SportsShoes Blog

21/09/09

Well I’ve now moved into my new flat in Manchester and I’m back into track training for a competition in Barcelona later on this week! After Trophee d’Or stage race I flew back home for a 12 day break from the bike! I was pretty busy, seeing friends and family, shopping, going out etc.  I also went to Barcelona for a 3 day holiday, it was really nice to get a bit of sun and see the sights! I’m sure my next experience of Barcelona will be a bit different though, a lot less lazing around in the sun and eating tapas and a lot more hard work!!

I’m really enjoying being back on the bike though and getting back on the track.  I’m sharing the flat with another cyclist, Dani King at the moment until the other girls get back from the World Road Race Champs in Mendrisio.  It’s really nice, situated in the student area of Fallowfield, Manchester.  It’s pretty busy around Fallowfield at the moment as its Freshers Week- we’ve stayed away though- don’t want to be catching any freshers flu!

Training on the track has been pretty mixed really, on some sessions I’ve felt quite good and on others, terrible! I guess it’ll take a while for my legs to adjust to riding the track again and get used to pace judgement necessary for individual and team pursuiting. I’m going through the motions though and hoping I’ll be able to do a decent time for the 3k individual pursuit in Barcelona.

Had a weekend of track last weekend with Friday night track league and the Revolution track meeting on the Saturday.  Unfortunately there were only 2 womens events on - a 20 lap points race with sprints every 4 laps and a 6 lap dash!

I was perhaps a little bit eager to start with, going for the first sprint and up against the likes of Anna Blyth, an Academy sprinter - who needless to say passed me along with the USA’s Kacey Manderfield to leave me 3rd with 2 points.  I managed another 3rd in the 3rd sprint and finished 6th with 4 points.

The 6 lap dash was over really quickly but was a good result! I attacked over the top of the bunch with 2 laps to go and just made it to the finish line before Anna! (see pic! )