That's me back from racing in Spain for
this year. It has been a great experience and have really enjoyed the
hard racing there.
Attacking in the Oiarzun RR, the World tour San Sebastion Classic uses this climb in the final part of the race.
After
my last blog, I had a great final couple of months racing in Spain
with my team, Ibaigane Opel.
For
most of August I was having two or three hard road races a week which
was great for keeping good form. In meant life in Zeanuri flew by and
it was my most enjoyable month of racing in Spain.
From
July onwards, I was amazed at the difference a few weeks made as I
was climbing and beating most of the strongest riders I have been
racing against over the season and also getting into the crucial
moves of the races. I was regularly in the top tens and came very
close to the win many times.
In the race long break in the Lemioz RR, really fast climbs.
In
particular, two big races I had were theLenhendakari3 day
Challenge and the Vuelta Valencia which I competed in last season.
The
3 day Challenge consisted of three individual road races around the
Basque Country with an overall GC which I found myself fighting it
out for.
I felt strong and was lying 4th
overall by the start of the final day. I came down with a cold and
suffered through out the day but I survived and clung on to finish
6th
overall.
The
Vuelta Valencia was a 4 day Elite International race, with national
squads from as far afield as Japan, Israel & Holland, as well as
the best Spanish teams. It was an very tough race, average speeds of
27mph, long steep climbs with 17% ramps, rough roads, cross winds and
the searing heat made it a wearing down process. I was really happy
with my performance as I climbed well on the big mountainous stage 2
and managed to get 2nd
overall GC in the U23 category.
I
will go into the story in more detail in a future blog.
On the attack with 15km to go in the Geirnica RR, held on with a couple of others until the Argentine team pulled us back with 1km and half to the line.
Sprint finish in the Escalante Road race in the region of Cantabria.
I
want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement this year
including my team, Ibaigane Opel. They have been very welcoming to me
the past two years I have raced with them and the managers have been
very kind and supportive as well. I would like to thank the
Braveheart Fund for their support and to everyone who kindly donates.
It has helped a big part to race abroad this season.
I'm
glad I spent the year racing in Spain, I have learnt so much on and
off the bike by committing myself abroad for the year. Learnt a lot
more than I have any other year by far. It has gave me more
experience, confidence and drive to give it my all next year.
Thanks
for reading my blog this year and see you at the Braveheart ride and
dinner if you are there!
Cheers
Robbie More Pictures:
Winning the best team prize in Egiobar, first three across the line.
Large race long break in the Egoibar race, before we hit the last climb of the day.
Waiting at the start line
Egiobar
On the 2nd last climb in the Zegama race, 3rd day of the challenge, suffering with the cold but hung on for 6th overall GC.
The village of Zeanuri, at the foot of Mountains, where I lived for most of the season. Friendly community.
Local historic church, just up the hill
Team ride the day before the first stage of the Tour of Valencia
The first stage of the Vuelta Valencia started in the famous Valencia Moto GP racing circuit.
The team, the manager of the team Gartzi (left) and the president Juan Mari (right).
I returned
to Spain after the British Champs and Beaumont GP (my blog here), to rejoin my team
mates in Opel Ibaigane.
The weather
here has been scorching all month, a 44 degree training ride the
other day was an extreme. But the humidity in my races has been the
biggest challenge, With the hot air from the south, the rivers and
forests, the mixture can be an absolute killer, racing in it at
times. Although now I feel I am acclimatising better.
Village roll out in the Antzuola U23 race
My first
weeks were dodgy as a certain family member passed me on a stomach
and kidney virus which meant I could barely eat for a whole week. I
lost a bad few kilos and when I did feel better to race the next week
end, it was a waste of time. The legs were so depleted I could barely
ride 20 mins of the race. Difference a week makes when I felt strong
doing the 90 mile Premier Calendar.
However, by
mid July my appetite came back and I regained strength and my results
picked up.
I was able
to attack in the Soplana race which is a race I have done the past
two years, and get 16th.
I didn't quite have the strength for the steep uphill finish but it
was a confidence booster that I could attack and climb into the lead
groups.
On the attack in the Soplana RR
At the front of pack as the pace steps up in one of the many climbs in the Beasain Classic
Nearing the top of the last mountain climb of the Antzuola RR
High pace in the Soplana RR
My most
recent race in Cos, Cantabria, the Trofeo Santiago, a Spanish
federation elite race, proved that I am now reaching my best from of
the season. I was 10th in a strong field of many top ex pros and
strong teams.
I made it
into a small select lead group as we climbed the second big mountain
of the day reaching 700 metres (2,300ft). Team Lizarte were pressing
on to get their man Dayer Quintana, younger brother of Movistar's
Nairo, the win. The climbing was hot and long but the descents were
just as challenging. Some of the most technical we have come across,
sharp corners with plenty of mud and gravel thrown in. I got down
them safely but a few of my team mates behind came off nasty down
them.
