The last week has thrown its ups and downs at me. I had a good weekend back on the bike then my back was sore again so a couple of easier days to recover then a couple of solid days and more back problems.
I'm going through one of those stages where nothing seems to be going right and for every step I make forward I go 2 back.. Thursday I headed out with Clinton, pissing with rain, cold and windy, after 2.5hrs I crashed on a slippery wooden bridge. It wasn't so bad just frustrating. Then Saturday I was out with Logan and we had some mis-comminication going round a corner and we were both pulling ourselves back up of the road. This time I wasn't so lucky, with some gravel rash and ripping of clothing, thank god I had my winter gloves on because had it not been for those my hands would be in a state of mess!
I still feel like shit on my bike. Like I don't have any power and am dragging an anchor everywhere I go. I'm hanging out to get back on the other bike I have coming.
I always hate this time of year. When you wake up and it's raining, you goto sleep and it's raining, repeating this process everyday for a couple of weeks on end. The temperature barely gets into double figures on a good day and I have to wear 5 layers of clothing and a scarf just to keep a little bit warm. On the positive, i'm the lightest i've ever been for this time of the year.
So i'm hoping all this shit gets over and done with cause i've kinda had enough of it. Although it's now been 3 crashes, and they say they come in 3's so heres hoping thats all there is for the next year!
Will report back in a couple of days!
Ryan
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Team Presentation 2009
I travelled down to the Wallonion part of Belgium on Thursday for the presentation of Team Lotto-Bodysol. I left home early so I had plenty of time to find my way. After 100km I found myself stuck in a traffic jam on the ring road of brussels. This lasted upward of 40min. I was starting to stress a little bit as the gps said I was 10 minutes late, then 15 minutes late, then finally on my way again. Not long after I recognised a car coming up behind me. It was my team mate and his dad. So I jumped in behind and for a while they thought I was some crazy guy following them. That was until they recognised me then there was a lot of laughing and waving going on. We got there on time thanks to them.
The presentation was held in an old Hotel built in 1873. This was purely for the media so I think there were about 20 people on hand to see the presentation and take photos and do what they do.
The protocol is pretty simple. First you recieve your bike and then the kit for the year. After this is done it's almost like a game of dress up where everyone tries on the casual clothing. We are then introduced one by one to the on lookers after a little bit of socializing with the team and catching up on a winter apart.
So when we are introduced to everyone, they ask a few questions.. for me it was when did you arrive back in Belgium? Your condition is very good after a wonderful season in New Zealand with 2 victories, were you happy with the level of racing and tell us about the win in Tour of Wellington.. and your objectives for the season? thankfully for me they asked in english, I forgot to practice mon francais pour le occasion!
After the team is introduced they talk to the staff for a little bit, along with a special guest from our big brother team. This time the lucky man was Dirk De Wolf, director at Silence-Lotto.
Once all this is done it's time for some pictures! They were nice enough to make it quick as it was freezing, it barely touched 8 degrees!
Then by the time this is done we have been there for a few hours so everyones getting hungry.. That calls for lunch, but not before getting out of the team kit.
Then after everything is said and done and all the little things taken care of I hoped in the car and travelled back home. Luckily no traffic jams this time.
I spent friday putting my bike together, itching to get back on it. I went for my first ride yesterday.. and again today with Clinton who is back living not far down the road.
I have just got my programme of racing for the year and there are some good races for me. Also a lot of racing with the protour which are always good and bring a lot of stories.
Now another story.. earlier in the week Roger and Jennys son Jereon asked if I would like to goto the football with him on Saturday night. I thought yeah it would be cool experiencing it.. Football is huge here.. Belgians like 4 things.. Cycling, Football, Frites and Beer. or more like BEER! Little did I know at the time what I was getting myself into!
I got picked up at 2.30, we went down to the square and had a couple of beers in the afternoon sun. We then went to another pub, the pub of football. From here we caught the bus down to Brussels for the game. I was told it was going to be a funny bus trip. Everyone puts in 10euro for beer on the bus.. 20 or 25 crates of it!! and don't worry between 16 odd people it got finished off pretty good! We arrived at the stadium and the whole bus was in chant for the home team. The team we support, Andernecht! The purple gorilla! They were playing neighbours Antwerpen so it was a big game. It was amazing inside the stadium. 70,000 capacity and it was chocker!!
