Assen is a European youth tour in Assen, Netherlands. As my first year at Assen, I didn't really know what to expect. I had heard stories from previous years, the racing sounded really fun and different to home but scary.
The prologue was a short time trail. The course was fairly technical with some cobbles, tight 90 degree corners and long fast straights. When it came to my start I felt like a pro, with someone holding me on a ramp and having the count down fingers, just like the tour.
The second stage was a criterium. The race really gave me an insight of the racing, fast and furious. The start was a real learning curve, you really have to use your elbows if you don't want to be pushed to the back. This happened to me. The lack of experience, meant I found it difficult to move up, and hanged on for dear life for the first few laps. Luckily, I survived and I came in the middle of bunch.
Point to Point, what can I say such fun racing. Riding past cars stopped for our race felt awesome! I just missed out of points for the white jersey, but I had a blast. Again, I rolled in the bunch too far down to contest for the sprint.
My best stage was the 5.7km time trail. With all of my best kit I was on the ramp ready to ride. I had a strong start with the rider ahead of me in sight. Amazed that I had caught someone, for like the first time ever, I thought I would catch the other person too as he was in catching distance too! Coming over the line I was in second place, But dropped down to 13th overall and 3rd girl. My good result had pushed me up the tables and into third place girl. I was so happy with my performance.
The omloop was really fun. i had heard so many stories of crashes and punctures from previous years, I was ready or what ever the loop threw at me. I was down in the peleton the whole race but found my self leading on to the cobbles on the last lap I had a chance for the sprint. Unfortunately coming up to the last 2 corners I got swamped from the other side of the road. This was racing but I was over the moon with my last lap and managing to hold my third place.
The campsite crit was full of pain. on the last lap I got caught behind a crash. Fortunately I went through the gap and stayed just in contact with the bunch. however i was down and struggling to get up. the girl who was in forth got bonus seconds from the final sprint meaning i just got bumped for the podium. I was extremely happy my first year and never thought I would come home with fourth and not crashes.
I cant wait for next time!
