Clinton Avery Cyclist

photos of the latest race

Hey Guys, just going to keep it short, and will send some pics when i get them sent to me.

I raced today the Omloop van de Grensstreek - Wervik and to be honest wasn’t expecting to do to well with the race from Sunday in my legs and only one Recovery day, but the team wanted me so I had too race. It was 175km on (for west vlaanderan) a rather hilly circuit including climbs like the kemmel berg (2km long, last 500m at 18% and cobbled) and a few other climbs from around that area.

I knew the race from last year and where I need to be positioned in the peloton coming into some of the climbs, but fortunately I didn’t need this knowledge as 500m after the start an attack went. I wasn’t to keen to chase all day again so I jumped across. There were some better than average riders there, so it justified the move. We rode as 6 for 10-15km and during that time I was thinking it was going to be a very long day.

Shortly after we were joined by 12 others to make 18 and we were off. Soon after we were out to 2 mins 40 secs. On the second of 2 times over the Kemmel berg the break became 10 riders making the work load more with still 60km to go. Coming back into Wervik for our three 12km finish loops we had a 1min 30sec buffer so it was looking like we would stay away.

On the last lap the attacks started but me and my team mate Arthur soon took control of that when we started one two-ing the 8 riders that were left. We never managed to get away as the riders left we still too strong. Arthur was looking like the most likely candidate for getting away as the would let him go a bit before bringing him back. They would just shut me down straight away. Coming into the sprint I had a good position but unfortunately was caught out with 300m to go when the sprint began with a rider from Beveran 2000 beginning the sprint with a lot more speed then we had. I blew it by waiting till 150m to go to launch out of the train but it was too long! I made it up to the beveran rider but not over top of him. I finished 2nd which I am very happy about but I had the legs to win, I just made a tactical error and it cost me.

Talk soon
Clinton

Hey everyone, Just sending a quick update while I’m on the internet. I raced today and just wanted to tell you about it.

The race was Vlaamse Havenpijl 1.2 with the pros and 182km. It was quite a technical race with lots of tram lines, cobbles and traffic islands. Also a little breeze which was enough to keep it strung out most of the race.

Nothing happened in the first hour except attack after attack. I had been with alot of moves that had potential but were missing key players so they were brought back. Then finally a group of 21 got away and the race settled down a little, but unfortunately for me and the team we missed it.

I had a couple of attempts in the very early stages to get across but the pace was too hot and I didn’t get far. With 60km to go it became time to chase and with help from Cinelli down under we caught the break with 5km to go. I was quite tired but had a little left in the tank so thought I’d have a nudge at the sprint.

After fighting for position for a couple of seconds I got a call on the radio saying Fredrik, one of the sprinters in the team, also the bosses son and stagier with Quickstep was too far back for the sprint and needed help being brought forward. I dropped back found him and used what I was going to use for the sprint to bring him forward. With 400m to go I got him into position and just kept my head down for whatever position I could muster. It was 32nd somewhere but Fredrik managed 5th or 6th.

After the race I got a big thank you from Fredrik, his dad, the team management and his supporters.

I was a little disappointed but at the same time proud of my work…… with the boss being happy was a bonus too. Its always good to be liked by the Boss of the team!

Sorry the email is short I am a little tired and not really interested in typing. But I Have another race on Tuesday so you will hear from me again then.

Cheers
Clinton

Well well well, I really dont know how to tell you all without sounding like im bragging… But i just won the Tour of Vlaams Brabant. Its a 5 day tour with 5 stages in the Vlaams Brabant province of Belgium. It was a relitively easy tour but at the same time being really hard. I know to all of you that didnt make sence, but what i mean is the tour wasnt hard enough for any real time gaps and therefor was really hard to defend you position or attack someone elses. for exsample At the beginning of the last stage the top 5 riders in the General Classifiction were inside 20 seconds so if the cards wernt played right it was still anyones tour.

