Tour of Southland 2012

After a long season overseas its always hard to pick up the motivation for 'southland' just for the fact that its such a brutally hard tour with the Xwinds and rain and everything else in between !!

For myself I was extremely lucky to be riding with a group of mates on Ascot Park Hotel-Kia Motors Southland-NZ bike Mag (long name, i know)

As a lot of us said through out the week, this team was far more organised and looked after better than a lot of teams in Europe, - from the quality food (steaks)(nutella & banana sandwich's for on the bike) to the massages, and the team hair dresser !

Nelson crew 2012

Racing itself was really good. We had 6 guys all pretty much with reasonable form willing and able to lay it down, and throw a bit of spice around !

Prologue:  4.2km It's always hard to pull off a good result in the teams TT, because the body and mind aren't ready to fire up. but I think we left it all out on the road and came within 6 secs of the fastest teams. Which we were pretty happy with. (6th)

Stage 1: 160km finishing in Lumsden, this stage always has the potential to be ripped apart near the end if the wind gets going in the last 40km. but it stayed calm and myself and Sean Joyce pulled back the remnants of the E.B and set it up for our Sprinters Clint and Piet...(3rd & 4th)

Stage 2 (Bluff): Was always going to be a hard day at the office, our plan from the get go was to try and slip either myself or little Sean in the E.B
Eventual after the heat from the start died off Sean went at the perfect time and slipped into a good sized break with only Subway not up there. This moved stayed away to win the stage. Which has never really happened before but we were still ok

Stage 3: '48km Smash fest' from Riverton to Tuatapere. This stage always had danger signs around it when the wind was going mental before the start. It took a while to get the break formed though. As it split on a fast descent we had 4 guys in the front group of less than 20. This looked really promising for us so I drove in hard trying to set up the stage and get some time gaps for Sean and our Sprinters.
In the end the chase group caught us with 2km to go.
Clinton took 2nd in the stage but we were happy with moving Sean into 5th on GC

Stage 4: Tuatapere-Te Anau 100km Really hard stage with a decent little climb at the 50km mark that normally chops the bunch in half. then 50km of X-wind into Te Anau. but Node4 had the early break under control and there was never much danger on this stage. So when it all came back together with 3km we were in with a grin. When Clint took the last turn into town in around 5th wheel I knew he had it...Stage Win !

Stage 5 (Crown Range) 180 km:
After a mint night chilling on a boat cruise, we had to tackle the Queen Stage.
My job for the day was to make the E.B, but in the first 15km the pace was so fast I couldn't get to the front. Luckily I took my jacket off cooled down then went to the front and got across to 'the break'
This break ended up being a suicide mission, because Node4 were never going to let us get too far in front. I decided I would go for all the Sprint and KOM point on offer. In the end a few of the guys in the break way group started getting pissed off, but thats racing !

Stage 6 (Gore): Last year, this was a bloody hard day. This year was the same. it was split into bits and pieces after 20 km and luckily it slowed down upfront about an hour later... A group of 4 got away with Clinton in there, so our job was pretty straight forward look after Little Sean and Piet and make sure that when it splits they stay in the front group...With 25 km to go Node4 went on the attack to unsettle Bissell and we had Sean and Piet well positioned to follow the moves (hard day at the office)

Stage 7 (ITT): For me I didn't go to hard, just to save the legs for 'the arvo' but unfortunately for the team Sean crashed unexpectedly on the greasy right hander. This bumped him down the GC and left  the team gutted.

TTT WarmUp

Stage 8 (Back to Invers from Winton): Everyone in the Peloton knew this would be a hard 1. But i didn't think it would rip to bits so early on. but hats off to Calder Stewart and Roly for playing their cards right. and shattering the bunch. and then TTing away from the yellow jersey.
We were a little bit gutted about how the final day panned out but to be honest we didn't have a lot left in the tank. 

Now that I have finished this blog update, its probably time to forget about cycling for a bit and go into hibernation ('get euro' and pretend its winter).

Huge Thanks to Avanti + Richmond for getting me onboard this Scott Foil 

Huge thanks to all managers/support staff, Team Sponsors (Peter, Bobby, Matt). Mum&Dad for coming down to watch. And everyone else that makes it such a mint week.

Benchmark Series & NZ return

Time is ticking by and it seems like I have been home for a couple of months already.
But it has only been just over 3 weeks.

To be honest it is always strange coming home and seeing all the familiar faces, it normally takes a week or so to settle back in. I didn't really give myself much of a chance to recover from Jet Lag and the change in weather because I was racing the Nelson round of the Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling series.

