like a shattering of the peloton and from what I heard, by the 4^th climb (La Redoute) the peloton had been broken apart into small groups of less than 20.

I may have forgotten to mention that it was now raining and the cold, wet hell was just beginning. My teammate Aaron and I chased hard for a long time before finally the caravan of team cars passed us and the commissar waved us off. Our race was over but we continued to ride at a decent tempo to stay warm as we waited for the bus to come and pick us up. We rode and rode yet no bus came. We began to worry that we had been left behind and at the top of La Redoute we stopped to ask some police officers what was going on. They didn't help us at all but some racers came up the climb just after us and told us they were riding to the finish. We followed them towards Liege and heard the rumor that the bus had filled with abandoned riders long ago and had driven straight to the finish. We got into Liege and joined up with more racers searching for the finish. The finish line was in a small suburb called Ans but no one knew exactly how to get there. I just rolled my eyes every time one of the Belgians needed to stop for direction. The more we stopped, the colder we got. Aaron and I didn't have any food or water and were beginning to shiver. At that point it felt as if we were living a nightmare. We had been riding for more than 5 hours in the cold and rain. Somehow we made it back onto the course and rode the final 5km to the finish. Never have I been so glad to see a dirty Belgian kleedkamer (changing room) with a dirty hot shower!

It wasn't the most successful of races and it wasn't the most fun of races but I learned some lessons and it will be a great story to tell for years to come. As for the team, Steven made it to the line and Arne came very close. Considering over 110 guys abandoned, that's an accomplishment in itself. The race wasn't bad as long as we all apply what we learned to the next race we do. Thanks for reading.