Algeria Part I

After a hard winter’s training the start of March was finally time to head back over to Belgium to get the season under-way. However, this year my season has started in a different fashion, on Thursday 5^th March me and the team headed to Algeria for a good block of UCI racing hoping it will be a good stepping stone for the rest of the year.

Once we’d arrived in Algeria, first impressions at the airport were that it didn't seem much different to Europe, however that was soon to change, after a couple of hours hanging around waiting for a coach we were soon on the road. Equipped with a police escort we began to weave in and out of rush hour traffic, kamikaze style, barely slowing and literally rubbing against other cars wing mirrors. Somehow we made it to the hotel unscathed if not a little shaken. We then set about preparing for the race.

All smiles before racing got started.

The first race was the following afternoon, to travel to the races all the riders have to squeeze onto an old, worn out coach. We soon arrived at Algiers, where the race was being held, I was pleasantly surprised by the effort made by the organisation as it looked a very professional set-up. Big screen monitors set-up to show live racing, marquees full of race sponsors products and crowds lining the barriers. I was itching to get started on a course which should have suited me, 10 laps of a lumpy lap around the town. However I never got to test myself, in fact we had barely done 2km when coming from an 80kph decent into a sharp right hander, one rider locked up and went down, taking me out in the process. I got up straight away but as soon as I did I knew something wasn't right as I couldn't put any pressure on my left knee. I crawled back to the finish, praying I’d be able to start the tour the next day. The next morning came around and I could barely walk let alone ride a bike, I was forced to spend the day on the coach thinking what could have been. A very frustrating start to the trip for me.

Grand Prix d'Oran UCI 1.2

I had to wait until the following Tuesday until I could race again, after resting up for 3 days my knee was starting to recover. It would be a 132km race comprising of 20 laps around Oran, with a long draggy climb every lap. I didn't really know what to expect from the race as I had barely ridding for a week, I just wanted to get race distance under my belt ready for the next tour. In the first few laps I felt fairly strong, so I had a few digs off the front of the bunch which ended up coming to nothing. A break then established itself and it was left to the only Algerian team that missed it to bring it back. They did successfully with about 5 laps remaining, by this point I was starting to suffer but there was only about 40 riders left in contention. I thought if I could hang in until the last lap I could still bag a good result, the bell lap came and I was still there, once again however luck was not on my side and I was held up in a crash, meaning I rolled in 34^th. On reflection, I should have saved the legs earlier on in the race, but I was pleased I got some km’s under the belt. Onto the next one as they say.

Grand Prix d'Oran UCI 1.2  

The Tour of Blida started Thursday and was a 3 day, hilly race. Day 1, was set to be a big test for the

legs and my knee. It was 140km with 60km flat, a 15km climb, then 65km flat to the finish. My plan for the stage was just to sit in and see what I could do up the climb, it was fairly comfortable until the foot of the climb which was where the fireworks were set off, I found that my knee was quite painful from the pressure so just rode at my own tempo until the top. Back onto the flat and I found myself and two other team-mates together, we rode hard for a good hour to get back to a group in front.  I crossed the line and was pretty tired, my first proper day of racing for 2015. The next two  days for me were just about getting some race miles into the legs ready for the next block of racing, I was able to do this successfully and found my legs were getting better by the day. Stage 3 finished up a 20km climb, climbing up to 1500mtrs above sea level, we started the climb in pleasant sunshine and 17 C temperatures, however by the top we was into the snow and could barely see 50m in front. A pretty incredible experience. 

Some truly stunning views on top of the climb on day 1

Some truly stunning views at the top of the climb on day 1

The final day of racing for this block in Algeria, was a criterium style race around the town of Setif. 30 laps of 3km greeted us. From the start the pace was high but my legs felt good, the best they have felt over here, after 7 laps a strong group of 3 riders got away. Me and a teammate hit the front to try and keep the race together for our sprinter. We were able to hold the gap, but we needed some more help to bring it back, this we received from Team Rwanda. With 10 laps to go the race was back together and the stop start attacks began. One rider from a strong Algerian team  was off the front with 5 to go, so I decided to make a big effort to bring him back, this took a lot out of me but I managed to reel him in. After this I was in the red so was just hanging onto the bunch, I rolled in to place 22^nd. 

Racing around a giant, golden flower.

Hitting the front!

I was pleased with how I was feeling after four days of racing, my legs felt better day by day. We have now had 4 days doing a few easy spins and lying around in the hotel to recover for the next block of racing which starts on Saturday. 8 days of solid racing are on the cards, I hope that this will be able to bring me on and get me prepared for the season in Belgium.

Big thanks have to go to the team for such a great trip so far, and once again to the Dave Rayner Fund for making the season happen.

For more photos take a look on the team’s Facebook page – CT2020

To keep up to date on the results – procyclingstats.com

Thanks for reading

Adam.