There were a few moments when the ref made wrong decisions and by the noise of the crowd I thought there was going to be a riot! Luckily enough we won 2-0 to goto the top of the Division 1 league. Sorry didn't get any pictures. Camera is flat.
We were in the part of the stand behind the goal standing in amongst all the drunken supporters who were giving the opposing goal keeper death!
After the match it was back on the bus for the trip home. It's about an hour. For 30 minutes they chanted the night away. Then they were all pretty much asleep by the time we arrived back in Roeselare. I got home around 12, while the others were rumoured to still be at it around 6am, with some getting home at 9am!
It was definately an experience and plans are already being made to goto the next game if I'm not too busy with racing and things.
Thats enough for me tonight. Still trying to get the position sorted on my bike. Should come right in a couple of days!
I will be back with more stories in a couple of days. Looks like I will do my first race, a 3 day tour beginning 3rd April.
Until next time.
The presentation was held in an old Hotel built in 1873. This was purely for the media so I think there were about 20 people on hand to see the presentation and take photos and do what they do.
The protocol is pretty simple. First you recieve your bike and then the kit for the year. After this is done it's almost like a game of dress up where everyone tries on the casual clothing. We are then introduced one by one to the on lookers after a little bit of socializing with the team and catching up on a winter apart.
So when we are introduced to everyone, they ask a few questions.. for me it was when did you arrive back in Belgium? Your condition is very good after a wonderful season in New Zealand with 2 victories, were you happy with the level of racing and tell us about the win in Tour of Wellington.. and your objectives for the season? thankfully for me they asked in english, I forgot to practice mon francais pour le occasion!
After the team is introduced they talk to the staff for a little bit, along with a special guest from our big brother team. This time the lucky man was Dirk De Wolf, director at Silence-Lotto.
Once all this is done it's time for some pictures! They were nice enough to make it quick as it was freezing, it barely touched 8 degrees!
Then by the time this is done we have been there for a few hours so everyones getting hungry.. That calls for lunch, but not before getting out of the team kit.
Then after everything is said and done and all the little things taken care of I hoped in the car and travelled back home. Luckily no traffic jams this time.
I spent friday putting my bike together, itching to get back on it. I went for my first ride yesterday.. and again today with Clinton who is back living not far down the road.
I have just got my programme of racing for the year and there are some good races for me. Also a lot of racing with the protour which are always good and bring a lot of stories.
Now another story.. earlier in the week Roger and Jennys son Jereon asked if I would like to goto the football with him on Saturday night. I thought yeah it would be cool experiencing it.. Football is huge here.. Belgians like 4 things.. Cycling, Football, Frites and Beer. or more like BEER! Little did I know at the time what I was getting myself into!
I got picked up at 2.30, we went down to the square and had a couple of beers in the afternoon sun. We then went to another pub, the pub of football. From here we caught the bus down to Brussels for the game. I was told it was going to be a funny bus trip. Everyone puts in 10euro for beer on the bus.. 20 or 25 crates of it!! and don't worry between 16 odd people it got finished off pretty good! We arrived at the stadium and the whole bus was in chant for the home team. The team we support, Andernecht! The purple gorilla! They were playing neighbours Antwerpen so it was a big game. It was amazing inside the stadium. 70,000 capacity and it was chocker!!
There were a few moments when the ref made wrong decisions and by the noise of the crowd I thought there was going to be a riot! Luckily enough we won 2-0 to goto the top of the Division 1 league. Sorry didn't get any pictures. Camera is flat.
We were in the part of the stand behind the goal standing in amongst all the drunken supporters who were giving the opposing goal keeper death!
After the match it was back on the bus for the trip home. It's about an hour. For 30 minutes they chanted the night away. Then they were all pretty much asleep by the time we arrived back in Roeselare. I got home around 12, while the others were rumoured to still be at it around 6am, with some getting home at 9am!
It was definately an experience and plans are already being made to goto the next game if I'm not too busy with racing and things.
