Racing has begun!

Wow. No hanging around this year! Straight into the action with racing national level Spanish races in the first weeks of February.

On the 7th of February I flew out to Vigo. Joining my team for the first time. We spent the weekend in Santiago De Campostela at the Oca Puerta del Camino Hotel which is one of the team's sponsors. Two days of riding with the team, and generally getting to know them. Its a great team of riders which makes the experience all the better. We rode 160 miles over the two days in the worst conditions Galicia has to offer. Atleast we had a load of new kit to keep us dry!

Having booked a one way flight I had the first few races of the season in mind. Which would be confirmed by the team manager after the camp.

So, being confirmed to ride we embarked on a lengthy 8+ hour journey south to Almagro. We would be racing in the prestigious Memorial Manuel Sanroma Valencia. (I didn't yet know what I was in for!)

The first stage was a short 50 mile morning stage with a steep kicker to the finish as a muur de geraardsbergen type of summit except worse surface! I entered the narrow valley road towards the climb a bit too far back so was left with the rest of the group chasing the front after the various crashes and obstacles to avoid in the final mile.

In the afternoon we had a 4.5 mile TT. Out and back (UK style) on a slightly uphill drag. Unfortunately starting without a TT bike, so on the back foot, but I put in a strong power output meaning I couldn't expect much more from the end result.

Sunday morning there was a 100 mile stage on the cards. First half of the race was going according to plan. We hit the "road" that would lead us to the climb when a big crash halted the race with near enough 30 riders going down. I can only describe this road as something you would expect when racing Strade-Bianche. The race was neutralised for about 30 minutes before we were released to race at the foot of the climb. This climb must have gone on for about 15 mile with twists and turns on the gravel ridden surface. When finally reaching the top we were greeted with a cobbled climb that was the final nail in the coffin.

Its fair to say the journey back to Vigo was fairly quiet with some worn out bodies.

The following weekend was an even bigger one. The first round of the Copa España - Circuito del Guadiana in Don Benito. It was special to even be considered for this race as they are held highly to Spanish teams. It doesn't get much better than racing a Copa España as an U23 in Spain.

The circuito del Guadiana is well known to people within this racing community. Its a 25 mile lap with a killer of a climb that lasts just under a mile. It ascends through a town crossing three different surfaces, and lined with spectators every lap.

We had 4 laps to complete which would total another 100 mile race. Every lap the pace up the climb was brutal with the group stringing out, and riders hanging on for the 4 minute effort. With a lap to go along with many others I was dispatched from the main peloton when a untimely touch of wheels in front caused disruption throughout the group. Reaching the finish in a group around 10 minutes down I was disappointed to be classed out of the time cut after such a gruelling race, and being so close to completion.

However, I now know where the level is for this year, and what needs to be done to have that bit extra. I'm not a hundred miles away, and am only searching for that few percent. Luckily with it only being February I have that time to improve throughout the season. Its fair to say I'm not used to this level of racing so early on, but overall content with the post winter fitness.

I'll be heading back home this week for a short while before returning in a few weeks for more of the same! This season definitely holds some of the most excitement with so much yet to come.