I have now finished my last year of racing in the Nieuwelingen Dames category. My fourth year of racing at the well run and completely fair six day stage race, I have achieved my best and completely unexpected result.
Preparation started with a trip to the Garners Household in Cosby, Leicester. Friday consisted of shopping with Grace and spending way to much money and a long day of cupcake making and decoration, and painting nails to show our true nationality.
An early night and a much earlier morning. 3am wake up for our 9am ferry from Harwich. The road trip began, crammed in the back of the Ford Galaxy with the caravan following closely behind. Struggling to stay awake we were in need to change the driver. Wendy takes to the wheel and manages to give the caravan a puncture. A pit stop change and we were off again. Arriving at check in with plenty of time.
A quick six and a half hour ferry crossing consisted of present opening as it was Abby-Mae Parkinsons 14th birthday ( a fellow cycling friend),more nail paining, a trip to the Stena line on board cinema where we watch Limitless which at times was very scared and strange. Arriving at the Hoek van Holland left just a short two and a half hour journey to Assen where we pitch the caravan, put up the awning and began to "relax".
With a day to spare before racing started, Sunday was a day to get the journey our of the legs with an hour and a half ride with a large bunch of the other British riders that have also made the well worth trip for the amazing racing experience. Sign on opened at 2 where we handed in spare wheels and collected race numbers for the week. Meeting many of the other British riders which this year was a record breaking 200+.
Monday is where racing began. The 0.8 kilometre prologue. This has always been my worst race of the week. A late start in the day but arriving at the course early to cheer on all the other British riders.Never being able to get everything out in such a short distance I was over the moon with a 7th place finish with a time of 1:26.080 just 2 seconds down on the winner. By this result I could tell I was in with a better chance than I have before and was determined to do the best I could in all my races. Cycling is in the family genes and my sister Hannah Barnes also in the event she also did a great ride coming second with a time of 1:23.920 just 6 hundredths of a second behind the winner.
Tuesdays racing was a short 1.8km circuit and early race start at 9.55 there was no messing about. 20 laps round and 8 sprints it was going to be a fast day of racing. Starting at the back of the grind always makes racing hard but by the end of the first lap i was already of the front making on of the first attacks. With no messing around it was quickly brought back and nobody was given a change to get away. It was coming down to a sprint. Fighting to get on the right wheel coming up to the sprint is always hard. The last corner was sketchy but keeping out of all the crashes weaving up the finishing straight to finish in 8th position gaining a 3 second time bonus.
Tuesdays racing was early but Wednesdays Classic stage to early morning racing to extreme. An 8.20 race means a 6.30 wake up for breakfast. Kit on and a short ride to the start with Hannah. Not in major need of a warm up as it was a 50 mile race ahead of us. So a long wait on the start line and we were away. Through out the race keeping high energy levels was important so popping a couple of sis energy gels was the perfect way. A fast a dangerous run into the finish left the sprinters ahead and me finishing in 5th position but still gaining valuable time bonus'. Still a good win for Sister Hannah as racing is combined with the Junior Dames. An early race meant the rest of the day to enjoy so a nice relaxing two and a half hours in the swimming pool at die smelt with a combination of waves, rapids and slides made it a fun way to take your mind off the racing.
Thursday was the Time trial. 8.5km of pain. Instructions were clear from Dad ride as fast as I can and get the back bike to him to set it up for my sister. So I did what I was told. It was the ride of my like winning it with a time of 13:02.330 and the next closest contestant with a time of 13:14.290. This gave me a night healthy lead and the opportunity to ride in the yellow leaders jersey. I handed the bike over. And it got a second victory in a day. Hannah also won her category and took the yellow jersey in overall classification.
Friday was the OMLOOP a circuit that is a figure of 8. Also containing a very large section of cobbles. Wearing the yellow jersey gives its benefits of not having to be gridded and getting a front row seat at the start of the race. Lined up next to my sister gave me more confidence. In the first lap an attack went away and with some vicious Lithuanians crating a wall like it was a war, risk moves were made to get it back. Team mate Lucy Garner also riding for Motorpoint helped bringing it back for me and Hannah to both retain the lead. As Lucy had missed the prologue as she had been racing in Portugal at the European track champions ships, she was there for stage wins. after already winning the first crit she brought the break back and then sat in for the sprint. Avoiding the two crashes in the last lap Lucy too the win. I managed to finish in 3rd position gaining more seconds and keeping the jersey along side Hannah.
The last race around the campsite was Saturday. Going into the race with a 21 second lead and Hannah with a 22 second lead the only thing we needed to do to keep the jerseys was to finish in the bunch with no breaks up the road. This was achieved and it became a successful week for the Barnes sisters.
All that was left was a last swim in the pool, the prize presentation and the long journey back to home land.
Blackpool.
