Cyclingnews Latest Blogshttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogsLatest Blogs from Cyclingnews.comen30http://cdn.assets.cyclingnews.com/201412151540/media/img/png2x/cn-logo.pnghttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogsCyclingnews Latest BlogsIM Sports Gen - v0.01Copyright Immediate Media Company Ltd.Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:30:02 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-sharing-paulienas-result-in-san-sebastianhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-sharing-paulienas-result-in-san-sebastianAshleigh Moolman-Pasio blog: Sharing Pauliena's result in San Sebastian <p>Three races, three podiums, but if you really want to talk about winning we have to talk about my 17th place finish in <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-clasica-san-sebastian-femenina-2019/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">San Sebastian</a>.</p> <p>Typically, the race did not go as planned but it did go perfectly. Off the back of two team podiums in Clasica Femenina Navarra and Emakumeen Nafarroako Klasikoa, we had the momentum for a result; but, when the breakaway went early just after the Jaizkibel climb and I wasn't in a position to follow, I thought to myself, "well, that could be it." Fortunately, Pauliena, who we had decided would mark Lucy Kennedy, followed perfectly and gave us representation in the break. As I expected, that was the winning win and suddenly our team strategy to get me on the podium was rewritten.</p> <p>"Where's Ash? Where's Ash!" Pauliena kept repeating into the radio. Lucy Kennedy had gone solo from the breakaway while I was in the peloton slipping further out of radio range. The radios eventually dropped signal completely so for the remainder of the race I couldn't hear what was happening up the road. I did know that I believed in Pauliena. I knew she would fight, dig deep, and make our team proud. I didn't need to be there, she was there.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>I crossed the finish line in the bunch, in 17th place, desperately searching for clues to how the race had finished. I saw Lucy had claimed the win and I hoped Pauliena's hard effort of being in the break for the majority of the race had paid off.</p> <p>"I'm so sorry," she immediately said to me when I saw her, but I was also hearing and seeing on the screens she had finished 3rd! "Don't apologise, we got third!" I excitedly replied. I was over the moon! Not only because we had claimed a third podium in back-to-back races, but that Pauliena had the success I had seen her work hard for all season long and truly deserved after a classy performance. As her teammate, I was incredibly happy but, as her race leader, I was bursting with pride.</p> <p>I knew my role as team leader would be more about fortifying confidence than sprinting for the finish line as soon as I saw we would be a rider short for San Sebastian. I knew from my own experience how much of an impact even one person believing in you could make. A few words, a few minutes, just the idea of success was powerful and if I could lead from that position, we had more than a chance for a result. Being the best race leader I could be meant that we could all share in Pauliena's result.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-sharing-paulienas-result-in-san-sebastian/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:07:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-five-days-of-suffering-in-the-tour-de-francehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-five-days-of-suffering-in-the-tour-de-franceChad Haga blog: Five days of suffering in the Tour de France <p>It may have only been 5 days of racing, but this week felt every bit as long as the first one. As the stage count increases, so does the proportion of the stage spent suffering, and we did plenty of it in the last two days.</p> <p>My big goal for the week was the<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-13/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog"> time trial</a>, and I saved as much energy as I could in the days leading up to it. Unfortunately for me, so did all of the GC riders. With the time trial coming after only two weeks of racing and being preceded by a rest day, a sprint day, and a GC "detente" day, the circumstances were far from those that led to my success in the Giro d'Italia.</p> <p>I faced other challenges, as well: all of my energy savings had placed me near the bottom of the GC standings, which meant I would be one of the first starters. That would normally not be a problem, but the<a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-course-by-le-tour-de-france-2019?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog"> La Course by Tour de France</a> women's race was on the course in the window that we would normally do our recon ride, so my options were to ride the course or start the race fresh, but not both. My team adapted well, though, and I jumped in the women's team car for a lap in the morning to see it in person. Then I spent the next couple of hours studying the video I took and committing to memory the line I wanted to take through every corner.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>When it came time to race, I pushed aside all thoughts about what my result might be and focused on my effort: just get to the finish line as fast as possible and see what the result is at the end of the day. I started in a sandwich of race favorites, chasing Tony Martin and being chased by Kasper Asgreen, so if I saw either of them during the race I would either be doing very well or very poorly.</p> <p>My race started just as I hoped, and I was pleased to discover that the corners looked the same on the bike as they did in my visualizations. When I popped out onto the big road after three kilometers and saw Tony Martin just ahead, it took a moment to process how it could be possible so soon, then I immediately disregarded him as another rider out to make the time cut.