Thats enough for me tonight. Still trying to get the position sorted on my bike. Should come right in a couple of days!
I will be back with more stories in a couple of days. Looks like I will do my first race, a 3 day tour beginning 3rd April.
Until next time.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Exclusive Interview with www.roadcycling.co.nz
http://roadcycling.co.nz/TeamTalk/where-in-the-world-is-ryan-wills-kiwi-pro-cyclist.html
This one you don't need to translate!
This one you don't need to translate!
Team Presentation
Here is the media coverage from the presentation of the team yesterday.
http://www.velowallon.be/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13032
You will have to translate it from french to english but something to read.
http://www.velowallon.be/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13032
You will have to translate it from french to english but something to read.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
New Bike
Have just had word that my team bike will be here this week.
Just in time for my return to the bicycle!
I will collect it along with all the cycling kit and other things at the presentation this Thursday.
The bike looks something like this (in slightly different colours. Team grey I believe)
It will be finished off with Campagnolo Record components and off course the concor saddle. Famous in Belgium.
Just in time for my return to the bicycle!
I will collect it along with all the cycling kit and other things at the presentation this Thursday.
The bike looks something like this (in slightly different colours. Team grey I believe)
It will be finished off with Campagnolo Record components and off course the concor saddle. Famous in Belgium.
Monday, March 16, 2009
A new year, a new team name and finally a new post!
I would like to welcome you all back after what has been a great off-season.
I endevoured to write something on here during the off-season but my fingers never got round to touching the keyboard. It wasn't for a lack of thought though.
Firstly I would like to say it's great to have everyone back following my goings on in the european peloton for the 2009 season.
The team has under gone a name change for 2009 and will now be known as Lotto-Bodysol with a number of other sponsors coming on board.
I will go back to November and update you on my off-season.
It started well, I took 3 weeks off the bike as of my last race in Belgium and picked it up again one week out from the Tour of Southland. The tour was good for me and I was always there or there-abouts for most of the week but I just didn't have that little bit extra I needed to pick up solid results although I did go into the top 10 on a couple of stages and was always in contention for the Under 23 jersey for most of the week. I ended the Tour around 12th place from memory.
The week after was a race I was excited for because it was my home race and it's rare that you get a feild of this quality for a race in your home town. The race was 100km journey between Rotorua-Ohope and was held on the 16th November. The extra motivation of home town racing kicked in as I out-sprinted my break away companian in a 2 up sprint to take the victory which was a nice way to end the 2008 season.
.jpg)
After this I had another 3 weeks off the bike as I spent time reflecting on a hard year and what the future may hold.
After a month of base work and long slow days in the saddle I was back in action on New Years day with the Tour de Vineyards in Nelson. I like this tour as the stages arn't super long with the longest stage being 130km and the shortest stage 70km so getting racing legs doesn't become much of a problem.
Usually I go well in this race and it doubles as a good build up race for the national champs usually held a week or ten days after this 4 day tour finishes.
The first stage was a relitively quiet one for me but a lot of other riders feeling the nervousness of the first stage which made for some eratic riding through-out the stage and almost the result of a cancelled stage mid-way as a lot of riders were riding into on coming traffic. I finished safely in the bunch after a couple of late efforts to get the sneaky win.
The second stage is always hard. No matter how good my condition is, I always struggle with the 100km of false flat. I made all the splits and finished the stage in the front group of 20-25 staying within touch of the leaders on the general classification.
The third stage is the deciding factor of the tour as it finishes up Takaka hill, which is the longest sealed hill climb in NZ, summiting after 15 or 16km of climbing.
I had the form to do something so I looked after myself nicely in the bunch and waited for the climb to the finish. I was good for most of the climb but got shelled about half way up which is normal as most of the race are in the middle of their season and i'm just starting mine. I finished around 6th or 7th place but that wasn't a concern, I was just happy to be racing my bike again.
The last stage was much like the first a shorter (70km) circuit race, which brings the public out as the race passes by every 10-12minutes. I was again comfortably riding within myself and finished the stage in 8th after having a go in the sprint.
I ended the race in about the same spot on Classifiacation.