It was even harder for Sean who just jumped off his long haul flight that Friday afternoon !! (hard man)

The Race:
It was always going to be a hard 1 to control, just because of the lack of riders. Mine and Sean's job was to keep bringing back the break away attempts for as long as we could. This was to keep Crusty as fresh as possible for the finale....
But nothing ever goes to plan so we ended up slipping Sean in the break and it was basically left to me, with the help of a few others to contain it.
We ended up all detonating ourselves ! and Crusty only grabbing 14th (but took the leaders Jersey)

Nelson Cycle Festival Criterium 
This was the 3rd year that I have done this race and it is always pretty fun. Always technically challenging and fast. I wasn't going to race but Mum convinced me. When Sean and I rolled up we were surprised at how many Christchurch riders had shown up.
In the end it was a lot of 'cat & mouse' between the Christchurch guys and us 2 brothers.
And Ian Smallman took the win just going clear at the end and I tried to pin him back but took 2nd.

Benchmark Series Finale
Cust
This weekend just gone was my final big race before Southland, and a good chance for me to open up the legs and test the form. Team Tasman Wheelers went into the final round with Chris 'Crusty' Nicholson in the famed leaders orange. but with a number of really strong riders hot on his heels...

We had a pretty strong squad though and we thought that we could deliver the goods if it came down to a bunch kick.

Race Day:
After an extensive team meeting the night before and a few stove top coffees that morning we were ready to rumble.

Once again things didn't go 100% to plan with Dan Barry slipping himself into the days early move.
And Sean having his crank arm just drop off !

We didn't panic too much and put a few of the young guys upfront. They soon got tired of that, so I decided we would start jumping around with attacks. This seemed to work well, but then Dean and then Myself got let go.

I bridged to the days break and caught up with Dean. I immediately tried to 'sit on' not everyone there was happy with that though. So I got a hard time trying to bridge little gaps and  being attacked on the climbs.

Benchmark Final Round- Cust (Photo Credit:Bruce Wilson)

It was lucky that the Subway group came across to our break in the final lap. This increased the pace and left only 3 out front with around 20km to go.

I was starting to get pretty tired and got tailed off when someone dropped the wheel in the cross winds and spent the rest of the race in the convoy...

Just in front of me in the Peloton it was getting scrappy with all the series leaders ready for the sprint. 

Robin took the Sprint and Chris was 3rd. With those 2 on even points in was down to whoever had the best result in the last round so Robin took the overall win. 

Getting excited to head down to Invers now.....

Kieran

Euro wrap

After yesterdays long journey back to Saint Etienne it finally feels like the season is over.
(so cold and gloomy and no 1 around)

Suitcase is choker and a dodgy makeshift bikebox is all good to go.

Time seems to have flown by since arriving in snow and ice on the 1st of Feb....
Maybe because when I think back i have done so much and kept myself occupied.
Highlights from the top of my head would be

Girona

Valkenburg & amping; watching all the world champs races on the Cauberg
(watching Sean as well)

Veenendal 1.1

Essor Breton (Bretagne region)

I would like to quickly thank everyone that has helped me out over here: Max, Pascal, Gilles, Victor Rojas, and all the riders at ECSEL

Marco Polo: Gil, Rudi, Gudo, Remko, Nathan, Men, and all other support staff &Riders.

Lastly everyone back home for the support. As for next year I have my fingers and toes in a few pies but will have to wait for the moment.

See you in the land of long white clouds

Kieran

quick start to Sep> tember

The racing keeps rolling on.

For some reason unknown to me the legs are good and the head space is nearly the same.

1st of September kermesse action in Zutendaal, I liked the circuit but a break of 7 clipped off and they worked really well together so the chase group never closed the gap below 40 sec
Which was really gutting because i did a lot of donkey work to try and pull back the move. In the last lap, I got away with 1 other guy. and I just rode hoping that the guys behind were mucking about but a couple snuck past on the last little uphill sprint . In the end I got 4th from the group to take 11th.
I was pleased with how I felt and was good to 'open it up' for the whole race and not crack.
#training

The next day I was going to rest up but Ed convinced me to come to Germany to race. So i did and ended up 3rd in a hard up hill kick....
http://www.marcopolocyclingteam.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=609&Itemid=1


Doing the triple day challenge, I raced again 15km down the road in Born, it was a 85km Crit. (18.15 start)
I didnt really know what to expect. But once Chris and I rolled around the lap with the music pumping we liked it.
It was really 'techy' with a lot of consecutive corners. Then a up hill drag and a downhill finish drag.

