Puivelde Pro Race

The wake up call...
Last year I did this pro race and finished in the bunch in around 60th position. This year I was on the rivet twice and that faitfull second time the elastic stapped and I was left floundering in the wind wondering what had just happened.
With 145 starters and all the big pro teams in Belgium present with some of their top riders it was a race I simply wanted to live through. 4 protour squads were represented (Disco, Liquigas, Predictor, Quickstep), but as usual the odds were stacked towards Chocolade Jacques and Landbouwkrediet with their high numbers. This year there was a very important difference in the race day conditions in that unlike last year a strong blustering wind was whipping up a sufferfest on many sections of the course. From the start several long stretchs were ridden in the gutter at speeds of just over 60km/hr and I was spinning out my 11 just to maintain contact with the wheel infront of me. On the only uphill on the course speeds sat around a steady 55km/hr and I knew it was going to be crucial to try to maintain a position near the front of the peleton. Just over an hour in I took a corner in about 30th wheel and then lost the guy in front with the incredible acceleration and wind. I literally flew back 60 spots instantly just before the climb finally getting settled in again. Then 10 minutes later coming out of a tight 270 degree corner off a field road onto a big road I again failed to hold the wheel in front of me and lost a pile of spots. Then just as I was thinking I had made it through the section a rider in front of me let a gap go and we were left to check our ambitions at the nearest cafe and head home to race another day.
It was a huge disappointment to drop out so quickly and although I was in very strong company I should have been able to ride it out.
But the beauty of racing in these parts showed itself once again when I ended up racing in St Martens Bodegem the next day and finally making some money...