About time i filled u in on whats been happening since i got back. After getting back on the friday afternoon, i started off with an en ligne race on the sunday. As dad was staying over he came along and followed the race in the team car. I didn't get off to a start with not having properly tightened my seatpost clamp (i have snapped a couple of these before and am always weary about how tight to do it up) and so after about 10kms flat out i realised it had started to slip. a quick drop back through the peloton to the team car, it was problem fixed but now i had to work my way back through the cars to the peloton. After about 5k's chasing i got back on, surviving a close call with the chinese team car on a tight descent!!; the break had clipped off the front just before i got back on and i could see them riding off up the rode as i worked my was back up the peloton. Ended up sitting in most off the course before we got to the finish circuits when i helped out the chase on the front. The finish circuit was a tough lil bastad and the strong winds didn't help. the peloton split into little groups and as i was helping up front i made the first group. Towards the end the legs died a bit and the 10hrs of sitting down on the journey over plus lack of sleep caught up with me. I finished in the 3rd group, about 30th. Was good to get back to racing out here though.

3days after, it was the Quimper crit which we have to do well in as it's our home town and we host it. I attacked folowing a small break coming back after about 5k's and a group of 10 with 2 more from our team. The pre-race favorite also made the split and we were going to have to work hard to get rid of him as he's won 8 races in several weeks and to say he's flying is an understatement! On the halfway mark we had lapped the field but on doing so the skies opened and the heavy rain didnt stop all race! All of a sudden the course became a skating rink. The circuit is a rectangle with 2 pedestrian crossings on each of the 4 corners and people were dropping like flies! All but one of the break made it through the peloton and we started to push off the front. It was at this point that the favorite attacked following a move but unfortunately (for him!) he was on a white pedestrian crossing and his back wheel slid away underneath him! I was on his wheel and somehow managed to avoid his head as he slid away to the right!! One down only 6more guys to shed! With 5to go, team mate attacked and got a good gap. I got away from group and crossed to the one guy chasing and sat on his wheel. He seemed to settle for 2nd and did me in the sprint after i tried to jump him with one to go. All in all a gud evening, 1st and 3rd.

Had a smaller race on the saturday and again i got in the winning break after about 40k's. I was marked quite badly in this race and came 3rd after a guy from the chinese team got away with 7k's to go. I was with 2 guys from the same team who were looking at me to work him back. So i attacked them on the hill and only one could come with. he sat on to the finish waiting for his mate behind and jumped me for 3rd, but only just! 2 3rd places in 3 days good but a little frustrating to keep missing out on the win but a tiny margin!

I had the sunday off and went out for an hour easy. i managed to get mixed up in the local triathlon!! Was tempted to go back past the group as they wiggled their way past me!

The day after i had another 1st cat race. The first half of the race was spent working for the team chasing down a break and then another one as nobody made the counter attack, but i was flying and as it came back i made the next counter which turned out to be the race winning move. I mopped up a couple of primes and helped a team mate win the green sprints jersey. However with 20k's to go, my saddle bolt very quickly came loose and my saddle was sliding back and forth and at all different angles which made riding just a little unconfortable!! I managed to get to about 10k's left and did some big turns to help keep the gap to the peloton for my team mate in the break, and i called it a day! I was absolutely gutted as i had great legs and between me and mate would have most probably won the race. He managed 4th on his own nd was also dissapointed in how the race went! But that will teach me to bolt check my bike more often! (james at ingear has already had works!!)

This week ive got a meeting with a potential team for next year which is a step up in division from my current team. Then on sunday ive got an elite race which i hope my gud legs stick around for, as it would be good to get a result in an elite race to help team options for next year. Got a couple off long rides in this week with the team and now jus taking it easy before the weekend.

Right now, i need some grub then we're heading out into town for a nice french coffee!!

Hope racing is going well for all back home, and get a couple more wins before the seasons out lads!

Ciao