Chris and I got stuck in from the get go, I took 3 primes and was in a couple of dangerous moves and Chris also. But with 2 laps togo a group of 3 went clear and the bunch sat up. I went across and was setting up for the win. But with 500m to go the bunch was back up to us. I found Chris on the last straight but he was pretty cooked.
It was unlucky but I got 7th and Chris held on for 9th.
Good evenings work.

Cheers
Kieran

GP Stad Zottegem & Ronde van Midden Netherlands

Since I was last updating I have moved accommodation to the Netherlands (Geleen).

It is really nice and the training has a lot more variety. But I have also raced another 2 times.

GP Zottegem (1.1):

From all the pre race talk it was suppose to be a really brutal race. It was hard and grippy at times but easier than i was expecting. The race started with 1 big loop and 4 'local laps'.

It was super fast for the first hour (Av 49) and the days break didnt manage to form until 60km or so.

After that a couple of teams set about controlling and bringing the group back. but from the 12 guys up the rode only 2 or 3 survived. In the last lap it started getting really dodgy as guys wanted the best position for the last 5km which was rather techy. In the final run in. I wasnt in fantastic position and a little split happened with 1km to go.

Ronde van Midden Netherlands (1.2):

This race was just yesterday and one of the wettest races ive done all year.

I wasn't to concerned though as it wasn't mega cold. At the start I knew I had to be active because there weren't a lot of teams to chase if a big break went. I got away after 10k solo. It was ok but just as I got swept up the counter (16 guys) went clear.

I thought that this would be race over but the Pelo kept reasonable speed and they were only sitting around 2mins up the road.

With 120km clocked we hit the Dyke and the wind started coming from the side ! I was in ok placement but not good enough as a few guys formed a group that went across to the break.

After around 40kms of Dyke action it had thinned out the bunch but. groups must have got back on.

At the finish we thought the bunch was sprinting for around 20th place. but it was really sketchy...A guy
nearly took me and Alex Meenhorst down at the 1k to go banner.

Thats all for the moment.

Kieran

Getting my tourist on

Exploring new roads with Chris 

Dutch Food Valley Classic (first uci 1.1)

So Thursday arvo i headed into the clean and tidy and smooth roads of the Netherlands. For my second race for the team.

I was a wee bit nervous as I woke up Friday morning because it was said to be another step up from the Pro Kermesse a couple of days earlier.

But come race day, once I was in the Pelo. I was really focused and concentrated to have a 'big ride'
I got caught out with bunch placing a few times and had to work hard to get back up the bunch.

I also have to mention how much more organised the racing is. The first 25km was insane and I was mixing it to try and get in a move but once the big teams block the road they just chill then slowly work up the chase. Rabobank showed amazing control, they did basically all the chase. I was hanging tight in the group but with 12k to go cresting a climb, I pushed my Campg shifter but there was nothing there. I kept pushing it but just nothing so that was me done, I had to free wheel the decent and then spin to the finish in the gear that I was left with.

Bit gutting that I couldn't have had a dig from the Peloton. But I am pleased at the same time to get that 1 under the belt.

Any way no time to relax too much, GP stad Zottegem Tue

KH

Kermesse life & Marco Polo introduction.

So I have been in Belgium for just over a week all ready.

Things are on the up for me.
 I have already knocked out 3 races (and who knows how many Km's)

Yesterday I had my first full blown Pro Race with Marco
Heusden Pro Kermesse 
It had 180+ starters and on some small roads it was very nervy in the Bunch to say the least.
Once the race got going I wasn't prepared to fight for front positioning.
But soon enough I got the aggression  (elbows out) and moved forward (which is defiantly easier coming out of the corners). It was full throttle pretty much the whole 170km with Av speed 46

I came in with the Bunch and did a semi sprint for 38th but it was seriously dodgy!

I have to say meeting the team for the first time was good. A lot of riders and staff names to remember! But the whole setup is really well looked after and im really looking forward to the rest of the racing.

The 2 build up races 
My other 2 races were normal kermesses which I used to get the race speed and intensity back into me.
They are always hard. I took 15th and an 11th (and had a long 3 up break as well).



Next Races on the Cards 
> 17.08 Dutch Food Valley Classic (Ned)
> 21.08 GP Stad Zottegem

Stay tuned for more fun times
KH

Tour de la Creuse & Challenge D^Or & Centre Presse and other stuff going down

So time for a little up date and a bit of news.

