By Andrew Randell
Despite my optimism after the race in the Ardeche things haven’t turned out to so well. Leaving the Ardeche I was sure that my form was coming and that my performance in the upcoming races would improve. Not quite.
On the Wednesday after Ardeche, at La Samyn in Belgium, I started with the best of intentions but found myself struggling to hold the wheel from kilometre zero – something was wrong. With no strength in my legs I didn’t last long in the race, coming off the back at the 50km mark, and at a point where it was more tempo than racing as the main break of the day had been established. I got into the broom wagon (a vehicle that follows at the back of the race to pick-up riders that are not going to finish) and fell asleep.
And that was two weeks ago. I’m still sick, and feeling very frustrated. Especially having gone through a period last week when I thought I was on the mend. I’ve been careful not to over-train, even heading home early on some rides to make sure I didn’t over-extend myself. Still, on Sunday afternoon I was suddenly feeling cold and achy. That night I ran a fever and sweated through my sheets, and then again the same last night. I think I feel worse this morning than I did yesterday. That’s not how it’s supposed to work is it?
I’m starting to feel like my spring campaign, despite two months of hard work in December and January, is about to be ruined from a bad bout of illness. Still, I’ve got to stay positive. The team is here for another four weeks and there is lots more racing to do once I pull myself together. The form is still there from the training – it’s just buried a little deeper now.
