Ok.  Let’s get the ugly out of the way first.  Last week, Sunday April 6, we raced the women’s version of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the world cup in Flanders.  It is one of my favorite races.  The course is very challenging, and the history of the climbs and of cycling in the area runs very deep.  In addition, I have also been a part of team success there with Mirjam’s wins in 2005 and 2006.

This year's race was not anything that I had hoped for.  I had a terrible morning, and there was actually a point where I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to ride.  However, I came around about 90 minutes before, and I managed to get dressed and ready in time. 

The race itself unfolded as it typically does.  There were numerous splits along the way, but each time the groups came back together.  That is until after the Muur.  The small group that got off on the Muur joined the early break of three, and the win came from those riders.  I was never in a place to even try to go away with this group, since I started the climb with my teammate in 9000th place.  I chased hard for Anita after this climb, but with only one other rider helping, we were not able to completely close the gap.  We came away with nothing, but we started to see glimpses of a solid team effort.  Loes and Mir had worked hard in the middle of the race to keep the breakaway at a reasonable distance, but in the end, we did not capitalize.  Along the way, Loes M sacrificed a wheel for Loes G, and Saskia did what she could.