After returning from Belgium I was starting to feel my form slipping away. So i wasn't to surprised when I had no really get up and go at GP Charvieu and I even managed to cramp in the bunch kick.

After this there was little time to rest the legs up. I was off doing a gruelling 2day tour (of the creuse region)
To sum it up. Hard and never really saw an inch of flat road. I was in the box big time on day 1 but came right on the last stage and just protected our Gc guys and tried to hang on in the finishing circuits....

After this it was back to Saint Etienne for a weee bit of rest and light training sessions. And then up to the centre of France for 2 1day classics. To cut the story short on these. They were both 200km's and in the first day I was in the game 160km plus but slowly guys were slipping up the road and by the time my group was on the finishing circuits it was all over for my group.

And then the day after on the Monday I was completely rubbish after going really hard in the sun the day before.

In other news I got 3rd in a Nocturne Crit and took out the best Sprinter prize and a good amount of cash to go with it. At the same time it was really cool  to finally have my bro Sean down here training and just catching up. He also raced and was in pretty good form himself after being struck by a nasty virus of some sort (7th).

In other news I have just secured a Trainee position with well known Continental squad Marco Polo.
I am super excited to spend the rest of the season (August/Sept) based in Belgium. Racing as many Pro Kermesses and what ever other uci races pop up. Its an awesome opportunity and one that I wanted to make the most of.

Cheers
Kieran 

  

Belgium, trains, and everything in between...

So im shuddering along on the trusty TGV through french countryside at maybe 200kmph writing this.

After an amazing time down in Girona training and learning the ropes with George & Nate it was time to hit the road. 

Knocking out a few belgie kermesse's or 5.  

I really felt the form come up after the big miles in  the saddle in G town and so I hit the ground running in my first race. I made a select split of 25 guys or so with 2 laps to go and it was all on being 170 in the race. I didnt have the best position in the last corner but hit it for 10th. 

After this it was training and a few long 4hr Cobbled rides (with the cobbled climbs always being raced full gas) and then more racing and 2 hr kind of reco rides 

In my second race (Kruishoutem) I managed to get up for 5th. I was feeling pretty good all day and just kept going up the road and also following a few moves. In the end the race got so blown apart that there was only 7 guys left in the front group. Unfortunately for me there was 2 guys from Terra Footwear (good team) and I knew that they would try and get 1 guy away solo. I followed 1 big move then couldnt follow a good counter. So those guys ended up 1 and 2. 

Also this trip included cool stuff like meeting new people (aussies, belgies, english), and a rock concert (insane), and a trip to Brussels. and lets not forget a TdF stage finish....!!!

1 other kermesse of note was when I wasnt allowed to start because i dindt have my passport for ID.

Luckily my host family wernt to far away and kindly bought it out to confirm myself.

I was so pissed off I just attacked from the 1st lap and bridged to 2 others and went on the hunt for primes and maybe at 1 point thought we could stay away. Ended up getting caught but hung in for 12th !!

This is getting out of hand so, Big race tomorrow Charveiu GP 

'keen as mustard' 

KH

Also huge shout out to De Kegel family for letting me bunk down.
&  Alex and Ryan for the cobbled climbs and coffee 

Girona adventures.

Its seems crazy, but I have been in Girona for a week already. After having a few days of recovering from my crash and letting the pain and swelling go down a bit. I ripped into the training.

It has been really good been able to train with others and also chill out really well when off the bike.
My thoughts on Girona and the surrounding areas are, pretty amazing. It has climbs and smooth roads and the town itself is not to big. So you couldn't really ask for more (also beaches really close by)

I am looking forward to getting into the racing up in Belg now though. should be able to knock out some good results all going well.

KH

GP SORBIERS

What can I say. 

Really devastated at the moment after a big wash out on a fast sweeping corner. The race was a last minute thing for me as well because the rhone alpes region didnt have any other racing on for 1st Cat. riders this weekend. (so all 1st Category riders got exemption for this race)


Apart from pretty nasty burns or grazes all up my leg, I was feeling really good. I was following all the splits on this knarly little climb. I felt confident for another top result. 

taking a corner 

thumbs Up 

Any way thats how racing goes. 

I am just hoping that I heal up as fast as possible so I can make the most of Spain and Belg trip~!


Also good to have Sam come and stay and help him build up the form again from his nasty collarbone crash in RA Tour....Im sure he will be firing again for Tour de Pays Roannais 


Good to see that Arnaud took the win and St Etienne took 2,3 as well.


