Nick Mulder Racing

My season is about to wrap up eventhough its only August. My last race is on Sunday, the Ronde van Midden-Nederland a 203km UCI 1.2 race. Im pumped since the form is still good.

Last Sunday I placed second in Ulbeek (Wellen) a Belgian race with 110 starters over 100km. I was pretty active the whole race and ended up attacking at the foot of the climb with about 15km remaining.  4 riders bridged up to me and we managed to stay away. In the last 1km two riders caught me by suprise and attacked. I was forced to close the gap. In the final turn I managed to get in their wheel only to see them both crash on the wet pavement. For me this was a pretty bad situation since I had just towed two riders up to the front two. It was still 300m to the finish. I opened up my sprint but ran out with a few meters to go and saw one rider pass me. Bummer.

Big news is that on september 1 i am moving to Barcelona for 5-6months. I will be following classes at the Universidat de Barcelona. I am super excited to explore this city and train in warm(er) area over the winter! Last winter I broke three bones and put in too few hours so Im looking forward to laying a big base this winter and reaping the benefits next year. But first I am not touching my bike for the month of September! 

From now on I will try to update my blog a little more often and fill you in on my adventures in Spain!!

Adios! 

Blood, sweat, tears and.... cow shit?

Yeah it was just THAT glorious. Holland is flat all over, except where I live, in Limburg. Great for training but not so great for organizing time trials. Limburg doesnt really have a history of time trial riders, most of the riders coming out of this region built to ride the Amstel Gold race and excel on punchy short climbs.

Well that describes todays 'time trial' - punchy. 5km on cow shit roads in freezing rain. As I took off my legs felt pretty good quickly hitting 40kph on the false flat side wind section. But this good feeling was quickly drained as the road got steeper and the wind stronger.

After about 1km I faced the first downhill, 200m, where I could quickly gasp for air. It felt like my position on the TT bike was suffocating me - crushing my chest. As soon as I recovered I sprinted up a small riser with a 7% gradient. Sit stand sit stand. I just couldnt find my rhythm. 

Atop the small hill I made sure to jam it to the turn, 250m ahead. At this point I was wondering what the hell I was doing on my time trial bike. But as soon as that thought popped up into my head I hit the turn, picking up speed and flying at close to 55kph. 

If only that lasted a little longer. Before I knew it there was a 90 degree turn to the right, if it wasnt for all the people clad in bright colors I might have barreled right into them. At the last minute I hit the brakes, tires slipping barely clearing the turn and losing all my speed. I was literally going 10kph. I lost all speed, since the turn came so abrupt I forgot to shift making the small riser feel like eternity. Slowing regaining speed, smashing the cranks into the strong wind. Then again, a small riser before a sharp downhill. 

I had remembered this turn from when I prerode the course and I was intent on not overcooking it. Probably the only good thing I did during the whole time trial. I took the turn perfectly, leaving with full speed briefly having tapped my brakes.

Than several turns later I was back at the bottom of the climb. Contrast to the 'perfect' turn this turn back to the finish atop the hill didnt go quite as smooth. Again I was forced to re-accelerate but didnt want to go too hard because it was still a long way to the finish. After about 400m of climbing I approached the final turn. Seeing a small group of people in the distance. Damn, now I was really hurting. I could barely pedal - it felt like I was just smashing in slow motion. Somebody was cheering me on, but between the tapping of the rain on my helmet and my gasping breath I didnt hear what they had to say. 

As I approached the finish I just kept jamming and jamming. Saving my sprint for the final 100m. Thats when the group of people appeared out of nowhere 50m in front of me and the rider in front of me turned around. Hmmm guess that was the finish. Some random line with all the officials sitting cozy in their cars. I cant blame them, it was nasty cold.

Well a mediocre time trial at best somehow landed me with a second place. Team mate Tom Dumoulin and all around bad ass won on his road bike. Maybe a smart move - but I was happy with my choice. 