</p> <p>When I crossed the finish line with the fastest time, I had no regrets. I didn't feel that my lack of a pre-ride had made a difference, and I had paced my effort exactly as intended. My time in the hot-seat lasted only 30 seconds, though, broken almost immediately by the Danish machine. As the day wore on, I slowly retreated down the standings, finishing the day just inside the top-20. It was a good ride, to be sure, but not what I had envisioned at the start of the day. After further analysis, my power was on par with my winning ride in Verona, but everybody else simply wasn't tired enough yet, and the level at the Tour de France is unlike any other race. In the end, I'm happy that I did my best race possible.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-five-days-of-suffering-in-the-tour-de-france/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:07:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-keep-fighting-periodhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-keep-fighting-periodAshleigh Moolman-Pasio blog: Keep Fighting. Period. <p>Everything was falling apart.</p> <p>I got off my bike and it was dead quiet. I had just finished the individual time trial at the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-internazionale-femminile-2019?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Giro Rosa</a> and, I knew it wasn't my best day, but was it really that bad? Being met with silence from my team affirmed my worst fears. I had finished three minutes off the pace, out of the top ten, and it was a really hard pill to swallow. At the biggest stage race of the season, as my teammates sacrificed themselves for me, I just couldn't deliver. I rode back to the team bus, taking that silence with me.</p> <p>I started to spiral. I've had tons of bad races but this felt like more. My period had arrived early, leaving me feeling completely flat and in pain. I had strange and severe stomach pain that was keeping me up at night. Even the skin was sensitive to touch. I couldn't eat and I didn't want to. I knew it wasn't true but it felt like everyone else was having a perfect race while mine was a disaster. Nothing was going right this season, it was just obstacle after set back after bad luck, and now, as I slid down the GC from 3rd to 9th, I felt completely disheartened.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>Of course, all of this was also happening in front of an audience. My teammates, the peloton, friends, family, and <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vos-a-contender-for-rainbow-jersey-at-yorkshire-worlds-after-dominant-giro-rosa?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">fans were all seeing me struggle</a> and so the messages started. What was happening and why, I still wasn't sure, but the support messages were clear: I had to find a way to keep fighting.</p> <p>I made it through the next two stages, getting dropped, clawing back, and fighting for every single pedal stroke. Every time an attack went or the pace surged, I couldn't draw on my physical abilities like I was used to. I had to really dig deep into my experience to keep it together. My mum called to remind me how I had overcome an eating disorder, a serious head injury and a hip fracture. My husband, who was thankfully there by my side, kept reminding me what I was normally capable of and what we had accomplished, although, really, just his presence was a source of strength. My team was incredibly supportive, fully understanding how much impact your period can have on performance, let alone stomach issues. My phone was also constantly beeping with encouragement from fans through messages on social media. I didn't have the physical power but I was constantly reminded that I did have the strength.</p> <p>By stage 9, the Queen Stage, the team doctor had helped get my stomach under control and I was over the worst of my period. I started to feel like myself again and Montasio, the big mountain top finish, was my chance to prove it. It was against the odds and the top riders in the world but, finally, my guts were saying let's go for it.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-keep-fighting-period/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:47:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-you-cant-win-the-giro-rosa-alonehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-you-cant-win-the-giro-rosa-aloneAnnemiek van Vleuten blog: You can't win the Giro Rosa alone <p>It's an excellent feeling to set a target, create a plan with my team and my coach, and then nail it - I won the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-internazionale-femminile-2019?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Giro Rosa</a>!</p> <p>This victory has given me confidence in working toward future goals such as the World Championships or maybe even the Tokyo Olympic Games. I know now that I can be mentally and physically prepared for such significant endeavours.</p> <p>Winning a big stage race like the Giro Rosa, however, is extra special, even more so than a one-day race. Why? Because no one can win a 10-day race without a strong and committed team - My team is <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/teams/2019/mitchelton-scott-women?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Mitchelton-Scott</a>.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>The moment that my teammates joined me on the final podium to celebrate this overall victory was one of the highlights of the ten days of racing across northern Italy. Being up there on the podium by myself wouldn't have felt right. To celebrate together was incredible, and so much fun.</p> <p>We went on to celebrate our success with a lovely team dinner in Udine on Sunday night. It was essential for me to commemorate this win together. When I looked at all the people who were seated at our table, I truly felt that everyone contributed something to this victory. I was so pleased that we could all be at one table together, and what’s pretty incredible is that we have more staff than riders!</p> <p>To give you an idea of what it takes to support a team at the Giro Rosa, Mitchelton-Scott had 14 staff members, not including the riders. We had two sports directors (Alejandro and Martin), three soigneurs (Miha, Nadia and Mattia), two mechanics (Nico and Pat), two bus drivers (Otazu and Jacopo), two photographers (Sara and Luc), along with a videographer (Oliver), our press officer (Lucy) and a physiotherapist (Ellen).