.JPG)
Next up for me was the national champs. It's hard having the champs so early in the year when I only have 5000km in my legs instead of 10,000km that I would have later on in the year but never the less I deal with it and move on.
Usually I could get by with 5000km because i'm what they call a big day rider which means I can find something extra within myself on big occasions such as national champs.
First up on the friday afternoon was the 40km Time Trial. I considered myself a big shot at taking the title and starting second to last the rankings saw it that way too. I left the starting gate and settled into a rhythem. At the 20km turn a round I was 9 seconds up on second place and 30-odd back to third.
I had a good run on the way back catching the six riders who started in front of me so I thought I was going well. I got to the finish and had posted the second fastest time, 4 seconds slower one of the first starters. Altough dissapointed to be beaten by so little I also took the positives out of it knowing I was coming into some good form with the Tour of Wellington in mind. So 2nd place was not so bad although it could have just as easily been a national title.
.jpg)
Next up on the Sunday was the 180km road race. Not much to say as it was probly the easiest race I have ever done but I tried to make a race of it to no-avail. It seemed to me that as I was wearing my team kit everytime I moved the rest of the feild wouldn't let me go and when someone else attacked the rest of the feild looked to me to give chase, eventually I ended up waiting till the last lap and riding across a 90 second gap to the leading under 23 riders only to be caught with around 8km remaining and settling for a peloton finish. I wasn't keen to get involved in the wet sprint with the big season ahead. The under 23 title went to a rider of the subway avanti cycling team who got to sit in the comfort of the bunch all day because he had 4 team mates in the break. He came to the front with 3km to go and pulled out the "freddy fresh legs" and out sprinted the feild. oh the advantages of being in the only team in the race! I still feel cheated.
Trying to form a break with the hitters up the courses only climb.
Next up I headed to the Trust House Tour of Wellington, which is one of two pro races in New Zealand. The other being the Tour of Southland. Along with the race come UCI points which go towards world rankings. I was riding with some good friends in the Mercedes-Benz team. the 5 day 7 stage tour is mostly based in the Wairarapa with the final stage being a 1 hour circuit race in down town Wellington.
We started good in the team time trial finishing mid feild (10 out of 22 teams) but not losing too much time. The second stage had a decisive climb with 30km to go and would cause all sorts of havic. It was decided Shem and I would try to get over with the leaders and see what we could do. The racing was fast up until the climb and I had forgotten to eat most of the day which made me 'bonk' and lose a big chunk of time (12 minutes) before the end of the day.
So I became water boy for the next few stages.
I wanted to take something out of the race as I had good form. Stage 4 presented the opportunity. I tried to go for an early break but missed the one that stuck so I told myself, save energy your going with 1km to go. I did this for most of the 120km stage. With the remnants of the early break being pulled in with 6km to go, there was a counter-attack with 2 guys going away. four km to go and it was back together with the counter-attack back in the bunch, budget forklifts had a 4 man lead out train going for their sprinter. There was a bit of confusion when the counter-attack was caught and the bunch slowed slightly. I took the opportunity with 3-4km remaining to have a go, I knew it would be the move to stay away as I immediatly took 20seconds on the chasing bunch. I went passed the 2km to go sign still with a big lead, my morale took a hit when the 1km to go sign wasn't coming (turns out there wasn't one). I came around a left hand turn with 400m to go and knew then I was just about to take my first pro victory.
Talking to the media post race.
The rest of the tour was for me helping Shem defend a top 15 place on General Classification.
It was a good week and it was quite ironic, two years ago we had the same team and same sponsor and we took a victory on the same piece of road that I took my victory on so it was a nice high for the week.
The next week I did the first round of the Benchmark series. 150km of dead roads!
To cut it short, I rode a tactically smart race and ended up in the final with 2 subway avanti team mates who worked me over good. Although I was going the best out of us two against one was always going to win. So I ended up third but took consilation by being presented the first Under 23 leaders jersey.
For the next month I put in some good training down in Christchurch (and thanks to the Adairs for putting up with me for so long and everything you did for me while I was there. Through the highs of wellington and the benchmark and the low's of the accident!)
