Perlis Open....

Hello all!!

we got the chance to compete in a UCI 2.2 stage race lat week, in Malaysia, the Perlis Open.

I did not really know what to expect other than long, really long days on the saddle. 625km were done in 3 days. I was just back from France, tired, jet lagged and, let`s face it, a bit overweight (French food is not as bad as some pretend ;-) ).
Chris nicely did not put any pressure on us/I ; told us to make the most of it, take it as hard training and have no doubt in ourselves.

The team arrived at the start`s town one day ahead of the event. We went for a 1.5hours spin, which was a “soft ride” (around 100-150Watts) with few accelerations to open up the legs before the race (a few time couples minutes at 300W).
I was still tired but felt a bit less heavy…
Straight after the ride we went for a nap and rest. There is no walking around or “tourism” during those races, we eat, ride, sleep and that is ALL…
After the nap we go for light dinner and then back to the hotel for rest, preparing the jerseys, food and radio.

First race morning: it is raining outside. I have to say I do not mind rain ; coming from Brittany -west french coast area- I grew up riding in cold, rain and wind. To me it actually makes the race better as it adds one aspect to it, be mentally strong and ready to suffer twice more.
Unfortunately once we got to the start the clouds are almost gone and rain with them…so we all start in dry, nice condition.
As note, I had no plan coming to the Perlis Open, only to make most of those three days. Get in breaks, suffer and improve my fitness. I am using Powertap, with the custom wheel that Novatech made for me (thanks again guys, that wheel rocks!!).
So I know exactly how many watts I need to produce, how many I can produce and for how long (I got those data from training sessions in France).


The first stage is on, few solo attack in first 5km, but nothing looking good to “stick”…Then one rider from Azad University, their Malaysian sprinter attacks. No time to think!!! If that guy goes, his break away has big chance to go to the finish. I was around 10th position, on side of the road (opened side so I can move up at any time), got off the saddle and gone. Sometimes people think it is hard to brak away...to me the decision can be hard, rest is just matter of how much you are ready to suffer to get to it and get it to the finish...
By the time I reach the break we have 9 guys in, perfect number, with all strong teams included (Azad, Doha and Uzbekistan), that break is looking real good!

Everyone is working well, we stay around 40-41km/h average ; the gap with the bunch goes up to 1.5min in few kilometers where it will stay for around 20km. During that time the rains comes back, and the wind begins to show up.
At some point it got so windy, with amazingly strong gusts that our 9 guys pace line got broken up, and no one could ride straight. For few kilometers it was like the sky was coming down on us…
After the race I understood that around 15riders did not finish the stage, mainly because of the weather condition.

Notheless we all keep it up, push harder and stay as protected from the wind that is possible. We have done a good 50km of breakaway, with a gap of 3+min now. It is looking good but we really need to all stay focus, and even if it rains as a typhoon day, drink eat and keep the energy coming in.

The roads are clean, wide and with no traffic, which is a really sweet aspect (compared to previous race we did).


At some point we hit a long steady uphill false flat, with head wind. The Uzbekistan rider attacks the group, with Doha rider taking his wheel right away. I had to be at the back of the group as it seems they took 20meters gap on me in 10seconds. I tried to work with 2 other riders to get back to the front group breaking away, but I hit a wheel in front of me and have a nice slide on the wet road…Few seconds to get up, realize I do not have anything broken on either me or the frame and am back on the bike. No time to think and wonder when you crash, it is all about getting back on the bike, no matter what.

Got to work hard for few minutes (probably 300+Watts) with a really painful bleeding hip to get back to those 2 riders, which are now 4 and finally 5 when we hit the downhill (on other side of the false flat)…We work well together but not as hard and fast as the 4 front men, we all know that but even if we have little chance to catch them we are all giving it all.......(more to come)