</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-you-cant-win-the-giro-rosa-alone/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:01:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-rest-day-recollections-of-an-eventful-tour-de-francehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-rest-day-recollections-of-an-eventful-tour-de-franceChad Haga blog: Rest day recollections of an eventful Tour de France <p>It's been a long time since I last raced 10 consecutive days, and I'm sure I'm not alone in my relief that we get to take today easy. The last "week" at the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tour de France</a> has been extra long, and also full of long stages. Today we have enjoyed reminding each other that we are actually past the halfway point of the Tour in terms of distance already. Add in a time trial, another rest day, and the final stage into Paris and it starts to seem like we're nearly done…</p> <p>The Tour has started well, and I mean that in a few ways for a few different reasons. The weather has been great—well, sunny, at least—which helped to calm the peloton's nerves a bit. Good course design also minimized the stress somewhat, and as a result there have been fewer crashes than expected. The team time trial and mountaintop finish also spread the race out a bit early on, which also had a calming effect. Even the "boring" sprint stages haven't always been so, as yesterday's wind certainly livened things up.</p> <p><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/teams/2019/team-sunweb?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Team Sunweb</a> is holding up well—we still have eight strong, healthy riders and our resolve to win a stage has only strengthened after a handful of close calls. Our first big goal was the team time trial, which we performed well in but were blown away by Jumbo-Visma. The tight grouping of teams in the top-10 is a great indicator of how much work teams are putting into the discipline lately. In the past, it seemed that only a few teams would be within a minute of the winners, but now the margins are always quite small.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>Then we started focusing on stages that <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/michael-matthews?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Michael Matthews</a> could win, which also entailed my own contributions at the front of the bunch a couple of times. Most recently, I was tasked with chasing back the breakaway filled with the heavy-hitters of the breakaway world, most notably Thomas De Gendt. In a cruel twist of the cycling world, my friend and fellow American was also in that breakaway destined for success. His success could have directly benefitted me, as American UCI points affect our nation's allocation of starters in the World Championships and Olympics. But my job that day was to bring it back. That's the sport, sometimes.</p> <p>Monday was an eventful day. A mountain biker jumped the peloton, and shortly thereafter I got in a small dust-up with George Bennett and Yves Lampaert as I tried to attack on the gravel shoulder, and we did a bit of bumping as I ultimately failed to get past them. I thought the aggression was unnecessary, but part of the road-block game.</p> <p>It's tough to explain, but I'll try: the breakaway only gets away when there are more people at the front who don't want to attack than those who do. On days where it could be a sprint or a chance for the break, the sprinters' teams can sway the decision by overwhelming the front of the peloton in the neutral section, leaving only a small handful of guys even in a position to attack. With the road blocked, the attacking is done for the day.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-rest-day-recollections-of-an-eventful-tour-de-france/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:57:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-lets-get-this-party-startedhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-lets-get-this-party-startedChad Haga blog: Let's get this party started <p>The only days of a Grand Tour in which time moves faster than on rest days are the days before the race, and nowhere is that truer than at the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tour de France</a>. It's now the middle of the afternoon on the last day before the race, and it's the first time I've stopped moving in three days. For that matter, last night was the first since the trip began that we got a full night of sleep.</p> <p>Owing to the fact that this is not my first time here, none of this comes as any surprise. The Tour de France is The Big Show, after all. Between training, interviews, photo shoots, dialling in new equipment and <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/crowds-greet-the-riders-of-the-2019-tour-de-france-gallery?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">team presentations</a>, there isn't a lot of time left to relax. Throw in a couple of early mornings to drive to a decent location for team time trial practice, and the pre-race anti-doping controls, and we're tired before the race even starts! Thankfully the schedule was front-loaded, so we could take today easier.</p> <p>I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, though: how did I even come to be at the Tour de France?<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>I've known for quite some time that the Tour was a possibility. I managed to finish the Giro-Tour combo last year in support of <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/tom-dumoulin?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tom Dumoulin</a>, and the team time trial here would take on extra importance this year, given the lack of individual time trial kilometres. So when Tom abandoned the Giro after his crash and I went all-in for the final time trial, I also had in the back of my mind that an easier Giro would pay dividends in France, should my services be needed here.