jaxika wrote:
PART 2 GOALS
Easy Goal - Top5 Tour de Romandie
Medium Goal - Top5 Giro D'Italia
Hard Goal - Top3 Criterium du Dauphine

jaxika wrote:
PART 2 GOALS
Easy Goal - Top5 Tour de Romandie
Medium Goal - Top5 Giro D'Italia
Hard Goal - Top3 Criterium du Dauphine

Shindigs
Hey people!
Been a while i know. I'm excited for Part 2 of the season and will have a couple of nice races to target, details to come soon. While a lot of rides have been getting better i do feel a bit stagnated at the moment, but with some more results and training i see no reason why i can't being improving again over the next few months.

Also wanted to say i'm now on Twitter! To get hold of me use the #HanzenDigs, and i'll be @B3B_FDJ. I won't be doing a lot of updates but it is a good way to chat at me. Might also be where i share the reason behind my nickname #teaser

Shindigs

Brilliant ride from Richie and Thabo! I mean Simon was on top form but to lock out 2nd and 3rd is a terrific result. I was hooked for most of the great race, and made sure to take notes on where to attack and what parts of the route are tricky. Hope we can take this boost with us into the European and American races now

They say it takes a real man to wear Pink. But what does that make a man who creates history wearing Pink? I've always been a good cyclist, i'm not shy about it, but to reach this level is something amazing. I was happy when the manager told me i would be going to the Giro, as it was my preferred GT, and nice to see some riders selected to help me. Then when the startlist came out and most of the big name sprinters weren't there we, as a team, really believed i could do something in the race.

Great start on Stage 1 with a podium. Goss is a great rider and is just faster than me and in that chaos i'm happy with a podium. The time trial was always going to be good for us as a team. We have some real GC ambitions so i had to put down the effort for the team, and we won! Great piece of work.

After we finished i was just about to head for the showers when they told me i was in Pink. I thought it would go to Richie as he crossed the line first, but no! It was me! A genuine historical moment and one i will never forget.

Ok so it didn't last long, but we really gave it a good defense. The team were happy to chase for some bonus seconds, especially as it put us into a controlling position for the hills. Luckily they are long but not too tough so everything came back together for the finish. I saw Daniele kick and he is a really experienced rider. If he was going then it must be a good time so i went as well. In the end it was a bit overambitious but to even hang on over those hills was a positive sign.

The jersey is now with Brouwer. We've been compared as riders for a while now, with fairly similar abilities. I'm a bit better in some areas and then he is better in others. I'd like to have kept the jersey, but overall it's better for the team. Now the pressure is on Belkin to defend and we can ease it back slightly. I've had my day in spotlight but i'm coming for you Brouwer, i will have it back!

Shindigs

I guess i should wrap up the Giro. That first week was comfortably the best of the three for me. Later on the roads got steeper and the GC battles began, taking out a lot of the remaining stages. The final stage offered a nice chance to impress again and i did ok with another Top10 finish.

With that placing i managed to secure enough points to claim title of best sprinter. Not the Points Jersey, but i was ahead of all other sprinters in that competition. While not an official prize it's a nice bit of trivia and something i can carry forwards as motivation.

The team put in a great Giro and Richie took a big step in his own career with a very strong GC placing. Great to see him achieving a potential many knew he had for a long time. The whole team played out a good race and it was great to be a part of it. Certainly less pressure than the Tour will carry and i certainly benefited from that.

Next personal goal are Nationals. I know i can be a big threat in the Road Race, with my combined sprint and climbing making me a contender regardless of route. Hopefully i can deliver a strong result in the race before another short break. I'm thinking it would be good to try and work on my top end speed. Stamina, recovery and that sort of thing are easier to pick up, but speed is kind of innate and is hard to build with age.