Race #5: Grote Prijs Stad Vilvoorde 1.12 Internationale

Here is the article from Het Nieuwsblad. Unfortunatly they got my name as Stromper, this is the most interesting interpretive version of my name to date...

Yesterday I did another Elite race in Vilvoorde just outside of Brussels. This race has a rich tradition in Belgium and used to be a fairly large pro race. My director Willy Teirlenck won this race in his day. The race was 120 km of flat roads. The course was really nice with a basic couple long staights sections, one of which was along a canal and created some hazards with the wind. There was a nice section through the center of the city with a few ripping fast tight corners. At only just over 6km per lap 19 laps had to be completed. 95 riders rolled up to the start and it was a strong field with BodySol, Profel and Sean Kellys Irish U23 team out in full force as well as a host of ex pros on various amatuer teams.
I did a training ride in the morning and knew that I had really good legs. From the start I stayed near the front of the strung out field to avoid crashes and not get in trouble with the wind. An early break went a couple of laps in but it was back within 20 km. I got in a few moves none of which got a true gap and was thinking the race would end in a bunch sprint as nothing was getting away. About halfway through the race a thunderstorm rolled in and the corners started getting pretty scetchy as there were plenty of paint strips to worry about. The pace was super high all day with 45 km/hr being the average and the finishing straight being ridden at 60 km/hr almost every lap. I was finding the pace fast but controllable and my pack riding has definatly improved with the few races I have done this year.
With 4 laps to go things were getting hot at the front. Along the backstretch the pace was high and I knew that if anything was going to go it was now, when the pace was hot and everything was strung out. I was sitting top 20 and saw a couple of riders go, they got a gap and then a couple of others went to bridge. I jumped on and we caught the few others just before a corner, rolled the corner and we had a big gap. It was a good break and we started working to build the gap right away. I was forced to pull through as the group was only 6 riders and within a lap we had 15 seconds on the peleton. With 2 to go 4 guys bridged and we kept the pace high ensuring the breaks success. We were flying and I was on the rivet just thinking about not getting dropped and being there for the finale. With one lap to go we had 16 seconds and it proved to be enough. Out of the final corner everyone launched into the sprint along the long finishing straight. I had no jump out of the corner and despite giving it everything I ended up in 10th. BodySol put in a huge effort the last two laps to try to close and set up their sprinter (Steve from the training rides post), but we stuck it, it was awesome to be in the break and have it be successful. The guy who won is the same rider who won the U23 Tour of Flanders a couple of weeks ago so I was in good company. He rode pro in France last year and now rides for a team out of Roubaix.
With tenth I earned 30 Euros and even got my name in the national newspaper Het Nieuwsblad in an article that summarized the race and named me as one of the original members of the days successful breakaway.
My form is really improving and I feel much better than last year. The team is happy and the racing is fun. This year I feel like I belong here, that I can really race with these guys and that I am learing alot and improving.
On Saturday I have a U23 race in Geraardsbergen, then a pro kermesse on Wednesday and then another interclub on Sunday. Life is good. Thanks for reading!