The season finally kicked off at Memorial Gumer at the end of February. It was nice to be back in the peloton, fighting for wheels and taking a few risks again, albeit feeling a little rusty!
It was also the first time being a peloton of over 200+ riders, something I'll have to get used too, and work on my big bunch skills. Whereas at home its normally only 80 ish riders on the start line! All the Spanish races are run on closed roads too, so it far safer than racing on just one side of the road with oncoming traffic, which can get super sketchy! Although now we have to steer our way around road furniture, pavements, roundabouts etc. but that just adds to the fun.
The first part of the race I was coming to terms with racing again and worked my way up and found my legs a bit, until we came to the only main climb of the day where the majority of the riders got dropped, I finished (33rd) in the main group/peloton which had swelled up around 40/50 riders by the finished, which remained out of the 200+ and finished behind the days break which staying away for the entire race, we had Elias in it, who took 3rd. He's a bit of a machine.
The next weekend was my first taste of the Spanish cup, which didn't go to plan. First race in the basque country and I was in for a treat.. 0 degrees and rain. Leading up to the race I felt horrible on the bike, nothing in the legs. Pre race day everything didn't go to plan, no pre race ride and having a meal, when I normally head to sleep pre race is something I'll have to get used too in Spain. So you can assume how my first Spanish cup went after bad feelings and prep. To make it worse, when I and others riders in the team got dropped we had to stay out in the rain and cold for a long time until the race ended, because no one would help unlock the van, which in turn didn't help the process of me ending up sick a few days after. So lets just say the weekend was not ideal!
This meant the next week or so I ended up not doing a lot. I took recovery to the next level though, stretching,eating, lying in bed and not riding much. This meant binge watching live racing but also Prison break and daredevil! (Well recommended.) If you know of a good program, hook me up.
Also its meant I've now missed nearly a months worth of races by this point, but I've been back training a week or more now and building back up well again now. Touch wood, smooth from here on. I've actually been home visiting for the past week and arrived back in Madrid today. I originally planned to race the First round of the British National series at the Chorley GP but I wasn't in any shape to do it post Illness. But it was nice to finally get home after 4 months away, the longest I've been away from home. There's no place like home. I mean this because of many things. Although a few things spring straight to mind as I walked in the door. I missed using a kettle, a toaster , being able to use more than one hob before the electric trips out, and recently the bathroom light in our Alcala flat stopped working before I left. and yes, it still doesn't work to this day now I'm back, cyclists are lazy and I also didn't realize my flatmates like peeing in the dark so much. Now I know. Now you all know too! I know what your thinking though, dont sweat ,Im clued up,I use a portable light. (I will fix it.)
Being home was really nice, was nice to relax get used it to get back on the bike training proper and reset a bit with the family. I possible ate too much too but when at home. I'll be basically starting my season all over again and fresh from here on out. Training at home on home roads, I think there's not a lot better! Of course only when the weathers decent! Good Friday was perfect, the rolling Cornish coastal roads and Devon country roads are hard to beat when on form.
5 hours in the saddle felt like one and it was the best ride in a long time.
Now I'm back in Spain for the moment, with fresh new targets and ready to get the ball rolling again. This season is just beginning.
Kris.