With Olympias Tour kicking off next Monday with a 10km time trial I was happy I got some suffering in the TT position. There is no better practice for a time trial than riding a time trial. Although I didnt feel great today I am really looking forward to this time trial, it suits me much better. I dont want to set a goal but I just want to finish the line knowing I gave it everything. Hopefully thats good enough for a good result. 

I hate to describe my spring as roller coaster ride because its so cliche but like any cyclist Ive had my good races and bad races. Heres how it started...

After breaking my collarbone in late January and spending the majority of training in Mallorca in bed I knew I had some serious catching up to do. My first race was St Severin, a race in the Belgian Ardennes. I had no problem following everyone up the climbs but after 90km my legs were just empty and I was just hanging on as the cross winds punished my legs. I was happy to finish in the first group.

The week after was a 180km race on tiny roads called Houtse Linies. Nobody has mastered racing in the wind like the Dutch. The wind can be your friend but it can also be your enemy. That day, the wind was not my friend. I got to the start line a little late. Uh oh. I was just one of 200 that wanted to get to front during the hectic neutral section because after 5km we would turn onto a small farm road that divides the Dutch picturesque landscape. I was sitting around 50th as we turned, moving up by cutting off the turn through the grass out of desperation.

As everyone had expected into the gutter we went, unfortunately not everyone could hold the pace. All I could do was watch as 20 riders rolled off the front in the form of a double echelon. Damn. Another 5km later 100 riders were off the back and out of the race. Yep thats how it goes. Meanwhile I spent my time hanging onto the 2nd group of about 30. In the group a dutch continental team was well represented. Unfortunately a well oiled machine of about 4-6 riders can really put the hurt on the rest of the group on a road that only fits six riders. Yep again they threw us into the gutter. No problem for me, ive become quite good at hugging the edge of the road. Last year I was a mess now i can ride within a centimeter of the dirt. Some places its even better to just ride on the dirt if you have to. Well anyways, this went on for about 5km and I found myself a little too far back in our group. Our group split and I was now in the third group. 

Crap why cant these suckers just hang on...its only 450w were doing :) Somehow the riders in the 2nd echelon tired and we could come back right before the next crosswind section. I quickly tapped my teammates on the hip and blew to the front. If your not in the first 10 your riding in the gutter. Luckily my teammates fit onto the road. But I didnt and my legs were starting to fill with lactic acid. In the distance I saw a small clump of trees which would provide some shelter from the wind. Its like my thoughts were being read but they accelerated 200m before the forest. Boom, yep those were my legs. Back into the third group I went. Recovered and went in pursuit of the second group again. More of the same, it was a painful race but I never caught the second group. I finished around 50th.

I had to learn the lesson the hard way but the week after in DorpenOmloop Ruchpen I had mastered it. With 4-5 continental teams at the start the field was pretty strong as was the wind, like usual. Not to be suprised like last week I made sure to get to the front. After what seemed like jumping 10 curbs, going off course, and weaving through spectators I made it to the front right as the peloton finished the neutral section and the beast was released. Basically when the beast is released its a full on sprint. Oh and sprint I can. Unlike last week, this week the wind was my friend. We rotated smoothly, using just half the road. And before long a big group of 40 riders broke free. Most of the continental teams were well represented so away we stayed, leaving small groups in our wake. After about an hour of hard racing we relaxed. Two hours later the racing started again. With about 40km to go a big group of 11 rolled off the front. Our team had nobody in it. This is usually a problem but sometimes it can draw the other teams out. We sat back, relaxed, and watched. We gambled that it would come back together. Yep we were right. With 10km to go everything came back together and it was one attack after the other. Part of that was my fault. I was seeing red and team director had ordered me to go with everything and we were counting on our other sprinter. I must have gone away 10 times but I just couldnt break their hold. It was a great feeling, smashing 450w like it was peanuts after 170km. Unfortunately Rabobank wanted a sprint, so sprint we did. I got boxed in, the pushed my way through then took the outside line in the sprint to finish 17th. I was happy with the feeling but I knew I could have snagged a better result. 

