The joys of cycling....

Bedersdorf Germany wheelie time with nice scenary

Howdy,

Riding with the Ethiopians on Marco Polo near Spa Belgium

As for me it been a little bit of a bumpy patch recently have been clocking up alot of milelage in amongst the racing.  First of had a little crit in Lexmond which was a on a small circuit 1.2k which was a triangle circuit, had a solid race finishing 7th as well as taking alot of sprint prizes along the way. After a good block of training got to watch some of the classics live Amstel Gold watched on the camerig and then another at the bottom Mur de Huy.

Clouds in some awesome weather in  the Ardennes

The next trip up was up to the North of the Netherlands with a couple of races Arno Wallard and Noord Holland both of these were around 200k which didn't end up so well as wasn't able to finish off as was in the right moves but first day ran out of energy and bonked with 1lap to go then the following day made the break and was up the rode for 160k before running out of legs probably from the efforts the day before but would of finished but they decided to pull everyone out of the race ended up 22 finishers but had to ride back to the finish anyway clocking up the same distance as well so was so happy about that.

Alem Abebe 4th place in Bedersdorf

The following week was time to visit the dentist again this time needed some fillings which wasn't so pleasent but got them all done without anesthetic which made them took a little longer but was worth it not having the after effects of it once it wheres off it only felt like a pain you get when you get a brain freeze.

So had a few rest days then had some good easy rides in the hills before head to a hilly 14k circuit race with a 3k climb in Bedersdorf Germany which was an awesome day in amongst the bad weather.

La Gillipie the other side of the lion

So after the first time over the climb the race halfed in sized and settled down into a better rythm anyway a break of 10 split over the top and non the Ethiopians managed to be in it so went to the front and rode and minimise the gap down to a handful of seconds at the bottom of the climb where I blew to pieces at the bottom of the climb setting up Alem to ride across and ended up finishing 4th which was an awesome result for him and a great team effort. So I had enough time to get a very picturious wheelie on the hill. 

Dam where the lion is.

Following day took it easy just going for a lite spin down to Maastrict and back then the following day had a race in Hoboken, which was a 20 circuit with alot of corners had a solid race but couldn't quite finish it off once again finishing in the bunch.

Then this last weekend had Ronde Van Overisjel and Kempen both race weren't either that special

not managing finish at Overisjel due to a puncture at a very untimely puncture then at Kempen didn't managed get a good result there just finishing in the bunch again.

So hope you enjoy the pictures as I have certainly been enjoying riding but just waiting for a win to

come my way.

God Bless till next time

Chris

Building Blocks....

Eifel Park looking across lake to Rurberg

Hi Everyone,

Well have been clocking up a few k's as had a fine spell of weather here, as for the races have been slowly building up the form.

First of all from the last post had that race Het Waasland which didn't end up going so well for me, started off the day with a couple big laps around Lokeren before heading to the finishing circuit in Stekene doing 3 laps, had bad positioning coming into the finishing laps and ended up missing the main split, leaving me to try ride across which was not going to happen today so was race over.

Spent the next two weeks enjoying myself exploring the Ardennes which was very plesant getting in some quality climbing.

So after that disapointing race had a slightly better day in Germany racing Koln-Schuld-Frechen
after a fast start to the race was really active in the front of the bunch it settled down as we started climbing in the hills of the Eifel park, coming up to the 100k mark of the race the situtation was there was a small break of 5 or so up the road and the main peleton dwindling down as the hills got the better of them, then there was a split one of the last decent climbs leaving 30 in the front with another 20 getting back on with me been the only one in the front group from my team still just had to stay near the front and out of trouble as the break got brought back with 30k remaining then was really controlled so decided to wait for a sprint but that didn't work to my favour as ended up boxed out sitting in about 10th place with just over 1k to go then had to go round a left hand corner really wide cause of where i was sitting ended up on the foot path and before I knew it there was tape for the finish so had to duck under that and roll in with the back of the bunch, so was could to finish with the lead group but unlucky that happened.
Now the next race GP Cerami is one of the bigger races that are team starts so had a decent field of Pro tour and pro conti teams starting, So the race left out of Saint Ghislain down in the Wallonie region of Belgium doing a big lap the three 25k local laps around Frameries
so after attacking quite a few times in the first hour and been in a couple of breaks that looked promising a break a 4 man break was established on the first steep short climb of the day unfortunately was not in it so had a easy ride in the bunch to the finishing circuits, so moved up after riding around the lap the first time got the picture why the pace was so high cause of this narrow and steep cobbled street which was absolute caose having to nearly stop leading into it which definately put a nice burn in the legs. So the last lap was still in the front but didn't have good position leading into the last climb up to the finish line so finished just off the back of the lead group. So was pretty happy to have a solid race there.

