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  • Writer's pictureMatty Lewis

Life in the Gutter!

My Belgium racing season has started! My first race of the year was on Saturday the 16th at Lierde, was definitely a shock to the body for the first few laps of the race, but then i started to find my legs again but unfortunately 2 groups of 10 riders was already up the road. So in the end i finished in the main bunch of about 50 riders which started at 170 riders, which i'm happy with as it was my first race in a new age category so really the first few races of the year i'm not expecting to get outstanding results, but more to gain experience and learn which riders i should attack with or to watch in a sprint finish. I also raced on the Sunday 17th in Budingen on a very challenging course, cross winds, steep climbs and small narrow roads. I felt a lot more responsive in this race, getting myself into moves, bridging across to groups, but the race kept coming back together, however with 5 laps to go the wind picked up and the rain started, which led to a small group of riders being able to get away in the cross winds, which left me in the reduced 2nd group on the road in which i rolled in with.

Youngster Coast Challenge


The first big race of the season was the youngster coast challenge UCI 1.2, which consisted of 170km of cobbles, bergs and the kemmelberg. This was the longest race that i have ever done so far in my cycling career, so this was a real test for me as i didn't know how i would fair to the end of the race.



Once the race had left the neutralized zone straight away the attacks begun, it was a fast start to the race but after about 20km the race started to settle down with a small group of riders away but as 150 riders raced for position into the Kemmelberg the group was soon closed down and the groups came back together. I was in the top 50 riders going into the Kemmelberg and managed to make the front split, but once we got over the top it was full gas, the group was lined out everyone was in the gutter fighting to hold the wheel in front. Coming into the finishing circuit there was about 80 riders left in the field which led to chaotic bunch sprint. I was well positioned coming into the last few km's but as we went right at the roundabout with 3 km's i was pushed out and had to fight to hold my position in the middle of the bunch up until the finish line.


I'm happy with how the legs are during the early season, hopefully i can build on this now going into the next few races and the year ahead! Just like to say a massive thank you to the Lewis Balyckyi trust fund and to all the people who have helped support me!


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