</p> <p>By now you have seen how that final time trial went for me. The victory was one that resonated with viewers around the world, and the response was overwhelming, as I wrote in my last blog. I needed to get away and unplug for a bit, so my wife and I took a mini-vacation to Mallorca, where I could ride new roads as I dived back into training, and then relax with her at the beach afterwards.</p> <p>I was still on the bubble for Tour selection, but I needed to train as if I was going. It's a state of mind that I did not enjoy, if I'm honest. To be half-way through a set of intervals and asking myself, "Am I a sweaty mess so that I can take the form of my life into summer break?" is not productive, so I pushed those doubts away. I have friends that did as well, working their hardest to be at this race, and who are now on vacation with great form. Cycling can be cruel sometimes.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-lets-get-this-party-started/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Sat, 06 Jul 2019 10:42:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-passo-gaviahttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-passo-gaviaAnnemiek van Vleuten blog: Passo Gavia <p><em>Editor's note: The organisers of the 2019 Giro Rosa have been forced to <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/passo-gavia-summit-cancelled-from-2019-giro-rosa?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">cancel the summit finish on the Passo Gavia</a>, which was to be the finish of stage 5 on July 9, due to unexpected landslides and bad weather in the area. The conditions have forced authorities to intermittently close the roads to traffic and organisers have re-routed the stage to finish at the Lago di Cancano.</em></p> <p>Here we are at the start of the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-internazionale-femminile-2019?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Giro Rosa</a>!</p> <p>I think it's the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-internazionale-femminile-2019/preview?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">hardest parcours</a> that the organisers have ever designed with a lot of climbing and not much for the sprinters. The addition of the Passo Gavia will be the highlight of this year's race, and it will be epic, but it's not the only ingredient that will make this Giro Rosa hard. It will probably be the first place where there are more significant time differences, but there will also be opportunities on the uphill time trial on stage 6 and the summit finish of stage 9. These will also be crucial stages.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>I was pleased when the organisers announced that this year's course would include the Passo Gavia because I know that climb very well. I've spent about 200 days during my career in that area, and it's always been my preferred region for altitude training. I feel at home in the Valtellina region of Italy. The people from the hotel there – I love them – have become such good friends.</p> <p>Last year, they closed the hotel in September and invited me for their annual staff BBQ, which was a lovely evening for all the people that work in the hotel to celebrate the end of the summer season. It was two weeks before the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-vleuten-wins-time-trial-title-in-game-of-seconds-at-worlds?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Innsbruck World Championships</a>, and there I was at this fantastic party singing karaoke songs with the manager and the maître d'hôtel. It was a lot of fun!</p> <p><img src="http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2019/07/03/1/20180911_130116_670.jpg" alt="Annemiek van Vleuten joins her friends at the annual staff BBQ at the hotel she frequently stays at in the Valtellina region of Italy" border="2"></p> <h2>Leading Mitchelton-Scott</h2> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-passo-gavia/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Thu, 04 Jul 2019 15:20:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/coryn-rivera/coryn-rivera-blog-72-us-national-championship-titles-and-countinghttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/coryn-rivera/coryn-rivera-blog-72-us-national-championship-titles-and-countingCoryn Rivera blog: 72 US national championship titles, and counting <p>When I step back to think about the fact that I have won 72 US National titles in my career, I recall memories at my very first National Championship in 2004 in Park City, Utah. I was 11 years old, racing age 12. I had just started racing with a licence that year after winning the Redlands Classic kids race for the second year in a row. My family and I were traveling all over Southern California racing almost every weekend chasing the local races. My first year racing US Nationals in Park City I won the ITT and road race and got 2nd in the criterium, it was my goal the next year to win the criterium and improve on my silver medal. In 2005, I went up an age group to 13-14 and accomplished my goal of winning the criterium and also defended my ITT title but then flipped the events and placed 2nd in the road race. I went on in 2006 to continue to improve and challenge myself and win all 3 road titles in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania.</p> <p>It turned into a summer family affair, travelling in the motorhome that my younger sister and I had enjoyed since we were babies visiting National Parks like Yosemite and Mount Rushmore. From taking the jet-skis out to Castaic, Perris, or Elsinore Lake in the summers to snowboarding Mammoth, Snowbird, or Big Bear in the winters using our family motorhome multiple times a year was a normal activity for the Rivera family to have fun and enjoy the outdoors together. When racing came into the fold, it also became a norm to travel together to the different national championships around the country chasing the title one jersey at a time.