1st A-race for Lars this season, after last weekend in Lillers it was clear for us that playing a rol for top 10 in the first climbing race of the season was a certitude. Of course with a highly densified field at the starting line 40riders can claim this.

A perfect winter and the first (semi) taper-off phase, in his macrocycles we pointed out 4main periods to aim at. The first period started this week. Goal today was clear: ‘playing a role’ among the best riders and then see what output is. A race can never be predicted in terms of final spots, only in terms of being in shape between start and finish. The rest is about racing the race.

Lars shooted after 108K into the race and took off with L. Van Eetveldt. Van Eetveldt dropped Lars with 3climbs to go to finishline, before winning the race. Lars pushed the pedals hard in a solo attempt behind the leader, which resulted in a 25’block of 350NP (-67Kg) in the final of a tough race. This before getting joined by 3 other riders of which 1 teammate of the leader. Not an easy situation to ride for the podium after his effort. But Lars managed well, the winner’s teammate took 2nd and Lars wins the sprint for 3rd.
The sprint is also a discipline in which Lars pumped his level the last years. We already saw in last year’s race with e.g. his win in Neerijse (Elite/U23) after an uphill sprint.

In Retie the national crossduathlon championships were held, with Emelie and Debbie we had 2 outsiders for the podium on this quite technical course. Fast start for Emelie, but in search of an immediate gap in the run she blew up a bit and had to break down. Debbie her engine did not and could build up towards T1. The fastest bike split made here move up to the top 3 of the field soon, and in the last half of the race she took the lead with a gap behind her. A fast 2nd run made her battle for victory untill the end before finally taking silver! Debbie made huge steps past year and this is resulting in topperformances in ‘her’ races. Emelie from her start had to calm down after her start but kept the gap with front quite close. In the 2nd run she found back her fast legs and takes the fastest split before crossing the line in 6th! More was possible, but race-tactical she can note down the positive points and recognize the slightly too fast beginning!

Besides these races also in Koksijde north C-trail was held, 29Km of beach and dunes…a very tough effort in which speed, endurance and strength comes together! Our ‘cupper bullet’ Sven had a perfect lactate test past Thursday, so confidence leading up to the race was at its place. A tough combat in the final of the race brought him totally in front and a man-to-man fight was held. Sven was the best, the fastest and won this classic in trailrunning!

In Ghent Stijn raced the half marathon and came in after 1h20′, a perfect lead up towards national championships mountain running later this spring!
In Trailrun Lannaye Kristof has his finale lead-up race towards Europeans Duathlon and takes 10th on this hilly course!

Next week more races coming with cycling, triathlon and running races in Belgium, France and The Netherlands.

Ciao

Jesse