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Post Tour Crit ‏‏‏‏

Post-Tour Criteriums have long been a part of cycling history and tradition, so from literally the day after the Champs-Elysees, and for the following few weeks, towns across Belgium, France and Holland put up big bucks to secure the stars of the sport for their races.


The result is pre-determined, and in a throwback to the days of Hinault, Merckx et al, riders are told before the start when they can or can’t attack, and what place they have to finish in. To this effect they aren’t really “races”, but parades, for the town and sponsors to showcase themselves, for the public to see the superstars of their sport, and for the riders to make some money. After battering themselves around France for 3 weeks, there has to be some incentive for Sagan, Cav, Petacchi and Cadel to get kitted up again the very next day, after all.


The first is always Aalst. The Tour finishes on Sunday; Aalst’s post-tour crit is on Monday. Then comes Roeselare, and some other smaller ones. The Olympics meant that this year there were fewer big names than usual at these, but last night (the day after the Olympic Road Race) saw Cavendish, McEwen, Sagan, Nibali and Basso line up with a host of other ProTour riders for the crit in Ninove.


As it was only 15k down the road, and as my team mate got a wildcard entry because it is his home town, a couple of us went along. The crowds were astonishing, lining the 1.5km circuit, and all half-cut with a beer in one hand and a burger in the other. With Nick Nuyens, Johan Van Summeren, Maxime Monfort and Stijn Devolder all in attendance, they obviously had some guys to cheer for.


My team mate Sean was off the front constantly for the first half of the race, and was even in a 2-up with Cav for a couple of laps. A “threatening” move went clear at about half distance with Basso, Van Summeren and Kris Boeckmans in it, before it of course came back together with 2 laps to go. McEwen led through the final corner, which was where we were watching, before being passed by Cavendish just a few metres from the line.


During the presentation I found myself standing next to Cav’s Mrs, Peta Todd, so naturally sparked up a conversation, before some bloke in World Champs kit wades over through the crowds, gives girlfriend and daughter a kiss, and then disappears again into the throngs of people. Peter Sagan and Robbie McEwen then barrage their way past and out of sight again....All very surreal but pretty cool nonetheless!  

Everyone knows that the night is rigged, but it is a great spectacle all the same, with every bit of the buzz and atmosphere that any competitive bike race comes with, so long may the tradition continue.


As far as my racing is concerned, after a bit of a lull at the end of June and first half of July, I am starting to find my legs again. On Monday I did a kermis in Lierde, which I suffered a lot in, but came away with 17th after winning the bunch kick.

During the week I went over to Holland to stay with my house mate from last year, and get some quality training rides in around the hills of the Limburg region, on the tri-border of Belgium, Holland and Germany. We rode a lot of the Amstel Gold and this year’s World Champs course...boy there are some climbs around there, but after a hard race on the Monday and plenty of KM’s in Holland, I knew I would have some form back.

On Thursday we did ‘Internatie Reningelst’, a big race over in West Flanders. I got away with 14 guys after 15km of a 170km race, and we managed to stay away. Confident that I was the fastest there, I sat last wheel and when the attacks started coming I just followed, hoping it would come together for a sprint. Unfortunately 5 guys slipped off just as we went under the red kite, and we went on to contest the win. I even managed to drop my chain coming out of the last corner, so was left 20m off the back with 300 to go. I got going again though, and came past all but one of them for 7th place. Knowing if it had worked out differently I could have won was at first frustrating, but in hindsight I am very happy with a top ten in a race of that stature, and it’s given me my mojo back for the rest of the season, so let’s be having it.