In the Beginning of the tour it was looking like i would be riding for my team mate Jens Debusschere when he took the yellow jersey after the first stage winning a group sprint of 20 or so riders. The group slipped away from the pelaton amongst the caos of chasing down the breakaway and at the finish had a 47 second buffer over the rest of the pelaton.
The day began with the plan for jens to win the bunch kick if there was one but i was to go with the early break and not work. I was to save my legs to attack the break away in the last 20km of 144km stage. With 18km to go i was away with one other rider but we were soon swallowed up by the chasing group of 20 with 6km to go. For me then was just a matter of hanging on and trying to finish on the same time as the winner. I was just lucky Jens was in that group to challenge the sprint. The whole plan worked out which ever way it went.

Day 2 was looking to be an easy day for the team in the 156km second stage when a large group slipped away after 30km. Fortunately for us Jens was in that group so it meant other teams had to chase and not us. Not long after the break went up the road i could see a lone rider with his hand up, In a yellow shirt with red shorts. I was hoping it wasnt Jens but it was and he had a puncture. For me and the rest of the team it meant we now had to begin the real chase. The were guys in the front group that were in the front 20 yesterday so it had to come back. The whole day on the front took its toll and we caught the majority of the group but the second place getter from the tour last year and part of yesterdays top 20 had ridden away from the break and won the stage with 26 seconds taking Jens easily out of yellow.

Day 3 was to prove the tour wasnt over with an 11km time trial. All the guys from the team rode excetional with 4 out of 6 inside the top 10. Jens blew us all away winning the tt 26 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey bringing it down to split seconds whether he got the jersey back or not. He did! For 15 mins! The team director from the yellow jersey at the begining of the day (Sep Vanmeke) put in a complaint that the times from the day before wernt proper and a 1 second advantage was given to Sep putting Jens second on GC by 1 second. It was fair to say there were some angry people amongst our team! For me i was 6th in the time trial putting me 5th in General Classification at 14 seconds. Believe it or not although people were angry over this situation it presented us a perfect attacking oppitunity for the next Day/stage.

Stage 4. The plan was………..158km later It couldnt have played out more perfect!
No just kidding. The plan was Jens to go with all the early attacks he had the legs for forcing Sep to chase him, then later in ther race i was to attack, again forcing Sep to chase. If he wanted to keep the yellow! Anyway Jens went with attack after attack after attack and when it was my turn Sep didnt chase. Whether he had forgotten about me or was to tired to chase i dont know but the guys all said his team wasnt helping him. I was with a group of 15 and we stayed away to the finish with 35 seconds Putting me in the yellow jersey. Unfortunately though there were 2 guys in the break with me that were 1 second behind me on GC and 7 seconds. Which didnt give me much of a time gap going into the last stage. But the important thing was I had and the Team had the yellow jersey back.

Going into the last stage with 2nd on GC at 1 second, 3rd at 7 seconds, and 4th at 14 seconds it was looking like it was going to be a tough day for me and my team. 5th on GC was Jens so we didnt have to worry about him. We knew we had to let a break go because that is the only way to take control of the race. So after 40km a break was let go. With no radios we cant be told who is there or get regular time gaps so it was a dangerous move, but one that had to be done.It became Especailly dangerous when later we find out that with the time gap the break had there was a new leader on the road. It had to be brought back. The guys hit the front of the pelaton and wound up the pace. We brought the break back to 15 seconds with 45km to go but that was to early to catch it so we let it go out to 35 seconds again. 25km to go the boys wound the pace back up again bringing the break back with 15km to go. We did this because with 3 guys who can still win the tour it meant i only had to deal with their attacks for 15 km. And im telling you now 150km stage, 4 previous days racing in the legs and trying to handle attacks from 3 differnet people with all different agenders, that 15km seemed like the longest of my life. In the end it came to a bunch sprint and i managed a respectable 6th for the final stage. And WON!!!!!!!!!! the

In the end the teams results were…. i won the tour, the U23 classification and 3rd in points classification. Jens won 2 stages, and second in the points Clasification and the team won the overall teams Classifcation. If you ask me it was a very successful tour!

thats all from me
Clinton