Had a few more easy days then had my latest race Het Hageland which was Based out of Aarshot in Belgium. It was a big lap of 90k followed by six finishing circuits of 14k so went and raced the whole race really aggressively but with no one willing to work with me didn't end up getting across to the lead of 8 so ended up finishing in the main peleton.

Photo's
Top right Oud Valkenburg Castle
Top left Mastrict Square Vrijthof
Bottom right Lyon at La Gillipie in close
Eifel Park here
So had an awesome last month of racing and training and really enjoying myself while building into the season quite nicely.
Bring on some more racing!!!

God Bless
Take Care till next time.

Chris

Back in Europe

Brrrr!!! Ready for first race of the season with Marco Polo-Donckers Koffie at Wanzele.

Hi Everybody,

Well back in europe already, man that time in NZ went fast and really enjoyed myself big thanks to the Caudwells.
Am now currently based with Marco Polo-Donckers Koffie continental cycling team and am staying in Geleen, Holland.
Which is about 15k's away from Valkenburg where the worldchamps are later this year.

As for the first 3 weeks here have been enjoying myself in the miserable weather by riding lots, even got some rides in the Ardennes done, where I was based as a Junior in 2006 so that makes getting use to the roads much easier when I go on longer rides.

As for the racing have my 2nd race tommorrow Omloop het Waasland Uci 1.2 race which should be interesting to see how that pans out and as for my first race in Wanzele on Wednesday finished 15th but was far from the most pleasant race conditions and having a slight mechanical due to the grit couldn't complain to much getting that one done and dusted was a good thing to get the season moving.

Hope you enjoy the pics below.


Barrage de la Gileppe Dam wall with lion monument on top on the way to Jalhay in the Ardennes.

Picture of down of a little statue just down the street here in Geleen.

Remouchamps looking up river to the bridges.









La Redoute just had to ride this little hill.




Last but not least the Saturday morning markets in the local square in Geleen.

God Bless

Take care till next time.

Wheels on the bus go round and round....

Taupiri Bay Bay of Islands

Hi Everybody,

Well this first week has been rather action packed been back in NZ
Went and spent a few days back in Auckland before heading on a road trip in a Bus up north with some of the family even got to the northern most part Cape Reinga and have got a picture up there then after getting back from that trip up north headed down to Invercargill for the Tour of Southland which starts tomorrow and in doing so managed to go to the southern most point on the South Island Stirling Point Bluff so hope you enjoy the photo's from around NZ, so this is the first time that I have been from the top of NZ to the very bottom in one week thats forsure.

Cheers
Chris

Me Driving the bus

Whangerei Heads Road






Cape Reinga top of the North Island

Stirling Point Bottom South Island

Jet Setting...

ZELE PRO RACE WIN

Hi Everybody,
Well the last month has been a nice way to finish off the season in Belgium and getting back to NZ.

So here's a quick update of how it went, leaving off from the last update finished the season off mainly riding pro kermises which the first one was in Zwevegem and was held on a hard circuit and the wind was a big factor out of the 90 or so starters there was only 16 finishers me been amongst them finishing in 10th place.
I don't really want to mention about the next race as a person sprinted really unfarely and did not get disqaulified so I took my 11th 2nd place of the year.
So then there was 4 pro races and all of them rode strong but didn't eventuate in the end usually all been mass bunch sprints.
Now here is where the story gets good, Basically started the 2nd to last pro kermis of the season, Which is the East Flanders Closing race, which was a race held on a feely large circuit with quite alot of corners and a few big open roads and of course my friend the wind. The race started off very fast and after 2laps, 2 riders went clear and the built up a lead of 1min but was inevitable that they were brought back with 5 lap to go as the wind was to wearing then with 4laps to go a big split in the group happened and 34 riders went ahead and I was in it, so I jumped off the front and did a huge effort to get across and made it across with 5 others with 3 laps to go
then going into the last laps there was a few attacks and 1 rider was clear and had a lead of 15sec then with 4k to go he had a lead of 9sec and I could see that the bunch was going to be setting up for a 2nd place sprint so I attacked as hard as I could so no one could come with me and went in Pursuit bridging the gap just after the last corner with 800m and just started a flat out sprint flying straight past him to take the biggest win of my career wining my first Pro Kermis which was over the moon about.
Now as I it was my last week in Belgium had to do the packing and sorting out what needed to come back to NZ as have been away a little while in amongst the 3 last race which also went well in the last Pro Kermis finished 15th in the lead group and then took another kermis win in Deerlijk taking me to 7 wins for the season and then racing in the last kermis of the season finishing a creditable 12th place and staying out of trouble which was my main goal as was to be flying the next day.
So now have been back in NZ enjoying the awesome countryside doing some nice little rides to prepare for tour of southland with Share the Road team, which I am really looking forward to catching up with the other NZ riders and enjoying myself.