Now the accident. While training on the track for the nationals I had a wee tumble and not really thinking much of it, I had a sore back for the next two weeks leading into nationals. Pretty much nationals went like shit but I did take away the experience I was there to gain in the first place. I got back to Christchurch the next day and had an x ray to find I had compression fractures of the T12 and L1 vertabrae in my lower back. So I havn't been on my bike since but I will start back up this weekend. Also a big thanks to Soren for putting up with my complaining of a sore back for 3 weeks. Perhaps should have listened to you and gone for an x ray the day it happened!!
So now I am sitting back in Belgium pondering the season ahead. I have presentation on Thursday and then it will be balls to the wall for the next 6 months as I try to pick up some more wins.
So sorry this has been long but thats my off-season in a nut shell.
Until the next entry,
Ryan
.JPG)
I endevoured to write something on here during the off-season but my fingers never got round to touching the keyboard. It wasn't for a lack of thought though.
Firstly I would like to say it's great to have everyone back following my goings on in the european peloton for the 2009 season.
The team has under gone a name change for 2009 and will now be known as Lotto-Bodysol with a number of other sponsors coming on board.
I will go back to November and update you on my off-season.
It started well, I took 3 weeks off the bike as of my last race in Belgium and picked it up again one week out from the Tour of Southland. The tour was good for me and I was always there or there-abouts for most of the week but I just didn't have that little bit extra I needed to pick up solid results although I did go into the top 10 on a couple of stages and was always in contention for the Under 23 jersey for most of the week. I ended the Tour around 12th place from memory.
The week after was a race I was excited for because it was my home race and it's rare that you get a feild of this quality for a race in your home town. The race was 100km journey between Rotorua-Ohope and was held on the 16th November. The extra motivation of home town racing kicked in as I out-sprinted my break away companian in a 2 up sprint to take the victory which was a nice way to end the 2008 season.
.jpg)
After this I had another 3 weeks off the bike as I spent time reflecting on a hard year and what the future may hold.
After a month of base work and long slow days in the saddle I was back in action on New Years day with the Tour de Vineyards in Nelson. I like this tour as the stages arn't super long with the longest stage being 130km and the shortest stage 70km so getting racing legs doesn't become much of a problem.
Usually I go well in this race and it doubles as a good build up race for the national champs usually held a week or ten days after this 4 day tour finishes.
The first stage was a relitively quiet one for me but a lot of other riders feeling the nervousness of the first stage which made for some eratic riding through-out the stage and almost the result of a cancelled stage mid-way as a lot of riders were riding into on coming traffic. I finished safely in the bunch after a couple of late efforts to get the sneaky win.
The second stage is always hard. No matter how good my condition is, I always struggle with the 100km of false flat. I made all the splits and finished the stage in the front group of 20-25 staying within touch of the leaders on the general classification.
The third stage is the deciding factor of the tour as it finishes up Takaka hill, which is the longest sealed hill climb in NZ, summiting after 15 or 16km of climbing.
I had the form to do something so I looked after myself nicely in the bunch and waited for the climb to the finish. I was good for most of the climb but got shelled about half way up which is normal as most of the race are in the middle of their season and i'm just starting mine. I finished around 6th or 7th place but that wasn't a concern, I was just happy to be racing my bike again.
The last stage was much like the first a shorter (70km) circuit race, which brings the public out as the race passes by every 10-12minutes. I was again comfortably riding within myself and finished the stage in 8th after having a go in the sprint.
I ended the race in about the same spot on Classifiacation.
.JPG)
Next up for me was the national champs. It's hard having the champs so early in the year when I only have 5000km in my legs instead of 10,000km that I would have later on in the year but never the less I deal with it and move on.
Usually I could get by with 5000km because i'm what they call a big day rider which means I can find something extra within myself on big occasions such as national champs.
First up on the friday afternoon was the 40km Time Trial. I considered myself a big shot at taking the title and starting second to last the rankings saw it that way too. I left the starting gate and settled into a rhythem. At the 20km turn a round I was 9 seconds up on second place and 30-odd back to third.
I had a good run on the way back catching the six riders who started in front of me so I thought I was going well. I got to the finish and had posted the second fastest time, 4 seconds slower one of the first starters. Altough dissapointed to be beaten by so little I also took the positives out of it knowing I was coming into some good form with the Tour of Wellington in mind. So 2nd place was not so bad although it could have just as easily been a national title.
