NICK MULDER RACING
A story of a young cyclist following his dream...
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Damn, I apologize for totally not updating my blog. Ive had a lot of races some good some bad and a lot of stuff has happened since Kayl (Lux).
Well the form is there thanks to Fleche du Sud. I went to the race replacing my team mate who had crashed really hard a few weeks before. I ended up being the highest placed finisher on our team despite the fact none of us had GC aspirations.
Quick recap:
Prologue - I was really motivated to finish high but I ended up losing time. It was 4.2km with 14 turns. I didnt feel comfortable on my time trial bike losing seconds in every turn, and explosiveness is my greatest weakness. On the longer flat sections I could motor but I lost too much in the turns, definently room for improvement!
1st Stage - After the bad prologue I wanted to make up some lost time. Within the first few kms I got to the front with my whole team. The attacks went and my team mate was in it to collect the points up the road. He took the jersey. From 0-80km I sat tucked in behind Trek-Livestrong who were riding tempo (50kph). At km 80 I went for a pee stop. Bad luck/timing, as I rejoined the peloton we turned left and went up a 2km climb @ 10%. It sucked and I had to do everything just to hang on, closing gaps as riders were flying out the back. Second climb a few kms later I hadnt been able to move up and was stuck in the same situation. At the top of the climb I had to close another gap, then side winds picked up and broke the peloton up even more. Again I managed to go around the riders, then the third categorized climb I couldnt follow and had to pay for my earlier efforts. Its a shame because I had great legs. I ended up riding in with a smaller group behind the first group, no shame as there were plenty of pros in in the group.
2nd Stage - Queen stage. No single piece of flat road. So much climbing ahhhh. First 10km there were sprint points and since we had the jersey we had to keep it together, riding tempo at the front. After 27km we had the steepest climb Ive ever ridden, only a 1.5km climb but the final 500m were close to 20%. I was so happy with my 27T. Then 13km later there was an uncategorized climb which we hadnt written down. Again I got taken by suprise, sitting a little too far back. Ben King was in the same position and we rode from the back to the front. Eventually halfway he kept going and I thought the climb was over but it kept going and the peleton broke right in front of me with cross winds at top of the climb. I drilled it as hard as I could with a small group, including 3 riders from USA. We were all rolling well but when they pulled through it slowed, pissing me and the rest of the group off. But they just didnt get it....The next climb I rode to the first group only to get stuck in the same situation as before, too far back.
3rd Stage - Again the sprint jersey was ours but we had to defend it. 2nd place went up the road in the first 10km with the sprint at 15km. The first 4km was a climb. I rode tempo but was really hurting but so was everyone else since the group thinned out immediately. The second climb after 8km I drilled it and brought back the group of 10 riders including the 2nd place rider and several Rabobank riders. That gave me motivation to keep it together till the sprint. Just rolling it as hard as I could. Luckily Tjarco could finish off the job and take the points. The jersey was ours...I stayed with the first group till the final circuits where I was missing a little extra and let a gap fall, losing 30 seconds or so. Average speed was 46kph!!! (with several big climbs)
4th Stage - Legs were feeling stronger but still tired. Again we had to control till the sprint. A group rolled off with Tjarco in it. No worries. 20km after a furious chase by the 2nd place Cycling Team Jo Piels the peloton was back together. The break was about to form and I tried to get in it. It was like a pro race where the first hour is hardest. Unfortunately the one time I didnt jump I missed the break, I hate when that happens! Oh well. Again a climby stage, the break got reeled in the final circuits where we were constanly going 55kph. 5km before the finish was a really hard climb, 2km at 12% after several hard days. I had missed my feeds and was feeling pretty light headed but rode from the 3rd group to the second group.
This was by far the hardest race id ever done. all the climbs, all the continental teams and pros. And especially the hard work we had to do for the jersey compromised our results. But we walked away with one of the jerseys. I wish I had gotten some results but I have now learned how important it is to start the climbs at the front. Races like these make me stronger and more motivated for the next ones. Depsite the little preparation I had I was able to help my team, they were very happy with me. So thats good...
