Bike racing!
August 18th, 2009 by Hannah MayhoWell I’m now back in Oudenaarde with the other Academy girls and its going well. I can feel myself getting fitter and its meant I can ride more aggressively and get more out of the racing. The last couple of weeks have seen me get my first podium placings out here, with a win too!
My first result was in Diksmuide, which was a criterium race. I broke away with Emma Trott and Dani King, both British riders who had come to race in Belgium, with Emma being based here full time. Myself and Emma stayed away to gain about a minute on the main bunch. In the sprint, I attacked too early, so Emma could come round me and go first into the last corner. Out of the corner there was only 100m until the line and so I was beaten! A couple of days later though I managed to get a win in Herentals, also a criterium. With my parents and sister watching, as they had come over from the UK, I really wanted to do a good ride and was aggressive in the first few laps. Eventually, having attacked into a corner which lead out on to a cobbled section, I managed to get away. With my teammates helping to chase down attacks from the main bunch, I spent the rest of the race riding on my own to take a solo win!
From Herentals it was straight to Germany for a crit in Dortmund on the Saturday night. With a UCI race, Sparkassen Giro the next day, it was a quality field and a bit of an eye-opener coming in for the bunch sprint and surrounded by so many riders! With a lap and a half to go I had managed to get myself in the top 6 but then I hit a stone in the road, and looked down at my wheel for a couple of seconds and found that I had completely lost my place. Finished at the top end of the bunch.
The next day it was Sparkassen Giro, an 88km race which was ‘lumpy’ with one main climb. I climbed okay and managed to keep myself in the main bunch. Unfortunately I couldnt get myself to the front of the group again but managed to get 18th place, which upon reflection I decided wasn’t too shabby.
After we came back from Germany, my family were still around for another couple of days so I spent my rest day with them which was really nice. Had a look round Oudenaarde and sampled the local cakes which I have to say aren’t too shabby either! 
