Prix de la Ville Pontarlier.

Just had a race on bastille day, it was another crit style race of around 1.2km lap, 60 times.

the course had one really tight hairpin turn and a head and tail wind straight. I went really hard for the first 5 laps and split a small group off the front and another small group got across so that was the races break.

A few more laps down the track, the break became negative so attacks followed. I very nearly got dropped as i just kept going on the front trying to chase it back, and then people would just jump me. I should have learnt by now that thats how these greasy French roll.

Once i bridge back to the front group, i sat in for a bit. Then the team in the break with the most riders started putting guys up the road. Luckily the rest worked well and bought back the moves a couple of times. Coming into the last lap the pace was up and one ACB guy slipped clear and no one responded i was happy to wait for the sprint. Another guy slipped clear at the ended i won the bunch kick for 3rd. (why no chase from the team that had 3 guys? who knows.)

Another race, Fri night and then Sunday Cat1.

Laters.

A few races, and a bit of drama.

Thursday 8th of July> Nocturne d'orchamps Vennes

A pretty hard course put on by VCCMM with a hard climb, then quick decent.

I was struggling at the start with all the attacks going down and missed the move, lucky it came back. Then i went a couple more times and i got in the move that was going to stick.

I knew i didnt have amazing legs so i was hoping that the others where feeling it as well, turns out they where fresher and when the attack went i didnt follow then couldnt make the bridge. So ended up with 4th.

Fri 9th

Another Nocturne crit, this time dead flat and along way from morteau (eneded up getting back at 2am)

Race had a few attacks but nothing getting far, i was just happy to stay in the bunch and wait for sprint as was pretty cooked already. Ended up with 3 guys just staying away and then the bunch i placed around top 10 easy but seeing it was dark the finish line people never really got numbers so i dont even know what my placing was, pretty gutting to be honest. Also a huge scrap between this old guy on our team and our director Oran, pretty funny.

Sunday 11th

Cat 1. (the hottest race i have ever done, i bottle ever 10km)

Was really tired from fighting the carnival people the night before, but had to get amongst it because Julien Absalon was racing. All the morteau team missed the Early break so, had to just ride with the pelo, as the break got further out Julien pulled the plug so i was a bit gutted, ended up getting in a break with a uci rider but it was never going to work out because he kept on break checking me and the attacking and was really just pissing me off.

So nearing the end i was pleased that the bunch caught us.

thats about all really hope this carnival leaves town soon, cause they are dodgy people.

Kieran

July 2nd and 4th

Nocturne de la Ville de Morez.

A mixed bag of a race to be honest.

Got in the early break and all the other riders hit the deck when the storm hit. So i attacked solo and stayed away for all but the last 8 laps when i got caught by a small chase bunch. I threw down a few more attacks but they whernt in the mode to let me go again, with a couple of laps remaining my team mate got away with another guy rider and got the win. I got 7th pretty gutted not to stay away but thats life i suppose.

Prix de St Lupicin

6th round of rond de jura.

Got in early break and as usual the break stayed away i was really aggressive the whole race, but always got covered. I was hoping that team mate clement would also attack once i got caught to make the other break riders work hard but he wasnt interested. Ended up with clement getting away on last lap with 1km to go and no one covered his attack so i to settle for a sprint for 3rd, but narrowly got pipped on the line so got 4th, so another gutting race for me, hoping for some good luck soon, on the plus side i moved in to 4th in the series!! so will be pushing for more solid results in the series.

thanks for reading

KH