</p> <p>I then got into racing track and cyclo-cross as we learned more about the different disciplines of cycling. My first track nationals was on my home velodrome, The Velo Sports Center, in Carson, CA. It was 2004 when the LA Velodrome was just finished being built and I remember the junior National Championships was the first event to be held there. One of my favourite memories was getting an extra piece of Siberian Pine that was used to build the track – I still have it to this day. The family and I traveled to different velodromes around America like Trexlertown and Colorado Springs to continue going after track national titles in the summers.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>Cyclo-cross nationals for this Southern California girl was a bit more challenging. All through the SoCal cyclo-cross season was dry and dusty racing and would be rare to get a muddy race in before Nationals. I enjoyed the different aspects of 'cross pushing my boundaries with the aggressive starts, technical sections, speed, and running over barriers and steep run-ups. My first cyclo-cross nationals was in Providence, Rhode Island in 2005 it was my first experience with snow. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I remember breaking my chain and not having a spare bike in the pit and running with my bike in one hand and my chain in the other. I was bummed out to travel all the way to the other end of the country and not be able to even finish the race or let alone feel my hands. I said I would be back and get the jersey. Cyclo-cross Nationals was back in Providence in 2006 and the conditions weren't as bad as the year before, but still had the challenge of mud and slick corners and I was excited and proud to get the stars and stripes on my shoulders after my heart-breaking first try. We went on to travel all over the country like Kansas City, MO and Bend, Oregon for the rest of my junior career going after cyclocross national titles.</p> <p>I'm not even sure if this is correct, but I believe I ended my junior career with 32 US National titles. Also earning spots to start junior Road and Track Worlds when I was 17 in Moscow, Russia and when I was 18 in Italy. My first year at junior worlds was an eye-opener realizing the level of international junior racing was really high and even though I was one of the best juniors in the country, I still had room for improvement. I worked hard, graduated high school a semester early and had the opportunity to race in Europe more and finished off my junior worlds career with a bronze medal in the road race and the track omnium in Italy. I had some of my favourite junior worlds memories there going after these podium spots with an awesome group of junior girls that are also still in the WorldTour-cycling world today like Kendall Ryan, Ruth Winder, and Kaitie Antonneau (neé Keough).</p> <p>The count for stars-and-stripes jerseys continued when I was racing collegiately for Marian University. I owe the fun environment of collegiate racing for more than doubling my national title count after juniors! I raced road, track, cyclo-cross, and MTB for Marian while studying business marketing. I remember one year in Banner Elk, North Carolina when I was lining up with Kate Courtney who was racing for Stanford and wondering to myself what the heck I was doing. I was happy to end my collegiate racing career with a short track MTB National title in Snowshoe, West Virginia in 2015 which was my 71st US National title. I remember travelling all over the country with Coach Dean Peterson and the rest of the Knights in our charter bus we dubbed 'The Death Star'. It was no Rivera family motorhome, but we still had plenty of friendships made helping each other for races and memories trying to study on the bus. And for the record, it was the time in my life when I ate the most peanut butter and honey sandwiches.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/coryn-rivera/coryn-rivera-blog-72-us-national-championship-titles-and-counting/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Fri, 28 Jun 2019 14:49:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-joy-relief-and-grief-in-veronahttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-joy-relief-and-grief-in-veronaChad Haga blog: Joy, relief, and grief in Verona <p>As the final week of the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Giro d'Italia</a> ticked by, I tried to make a note of things I could write about in my final blog about the race. Aside from the bone-chilling descent off the Mortirolo and an exciting ‘will they/won’t they’ breakaway finale, I wasn’t left with much. But then, as I’m sure you’ve seen by now, I had <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haga-saves-sunwebs-giro-ditalia-with-time-trial-victory?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">a pretty special day in Verona</a>.</p> <p>For two weeks – ever since the time trial on <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-9/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">stage 9 went so well for me</a> – I had been counting down the days until Verona.</p> <p>I helped my teammates where I could as they continued to fight for breakaway success, but every time the race started to explode, I jumped on the gruppetto train rather than go into the red. It’s not exciting, and it’s definitely a gamble to pass up opportunities, but I was committed to my choice.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>That’s not to say that I had an easy ride… The Giro d’Italia is anything but easy, and I actually suffered quite a lot; with the mindset of saving my legs, every effort hurt doubly because I didn’t want to hurt. I had my doubts at times. I wondered how much I was really saving, and whether guys like Roglic would be as tired as I needed them to be by the time they rolled down the start ramp.</p> <p>With just five climbs between me and the time trial, I started stage 20 prepared to suffer. We hit the first climb and the race immediately exploded, but I found myself cruising past dropped riders, not even feeling the effort. “Whoa,” I thought, as I realized that my plan had worked and I floated up the first climb. I told my director, “These legs can win tomorrow, I just need to get them to the finish today,” and settled in for a long day.