Looking back on the past year of ones life is an interesting self-examination to do. I all to often find, when doing this reflective task, I am amazed at how far I have traveled from my original point. This year is no different.

    One year ago on September 4th I was on a plane back home to the US after a long season in Belgium. Overtrained or underfit, I wasn't feeling like much of a cyclist and the decision to continue to with cycling was a constant internal debate within my head. Fast forward to one year later and I once again found myself in much conflict, but this time it was the blissful pain of lactate acid coursing my viens while in the gutter of the UCI 1.2 DeltaProfe Ronde in Middelen, Holland.

    As a rider in the a Trade Team III Professional Team a UCI 1.2 is the highest classification of race you are allowed to do and the DeltaProf Ronde was my first UCI 1.2 of the year. I went into the race slightly apprehensive due to my first crash of the season just one week before. It wasn't to serious at first, just some minor road rash and aches, but later that night I was sent into screaming pains as my knee started to swell and throb. I ended up in the hospital for x-rays and was happy to find out it was only a bad strain and with no fractures or breaks.

    So after a lot of rest and easy riding I entered the race a bit uneasy as to how I would feel. The previous weeks of racing I had seen my form and power output values increase across the board. The DeltaProf Ronde, despite it's 200 kilometer length, started fast from the drop of the starting flag as the attacks came quick and fast. I was right up front taking my chances at breaking the elastic of the peloton.

    A couple of fast corners, some hard attacks, a small crash in the peloton and a bit of cross wind allowed a breakaway to quickly form only 10 kilometers into the race. I remember when the attack went and I could have gone with it, but I just didn't want to go that damn fast so early. The breakaway of 8 included most notably Thor Husdhovd, Norwegian National Champion. Still the field was full of many Trade Team One teams and the peloton was in hot pursuit of the break in no time.

    So as I maintained my top 15 to 25 position (my days goal was to always be in that general range no matter what was going on) the lead moto kept giving us time gaps ... 1:10 ... 1:35 ... 2:10 !!! So here was a break of 8 guys putting time on a peloton averaging just under 50kph (31 mph)! At that point I was glad I didn't try to latch onto the back of the break.

    The break did start to finally falter and about 70 kilometers into the race the peloton was able to reel them back in just as we started onto a long open and exposed road. At the time I knew we were going to go faster and it would get very hard, so I made my way as far to the front as I could. I edged my way onto the left side of the front rotating echelon (There was a strong wind from the left side) and kept myself at the front. This position is hard to maintain, it requires a bit of suffering, but is a manageable suffering.

    Oblivious to me, I was solely focused on maintaining my front position, there was carnage behind! As the small front group kept its rotation at the front the rest of the peloton was single file, in the gutter, with gaps opening up. As the pace at the front eased a little I faded down the right edge of the road in the protection of the bunch only to find myself at the rear of a 40 some odd group of leaders! The last two years a small group made a split and stayed away to the very end, so I was geared up to see myself in this move!

    The group attacked, we bridged up to small breaks, went hard, and rode strong, but the peloton wasn't going to let our group go and eventually brought us back around 120 kilometers into the race. This lead to a general lull in the peloton for 20 kilometers where three riders escaped into the vast windy flatland of the Zeeland region of Holland.

    So with about 60 kilometers of racing left I was hurting, but doing good. The peloton went into chase for the breakaway of three riders with over 7 minutes. From this point I continued my position towards the front and only left my post twice to go back to the team car for a needed bottle and coke.

    20 kilometers to go and I was going well, feeling great and watching the main sprinters present, Robbie McEwen, Paolo Bettini and Thor Houshovd. Having great legs was working well with me and I was waiting for the right moment to go. At 10 kilometers to go the attacks came in a frenzy of waves and I followed a Lotto-Domo rider and a small group that was making it's way off the front.

    BAM! It hit like a knife to the chest and was about as painful, a bad cramp in my left inner thigh. I start to get it under control and only lost my position to the middle of the peloton by the time I can pedal it out. Quickly I move to the head of peloton and try to keep out of the wind, but still in the top 20. Then with just about 5k to go I am following the moves and accelerations of the front of the peloton and again, BAM! My right leg locks up from the bottom of my calf to the top of my hamstring.

    I try to pedal it out, but it is no use. Once it's under some control I am half way through the caravan and I proceed to chase in vain the speeding peloton. I stroll in for 82nd place. Lotto-Domo takes the top three and the winner was from the small break of riders I was chasing down when I cramped at 10k to go! He soloed in 2 seconds in front of the peloton.

    So there I was staring UCI points and prize money in the face and it all came to an abrupt hault. After the race I was a bit upset to have such a good ride, only to cramp, but after some perspective and long-term reflection of where I once was to where I am it's not so bad. I mean, one year ago I was struggling in the amateur Kermesses and one year later I am going toe to toe, with the distinct viability of top results, against the worlds best one-day racers.

    So now I am now looking to finish off the season strong. I have my work cut out for me with two UCI 1.2 races, two UCI 1.3 and one UCI 1.5 to top it all off. Finish it all off with some hard Pro Kermesse races and you got a recipe for fun! Till next time, keep the rubber side down.

    PS: The days "Bling-Bling" award goes to recent Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini on his shinny golden shoes! Those are damn flash and I want a set!