Vuelta Valladolid!

This weekend's race was the Vuelta Valladolid Junior, a 3 day stage race just north of Madrid, having had another week to get used to the heat I was ready to rock.

The first stage I got into what would turn out to be the winning breakaway, 100km out of 125km, certainly a new experience, we managed to pick up the sprints jersey along the way too.

A lack of water put pay to the sprint finish for me, feeding was difficult with the cars so far behind, I was toast but happy to be in the GC fight.

Day 2 was a split day with a 11km tt in the morning, being on a road bike instead of a tt bike I knew I'd shift some time but i didn't loose too much all things considered.

The afternoon was a 70km road stage where it all went a bit pear shaped, we had the team near the front of the peloton getting ready for an intermediate sprint when someone rubbed a wheel in front of us which resulted in most of the team including me hitting the deck along with most of the peloton, it was carnage, we managed to sort ourselves out but a huge chase ensued, with 10km to go I was spent, I was in a lot of pain in my right knee from the crash and could barely pedal, I made it to the finish but we lost the jersey and any hopes of a decent GC position.

Day 3, unsure if I would be able to ride as my knee was twice its normal size I took to the start line, the first 30km wasn't nice, but I started to loosen up and settle in with 100km left to go.

A big climb up through a castle really hurt but I hung on, the rest of the route was mainly rolling, quite a few crashes again but I managed to avoid them, so much road furniture and speed humps here!

I finished in the bunch happy to have made it, top 40 out of 200 starters, ok, but should have been better.

Couple of days rest now to hopefully sort out my knee then onto the next one.