</p> <p>The exasperated cries of “piano!” and “gruppetto!” every time guys felt like the pace was too high became music to my ears, as it was a reminder that most of the peloton was struggling. 6000kJ later, I hopped off my bike and bounded up the steps to the bus. I was tired, but in a great mood after laying the groundwork for a great time trial, and set to work getting everything in order for the next day.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-joy-relief-and-grief-in-verona/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:20:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-another-rough-week-in-the-sunweb-camphttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-another-rough-week-in-the-sunweb-campChad Haga blog: Another rough week in the Sunweb camp <p>Week two of the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Giro d'Italia</a> started off better than we could have hoped for. After enjoying our rest day, we enjoyed two more. Many followers of the race complained about the boring, pancake-flat sprint stages, but we in the peloton savoured every minute of boredom, knowing what awaited us for the remainder of the Giro.</p> <p>Our only objectives were to get through the sprint days safely and spend as little energy as possible. To that end, we had a competition within the team to see who could have the easiest day. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadHaga/status/1130871557239201797?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">I posted a photo</a> of my average power and heart-rate for <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-10/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">stage 10</a>, and Twitter blew up, as expected.</p> <p>Yes, it was a very easy day, but those numbers are misleading because of the effort and skill required to make it so easy – sagging every small rise and every acceleration out of corners, as well as taking "hiding in the bunch" to extremes. Some of my lighter teammates averaged 40 watts more than me, so even among professionals with the same goal, the effort varied greatly. And for those wondering: I came in a very close second in our competition behind Jan Bakelants, but I did win our heart-rate mini-challenge.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>Having navigated the sprint stages well, we set our sights on breakaway success as the race entered the mountains. Already eyeing the final time trial in Verona, I focused more on helping my teammates get into the breakaway, before taking it as easy as possible until the finish.</p> <p>I prefer the second-to-last gruppetto, as this is the group that prefers to climb marginally faster and descend with a bit less risk, whereas the sprinters' gruppetto aims to take back time on the descents.</p> <p>An added challenge for the gruppetto is that, by the time we get there, many spectators have already begun riding home on the course and don't always do a good job of getting out of our way, which is kind of like a Formula 1 race being held while a vintage car club takes leisure laps.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-another-rough-week-in-the-sunweb-camp/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Tue, 28 May 2019 07:29:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-the-cold-weather-advantage-and-the-importance-of-live-tvhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-the-cold-weather-advantage-and-the-importance-of-live-tvAnnemiek van Vleuten blog: The cold-weather advantage and the importance of live TV <p>It was a dream Spring Classics season with two victories at <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-women-2019/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Strade Bianche</a> and <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-femmes-2019/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Liège-Bastogne-Liège</a>. I was also consistent with three second places at Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, where I was fighting for the win. Even though it was a success, there were some things I learned along the way.</p> <p>The lessons I took away from those second-place performances was to be a little bit more confident and believe in my capabilities. And so when I arrived at the start line of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, I felt that I had to take the initiative instead of waiting for an opportunity as I had done in the previous events.</p> <p>It was such a big mental battle for me that day because I knew that it was my day to shine, that I was in good shape, and that I had worked so hard. Liège was also my last race during the Spring Classics.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>I knew that I needed to <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-vleuten-i-committed-gave-everything-and-did-not-look-back?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">put the hammer down</a> right at the bottom of the Côte de la Redoute, but up until that point, I struggled because it was so, so, so cold. I can't even explain how it felt to race in such conditions. Usually, I'm pretty good with cold, and I'm pretty good with rain, but the combination of the two of them was challenging.</p> <p>During the race, however, I remembered what I learned as a younger athlete from our national team coach Johan Lammerts. He would say that we had to open the curtains on the race day and look out the window, and if it was raining, we should be happy because half of the peloton would already be unmotivated.</p> <p>It took us an hour to discuss and decide what to wear before the race. It's hard to figure out what the best clothing is for a race in such conditions, but I think my decision was spot on. I wore a rain jacket for the whole race until the point where I knew I wanted to attack on the La Redoute, and then I took it off just before the climb.