A week later my time lined up for the first u23 race in holland, a race over 170km. Again flat and rainy. But NO wind. When you are strong you hope for wind, that day I was hoping for wind. But it wasnt windy enough to break the race into pieces. After 140 boring kms I decided to just smash some gears through the feed zone maybe catch some people by suprise. That I did and immediately a flurry of attacks started. A group of 15 got off the front with two of my teammates so we were relatively well represented. The next 30km the four of us that were left controlled the front. They stayed away and we got 2nd, 6th, 14th, and I finished in 26th after breaking some spokes in the sprint. Happy with the form but the result wasnt satisfying. Our team did take the lead in the team classification. 

The wednesday after I lined up for the u23 dwars door vlaanderen. I was super excited to race here after racing the junior version of ronde van vlaanderen. Cycling doesnt live anywhere like it does in Belgium. At the start in Waregem it was like a huge party and we were the stars. 250 young guns lining up for the start hoping to become the next big thing. But there is only one winner.

What has become quite standard for me is coming to the start very late. Hiding behind a bush or in the crowd and then popping out right as the gun is shot off is a great positioning tactic. Again the first few kilometers were neutralized and my front wheel was a few centimeters behind the race org. bumper. He drops the flag and again we sprint. Belgian racing isnt quite as aggressive as Dutch racing since positioning isnt 100% of the race. Well i guess ive been bred to be aggressive and I pushed and shoved my way into the front. Before long the first climb was soon approaching. Yep, perfect time to pull a Tom Boonen and test my legs. Away I went, attacking through the gutter and taking the Finish national champion, and two belgian strong belgians with me. Normally Im scared when I ride towards a climb because I know its not my strength. But these climbs in Vlaanderen suit me well. I smashed the gears with the three others trailing. The gradient just kept climbing, looking down at my srm and seeing 500w just gave me an extra push. Guess my followers didnt have that push because they were yelling at me to slow down. After 3km we crested the top and it the peleton was already in a few pieces as I looked back. Hmm good legs today, I stopped and before long the front group caught me. 

Well in the end it was a waste of energy because in the long descent everyone stopped pedaling. Unfortunately this is where I lost the race. I drifted too far back snacking on some bars. Again like Boonen, in Paris Roubaix where Cancellara attacks....but a little different :) Then on the next series of cobbled climbs a front group of about 10 rode away never to be seen again. Meanwhile I was further back and got held up behind some of the riders that walked up. My own fault but still disappointing. The rest of the race was quite hard, at one point I found myself in the third group and had to bridge to the second group. On the finishing circuits which we did several times there were cobbles and climbs. It looked like we were going to catch the front group but it wasnt to be. I tried to attack a few times but the wind was unfavorable and we would be sprinting for 11th. I was sitting perfect with 1km to go about 10th. But with 500m I got swarmed then as we went around a turn I hoped a curb to move up but I ended up behind the barriers somehow. That sucked and I finished 69th.

Well thats enough for now. The season gets better dont worry. No victory yet but I am feeling one coming along sooner or later! 

So basically for those of you that I am regularly in touch with know ive had a real rough winter. In november I broke my elbow and wrist when I hit a pothole preceding what was supposed to be a night I'd likely not remember. Unfortunately I remember it perfectly...

Luckily it didnt stall my training by too much. I had to take about 7 days off before returning to the trainer and weight room. A few days later I was battling the cold artic temperatures outside with a big sock over my cast. I didnt lose too much fitness but I didnt gain too much either. 

I managed to get 2 solid weeks of training in before exams approached. Since I am also a student I actually had to study a little bit. Exams went ok, very well if you consider my inputs relative to others.

Then it was off to the US. My flight got cancelled so I came in a little later. I got in some good training with old time friend Shannon who's stepped up and is racing for GPOA Cannondale next year. I put in 20 hours that week on a bike with a seat 3cm's too low; Josh later told me following my CycleLife bike fit. He changed a lot of things and all I can say is its worth it, I feel stronger, faster, and more comfortable. Thanks!

Shannon and I then traveled to Mexico with our families where it was warm and sunny with 70s and 80s all week. This was great, getting 5-6 hours in on a few days and spending the rest re-fueling by eating quesadillas and fajitas. My CTL jumped and I finally felt like I was strong again. 

