The start of April was kicked off with a double Kermesse weekend Saturday i raced in Amay for the GP Claudy Sohet, which consisted of 16 laps around a challenging course with fast descents and hills. I was feeling strong during the race holding within the top 20 riders getting into moves, but the one time i slipped back, a group of about 25 riders went up the road and i unfortunately missed this, in the end i finished in the top 10 in the bunch sprint to come 44th, was a little disappointing as i had good legs but just didn't get into the right move but that's bike racing! I also raced on the Sunday in SINT-TRUIDEN. The race was fast straight from the off. We ended up averaging just over 27mph for 120km. A break away of 8 riders got away after the first few laps but with 4 laps to go it all came back together. On the last lap two riders managed to get away from the bunch and they just held on, i finished strongly towards the front of the bunch sprint!
After feeling strong the past week i decided to race again the following weekend, on Saturday the 6th April i raced in Zuteendaal, the course was tough with a drag up to the finish and it was flat out up their each time. I was feeling strong again able to bridge across to groups and get into moves but unfortunately the one move that i didnt follow, was the one that stayed away so in the end i finished 23rd and 4th in the bunch sprint, i'm pleased with where the form is at as i have the legs i just need to get into the winning move now! I didn't have long till the next race as i raced on the Sunday as well in Koersel, this circuit was only a short 4km lap with a lot corners so i knew i had to be near the front on the start line or else if i started at the back of 120 riders on a technical course it would be very hard to move up. The race was flat straight away and within a lap riders were dropping out of the race, a group managed to slip away and i couldn't do much about it as i was boxed in and wasn't able to respond quick enough to make it to the front group so in the end i finished in the 2nd group to come away with 28th, which was frustrating for me as i had the legs again but missed the winning move.
The following weekend was the day when it finally clicked for me, i managed to get my first podium of the year coming away with 3rd at Linden - Lubbeek on Saturday 13th. The course was tough as it had a climb in the lap in which we had to go up 12 times but i'd say that this course was suited for me. The first half of the race there were a lot of attacks on the climb with people trying to get away but no group really established a gap but with 6 laps to go me and 2 other riders managed to get away just over the top of the climb, we stayed away for a lap but then a group of 10 riders came across to us and that was then the winning move as we worked surprisingly well together for the rest of the race. On the last lap 2 riders attacked on the climb but i waited patiently until we got over the climb until i attacked away from the group to bridge across to the 2 riders out in front i managed to catch them with about 2km to go. I just didn't have that final kick in my legs to go around them in the sprint but i am very pleased with how the form was in the race and i how rode.
I would just like to say a massive thank you to The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund for the support this season, none of this would be possible without there support!