On the first climb mid way through the Cos Elite race in Cantabria
The final big climb, Quintana and the leaders full gas
Flat out trying to get bridge back up to them, really warm!
On the
final climb of the day, our small group disintegrated and everyone
had to go their own pace.
The race
started at 4pm in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day, but it
got cooler as race and the terrain got tougher so you were still
needing lots of bottles. The team cars were miles back behind groups
of riders but luckily the commisaires gave us a few small bottles of
water to keep us going. Over the top and on the descent I was with
three other riders and the leading few were just up the road.
We had a
short run in back into the finish in Cos however it felt like it had
kept dragging on and on. There was a big chase group gathering behind
so I had to press on.
Two of the
elite riders broke clear and I beat the other rider in the sprint to
claim a top ten. Much better result and shows good progression.
Looking forward to the next race! More pics of the Cos race here.
I will be
racing here for the next two months. There is a lot of good races on
at this time of year, sometimes three in a week. I also have the four
day Vuelta Valencia in early September which will be good.
Thanks for
reading
Robbie More pictures:
On the attack in Soplana
Flat circuits before hitting the mountains in the Cos race
Start in Soplana
Waiting to Start in Soplana
Soplana
Soplana
Hurting in a Hill time trial in Altzo
Training, highest mountain in the Basque Country in the distance
My big
races for over the past two months have been the British Elite &
U23 Road Championships in Glasgow, the Beaumont GP Premier and then I
rejoined my Spanish team mates of Opel Ibaigane to contest the
mountain races of northern Spain. (Next blog for that here)
Setting off at the start
After
completing the 8 day Ras at the end of May (my blog here) I stayed in
Scotland to recover and focus my training on my next goal, the
British Champs in Glasgow.
Entering
this years champs was a bit of unknown for me form wise. Also since
the city centre circuit was very much different to what I had been
used to racing in Spain, I tried to suit my training towards its
short sharp accelerating nature. Having a chest infection and my
allergies killing me at the time meant I felt terrible in a couple of
Scottish races before it. It was good catching up and seeing friendly
faces in them though. Luckily it rained over the weekend which helped
me big time.
At the start line in Glasgow Green
It was
great that such an important event was only 15 miles from my house
and I was able to ride a traffic dodging recon of it...
A front
line start made it a bit easier when the race went full pelt half a
lap later. As expected, the world tour men turned the gas on and it
didn't take long for riders to lose the wheel and gaps to appear.
Short but steep incline of Montrose Street
The world tour men ride away
When
Cavendish, Millar and Team Sky rode away, the peleton slowed and more
attacks started to get clear.
On the
fourth time round through Glasgow Green, I felt strong and I attacked
and rode half a lap myself till a group of 6 or 7 joined me. I wished
I had gone earlier but my confidence in my ability was low and I
didn't want to blow up by attacking earlier like I did the previous
two years I have done the British.
But I was
feeling good and pressed on with my group for most of the remainder
of the race.
I attacked the peleton and rode in one of the chase groups for the rest of the race
I was still
fighting it out for an U23 medal. However in the latter part of the
race, my legs were cramping prematurely, a sign I hadn't fully got
over my allergies and the medal slipped away.
I managed
25th,
one of the last few to get a place as the world tour guys blitzed the
race. Proper inspirational seeing their power and ability.
David Millar
I really
liked the course on day. Surprisingly it suited me well. It’s
tough, the corners and hills meant there was not much time to recover
and was a wearing down process. The support through out the circuit
was immense and hearing the home crowd each lap was amazing.
A week
later I did the Beaumont GP, I felt stronger and fitter. I attacked
many times and made the front split over the Ryals, the main climb of
the day, but the UCI teams’ control over the race meant it
eventually stayed together to finish in a downhill bunch gallop where
I finished 19th.
Here’s my story about two big races I
have done recently in May. The 4 day Vuelta Bidasoa in Basque
Country, Spain, which is a top U23 stage race based in Irun near the
border with France. Then a week later I was racing for Scotland at
the An Post Ras, the tough 8 day stage race round Ireland.
Vuelta Bidasoa
The bunch at the start of stage 3
I was going good coming into the Vuelta
Bidasoa in the first half of May. I finished the Spanish Cup Series
on a good note, getting up there in the last round and climbing well.
Bidasoa is the river that forms the
border between Spain and France. All the stages were in and around
that area. I knew a few of the roads on the route from one day races
I had done the year before. We had typical Basque Country weather, 2
days of heavy rain then 2 decent sunny days. My folks flew over to
watch the race which was great, they were a bit unlucky with the
weather though, but it meant I have some decent photos!
It had all the top pro/am teams in
Spain and surrounding countries that competed in the Spanish Cup
races and a couple of foreign teams like the Russia Squad.
It was a very mountainous race. Even
the flattest stage on Day 1 had a few stinging climbs in it. It ended
in a bunch sprint as I geared up to make Day 2 my day to get up
there.