Thats it from me...


KH

Updating for June.....

June has just rolled around and reports from home are heaps of snow around, and cold frosty days.


I am pretty happy to be having semi decent weather over here. 




When I posted last I was looking ahead to a big u23 race called Tour d'Eure-et-Loir Espoirs (4 quality days of racing)


But 2 weeks before I heard a whisper that the team might not be going because we didn't have enough u23s available to race. This was the worst news for me because I had been basing all my training around preparing for it. (and being 4 days you've always got chances to bag results)


After confirming not going to this I also didn't make the 6 man team selection for another 4 day race...Tour Nivernais Morvan   (elite national)


With all this disappointment its been a little frustrating but I have been making the most of the other races on offer. 




I managed a 10th in Prix du Pays de Montbéliard (Elite Nat)




& 9th in a really hilly nocturne criteruim.




So all has not been lost. I am really looking forward to getting down to Girona for a change of scene first thing next Monday. I will be heading down to the training grounds of good friend and training partner back home George B.


After that I will fly directly to Brussels to soak up a few Belgium kermesses and then back via tgv to continue my racing calender here in Mid July.

Putting in a little attack.

Thanks for tuning in
Ciao


Kieran 

Varennes St Sauveur & Pont de Vaux

Hi there, this post is pretty ordinary but it is what has been going so......(2 brief race reports)

I have been a little bit sick with some of this cold weather we've been having here. But I have still been knocking out some decent training and this weekends races went Ok

Varennes St Sauveur
Saturday. 130km on a 10km lap.

The main break occurred on the first or second lap. I am not exactly sure because I was off the front for the first 2 laps and then the break bridged up to me and that was the race winning move.

I was really feeling good and also riding with some confidence. But this was probably my main problem because no 1 else was willing to show themselves to far out from the finish.

Cutting down the story, nearing 2 laps to go a flurry of attacks started coming I just sat back and waited for it to cool down then I was going to rip a big counter attack. I did just that but was also followed. Not long after this 2 guys got away and then the rest of us started playing Cat and Mouse.

I was starting to feel pretty Average so wasnt to concerned if we made the catch or not because I knew my legs wouldnt have the juice for the little up hill sprint finish......

I took 8th in the end which was a little disappointing but I defiantly should have ridden smarter   

Pont de Vaux 
I had a pretty good ride here at this race last year so was motivated to be in the mix again.

From the gun I followed an attack, and we had a decent little gap. But it seemed to be a little bit different to the previous year for some reason with the main drag of a climb being a dead slash a bit of crosswind.
So this made it really hard to get a gap with an attack.
After a few laps I was able to realise the style of race that it was turning into. It was a really stop start kind of attacking race. My legs were not liking the consistent efforts of sprinting 1 or 2mins, stop then GO.
In the end I decided to ride on the front a bit to try and nullify the stop start nature of the race. (to help my team mates)
It worked out but when finally the race winning split went we only had 1 guy up there. Who got 5th

Thats about all, just about to head into a big patch of training to build up for an U23 Tour coming up in June.... 

Essor Breton & whatever else is been going on..

So just got back from the lovely region of Bretagne (ie. hotels and a bit of Beach scenery), it was a 1000km bon voyage and mainly just of auto routes with tele payages.

I had been looking forward to this tour for a we while knowing that the conditions up that way should suit me fairly well.
On the Tuesday before a few of us riders voyaged for a Criteruim. I was riding a wave of hard training (with old team mate Sam Lindsay)
followed by rest and I felt really strong. I kept moving forward with break aways all race and so never missed 1 single good move all day..
Coming into the last lap it had all bunched up a little bit but I was still confident in the sprint.
But then came a front deralier problem with just 150m to go (dismount the bike even).....Gutted

After this I switched focus and rested a bit for heading up north:

Stage 1
Rain and a good amount of wind 155km
My type of race, unfortunately I crashed inside the first 5km and that stressed out my whole race. After a difficult chase i was back in the main group. but just after this another cross wind and someone drops the wheel. I used myself to chase for the team but this turned out to be a bad idea because it just burned me down for the tough finishing circuit. (put this stage out of the mind)

Stage 2
The mountains day. Luckily for most it was controlled up front by Etupes and Efc Quickstep, meaning it was a steady tempo for all but the last 30km on the finishing circuit which was brutal. The lap was only 9km but it had some nasty climbs and super fast descents so no reco time......(finished just behind front group)

Day 3 lead to a TTT
We were told to keep us all together. This meant pretty steady on the climbs and then the strong guys drive on the flats. I punctured on a decent with 5km to go so after trying to get back in just sat up.

