Saturday the 6th of March I had my second race in Wanze, Belgium. We met on Saturday in the Van de Valk hotel in Maastricht. From here we went to Wanze in our team bus and car. Once in Wanze we were welcomed by an icy and cold wind, no sun at all. It was almost too cold to do a warming up. 

The first lap it was going fast from the beginning and I had difficulty with following. I was one that had to let go but we managed to get back to the group. From then on I managed to stick to the bunch and finished the tough race. 10 loops of 8,5 kilometers with in eacht lap a climb of about 1 kilometers.  After the race we went back to Maastricht to have a good meal. The following day we biked the course of the Dolmans Heuvelland Classic.  That day the sun came out but did not give any heat. 

Monday I had a rest day and on Tuesday I went once more to the track. I was able to do a good training due to Xander Moerman who did not mind to do the training with me. On Wednesday I biked over 4 hours and did one of my favourite loops (Rhenen). There was a cold and tough wind again. I did the loop the other way around and had expected we would have some tail end wind on the way back over the dikes. Some parts we did but most of it was some cross wind again. Besides that we had a good ride. On Thursday I did my first training behind the scooter with Bert. Not too bad as well although I need to sit closer and still have to develop some more speed. My average heart rate was a little low. Oh well it was the first time and we were also not very lucky at some road narrows.  

On Friday I did an easy spin on the wind trainer and was ready for the weekend. On Saturday we race in Oostduinkerke (Belgium). 13 loops of 7,4km each (96 kilometers in total). A difficult loop with many sharp curves and also through the dunes. At the start 118 women of which a few pro teams. Again a hard race (38km/and that on this course). Fortunately I managed to finish again. I have to learn tough to be more in the front. I lack the experience as some women are in no time in the front. They see all the little gaps. Experience is very important. In these races probably  more important than fitness. It will also save a lot of energy compared to biking in the back.

On Sunday another race in Belgium in Deerlijk this time. 16 loops of 5,4 kilometers and again a loop with many curves and a road narrow. At the start I could not get into my pedal and before I knew I was in the back again. Again a very fast start and the first girls could not follow. I thought I need to get more to the front. After a bit of a straighter road I managed to hold on and when we turned I was still on the pack. But then suddenly (on a straight road) there was hard breaking and the girl in front of me also braked very hard and did not stay straight. Before I knew I crashed and hit the road. I thought get up and continue, but I had trouble breathing and my bike was also broken.

Out of the race and I did not even finish one lap. Bad luck but I was more concerned about my ribs. breathing was difficult and it was very painful. I was brought to the First Aid tent and the pain became only worse and worse. Finally I was picked up by the ambulance and brought to the hospital. They took X rays and I was hoping that it was not too bad although the pain said something else. And the pain was right as I had broken a rib. Damn how long is this going to take? 

I was finally doing some quality training and getting some experiencee and now this. We also had a trainingcamp in Limburg with the team the week following. Not for me I was going back home. This really sucks. After a tough night I am sitting on my butt now. A broken rib really hurts and I will have to rest the coming days. 6 weeks for complete recovery and after 3 weeks I might be able to do some quality training again.

Almost one day over now and I am already so sick of it!