Sunday, April 21, 2013

Gelderland, Fleche, Borsele

After our week of non racing, it was time for 139k Gelderland on Sunday, Flèche Wallone on Wednesday, Borsele TT on Friday and Borsele RR on Saturday, fly home Sunday.

First off, the weather was amazing through all these races, sunshine, warm(er) and a bit windy but still, sunshine - most important.

Gelderland wasn't such a great race for me, seems I needed that race to blow out the pipes to get ready for Flèche, plus 3 of the girls crashed, so it wasn't a great day but a couple of us managed to make it to the finish line...

Monday, Tuesday were easy spin days plus team presentation in Huy for Flèche.  Wednesday was a beautiful race, we all worked great as a team to make sure Kmac was in the best position and well taken care of.  She got away with a group but the peleton reeled them back in over the Mur the first time....

The second lap was attack after attack until the peleton was split into groups, I finished in the second group and enjoyed the climb the last time - most of the spectators were good and drunk by then;) funny comments...

Thursday was another easy spin day, Friday we drove to Zeeland for the TT.  That was a fun course and the funny thing, Vos's dad was my follow car - tripped me out.... nice guy!!!

Saturday, the other girls met us at the race start - it was a 2hr drive and we raced Borsele RR.  5k into the race is a hard left hand turn, onto a bike path, so it was gonzo to that corner.  The first lap the peleton was all together but the second lap going into that turn was a gnarly crash with girls bouncing down the tarmac.  I skidded through safely, only to go down in the corner when a girl in front of me skidded out and I t-boned her - DANG IT....

2 of our girls crashed out, so it was Ruth, Kendal, Emily and myself for the rest of the day.  We worked on echeloning as a group and we practiced our lead out successfully.  So it was mostly a good day minus the crashes.

Last night we drove back to Fitland, packed bikes, washed clothes and packed bags....now I'm in the airport waiting for our flight to go home:)

Enjoy some pictures.....

 Oh my gosh! Look at all this FOOD!!!!
 A beautiful sunset on the road....
 The motorbikes that are part of our races....
 Megan and I at presentation...
 Emily and I, same presentation...
 Feeding the ducks:)
 Fleche prep....
 These wonderful people helped us a lot, offering their camper at a couple of races....
 Simon, Kristen and Ruth....
 Goofball!
 The circus was in town!!!
 Driving to Borsele.....hoping the rain would stop for the tt...it did...
Sleepyhead....
 The town of Zeeland...



 Our hotel for the evening for Borsele....
 The family that offered the camper.....
 Plus the dog or mascot....
 Vos's dad....
 Our hotel room....
 The view....
 The beds...
 Pre race horsey ride....
Team mascot....

Reading: Wild, maybe I'll finish it soon....
Listening: Lover of the light, Mumford & Sons
Eating: anything in sight, day after race hungries...
Watching: the planes come in and out...
Website: http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/04/gallery/gallery-agony-and-ecstacy-on-the-mur-de-huy_282725   #13/#33 are of me......owie!!!!!!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

A week in between

We had a week in between racing so we've been and will be in Sittard for the remainder of the trip - Fitland to be exact:)  The days have been filled with food, yoga, riding, food, laundry, small excursions into town and just getting rested up and prepared for the next block of races which start on Sunday with Gelderland.

We race Fleche Wallone on Wednesday, then Borsele on Saturday before flying home on Sunday, so lots of racing in a week.

Here are some pictures of the fun....I mean work I've been doing....
 Heading into the square for some shopping...

 Cruisin the streets....

 My room...

 Breakfast, lunch and dinner....

 All smiles...


 This is just what we do....

 House planning in her spare time...

 The square..

 We had dinner out one night, Thai food, it was amazing!!!! Hopefully heading back the middle of the week....
 More shopping...

 Dinner supplement....
 I'm a happy gal...

 Dinner party...

 Walking out of the square back to Fitland...
 Walking...

 Kendal and I...

 This isn't a tree, it's art...

 Signage...

 Dunno?
 People gettin around...

 Beautiful buildings...

 We are headed that way...notice no sun?
 Scooters!!!!

 Skate park...

 The view of Fitland from the road....

 Walking...

 Common area of Fitland for us....

 Common area....
 This restaurant area is connected to the our eating area...
 A USA Cycling function...

 Important people....
 This was the press conference announcing the USA Cycling commitment to Sittard for the next years...
 Steve Johnson - USA Cycling CEO
 Official signing...


 Peter Winnen - he was telling a story about an American cyclist that he was second to in a race and basically talking about the connection of countries with the love of the sport as a binding factor.

 I thought it was cool....

 Staircase in the hotel - beautiful!

Rental
 More of the staircase...
 Awkward Euro cycling photo:)

 Signage...

 Massage room...

 These were at one time the same color.....wash fail....
 Birthday celebrations are always fun!

Birthday BOY!!! 

So yes, that was a lot of pictures, I'm trying to capture it all!!!

Watching: Eurosport - all kinds of different sports on!
Listening: Ron White, Behavioral Problems
Eating: Burritos! Good job Fitland kitchen.
Reading: Wild by Cheryl Strayed