Stage 4
Probably my biggest result in France so far, took 3rd on the 97km afternoon stage.
It all kicked off from the very start, really fast first 10km and then i jumped across solo to the break of 8.
After this with all the big teams represented it was all on. Once the gap got out to over 1.30 guys were already trying to hide at the back......(not like typical NZ racing where breakaways all lap 100%)

any way with 30km still to go the time gap started tumbling with a serious amount of guys not wanting to work. Attacks came and I was scrambling a we bit. But i just kept trying to stay really relaxed and not panic.
Coming into the last 7km the time gap was under 1min and we had just turned onto a road running adjacent to the beach front with a good amount of X wind (still there was a lot of foxing about). I just sat near the back pretty much in the gutter and moved with the attacks as the others tried to put each other in the gutter. Coming into the final 1000m it had all regrouped. With 300m to go there was a little road furniture that nearly caused a crash. I jumped from the back and took 3rd. Pretty happy but kind of think if i had been slightly better placed i could have had a better run at it.

Stage 5
145km more wind.
I was feeling a little under the weather so just sat back like i was told and didn't really have to put out to much energy apart from 1 section of coast line. Onto the finish circuit it was all on. I had a look for a good place to attack but there was a massive section on the lap with an insane head wind so i thought just to wait for the Sprint, I took 14th which gave me a top 10 in the bunch kick....

Cheers
KH

Chilled

EFC Quick Step guy rolls the breakway...

SnowStorms, malfunctioning bike parts& Yellow: Triptyque de la Vallée de l’Ance

Stage 1
Started out fast, and little breaks started looking promising from the start. I just sat back and waited in the group. After 40km I stared hearing some good grinding sounds coming from the front mech.......

*So changed to 1 of the spare bikes but wasn't really liking the lowered seat height. And so after 10km I jumped back on my bike that had just had a quick fix. In the end I didn't get back to the main group. I was really keen to pull the pin but kept rolling for 70km with just 2 others (fun times!)

Just after I got in, and we were driving down the road and snow was hitting the windows....

Stage 2
After an Average sleep it was up and out of the hotel by 8am or so for a 9.30 depart.
By this stage the Blizzard had really got going, and it was looking like being called off.

but we rolled out, and the stage was reduced down to 48kms

and Xavier managed to sneak away out of sight in the blizzard and grab enough of a time gap to get the leaders jersey. 

And after the mornings weather, the organisers decided to cancel the final stage for the riders safety.

Merci

KH

Found this pic from the start of the year.

Bunny hoops, skids, elbows & Uci riders crashing into farmers paddocks.

Dijon Auxonne Dijon..
160km
Was a pretty flat profile, and if there was more x wind I am sure it would have been a better race.
But after doing the first big circuit I knew that the bunch was going to be hard to split.
I went on a few skirmishes but it was pointless because every move was being shut down. I just conserved the legs and thought about trying to jump away with 5km to go or something like that.
In the run into the finish it was a little bit crazy with a few guys taking mega risks, and a few roundabouts where you needed to chose the right direction.
I had a burst with 3km to go with a couple of other guys but the roads were to exposed. With just over 1km to go I was basically at the very front, I eased off a bit and tried to find a bit of shelter. Coming into the last 800m I got a little swamped but im happy enough with 19th


GP Vougy
150km (home race of CR4C Roanne)
This is a pretty big race for the Roanne team and they didn't disappoint.
Before the race had started I had a gut feeling with only 65 starters that this was going to be a hard profile and hard race.
From the start the pace was on. I tried to get in the early escape so I could take "the wall" (climb) a little bit easier. But no luck.
As the race ticked on I was suffering more and more on the wall, and I found myself not wanting to fight for position before the corner onto the climb.
With 4 laps to go, the Peloton split in half on the climb, and this time around the back half didn't have any fight left to get back to the front half. So that was the race decided.
 
GP Vougy, on the only flat section of the course.....

KH

Bourg-de-Péage

This was 1,2,3 Category race in the Rhone Alpes (La Drome)

I new the area a little bit from 2010s Tour de La Drome, but most of the roads in the race were new to me.
I didn't really know what to except out of this race with a lot of the strong Dn2 teams looking for a strong race and some other big name teams also there. I was told it was hilly and very testing course.

