Best part of 200 riders, good crowds, the music playing, the beer flowing and the kermesse burgers cooking.....all the elements of a typical kermesse here in Belgium. I made the point of being on the front from the start here, knowing like usual it would explode from the off and not wanting to be caught too far back when it did. Not long into the frist lap and I found myself in the first move off the front but this was to be pulled back only a few kms later. After a few laps in the bunch I thought it was time to try again. Making good use of the bike path and the cobbles dividing the path from the road, again typical of racing in Belgium I was back at the front. After getting off the front numerous times over the next few laps, the elastic finally split and I was away. A group of 13 formed at the front and we worked well. There was never really any let up in the speed.....everyone was eager to make it work. Primes come and went without too much disruption....most being more focused on staying out to the finish. Maybe in England, a group of this size, working aswell as it did and building up a gap as it did would have been home and dry, however in Belgium its never over, especially when ‘kermesse kings’ Patrick Cocquyt, Tony Bracke and co are chasing. Still working well I began to think about how i would play this one going into the last couple of laps....when would the right time to launch an attack be or to save it for the finale? With everyone working well I knew going too early could be a mistake as it would be pulled back. As with many races here the break looked like it would go to the finish in one piece and the winner decided right at the death. At that point everyone is tired having worked hard from start to finish and so it comes down to who plays it right and who has that extra bit when it matters. Going into the last few kms we were still working hard and there was a lot more shouting....both signs that we were being hunted. A little look behind and a group of 20 was on our heels. I jumped, hoping that there would be a slight relax in the groups as they formed into one but a few hundred meters later I was back. This was going down to a sprint...32 riders going for the win. I got myself towards the head of the pack within the last km but the race moved right and I found myself too boxed in when the sprint really opened up. There was no way through with the group spreading across the road. Cocquyt would take the win, I placed 23rd. Maybe a little disappointed with the end position given the race I had, but content with the performance I gave in what was a real exciting race to be part of, so hard to be too disappointed. The big result is definately coming...if im constantly putting myself into these sorts of postitions its only a matter of time before it comes off...watch this space!
21/03/2010- MERELBEKE (O)
1.12B - ind.reg.wedstr.(100-120 km) Elite z.c./U23
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1. COCQUYT Patrick
JOHN SAEY CYCLING TEAM
02:39:00
2. PIETERS Andres
FUJI TEST TEAM
3. DE REKENEIRE Kim
FEEST & SPORTCOMITE KWENENBOS
4. WAUTERS Willem
DAVO - LOTTO - DAVITAMON
5. VANHUFFEL Nic
BCV WORKS CT INGELMUNSTER
6. VAN HOLEN Kim
TEAM-THIELEMANS & CO
7. DE KEULENAER Reno
DAVO - LOTTO - DAVITAMON
8. BRACKE Tony
JOHN SAEY CYCLING TEAM
9. PENNE Frederik
SDC - ROGELLI CYCLING TEAM
10. BROEDERS Garrit
JONG VLAANDEREN-BAUKNECHT
11. VERHAEGEN Christophe
FLEMISH CYCLING PROJECTS
12. DHAENE Brecht
DAVO - LOTTO - DAVITAMON
13. VERVERKEN Gerdy
CT FORCE - WERVIK VZW
14. GRASHEV Martin
NESSEBAR
15. GYUROV Spas
NESSEBAR
16. POPPE Rutger
WK NOORD WEST BRABANT
17. DE SCHAMPHELAIRE Bjorn
ASFRA RACING TEAM
18. EECKHOUT Kurt
WETTERSE DAKWERKEN-AUTOGLAS WETTEREN CT
19. VERSCHRAEGEN Krijn
CUBE-FINTRO CT
20. SABO Pedro
DMC- CYCLING TEAM
21. DE WINNE Jurgen
WETTERSE DAKWERKEN-AUTOGLAS WETTEREN CT
22. DE ROOS Robby
WIELERSPORTVER. ARTEVELDE VZW GENT
23. PATTEN Daniel
ASFRA RACING TEAM
24. TESSEUR Kim
ROCK WERCHTER-CHOCOLADE JACQUES C.T.
25. THYS Steven
C.T. KEUKENS BUYSSE KNESSELARE
26. VAN MINGEROET Jarno
PROFEL CYCLING TEAM
27. ALMHEIM OLE MARTIN
SANDNES SK
28. POELMAN Laurens
BCV WORKS CT INGELMUNSTER
29. MARTYNAS Maniusis
UTENOS KKSC
30. VAN CLEEMPUTTE Timmy
SDC - ROGELLI CYCLING TEAM
31. STANDAERT Hansjorg
DIRK VERSTUYFT CYCLING TEAM
32. DE COSTER Matthieu
ROYAL CUREGHEM SPORTIF - BRUSSEL
33. HAERS Joris
BIANCHI NIEUWE HOOP TIELEN VZW
:01:48
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