Margriet Kloppenburg

Right now I am enjoying an easy monday after a bussy and satisfying weekend. As i wrote on Saturday I rode to a 13th place in the UCI C1 race in Nommay, France on Friday.

Yesterday I was back racing in Belgium. The Super Prestige in Hamme-Zogge. Felt a bit tired getting up in the morning, as the women race was already on at 10.45. But as I got going and tested the lap before the race I slowly woke up. I liked the quick and dry course with lots of corners, some longe stredges, 2 bridges and 3 sections with steps. Something for everybody to enjoy.

The start was a bit messy, but got out of it quiet alright. My starts aren't going the way I want them to go the last races. But there are a lot of things you have no control over when your not on the first row when the start is going, so just need a bit of good luck and loads of UCI points to get myself up on that first row! But that will be a while I guess, lots of good girls around fighting for points.

Even though bigshots as Helen Wyman, Sanne van Paassen, Hanka Kupfernagel and Gabby Day did not participate today a field of almost 30 women were at the start. As the course was really fast small mistakes got punished straight away so it was easy to lose the wheel of the rider in front, but this also ment that there was a reasonable change to get back on wen mistakes had been made.

After the messy start I found myself in a group fighting for 16-22th place. The group changed size several times and at one point we were all riding alone. But with 2 laps to go were 5 girls getting back together, me hanging on to the last wheel as nummer 20. I really felt alright these last laps, even though the race had been hard on me as I am usually riding my laps solo. Riding solo around the course is a huge difference to riding with others, as you only have to focus on your own ride. But it felt great to be in a little group as it gives you a bit of a rest at some points during the race. In the last lap our group got stretched out and I ended up as nr. 19 – 20 seconds from 16th place and about 4 minuts behind winner Daphny van den Brand.

Here a link to Belgien VT4 Footage of the womens race.

Picture on the top of one of the stairs - behind me an overview on a part of the course. Picture by Geert Nachtergaele

Even though some of the bigshots not being there I am happy with my first top 20 in a Belgium UCI Race. I have a good feeling about the race and can see I am steadily improving. I am now going to enjoy the rest of my day of and look forward to give it full gas in the up comming training sessions and races.

Enjoy your Monday!

Margriet