It turned out to be really windy and add some nasty climbs into the mix.<
  The climbs weren't to long but there was 1 section after a tough KOM climb that was really relentless. I was just off the back of backing the front 12. Once the front group turned a corner after the climb it was game over.
I had 1 guy in the front and couldn't chase, a couple of teams gave a reasonable chase but then ran out of steam.
Skipping forward to the finish, I was in the group and did a bit of Sprint training for 3rd from the group.

I am pretty pleased with were im at, just need to be a little more punchy on the climbs, but all good.

Next Weekend: Pan flat race in Dijon


Stay tuned

GP Saint Etienne

After a week of good training (with sunshine etc) and Team presentation, I was ready for a big 1 on this hilly profile of a Lap...



Photo: Climbing with the little guys! 
Photos: Merci Philip Foto 

Pretty much from the start a good break with all the major teams got away, it was a good looking move but the only trouble for them was it was to early in the race to be successful. So this meant the first 2 laps on the climb were relatively steady with no big surges or attacks.

Onto the 3rd lap, the pace really started to heat up on the climb and on the small roads on the course, I was sure that some of the big name climbers were going to make a move at the bottom of the climb. So I positioned  myself up front and waited to follow the attacks. Once the attacks started I was able to follow but each time I was suffering pretty badly. But nearing the top i looked around to see the group splitting up every where so I hung with the front and after all this it finally re group going across the tops...

Last lap problems 

Onto the last lap and final time up the col de Gachet....

I was told to get on the front as there was an escape of 5 guys @40sec. I drove it hard for a couple of minutes and pulled off and no 1 kept the pace on. Then attacks and now I was going into the red. I was able to hang tough but with around 2km from the summit. Some touching of wheels in front of me and then the unstoppable I hit the deck landed on someone else and was fine. Got back to my feet grabbed my bike and took off, the only problem was that the pace just ramped up in the peloton guys were pinging off the back all over the show. So that was me done.. 

Defiantly a bit gutted not to "cash in" with a result in my home race were my legs were pretty good. But that's racing

Thanks 

KH   

just before the start.

 

New Team Kit, and Helmet 

Plus its really cold as you can tell!

la Transversale des As de l’Ain

 

Probably a short post because it was a pretty easy Race!

Really gutted, its only the second ever race I've known to be cancelled.The other was the TT at Southland on the final day..

So after getting all kitted and oiled up for some rainy, fresh, cold conditions I was ready to GO, just looking at all the guys standing around whimpering looking at the rain was enough to get me in the zone(Southland like conditions!) , and just as we were about to roll out officials came over (after just finishing their lunch) saying "Non non its too dangerous and there is snow at the base of the first climb.

Link is here: http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/17739-la-transversale-des-as-de-lain-annulee.html

*Any ways, I will keep the training ticking over and prep up for next weekends race. GP Saint Etienne (EN): Its 1 of the teams biggest Objectives for the season and on a pretty relentless course. So everyone on the team is going to have to work hard to get results on the board.

In other news, Coupe de France Rnd 1 was on today and our team got off to a pretty good start with 4th!!
Bravo, Xavier Brun.





Just put an image in here for you Jono.

Also Welcoming into the apartment my new Chilean flatemates Cristobal (u23 pan am RR champ) & Victor (Mech, and all round handy man)

Cheers amigos

Châteauroux - Limoges and Mathias Piston.....

This weekend I had 2 EN (elite national races)

On Friday we took around a 3 hour trip to the the Centre region of France. Did a little training ride ready for Saturday and ate and slept plus got team helmets finally. 

The Race was 150KMs on the cards with around, the first 50km flat then the rest was supposed to be "rolling hills"
I was feeling really good after good training and motor-pacing through the week. I was told before the race, Kieran don't ride in the first 50K and just follow moves. But I got to excited and was jumping around a bit and wasting precious energy that I could have used later on.....

So any way around the 40K mark some pressure started coming in the cross wind, I was a little way back but didnt panic I just waited for a little wave of riders to try and bridge the gap then bunched it down the gutter and got across.

After this it was pretty steady, but slowly the hills started coming and they wernt rolling really. With attacks coming on the climbs and across the tops of climbs etc the group soon got shredded to bits! I was starting to feel all the changes in pace, and I couldn't keep following moves on the climbs. I tried to get up the road a little to get a gap before some of the climbs.....But they kept coming. Eventual @110km  once the front group was only 10 or less. I couldn't go with any more changes in speed on the climbs...and dropped the hand break big time ( I couldn't stay with and of the chase groups)
So ended up finally getting caught by the main group on the finish circuit after 30km solo...

