Blogs

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Stop crashing into me... right!

By Annie Simpson - Horizon Fitness Racing Team

The sun wasn't quite as clear as the day before, but it was just as hot and very humid... I knew I was in for another hard race in these conditions, and I had heard from some of the British girls that the course was hilly for Belgium.

The start field was a lot smaller than the day before at around 50 riders. It set off fast, and I could feel the achey legs from the day before, but I was confident in time they would come too and I could get up there in race.

The race was again very on and off, and especially went fast up the hills. Lots of girls were being dropped. Part way through the race, I noticed my wheel wasn't going round so easily, and looking back I could see my brake rubbing against my rim. This had occured when someone had run into the back of me round a corner in a slow part of the race. I quickly fixed this problem, but as I did so, an attack went up one of the hills.

I chased and chased, but had already been suffering in the race and just didn't have the legs to get back on the bunch, and in Belgium, that's race over! I still think I am lacking the race fitness needed to do back-to-back racing, but it's coming back quick, and has made me even more determined for next weekend.

My aims now are to work on my race fitness and bunch awareness for the Tour of Limousin in July, and naturally I'm intending to be fighting fit for the National Champtionships later on this month. It's all learning, and as my DS says: "That's bike racing!"

I'm learning so much from each race. Oh, and a fantastic 10th from team mate Hannah Rich! I was a proud team mate, but missing her now she has gone home!

For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.

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