</p> <h2>The importance of live TV</h2> <h2>Building up to the Giro Rosa</h2> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/annemiek-van-vleuten/annemiek-van-vleuten-blog-the-cold-weather-advantage-and-the-importance-of-live-tv/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Mon, 27 May 2019 16:35:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-whats-the-big-deal-about-boulderhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-whats-the-big-deal-about-boulderAshleigh Moolman-Pasio blog: What's the big deal about Boulder? <p>It felt here nor there to me, I thought, deciding whether or not to go the USA. I wasn't sure whether I would race the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-california-womens-race-2019?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tour of California</a> but, if I did, I would spend a week in Boulder first for some altitude and solid training. I was still recovering from my <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/ashleigh-moolman-pasio?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">crash at Amstel Gold Race</a>. What seemed like an insignificant pavement slam had done some damage in my lower back and things were not quite perfect yet. I was ready to train but was I ready to race? Was all the travel worth it? What was the big deal about Boulder anyway?</p> <p>Even though the weather forecast looked awful, some coaxing from a locally placed friend was enough to sway the vote and I was off to Colorado. Arriving in Denver, I was less than impressed with the flat terrain. Where were the mountains?</p> <p>With jet lag brain, I stared out the window but then it started. The horizon grew into a jagged silhouette and with it my excitement. I saw the Flatirons, massive rocks in the shape of clothing irons, and the landscape grew evermore impressive the closer we came to Boulder. By the time we got to our accommodation, jet lag had been overruled by excitement.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>The next morning felt like Christmas. With so many new roads high up, places to see, and bad weather coming later in the week, the blue-sky day was the perfect opportunity to get in a massive ride. The route was called Peak-to-Peak, a famous local loop of 120km with 3,000m of climbing.</p> <p>The Rocky Mountain terrain was different from the European mountains I knew. The roads were straighter and, without the signal of a switchback, deceptively steep. Instead of going up and down mountains, it was more riding up canyons and staying along the top. Riding up at 2500-3000m for so long was a new experience. The entire day was spent in the saddle and it was one of those fulfilling memorable rides that left me tired, excited, and motivated. I’ve never fallen out of love with cycling but this felt like it was happening all over again.</p> <p>The predicted bad weather arrived and sat over Boulder for the next few days. I wasn’t bothered by a snow day after such a big first day and it was good to have some easier inside rides to adjust to the altitude. By the time the clouds and snow cleared, I was ready to enjoy the sun and mountains again. I was also ready for the Tour of California. I felt so energized, motivated, and simply happy after only a few days of riding.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-whats-the-big-deal-about-boulder/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Sat, 25 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-losing-dumoulin-and-moving-onhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-losing-dumoulin-and-moving-onChad Haga blog: Losing Dumoulin and moving on <p>The longest week in cycling is finally drawing to a close, and it has been far more eventful than we would have liked here in the <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/teams/2019/team-sunweb?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Sunweb</a> camp. The nine stages of 'week one' have been a true rollercoaster.</p> <p>Everything started well. <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/tom-dumoulin?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tom Dumoulin</a> was off the mark on the opening time trial, but with a Grand Tour so back-loaded with brutal stages, it was widely agreed that coming in a bit fresh was the wise choice. At the very least we knew he would be in the mix with the GC favorites when the hard days arrived. The only question was whether <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/primoz-roglic?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Primoz Roglic</a> could hang on to such superb form for three more weeks, and only time would provide that answer.</p> <p>Our young team is on good form and was full of motivation in the first few road stages. We navigated them well and kept Tom out of trouble amid the chaotic sprint stages with the rain adding even more stress.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>The first 228 kilometers of stage 4 went exactly to plan. It was a tough day, but we still had the whole team there and were fighting to deliver Tom into the uphill drag in a good spot. Then came a frightful reminder that months of preparation can be left on the pavement along with a fair bit of skin and blood with a simple mistake by a single person. With just six kilometers remaining, Tom was involved in the huge pile-up. Our team had gotten split up after a series of corners but were fighting to get back together when it happened. I was on the left side of the road and did what I always do when bikes and bodies start flying: throw my weight back, slam on the brakes, steer towards open space, bounce off whoever I need to, and hope I don’t get hit from behind. I almost managed it, but just before I came to a stop I was sent tumbling upside-down into the drainage ditch next to the road.</p> <p>My first reaction was that the impact really hadn’t been so bad. The ditch was overgrown, and the drop of a few feet had been cushioned by the branches and roots. I was completely turtled with my feet above my head and my bike sitting atop my tangle of limbs. "Tom crashed! Tom crashed!" came through my radio, but I was in no position to do anything about it. Just as I began to wonder if anyone knew I was down there, a Bora rider’s head appeared over the edge and I pushed my bike upward toward him. Next to appear was Koen Bouwman’s hand, which graciously pulled me to my feet again.