August

My first race of this month was La Ronde Des Vallees, which is a UCI 2.1 stage race in Brittany, France. I was back with my old team, Lee Valley for the weekend! After a fairly long drive from Calais we arrived in time for a recon of the TT course. The first stage wasn't the best for me as my legs weren't awake yet, after having a couple of weeks off racing. I rolled in with the bunch and ultimately didn't lose any time on the first day. In the TT, the legs were back and I managed to pick up 23rd on a tough course with some rolling terrain. This put me in a decent position for the GC. In the last stage, the peloton split over a big climb and I was in the front group. I realised we were being caught from behind, so me and my team mate attacked out of that group and attempted the bridge across to the break. We caught a couple of dropped riders from the break and managed to form a little chasing group. Unfortunately I lost my team mate to cramp, but I finished 11th on the stage and picked up 7th on GC. A result I was quite happy with after a tough weekend. 

Next up on the race programme was Boucle De L'oise, another UCI stage race in France. The first stage was similar again, with some sleepy legs, but managed to do the same, roll in and not lose time. The TT was fairly solid again picking up a nice 33rd place, in a solid field of riders. A priority for me next year is my TT position and trying to make myself as efficient as possible. In the last stage I was riding offensively and trying to make a move stick, after a neutralisation, the bunch was nervous and split up on a steep climb. I was in the first group but we got caught from behind despite a fast pace over the top. I finished near the front of the remaining peloton and managed to slide up to 25th on GC. Not too bad, but I wanted more after the last weekend. 

Druivenkoers Overijse was my next race. A UCI 1.1. A few punchy climbs per lap suited me on paper. The first lap was super hectic, but I maintained a good position in all of the key sectors of the race and was attacking in the final parts of the race. A very big breakaway got away earlier on in the race, and I was boxed in in the final sprint meaning I couldn't salvage any notable results. 

Finally, it was time for La Route De Giants. A super furious race with 2 ascents of the famous Kemmelberg. I attacked 10km before the first ascent and made it around 20km before being caught again, but I avoided being caught up in the chaos of the first climb. By the time I was caught, the group had already reduced in size making it easier to position and be in the front. After 117km, the second ascent came and I was in the front group of around 15 over the top. Unfortunately, due to tactics in other teams, we were caught and a heavily reduced peloton came back together with 1 rider from Soudal Quickstep off the front. They stayed away and in the finale I wasn't able to finish it off for a nice result, but happy with how I raced again.