Cheers for reading

God Bless

Chris

Keep on going

Me taken the dog for a walk at the beach.

Hi Everybody, been a little while since the last update, well since the last update have raced a fair amount and had a few rough patches with another little crash and doing a bit to much on the odd occasion now as I write this have 65 one day races in the legs that I have finished so definately my biggest year racing that I have ever done and love it despite the ups and downs.

To start off from last time back in the end of July had a we break off the bike 3days just to recovery from the latest block of racing highlight of that would of been going for a walk at the beach even despite not on such a good day.
So started off the following week back with a couple of nice easy rides and enjoyed riding on my birthday which happened to be one of the better days of the summer hence a nice photo of the windmill in Damme.
After that went and celebrated my 23rd birthday by going bowling with my friends in Gent which I enjoyed.



After my birthday that followed by another victory in Deerlijk this time as we rode out to the race didn't feel like I was going to have a good race, any way not a drop of rain in the 2hours riding out to the race then just as the race started the rain also and didn't stop the whole race and since there was alot of starters and corners it meant be at the front and stay out of trouble, but as I started near the back this was a little process and meanwhile a break of 3 riders had slipped away and had 20sec or so, so me seeming to find some legs attacked and rode a 2lap time trial accross to them by myself and extended the lead with them, but with 2laps to go it looked pretty grim that we would be able to stay away so once the bunch had nearly caught us put in a super effort which took us back out to 30sec so then it ended up been a 2 up sprint finish with me playing it cool and flying past to take the win in the last 100m.
Then the following day had a solid ride also finishing 5th in De Katte.
The following week add to the top ten's with another 3 finishes and the following week that lined up for the pro race in Huesden which managed a creditable 45th place finish.




On the 17th decided that I would go on a we expidition to SRM in Julich Germany and back which was a rather long and drawn out day on the trains but definately worth sorting out the problem with the srm and taken in some nice scenary as the train went back through the Ardennes. Unfortunately only had time to take one photo of this statue in Aachen.













So the following day had an awful race in Belzele probably due to all the travelling the day before pulled out after 1hour,
anyway managed to get a funny photo of this dog that just decided to make itself a new home in the back of the team car.

Now the following week was a bit to much started off on the Sunday with a 3rd place in Belzele then followed by another 3rd place in Balegem then 2nd place in Wippelgem winning me the classement for the 2 days then had one easy day followed by a pro kermis in Mere where had one of my strongest rides making every break and only getting caught in the last lap and still finished 49th in the bunch.
The following day was pretty to much and despite having reasonble legs with the 230+ks in the legs from the day before did a crit in Zirikzee in Holland and had a stupid crash cause of a bike malfunction going into a corner by chain came off and got jammed going into a corner so put a few more wounds on my left eblow and leg. So took the next few days feely easy but unfortunately the wound on the elbow was quite deep and gave me a little bit of a blood infection which wasn't so nice as raced another 2 pro kermises one in Geraardsbergen 63rd place and the other the following day in Kortemark 16th place despite my legs feeling like bricks that did not want to move really. So after that took it easy again for a few days then raced and finished 11th which wasn't such a good race as still not feeling better so had a few more easy days leading into another pro race in Izegem where I finished 26th and felt quite a bit better and the following day 8th in Assebroek.

So am looking forward to the closing part of the season racing mainly pro kermises and getting back home to NZ in October.

As for this pictures below are on the few good days riding I have had this summer training as the weather has been farely average this summer.

Statue in Terneuzen Holland looking out to sea.

One of the many canals of Brugge.







God Bless,
Take care,
Chris

RACE TO RACE

Aalst Natour Criterium

Race to race the up's and the down's for this last month...