</p> <p>After arriving at the bus, I learned the extent of the damage to Tom’s knee and GC standings. To my eyes, the blood made the cuts to his knee appear worse than they were, but the way he struggled to bend his knee was alarming. After confirming there was nothing broken or torn, he resolved to get through the night as well as possible and give the next stage a try. The GC was gone, but perhaps he could salvage something from all the work he’d put into the arriving in Italy in top shape. We had a team meeting that night to motivate us all to shift our mentality to stage-hunting. They were unfortunate circumstances that provided it, but the opportunity to go for our own results would not be passed up.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga-1/chad-haga-blog-losing-dumoulin-and-moving-on/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Mon, 20 May 2019 13:18:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga/chad-haga-blog-on-the-eve-of-the-giro-ditaliahttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga/chad-haga-blog-on-the-eve-of-the-giro-ditaliaChad Haga blog: On the eve of the Giro d'Italia <p>My eyelids are sticky."</p> <p>"…what?"</p> <p>"I guess it's from all the sunscreen and sweat, but I feel it every time I blink."<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>Those were the first words we'd spoken in half an hour. Twenty kilometers earlier, <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/tom-dumoulin?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tom Dumoulin</a> and I had been at sea level. Now we were pushing past 6,000 feet of elevation, well into the sixth hour of a ride front and back-loaded with intervals, a bit dehydrated and riding more on willpower than carbohydrates. We chugged onward, neither of us willing to surrender the half-wheel battle as we pulled ourselves lower into the headwind, riding that razor's edge of bonking, and unaware of the scenery around us as we climbed through lava fields on Tenerife. The interminable slog to the point at which we could finally coast back to the hotel never seemed to get closer, and we suffered in silence, except for the odd observation about sticky eyelids.</p> <p>In the course of our training camp on that volcano we would have conversations about how we must trust the process. We have to suffer alone on a volcano, wondering how our bodies will somehow absorb the training and be excellent in just a month's time at the Giro d'Italia. It's dangerous to overthink it and train too hard, too often. Trust the process, do the training, and believe that it will work.</p> <p>——</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/chad-haga/chad-haga-blog-on-the-eve-of-the-giro-ditalia/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Fri, 10 May 2019 21:05:00 +0000http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-the-sting-of-bad-luck-at-tour-of-flandershttp://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-the-sting-of-bad-luck-at-tour-of-flandersAshleigh Moolman-Pasio blog: The sting of bad luck at Tour of Flanders <p><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-women-2019/results?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">Tour of Flanders</a> is one of those races where it still means something if you finish. The tiniest country roads, the unforgiving rough and stupidly steep cobbles, the blood sport fight to position yourself before the climbs, and don't forget the weather if Mother Nature decides to show up. Actually, it's one of those races where it still means something if you start and <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/teams/2019/ccc-liv?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">CCC-Liv</a> started perfectly.</p> <p>No doubt it was the best race we had done as a team. For the first 115 kilometres we had this amazing rhythm, operating like a well-oiled machine and then some. We were riding together, positioned well, Marianne felt amazing and so did I. To have everyone come together like that, it was just another level. We had the goods to pull off a win, we just needed the luck.</p> <p>The final 30 kilometres is where the big bets are made. I knew we had the fire power to execute the final strategy but as we got together on the Kanarieberg (climb #6) someone switched my wheel. Somehow I didn't crash and, after a quick foot down, I started to chase back. I wasn't too far behind but there also wasn't a lot of time before the next climb, the cobbled Taaienberg (climb #7), where the pressure would continue.<p><span>ADVERTISEMENT<br></span><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/jump/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/N4817/ad/Sport_BikeRadar/rss;sz=300x250;ord=1567506602" border="0" alt="advertisement"></a></p></p> <p>I didn't have a choice: I had to go all in to catch the peloton or it was race over. I didn't even have to think about making a decision, my legs were already powering across the gap and up the Kanarieberg.</p> <p>Now, I know Belgian roads. I've raced in Belgium for many years. I know the cobbles, the narrow roads, the road furniture, and the wide crack right down the centre of their concrete roads. I'm always aware of that crack. I know it's there but as if two hands reached up and grabbed my wheels, out of nowhere my bike instantly came to a complete stop. My wheels were both perfectly stuck in that centre crack. Like walking into a glass door, it caught me so off guard I only realized what had happened after I hit the ground, slid across the road into the ditch, and came to a stop in stinging nettles.</p> <p>Grazed and confused, I got up and back to my bike. The drivetrain was all messed up. I definitely needed a new bike but, after the big splits on the Kanarieberg, the team cars were too far behind. Everything had happened so fast that I could actually still see the bunch ahead. It didn't matter what I had, I needed to go all in again if I was to get back.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ashleigh-moolman-pasio/ashleigh-moolman-pasio-blog-the-sting-of-bad-luck-at-tour-of-flanders/?utm_source=cyclingnews&utm_medium=readmore&utm_campaign=rssfeed_blog">read more at Cyclingnews.com</a></p>Tue, 09 Apr 2019 21:20:00 +0000