Saturday’s world cup covered 3 different 2-3km sections of cobblestones between kilometers 40 and 60.  In the final 40km, we climbed the VAMberg twice.  The weather was not too bad.  It was cool but not cold, around 10-13C, and there was wind.  However, it wasn’t the full throttle kind that might reroute the birds or blow squirrels out of the trees. 

The first 40km of the race was a mad dash for the first section of cobbles.  I entered it in fairly good position and came off of it with a small lead group, including my teammate Loes G.  Together, we managed to be with or bring back any attempts at a breakaway.  After the next two sections of stones, I was with a small front group again, but this time without Loes.  She had punctured on the last section of pave.  Unfortunately, this meant that I was a little bit outnumbered.  I remember looking around and thinking the entire High Road and Cervelo teams were there.  (And when I read the race report on cyclingnews essentially that was true.)  That meant there would be consecutive attacks until someone from each of those teams was off.  I did what I could, but I couldn’t be with everything.  Eventually, Beltman, Duster, and a French girl got away.

During the next 70km, there were attempts to either get up to this group or to bring it back, but Cervelo and High Road did a good job of shutting anything down.  When we came to the final 10k, the three were still off.  My team had a sprinter in the main chase group, so with that in mind, it was in our interest to do what we could to bring things back.  In the process of doing this, I found myself solo for about 4-5km in between the chase peloton and the break of three.  I was within a few seconds, however, with about 3k to go, I was absorbed back into the bunch along with two of the three breakaway people.  Beltman managed to hold off a charging field for a well earned victory.  It was a long, heavy day for me.  Nothing to show in the results, but more money in the bank.

Sunday, we had a similar race.  It used the first 2-3km section of cobblestones, while making 5 trips up the VAMberg.  The racing to the stones was fast again, but things regrouped after.   Somewhere about 70km into the race, Kori Seehafer, riding for Menkini, got away solo.  Riders from Cervelo and AA started to go across.  I jumped to this.  We were brought back, and then my teammate Loes M attacked with Kristin Armstrong on her wheel.  Those two made it up to Kori.  Behind on the VAM, a small group of 5 went away and ended up joining the original 3.  We missed this.  However, so did Nurnberger with their Dutch favorite DeGoede.  Her team chased but was unable to make a significant dent in the gap.  The break of 8 stayed away, while a huge bunch sprinted in behind.  Loes M finished in 5th which was a great ride considering she was a little bit sick earlier in the week.  I was happy to avoid a crash at the 1km to go mark and to get another hard race under me. 

The team is coming around.  Positive steps forward. 

Saturday, we will race the Ronde van Gelderland.  And next week Wed, we will race the Fleche Wallone WC.  Stay tuned.

on the VAMberg

on the VAMberg

the VAM

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