Toughing it out in Flanders

Image 1 of 7

Nice cap mate.

Index to all entries

last time I wrote we had just come back from Canada and had lined up for a disaster at Halle-Ingooigem with everybody feeling the effects of a long flight the day before. Things have naturally improved since then with two races and some good training. I'm preparing for the Tour of Qinghai Lake starting on July 15 in China. The big summer rock festival, Rock Werchter, has come and gone and the sun is finally out, the leg and arm warmers have been packed away for the time being and the second half of the season beckons.

A break was established early but never got too far up the road and with the obstacles on the menu and a strong team chasing they were let go a little. After 45 km or so the race hit the first cobbled climb of the Congoberg, then it was on to the Bosberg and the infamous Muur de Gerardsbergen. Over the Muur I was in an okay position; I was fortunate enough to have a good ride up the left before the climb and dodged all then carnage on the right. Truly, it is a nerve-wracking thing racing flat out for the entry to these cobbled walls. Over the top, the race split and I was in the second group just over the top. All the other lads from the team were there. As we approached the cobbles on the finish laps the first split was brought back and the front group had split leavng six out front. 120km covered.

The 15 km finish laps at Oetingen include two two-km cobbled sections and a tough little hill called Bergstraat. The first lot of cobbles finish with only 500 m left to race. At this point Kane and Leigh were doing some good work on the front trying to bring the break back. I was feeling okay, good on the hills but today I was struggling over the cobbles. No matter how hard I tried it wasn't working out for me on the cobbles and I was finding it hard to get a good rhythm. It felt like I was hitting every cobble five times and going nowhere. Nevertheless, I kept plugging away and Kane was still going strong.

The finish laps were seven km long with a tough 2 km climb every lap. On every lap the bunch reduced in size and at the bell there were 50 left. The last time over the climb, though, I didn't have it and had to watch the bunch slide away. Dean was in a similar boat as me but Alex had a strong ride over the hill and was the best of us at the finish. Dean and I came in a minute back on the bunch. I would have loved to been up there again like last year but I had to be content with how things went after my problems early in the year. Each year is different, circumstances are hardly never the same so things can't always be taken on face value. You have to take what you can get. A better trip home and Kane even had a chance to catch up with Robbie at a Q8 servo.

The following Tuesday, with the Qinghai Lake race on the horizon, we headed down to the Ardennes for some good days in the hills. It's good to get away from the same old roads and the on-going road works in our area that stuff up our training rides and seem to be cracking all the old brick houses in our street at the moment. Raoul, our legendary soigneur, found a great hotel at a little town called Xhoris and two good days were had in the hills and the sun. We steered clear of the tour both days and stuck to the quiet hills a little further south. On the first day we headed out for six hours around the localities of Marche, St. Hubert, La Roche Ardenne, Bastogne, Houfallize and Hotton. We had a guest rider on this particular day with Nick Gates tagging along for the day and evening up our bunch. Nick and Kane caught up on old/recent times and generated a few laughs on the day, which was more than welcome. That night we relaxed, checked out a little town called Durbuy, had a game of pool, drink at the bar and watched as the "FIFA World Diving Camps" (Italy) beat Germany in the football.

With the Tour still in Belgium but starting in Huy we were able to head a little further north heading through Manhay, Erezee and then towards Trois-Pont, Stavelot, Spa, Theux, Sprimont, Aywaille for a solid five hours. All the guys seem to be going well and spirits were high for the two days so hopefully the high spirits and condition flow with us as we travel to China on Tuesday. Special thanks must go to Raoul and his family and the team for helping us out this weekend and the staff at Relaxhoris Vacantie Centrum in Xhoris. Thanks again from Cam, Kane, Leigh, Alex and Dean. If you are ever in the Ardennes and need a place to stay and relax, then check this place out.

Cameron Jennings and some of the 2005 Team Cyclingnews riders made the move to the new DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed Continental team. Based in Belgium, they'll teach us about Belgian weather, beer and bike racing in 2006. Check out the adventures of Cam and the crew - a group of Aussies, Brits (English, Welsh, Scottish), the odd New Zealander and remarkably, even a Belgian - as they tackle a hectic race schedule on three continents this year. For further reading about the team, visit the To check out Team Cyclingnews during 2005 and earlier, visit the 2005 site. Australia UK USA