Well we can start off the story with some good news atleast that was the race in Drongen which was another podium finish with a 2nd place unfortunately was rather marked person after have strong rides with the pro's.
More good news on the 26th of June got my 3rd win of the season out of a bunch sprint where played the waiting game and came flying from the last wheel to take the race.
Then some bad news hence why there isn't any photo's of early July as raced in Kruishoutem on the 28th where I finished a respectable 4th place but after that my bag got stolen unfortunately it had my camera in it however very lucky my wallet was not in it.
Then anyway moved on and race the following day in Zerkegem which was not such a good day as all I could think about was my camera was gone anyway still finished 12th and had a enjoyable ride home with some mates.
Now into July here we go started off with a slightly bigger kermis on the 2nd in Melle where I finished 2nd also then had 2 pro kermises back to back the first one was in Sint Nicolaas and was on the 6th of july and due to not have enough to drink ended up with cramp in the sprint but still managed to hold on and finish 13th, so it was all about recovery which happened straight away as soon as I got off my bike so I could be in a resonable shape for the race the next day in Melle with the pro's again where I managed to have a strong race and end up riding away with 5 others with 2laps remaining and unfortunately didn't have enough left in the tank to sprint at the end as cramps were been my friend again so finished 5th.
So took it easy the next few days and race on the sunday in Kortemark once again I was heavily marked but that didn't stop me from getting up the road and I finished 2nd again an my team mate Mario Won.
Now here was the race of the season so far on the 12th of July in Vilvoorde-Houtem with the pro's.
I had alot of luck today my legs were feeling great and started off well made the break was last one across to it after 2laps of the circuit were completed anyway heading along the back the distinctive "CLUNK" noise happened straight into the 11 as my rear gear cable snapped with 130k remaining of the race, so since I was in the break a few things were on my mind on what I should do, weather to just pull out as it was a pro race after all and would not have so much hope in against them, then I thought no harm in asking if any of them had a spare bike I could borrow which they all replied no, so that when my determination came into play and just pust on with just one gear, so kept on riding for the first hour an half a 70-80 cadance until I worked out I had a little chain ring which was quite spinny, so with changing inbetween the 2 gears managed to stay in the break with 3laps remaining the bunch started attacking each other so made it very hard for me, so I just put it in the big ring and rode as hard as I could and with 2laps to go was in a smaller group of just 6 riders unfortunately it was a block headwind sprint which no gear was any good so ended up finishing a very creditable 5th do to the circumstances.
However the next few days could feel it and in the following little crit I raced could bearly push hard as my back and muscle were really sore so after alot of stretching and massage that problem was put to an end and started in another Pro race in Dentergem on the 18th which raced very strong again but only managed to finish just ahead of the bunch in 9th place, then race the following day and finished 15th and the next day had my first DNF of the season due to my wheel rubbing on my frame pulled out with 3laps remaining.
Enjoyed the next few days went out and watched the other NZ guy's Hayden, Marc and Sam race the pro kermis in Ninove which was nice to see them in amongst it and then went out and saw the fireworks display as part of the Gent Festival which was pretty good that the rain stayed away.
The following day went out for a long ride and met up with Marc, Hayden and Sam and rode for a 3hours before heading back home.
The following day raced in Sint Maria Lierde which was a hilly kermis with plently of little climbs so started the day off with a train ride to Aalst to sort out the problem with my wheel so got that fixed and rode from there to the race and then raced finished 3rd, and rode back home that was on Saturday so went for a nice easy long ride on Sunday.
On Monday th 25th it was another highlight of the season as started the Natour Criterium in Aalst which is the first one the tour riders ride so got to ride in amongst the likes of
Phillip Gilbert, Ivan Basso, and others which was a new experience and very fun due to the share amount of spectators, the atmosphere was unreal and finished 13th there the only thing was the time it finished was quite late like 9.45pm.
So after having a good nights sleep and waking up far later than usual got ready to race a Dienze again this time had more luck only just as broke my seat rails again on lap 3 and still ended up getting away with 1 other with 8laps remaining and managed to kick away to take my 4th victory of the season in the race last year I finished 2nd so was extra special to win this year.
The next day finished 13th in Dienze and raced feely average as brought a new seat and was to high and could really feel the different muscle operating after a few laps so thats all for now.

God Bless
Take Care
Chris

Photos below of win in Dienze