Criterium Plouharrnel - 17th June 2006

The old surprise race (ie “oh by the way you’re racing tomorrow”), perfect way to get another week over 800km. Anyways the crit at the beach wasn’t what I thought it would be, instead of the beachfront with good roads and gorgeous women agog, it was kinda in the sticks. The circuit best summed up by saying that on our warm-up lap, Fabian and I rode into each other a couple of times. Kinda sinuous, at one stage going through somebody’s garage, it was probably good that only twenty-nine of us turned up.

So objective number one was to be sure of making some money!! First 20km at a snails pace, crowd unimpressed so the announcer announced a 100euro prime for the next lap, that was the end of the slow bit. Took about two minutes for a break of five to get away with Herman up there, another group of five with two team-mates, eight in the group I was in and the rest behind.

Just rode round really, sprinting for the odd prime here and there, we caught three from the next group including both team-mates, d’oh, and were lapped by the front five … so coming to the end what seemed like an age later there were eight of us going for eighth. Been getting out of the hairpin 200m from the line alright so made sure to be first into it, kicked hard, accelerated for the line, all good … and got the bell!! So that’d be twice with the “1” lap board then … I swear each criterium has a different rule for getting lapped!!

Next lap didn’t go so well, funny that, 14th. Not a bad day out, not really my cup of tea but made a few euros in primes and prize-money, Herman 2nd and Greg 8th so can’t complain too much, we’ll see what tomorrow brings, lets hope that 90km of getting out of slow corners is good preparation …