Our Mexican vacation ended before I had even realized it started and it was back to a cold DC and even colder Maastricht. I took a few days off to recover from Mexico to let the effects settle in.

Like most of my teammates I was scheduled for a lactic threshold test to measure my fitness. I felt really weak the day before the test, legs just didnt have any snap. The morning of I woke up and still they felt a little heavy, oh well, here goes I thought. 

Before I knew it the test was over and I was dripping in sweat as bloody tissues, from pricking my finger, littered the ground. The results? Not bad considering the bad luck i've had. Just shy of 350w at threshold with a lactate of 6.5mmol.

But what I was most proud of was my sprint, something I was born with but neglected the past two years. I was a time trialist, and a time trialist doenst sprint - so I thought. But I ended up smashing my teammates records doing 20w/kg (seated), I did 1480w yesterday ha.  

For me it was really nice seeing that my hard work this winter was starting to pay off. I went to the weight room once or twice a week and focused on increasing my power. It worked. 

And just like that it can all be taken away - in the flash of a second a car rammed me off my bike today. My teammate Tom and I were on our way to a team meeting, just cruising when an aggressive driver pulled out of a parking space, narrowly missing my teammate but trapping me against the curb. I had no where to go but over the hood. 

And BOOM just like that. I was seeing red ready to knock the driver out. But just then as I tried to scrape myself off the pavement I realized there wouldnt be any yelling or fighting. I let out a big FUCK before sinking back into the snow as a tear rolled down my cheek as I lay there in disbelief. 

Now back from the hospital I await the final verdict about the operation on Tuesday. Full sedation is a must. Recovery?...Lance was back on his bike after three days, I will be back after two. 

After a big morphine shot in my ass, some x-rays, and a sling Doc said I was ready to go. I then joined my teammates at ParkHotel Rooding - our main sponsor for lunch and some talks about next year. The team nutritionist, doctor, physical therapist, and mental coach were all there - I am looking forward to working with all of them this year.

They talked we listened. Overall I am really happy to be riding for this team. A group of 16 riders that are ambitious and hope to reach their full potential in the sport accompanied by a manager and director that put just as many hours into the sport as we do.

I was surprised by all the support I received, I guess they realized I havnt exactly had it easy this winter. We got our casual wear, I look pretty fly for a white guy (minus the sling).

But blah blah every peak has its low; mountain has it valley. 'It sucks a fat one' is how my teammate put it.

All I have to say is, again, I will be back. 2010 is still going to be my year. My goals? 1) Put others through more pain than I put myself through. 2) Show people I can sprint. How? 3) Win a classic(s). And it would be nice to stay on my bike (But thats optional. As long as I cross the line first).

Cheers to 2010. 

Proost! 

Well its been a long time since I have updated my site. My bad.

So far whats happened. I finished off my first year as a u23 cyclist - although my results were alright I think I learned a lot and became a lot stronger. 2010 will be a year for results and to make the move to a continental team. My goal is to win a u23 classic. Maybe its a reach but the year will soon tell. All I need is that final bit of luck and the rest will fall into place. Thats what I was missing this year on two occasions - but oh well.

Well 2010 didnt start out that well - I visited DC which was nice and did a few long rides with DC Velo dudes but as soon as I returned I broke my left elbow/right wrist. What a combo! I was heading out for a party but hit a ditch and flew several meters. 

Its ok though. Im back now and have been training outside as well. Starting with the 10 hour weeks and 2x weight room - which is doing me a lot of good. I do 20m intervals once a week and am currently doing around 355 which isnt too hard. Lactic threshold test this thursday.

Anyways next year I will be racing on the same team except basically its a total new group of riders. Most had to leave some went pro. 

Well off to bed - university is alright. Doing it because I need to but not because I enjoy it. First finish school - then go pro. Not other way around.  

If you havnt checked out WWW.VELONATION.COM TO SO. I write for it and some pros have blogs there enjoy.

Well hopefully I race the Giro in 2012 in DC :) Thats the plan! Seeya on the road!