.jpg)
Next up on the Sunday was the 180km road race. Not much to say as it was probly the easiest race I have ever done but I tried to make a race of it to no-avail. It seemed to me that as I was wearing my team kit everytime I moved the rest of the feild wouldn't let me go and when someone else attacked the rest of the feild looked to me to give chase, eventually I ended up waiting till the last lap and riding across a 90 second gap to the leading under 23 riders only to be caught with around 8km remaining and settling for a peloton finish. I wasn't keen to get involved in the wet sprint with the big season ahead. The under 23 title went to a rider of the subway avanti cycling team who got to sit in the comfort of the bunch all day because he had 4 team mates in the break. He came to the front with 3km to go and pulled out the "freddy fresh legs" and out sprinted the feild. oh the advantages of being in the only team in the race! I still feel cheated.
Trying to form a break with the hitters up the courses only climb.
Next up I headed to the Trust House Tour of Wellington, which is one of two pro races in New Zealand. The other being the Tour of Southland. Along with the race come UCI points which go towards world rankings. I was riding with some good friends in the Mercedes-Benz team. the 5 day 7 stage tour is mostly based in the Wairarapa with the final stage being a 1 hour circuit race in down town Wellington.
We started good in the team time trial finishing mid feild (10 out of 22 teams) but not losing too much time. The second stage had a decisive climb with 30km to go and would cause all sorts of havic. It was decided Shem and I would try to get over with the leaders and see what we could do. The racing was fast up until the climb and I had forgotten to eat most of the day which made me 'bonk' and lose a big chunk of time (12 minutes) before the end of the day.
So I became water boy for the next few stages.
I wanted to take something out of the race as I had good form. Stage 4 presented the opportunity. I tried to go for an early break but missed the one that stuck so I told myself, save energy your going with 1km to go. I did this for most of the 120km stage. With the remnants of the early break being pulled in with 6km to go, there was a counter-attack with 2 guys going away. four km to go and it was back together with the counter-attack back in the bunch, budget forklifts had a 4 man lead out train going for their sprinter. There was a bit of confusion when the counter-attack was caught and the bunch slowed slightly. I took the opportunity with 3-4km remaining to have a go, I knew it would be the move to stay away as I immediatly took 20seconds on the chasing bunch. I went passed the 2km to go sign still with a big lead, my morale took a hit when the 1km to go sign wasn't coming (turns out there wasn't one). I came around a left hand turn with 400m to go and knew then I was just about to take my first pro victory.
Talking to the media post race.
The rest of the tour was for me helping Shem defend a top 15 place on General Classification.
It was a good week and it was quite ironic, two years ago we had the same team and same sponsor and we took a victory on the same piece of road that I took my victory on so it was a nice high for the week.
The next week I did the first round of the Benchmark series. 150km of dead roads!
To cut it short, I rode a tactically smart race and ended up in the final with 2 subway avanti team mates who worked me over good. Although I was going the best out of us two against one was always going to win. So I ended up third but took consilation by being presented the first Under 23 leaders jersey.
For the next month I put in some good training down in Christchurch (and thanks to the Adairs for putting up with me for so long and everything you did for me while I was there. Through the highs of wellington and the benchmark and the low's of the accident!)
Now the accident. While training on the track for the nationals I had a wee tumble and not really thinking much of it, I had a sore back for the next two weeks leading into nationals. Pretty much nationals went like shit but I did take away the experience I was there to gain in the first place. I got back to Christchurch the next day and had an x ray to find I had compression fractures of the T12 and L1 vertabrae in my lower back. So I havn't been on my bike since but I will start back up this weekend. Also a big thanks to Soren for putting up with my complaining of a sore back for 3 weeks. Perhaps should have listened to you and gone for an x ray the day it happened!!
So now I am sitting back in Belgium pondering the season ahead. I have presentation on Thursday and then it will be balls to the wall for the next 6 months as I try to pick up some more wins.
So sorry this has been long but thats my off-season in a nut shell.
Until the next entry,
Ryan
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