Well the form is there thanks to Fleche du Sud. I went to the race replacing my team mate who had crashed really hard a few weeks before. I ended up being the highest placed finisher on our team despite the fact none of us had GC aspirations.
Quick recap:
Prologue - I was really motivated to finish high but I ended up losing time. It was 4.2km with 14 turns. I didnt feel comfortable on my time trial bike losing seconds in every turn, and explosiveness is my greatest weakness. On the longer flat sections I could motor but I lost too much in the turns, definently room for improvement!
1st Stage - After the bad prologue I wanted to make up some lost time. Within the first few kms I got to the front with my whole team. The attacks went and my team mate was in it to collect the points up the road. He took the jersey. From 0-80km I sat tucked in behind Trek-Livestrong who were riding tempo (50kph). At km 80 I went for a pee stop. Bad luck/timing, as I rejoined the peloton we turned left and went up a 2km climb @ 10%. It sucked and I had to do everything just to hang on, closing gaps as riders were flying out the back. Second climb a few kms later I hadnt been able to move up and was stuck in the same situation. At the top of the climb I had to close another gap, then side winds picked up and broke the peloton up even more. Again I managed to go around the riders, then the third categorized climb I couldnt follow and had to pay for my earlier efforts. Its a shame because I had great legs. I ended up riding in with a smaller group behind the first group, no shame as there were plenty of pros in in the group.
2nd Stage - Queen stage. No single piece of flat road. So much climbing ahhhh. First 10km there were sprint points and since we had the jersey we had to keep it together, riding tempo at the front. After 27km we had the steepest climb Ive ever ridden, only a 1.5km climb but the final 500m were close to 20%. I was so happy with my 27T. Then 13km later there was an uncategorized climb which we hadnt written down. Again I got taken by suprise, sitting a little too far back. Ben King was in the same position and we rode from the back to the front. Eventually halfway he kept going and I thought the climb was over but it kept going and the peleton broke right in front of me with cross winds at top of the climb. I drilled it as hard as I could with a small group, including 3 riders from USA. We were all rolling well but when they pulled through it slowed, pissing me and the rest of the group off. But they just didnt get it....The next climb I rode to the first group only to get stuck in the same situation as before, too far back.
3rd Stage - Again the sprint jersey was ours but we had to defend it. 2nd place went up the road in the first 10km with the sprint at 15km. The first 4km was a climb. I rode tempo but was really hurting but so was everyone else since the group thinned out immediately. The second climb after 8km I drilled it and brought back the group of 10 riders including the 2nd place rider and several Rabobank riders. That gave me motivation to keep it together till the sprint. Just rolling it as hard as I could. Luckily Tjarco could finish off the job and take the points. The jersey was ours...I stayed with the first group till the final circuits where I was missing a little extra and let a gap fall, losing 30 seconds or so. Average speed was 46kph!!! (with several big climbs)
4th Stage - Legs were feeling stronger but still tired. Again we had to control till the sprint. A group rolled off with Tjarco in it. No worries. 20km after a furious chase by the 2nd place Cycling Team Jo Piels the peloton was back together. The break was about to form and I tried to get in it. It was like a pro race where the first hour is hardest. Unfortunately the one time I didnt jump I missed the break, I hate when that happens! Oh well. Again a climby stage, the break got reeled in the final circuits where we were constanly going 55kph. 5km before the finish was a really hard climb, 2km at 12% after several hard days. I had missed my feeds and was feeling pretty light headed but rode from the 3rd group to the second group.
This was by far the hardest race id ever done. all the climbs, all the continental teams and pros. And especially the hard work we had to do for the jersey compromised our results. But we walked away with one of the jerseys. I wish I had gotten some results but I have now learned how important it is to start the climbs at the front. Races like these make me stronger and more motivated for the next ones. Depsite the little preparation I had I was able to help my team, they were very happy with me. So thats good...
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discount amazon
04:19 PM on February 15, 2010
very useful read. I would love to follow you on twitter.
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