Merchtem Mayhem

Zach 2nd, Buck 11th MEISE - WOLVERTEM Kermesse. Today was yet another kermesse in our preparation for the upcoming RAS. Being a national holiday here in Belgium, everyone with a set of wheels was racing. There were 11 races at our level that we could choose from, all of them within a 2 hour drive.To keep things simple we chose the one 5 km from our doorstep. The day started off beautifully, the hottest weather we have seen so far this trip, which was good news for our fading tan lines.

The race, on a flat and fast 9km circuit, was the first in a series of 6 with an overall prize list worth 6000 euros. This brought out a good sized field, despite the generous helping of races available. With the circuit looking good for a track guy the boys were kind enough to offer me their legs, and they didn't dissapoint.

The gun went off signalling the start and before my computer magnet had even registered 5 guys were already heading up the road. Covering the move for us, Pozzy came by not a few hundred yards later. His group grew to about 15 inside the first lap and the pack started to get anxious. Three laps later, after lots of non-stop chasing by Andrew and Buck helped to bring back the initial break, it was time to move up. Andrew, the perfect general to our Belgian blitz, came back to make sure I was where I needed to be for the inevitable counterattack. A few attacks later (several powered by the fuel) the split happened. At first it was myself and 3 guys, then 5 and then the group grew again to about 20, Buck and myself included. The group rolled well until 3 laps to go and then the attacks started. As Buck covered the big splits I floated from wheel to wheel, then the gauntlet hit the ground and 3 riders split from the group hard; thanks to the hard work of the team I had the legs to go with it. The move grew to about 9 riders and rolled until the last 4 km. 500m to to the sprint started down the left side and I saw the perfect hole, so I guned it. But the group had other plans and slammed to the right, closing the door. I slammed on the brakes, and after drifting to the back punched it again. I was bearing down on the guy who had launched almost 400m earlier but I ran out of room, rolling across the line in second by about a bike length. Buck finished behind in the second group only 15-20 seconds down, and won his break sprint for 11th. Andrew and Pozzy finished up in the bunch.

Well, it was the first podium for the team on our European tour. We put in a great ride as a team, in a race that had an average speed of over 44 km/hr over 120K. Bring on the RAS!!!