Lost City Cycle Classic

I arrived back in SA on Wednesday, with a road and mountain bike race awaiting me over the weekend.

Just getting back I didn’t know how my body would react after travelling.

But I must add it was nice to see and race with my team mates again.

The Subaru Lost City mountain bike race

It was a short, flat 50km circuit. And the race

started crazy fast with a lot of participants fighting

for a front position turning onto the gravel road.

It took me a few kilometres to get the feeling for

my Mountain bike again but once on I loved it. And

WON the race, I am really happy for that because

the race was sponsored by one of our Team

Garmin-DCM main sponsors, Subaru and

also because it’s my first big win on my mountain bike.

The Powerade CANSA Lost City cycle race

One of the nice things I experience that day was being back on my Cervelo bike. Our team are

really lucky to get our bikes fully serviced before a race, even in 3 days time Roy (Team

manager) managed to fix my broken zipp wheel and were I able to race on it.

Our team made the racing from the start and we manage to get away in a few breaks. But the

final move on the day consisted of 8 girls. Me and lynette (Cycle lab) was a bit out numbered

against 4 MTN girls, Which made the final sprint difficult trying to cover all the attacks. But we

manage to get a 3^rd place (Lynette burger)

ROUTE DE FRANCE “Feminine”

Sunday, 10/08

Prologue - 3,2km

It was very short; I am not a great sprinter but

still gave my best. I felt good and I know I gave everything. For me that’s the most important. I

miss having a TT-bike here though. . My team mate finished 2^nd and got the mountain jersey. So tomorrow we will have to try and keep it!

Monday, 11/08

Stage 1 – 82km

It was a short stage but didn’t make the racing any easier (AVG – 39, 4 km /h). The weather

wasn’t really nice. It started raining early in the morning and kept on raining throughout the day.

It’s terrible to start in the rain but once you’re racing its not that bad. I enjoyed working with

my team it gives me something to race hard for. We had to go with every break that goes down

the road. Grace (my team mate) held onto her jersey.

Tuesday, 12/08

Stage 2– 116,6km

The rain hasn’t stop falling here in France and they’re predicting rain throughout the rest of the week. One day in rain is enjoyable but more….

I don’t mind rain if the roads handle it okay but the roads were so slippery that my wheels slipped each time I stand to pedal over a clime.

Grace started in the mountain jersey. Each team member worked really hard and at the end of the day Grace moved into yellow. I am happy for her and the team.

But I know there is hard work that lies ahead.

Wednesday, 13/08

Stage 3 – 110,2 km

Today we started without rain. There were a few drops falling later on, but luckily not enough to make the roads slippery. It was a hard day trying to keep the jersey but unfortunately we lost it. My knee is giving me trouble again because of the hard racing over the last few days. I am not sure if I will be able to start tomorrow. Will go for a little ride in the morning and see how my knee feels.

Thursday, 14/08

Stage 4- 138,5 km

I decided to at least try and race and I am glad I did.

I didn’t enjoy the race itself because I was arguing with myself whether what I am doing is good or bad for me in the long run, Must I stop or continue. All these thoughts running

through my head just made the race feel extra long. I was so happy to finish. I didn’t think I would and now thinking back it actually makes me sad that I am racing only to finish.

I also ended up in a small crash. My team mate came up to me to give me a bottle which she was carrying in her back pocket and just when I took it out, She touched wheels with the girl in front of her and we both ended up crashing. Afterwards I found it very funny, because just imagine only two lotto girls lying on the ground.

Friday, 15/08

Stage 5- 130km

With my knee I am racing day to day seeing how my knee feels

and my team knows that, so they try to use me as long as I am

there to help. Think I will have to change my name after this

tour, I got so tired of hearing “yolandi” At some points I felt like

screaming on the radio that I am not the only girl in the team.

But it makes sense why they use me it’s just so hardJ. My knee

felt better and the stage suited me more today. It was long

gradual climes which I love and it also doesn’t hurt my knee so much.

Saturday, 16/08

Stage 6- 25 km individual TT

It’s was a good circuit. It had one 3km gradual clime in and one 1.2km steeper clime. I found a

good rhythm, which I am glad for because it doesn’t happen a lot in TT. I also couldn’t use my

powertap as guidance. I broke my wheel in a previous crash. On the last clime my chain dropped

off the 23 gear and got stuck between my wheel and gears. They change my wheel to predict it from happening again.

Sunday, 17/08

Stage 7- 100km

The only think I can say about the stage is that I

am glad it’s over. Every team wanted to win the

last stage, which made the stage unnecessary

hard after such a long tour…

On Sunday I am doing my last tour in Europe.

Le Route de France, it’s an eight day stage race and

finishes on the 17^th. Then I will be returning back home on the 20^th

The team I am staying with is doing Holland hills in

Maastricht over the weekend and because

Maastricht is so close to were we are staying in

Belgium they decided to go camping there for 3 days.

The team has been really kind and helpful

towards me and also invited me along on their

training camp. I enjoyed the different roads and

scenery. Also our campsite had a swimming pool

and super tube, and I’ll have to admit the swimming area was the highlight of my trip.

I am looking forward to Start this tour although I know its not going to be easy.

Sparkassen Giro, UCI 1.1

This past weekend I travelled to Bochum, Germany to take part in the Sparkassen Giro (UCI 1.1).

There were a few events held on the Saturday, as a warm up for the woman and men’s race on the Sunday which also included a Criterium race for the woman.

Saturday -58km (3,6km ×16 times.)

I really enjoyed the circuit, especially the corners. You didn’t need to slow down to much which made the racing smooth and fast. Unfortunately my European luck stepped in and I got a flat wheel 3 laps to go. On a small circuit race like that you aren’t allowed to change and get back in. I was really disappointed, especially because the finish was so close. Luckily there was still the main race left on Sunday.

Sunday – 98km (14,6km × 6times).

I also enjoyed the circuit a lot. You basically climbed for 7km and then descended for 7km, crossing the finishing line 200m after a 90 degrees right hand turn at the bottom of the descent. With almost 200 starters it’s quite a scary experience fighting for a spot in the front going into the corner especially the finishing lap.

I felt good and comfortable on my bike for the first time since I’ve been here. Finished in the first group, 46th.

Think a rest week was all I needed.