Back to France

Right after track nationals, I packed my blue and fluo gear again for the 5th DN2 cup in Poitou Charente, the tour de Saint-Savin. The race was 167km long with many loops on different circuits. 

Unfortunately, I was not able to ride the 3 days before because of transportation. The race did not went so well, I crashed early and twist an ankle. I was able to come back and felt ok for the first part of the race. The pace was pretty fast and roads were very narrow. I finally dropped from the peloton just 1 lap before the end at 155km mark. 

The next weekend, my team and I went to St-Amour for a 120km criterium, 33 laps of 3,7km with 700m climb and technical finish. The race went from the start as usual and I miss the wagon of 17 riders ! I then tried to organize a chase group and we finally went clear after 15km of racing. With only 4 of us chasing, it took us a very long 60km to bridge to the first group. With all the energy left in the chasing, and the atttacks just starting in the front group, I did not last long and finish with a small group to finish 17th in the stage. Not a great result, but an encouraging sign of form for the upcomming races.

Next thursday, we head off to Lausanne for a track meet. With two big trainning ride in the mountains the days before, I was happy to come back on the track for some leg speed. The program started with a 25 laps scratch race, followed by an elimination, a points race and an handicap race. I used a 50/15 for the scratch race which turns out to be very small for the tremendous pace set by the swiss cyclists. I later found out that both the u23 and junior madison team european champion were competing. Anyway, I hold my place and finished 4th. On the next race, the elimination, I used a bigger develpment (49-14), but it turns out unusefull as I was the first one eliminated with a misunderstanding with the rule as the clock rung twice on the first laps. For the point race, I race agressively, taking a lap quickly and finishing strong winning the last sprint with half a velodrome distance. Finally, I sprinted to third on the handicap and climb up 4th on the omnium. I was disapoint with the elimination but overall happy with the form and good racing. 

Next on the program is the Quatre jours des As, an elite national stage race in south of France. With all the trainning achieved in the last couple days, I look forward to it.

Photo: Point race at the Lausanne Omnium - Credits @ www.velodromes.ch