That stage ended up being a day of ups
and downs...
Throwing of my gillet at the feed zone
I started the day climbing great and
getting into a good position for the climb. It was pouring with rain
and low cloud, one of those grim days. I felt good and attacked from
the bunch to bridge across to six others going up main climb of the
day.
We got a good gap as we hit the top but
on to the descent more groups joined us till we had a big group of 40
riders. I got away a few times but didn't get the luck to stay away.
Disaster struck when we went through a dark 4km tunnel where I hit
big cat eye in the bunch at 35mph and lost the front instantly and
down I went...
I was sliding for ages and got up
before I stopped, my whole left side was ripped to shreds and I had a
hole in my knee. Dropped riders and team cars were whizzing by me,
nearly running me over in the near darkness!
I had still a bit of downhill before
the last climb of the day and I made it back to the group. I was
pretty raging from my crash and I attacked and got away from the
group on the final ascent but a few teams pulled me back before
reaching the summit, not wanting riders escaping.
The fast and wet run into Stage 2 finish
Plenty of pain
I went to hospital and got patched up
and started the next day's stage which included the famous first
Category “Jaizkibel” climb, which the pro race, the San Sebastion
Classic, goes up.
Recovering from crash had taken a big
bit out me, not the same power as I had the previous day. The legs
didn't have it. When on the limit, the hairpin turns are a killer as
there is always an acceleration or a steeper ramp at the exit of
them.
I limited my losses the best I could on
the big 1st cat climbs on stage 3 and 4. The latter stage
had 3 of them!
On the Jaizkibel climb
Hard pace in the front group
Final climb of the Vuelta, steep and it was never ending!
It was a great race to do, savage
racing on savage climbs. Me and a couple of my team mates from the
race, did another race the next day to make it 5 days of racing.
Another mountainous day, with laps of different climbs. I was pretty
burst racing with fresh guys but hung on in there.
The race the next day, very tired.
The An Post Ras
I came home after over 2 and half
months of racing in Spain to race for Scotland at the An Post Ras. It
was an awesome race to do. I've never had much opportunity in the
past to race for Scotland so it was great to get the call up. I have
wanted the chance to race the Ras for a couple of years now. My
injuries from Bidasoa were healing up well which was good. It was my
first week long tour so I was in the unknown on how I would perform
over 8 days.
The rest of the squad were Evan
Oliphant, Ben Greenwood, Alex Coutts and Michael Nicolson. The team
rode well, always at the sharp end of the race and Ben finished high
up on GC. I want to thank Dave Brandie and Kenny Riddle for the great support they gave the team.
At the finish of the first stage, Dave Brandie handing out some coke. L to R: Ben, Michael, Evan, Alex and me.
We had great weather for the Ras but
the road surfaces were awful, I would say even worse than the west of
Scotland... Very bumpy at times and hard to get a decent rhythm. In
the end you just had to power over it, takes a bit out the legs and a
big change from the super smooth roads I was used to in Spain!
The first stages went well for me.
After a pretty straight forward stage 1, day 2 was a brute. Over 100
miles nearing 30mph average! Quite undulating at the end as well. It
was constant attacking the whole race. I made the split of the day
after 120km to keep me up there in the GC, and after the end of day
3, I was still only 42 seconds down.
Up hill drag finish of stage 5
Typical bunch of the Ras, starting to get stretched out...
Unfortunately that night, I came down
ill so I had to battle through the next day with a fever and sore
throat, lost some time that day. It was the first time we had hit
some Irish mountains roads like Moll's Gap and Healy's Pass in the
south west of the country. The descent of that was a tricky one, many
riders crashed out there.
The descent of Healy's Pass, very techinical..
The bunch on the first climb of stage 5.
I managed to recover from illness in
the days afterwards. The legs though had their on and off days plus
growing fatigue but I had a great final Stage on day 8.
I
went for the win on the final stage, breaking away with Canadian
National rider, Stuart
Wight.
We had to ride the first 20km flat out to get the gap. Brutal
effort. When we had over a minute, two other riders joined us
followed by one more, Azerbaijan
Synergy Baku’sChristoph
Schweizer.
In the front of the race with Stuart Wight, stage 8
UK Youth and the Belgium National team leading the peloton.
We worked well, getting over two
minutes on the bunch. After 110km out the pack, the others had
dropped away leaving it down to me and Christoph to drive it to stay
away..
With less than 15km to go, on the
finishing circuit at Skerries, along the coast from Dublin, UK Youth,
the GC team riding for the winner Marcin Bialoblocki, and sprint team
An Post Chain Reaction caught us.
It was great getting out in front in
the race, the support from the side of the road when you get out
there is great, even the police were encouraging us: “Keep it going
on lads!!”
It was awesome
riding my first Ras and longer stage racing like this. I would love
to do more of this level of stage racing.