5th Boucles Serantaises - 7th May 2006

Today was a sweet day because the race reminded me why I love bike racing … well the start of it did, the end was a bit grim but more on that later. The race was 95km “en linge”, ie out around the countryside, and then 6 laps of a 6km circuit so just over 130km all up. 135 starters, three categorized climbs, and some iffy-looking clouds to the west although happily it was dry for the start.

So “le Depart” and who was attacking first and solo but teammate-on-form, Niko. Shortly thereafter the early break joined him, about twelve riders with another of our guys in it. All on for young and old the next 40km or so, the legs were feeling 1000% better than last week and I was having a great time jumping around at the front covering moves. Feeling good and lovin’ it. Crunch-time however came on a small climb after maybe 30km or so when another eight or so riders jumped clear and ended up bridging to the break, James and I being pretty much the first two to miss out … d’oh, so close to having four of us up there. James spent the next few km trying to get across in a too-late 2up move that didn’t work out, and I had woops written all over my face.

The break, large as it was, was never to be seen again. We rolled around for the next 50km until the finishing circuit, feeling rough at times but going uphill alright and making a few splits that never went anywhere. Come the first time through the finish things were getting pretty grim with the break down to maybe fifteen and over two minutes ahead, a general coming-together of several chasing groups and the rain by this stage well and truly pelting down, numb hands and all that, jackets being handed up at the feed rather than bottles.

About 110km on the clock and the legs started packing it in, frozen through and pretty spent by the finish. Niko got up for 6th, nice result and Gregoire hung on to the remnants of the break, the rest of us finishing in the second group. Forty finishers!! Pretty happy to get to the business end of one after ten days given the hammering and early shower I got after ten days in Suisse last year, we’ll see what tomorrow brings … less rain would be a good start!!