Sundays Race....
I was told to Race hard for the first few laps to keep our best climber and freshest rider in good group position as long as possible. I did the best I could with the wind and tough climbs. After 65km when the pace ramped up to single file on the climb that was me. (80km in the bank)
Kudos to Sam Lindsay rolling a top 20 on a really tough day and tough course!  

KH

Tour de l'Ardèche

This weekend was the Tour of Ardeche, it was really cool going back to familiar roads and nice weather.

After being sick for a couple of weeks after the training camp and races up in Vendee, I was keen to lay down a good result at some point during the weekend.

Stage 1: 100km of punchy hills and heaps of false flat kind of hills (really draining stage)
Any way I knew the course and knew when the pressure was going to go down, I made the selection on the hardest climb. But the only problem was that 20 guys and only me and one other team mate.
So as usual attacks keep coming from the big teams (Vulco, Chambery(Ag2r U23)) until the right combo gets away.
I was stressing out that we were going to miss a split only having 2 of us in there. So I rode on the front for a bit just chasing down moves from the big teams. After I had been smashing myself on the front, the bunch eases up   and my team mate rolls into the winning move with 30km to go! After this I was on my own trying my best to cover as many of the Vulco_Chamberry attacks as possible. But when they have so many guys in there its always hard. I ended up getting popped on the last Kom just 5km from the finish (my team mate Jullien ran 2nd for the stage so everyone was happy enough)

ITT: 6km
This is a gruelling TT with a 3km flat and then a 3k climb. It was never going to suit me but I went pretty hard. Only lost a minute to the winner so was happy enough.

Stage 3: 100km (steep 2km climbs, and some fast tech descents)
We were now sitting 3rd on GC, and only 10sec down, so our team plans were just to watch the race unfold and not do to much until we have to. In the end it was controlled well by Vulco and we only had to jump on the front in the last 15km when a dangers little group went clear.

In the final 2 or 3km its a nasty finish and I lost a bit of time after pulling on the front, but we held onto 3rd GC, and I ended up 23rd GC.

All good for the coming races,
Thought of the Day: Fromage, Pasta, Olive Oil, and Pasta  

Circuit des Plages Vendéennes

I am up in the Vendee region racing in 5 out of 7 one day races. I am in a little village called, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie  it is a nice seaside town. I am not getting a chance to look around. 

A. Because I have done 3 races in 4 days 

B. Its to cold to go outside unless you have to race!

So far the racing has been hard, with flat windy courses and a lot of starters its hard to stay at the front and avoid splits. 

The first race I was going with attacks and found myself in a good move, and then just as this move got caught another group rolled off and no one in the bunch chased. I got to the front and tryed to get across but the gap was already to big to get across with 2 of us against 20 in the front group.

2. 

138km (Av. 44)

This was a windy day with a lot of exposed roads and groups getting off the front. I made a few splits but in the end once on the closing circuits the peloton came together for a sprint. I was slowed by a crash in the last 3k and just got back to the group and could only roll in at the back of the group.

3rd Race.

Was probably the windiest so far and my legs didnt come along for the ride. I wasnt ready to fight for the front 20 and so a bunch split off the back 50k in and that was me..

Im taking these races as good training and trying not to get sick with this weather. 

Kh 

Espoir Cycliste St Etienne Loire (*the club)

Negative 9

I have arrived in France after my 24hr plus journey, as you can see from the title it is very cold, snow ice and grey clouds (pic: is looking out from the apartment with the temperature sitting at negative 9).
What more could you want when you come from 25 deg of sunny little Nelson.

So far I have meet the Management and a few of the riders that live in my apartment area. 

On the 8th the team is off for a series of 1 day races(which are flat and Windy) in the Vendee region which will also incorporate a training camp! They tell me that the weather is a we bit better up on the coast!

http://www.cocpv.org/ for race info

+ NZ Cycle Classic its all a blur to be honest. All I remember was wind, gutter time, and bunch kicks. With rain and nasty climbs as well.
Some times in the X winds it was a bit of a % game as to whether you were at the front to make splits etc (but not good when your handle bars come loose and your at the back of the convoy)

But a huge thanks has to go the Tim Stephens (and his team, Jeremy & Odin) for putting together our composite team and organising a great 5days in the Sunny Manawatu, 

Cheers 

Kieran

 (Team bikes CKT running Campgnolo)