Mountainbike van Vlaanderen

From last Friday to Sunday our camper would be heading west this time. We left for the first edition of a Flemish Mountain bike stage race.
In the afternoon there was a mini prologue planned (3,1KM)  next to the lake where the organisation was set for the weekend.
I was the first in the women solo category and Peter would start about 15 minutes after me. It was a flat, fast turning track. Easier than the last prologues we had to conquer in France and Poland.

I finished the track in 8'38", good for a second place in the woman solo category, Peter finished it in 8'05".


Saturday was a very hard day. 4 loops of 37K with a lot of road and short steep mythic climbs known from road races like The Tour of Flanders (De Ronde van Vlaanderen);  Koppenberg (offroad), Taaienberg and a less famous climb but much harder 'Leo Pironpad', an offroad path with cobble stones thrown in all over the track. And all this four times, yes 4 times... 😨 And to make all this an even more mythical stage it was true Belgium weather. Rain, mud and TOO much wind.
For me this became a true Suffer-fest with a Capital S. It was not just an off-day,  I hope this was my worst day of the season. But I reached the finish ... after 148K (2500HM) and more than 7,5 hours in the saddle.

Peter had great legs, but he didn't enjoy the loop, nor the weather so after 2 rounds he went for a shower and cleaned his bike and supported me.

I finished second woman but in a very disappointing time with about 25 minutes behind the first woman.

📷Sven Rooms

Sunday was more my kind of ride, sunny, no wind and 2 loops of 50K with some great single trails in Kluisbos, Koppenberg (on the Cobbles this time) and  Paterberg (off road). I didn't take it to hard at the start, but tried to stay in a group today. After 30K I reached the group with the leading lady. I felt I was stronger on the Koppenberg and my mind started spinning.

Making up 25 min was impossible, but maybe I could take the stage win today. I know I had to keep my head cool and focus, because any little mistake would be a disaster. Peter was in the same group and that eased my mind.

📷Sven Rooms

We crossed the finish line after the first loop together, I passed the feed zone as fast as I possible could and caught up with a small group. All ended up in the same group again so I knew I had to attack before the more technical single trail, if I wanted to make this one mine. Being really careful with my drinking bottles I made sure I didn't had to stop to refuel.

📷Sven Rooms

📷Sven Rooms

It worked, I took the single trail first and it went smooth. I was super focused and remembered every corner and turn from the first loop. I could hear she was not so far behind, so I pushed on without losing my focus. When we reached the end of the single trail I pressed a time trail out of my legs for another 20K's. I was riding all by myself now and I know she wasn't riding alone, so it wasn't going to be easy. I kept going and counted the K's down. Drinking once in a while fueling on my Overstims gels ... It worked ... When I reached the last 5K I looked back and there was no one.
I kept pedaling and finished FIRST 😲
It wasn't enough to make up the lost time from Saturday but I won the last stage 😛

Vojo magazine 📷Jan Geys

Peter reached the finish a few minutes later.

📷Sven Rooms

📷Sven Rooms

The first edition of this event was a success. Already a great number of the better marathon riders were present.
Sure this one will be here to stay, and I invite everybody to go mountain biking in the Flemish Ardens.
Mountainbike Van Vlaanderen, we will be back next year.

Thanks to all the friends, family, partners for being there and encouraging us to keep on doing our thing.

RESULT