La Bellissima Tiffany Cromwell & "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"

I had the chance to catch up with Tiffany, after a long time and I have kindly asked her to tell me more about tomorrow race the "Omloop Het Nieuwsbald' 2014.

Tiffany wearing the flabbergasting kit.

Tiffany will be defending her title from last year win in one of the most acclaimed races at the beginning of the season.This season she rides for the Team Specialized-Lululemon.

Especially the first in Europe for the riders after the different tour around the sandy,windy and hot Middle East races.

Following are Tiffany explicit words:

Het Nieuwsblad is one of my favourite races not only because I won it last year but it is just a cool and exciting race. It is the opening race of the classics and a great warm up to Flanders, there are plenty of cobble sectors and tough climbs to punish the legs and really sort out the tough from the weak.

I expect the women's race to be a hard fought battle. The course has slightly changed this year, we have lost one climb but added more cobbles which I think will make it more challenging. It certainly will be a race of attrition being the first European race of the season combined with the cold weather and difficulty of the course.

I expect it to be an aggressive race and the racing to first heat up over the Cote de Trier (not sure of spelling) and the Pateberg and continue all the way to the finish where we will see a small group or a late attack going for the victory.

Personally I have high exceptions for the race being defending champion, I want to be strong and have a good race as I am targeting a lot of the early season classics so it would be nice to start strongly but not peak in the first of them as I did last year. My Specialized-Lululemon team have a strong squad here and we're looking towards the win.

If amateurs have the chance to do a similar race or ride the roads of the Omloop I would highly recommend it, then you get a true sense of the feeling it is to ride these roads and just how tough the cobbles are on your body and how difficult they can be to ride. It's a fantastic challenge.

SaddleDrunk wish Tiffany and her Team good luck for tomorrow and a big Thank you in sparing some relaxing time before the while doing her nails, which a peculiar charateristic of her.

Ciao e Grazie,let's get SaddleDrunk.

SD.

My First Closed Circuit Race Imperial Winter Series (Hillingdon) 2013/2014 Round 7

It has been a long time that I had something pestering me, and it was taking part in a Closed Circuit Cycling Race. Lucky enough, not far from me there is the famous Hillingdon Circuit. After acquiring the full racing license, I have decided to enter for the Imperial Winter Series 2013/2014 at Race 7th. The series is organised by Imperial Racing Team were you could admire great expertise in managing the event, thanks to Richard and Lucy and the rest of the team behind the scenes.

I was pleased to go because the weather is still surprising us with beautiful sunny skies and warm temperature.Funny enough it was not just my idea, but other maybe 170 rider thought the same,where as per routine the organisers had to consider a waiting list.

Overview of the circuit and the "Commissaire" box.

We started with a nice warm up for few laps before getting to the start grid,the field of riders was quite big including about 10 novices(like me) doing the first race on closed circuit.Richard, from Imperial Cycles gave us including the ladies a race briefing reminding all the rider the correct procedures to enjoy the race.I could see that some teams like London Dynamos,Kingston Wheelers,Twickenham Cycling Club and many more placed their rider at the front of the grid,obviously due to team tactics.

For me being a novice I decided to start at 3/4 down the grid to understand more the race,the techniques and tactics of the race.A guy next to me before starting he advise me to get at the front of the pack as soon as possible.

Start of the race.

Off we go. We started the race and the pace picked up very quickly, the wind was with us in some part of the circuit,so for most of the laps was sprint and relax. The sprinting at the front was the concept of breaking away for the teams to see who probably was up for the game,but being my first race I did not know if it was an usual standard technique.

After few laps I could see that I was confident with the speed,an average of 41km/h and everything else around during the first part of the race.I decided to go at the front with some others,I stayed there for a little while until I felt a big slap in the face by the wind during a turn,making me losing speed and position within the peloton.Obviously was a bad move,but I was able to rejoin the peloton without losing drastically a position and the drag.

Fighting at the front.

Well, the race was going to be come to an end where some rider pulled out of the peloton because the speed increased even more, and everyone was fighting to go to the front for the last final 5 laps.Therefore I have decided to attack and go at the front again, within the peloton you could smell burning rubber from the brakes,people going off line not supposed to do that.

6 laps to go and everyone was hungry for the front, I was overtaking to the right and I could feel hands or handlebar of my left bum cheek.More and more it was becoming like a rugby scrum on two wheels. Without realising I found myself with the front pack but with wrong positioning causing me to go on the grass once and shortly after that for the second time,which for me meant game over, as I lost speed to rejoin the peloton already ahead like a bullet train.

I was able to finish the race with a little group of other riders,that were left behind from the peloton during the race.

As per my first race, I was pleased and enjoy it so much, I have learned the lessons and few tactics for the next race.The result of the race I think I was not last but at the back, which make me work more on improvements for the next.

There were definite a lot of riders being SaddleDrunk.You can see the race graph on http://connect.garmin.com/activity/428100746 .

Thank you until the next time.Just Keep SaddleDrunk.

FLABBERGASTED by TAIWAN

Definition of Flabbergasted is "Informal overcome with astonishment". This is what my short Trip to Taiwan (thanks to the Taiwan Cycling Federation) has left in me.

Amused by the immense mountains, by the warmth of the people, the deep blue waters of the coast line, the delicious cuisine, made me think all the way back on a 15 hours journey back to London that I am looking forward to go back to Taiwan. It is strange for me to say this due to the fact I have visited 55 countries around the world and on the way to reach 100 (sometimes in my life time),but this remote Island in the South China Sea has completely deserved the name given by the Portuguese colonies in the past to call it "Formosa", which it means beautiful island.

Night Market.

Yin Chih Wang,Adam Semple,Andy Von Bergen(Cycling Tips Australia),Craig Symons enjoying a game at the night market.

Glasses could be wear with no lenses,it is the new trend in Asia.

In Taiwan you can cycle anywhere,you can use your own bike,or take one of the city bike to move around.They are great and cheap. To all you people, I have discovered that cycling is the best way to see the world starting from the busy cities to the open empty fields.Forget the sticky public transport,the queues and the rucking( rugby terminology,Packed crowd of people) to get on them.

We got lost while training.

From scooters at the front,cycling in the middle,and airplanes at the back.

MTB star Cory Wallace and TK from Japan,next to the red spotted shirts.

Cyclist can ride all this climbs in Europe, Stelvio,Mortirolo,Zoncolan and many others that have made history in cycling, and you felt proud to achieve the top.You felt like the Pro when you reach the summit,but this KOM Taiwan Challenge up the Taroko Gorge is for real the tougher.

Day 2 KOM Taiwan Challenge

Today it has been a day which all of us manage to warm up the legs for tomorrow morning with an early start at 0630 from the grid. The KOM event staff arranged a press conference at the start line for the race,which it is about 5km from the hotel by the beach.

We all fully kitted up and rode to the beach in a big peloton.We all took pictures with each others,wearing lycra, and chatting away to make the time pass under the sun rays with an amazing temperature of nearly 30 degrees Celsius.

Again with Tiffany Cromwell

David Mc Cann 3 Times Irish Olympian.

 Chatting in Italian with Simon Clarke, and discovering little secrets.

Elite RIders.

After the presentation we all decided to go for a ride,in groups we took different directions to discover this amazing country side.We rode through down town,hills,and open fields,motorways and much more astonishing scenery.

Cycling Tips Australia also with us.

In the middle of nowhere.

Ordering a Bubble Plum Ice Tea with Pearls with Adam Semple and Craig Symons.

Finally we were back at the hotel, after chasing and racing each others on the road like kids with new toys to be able to attend the riders meeting inclusive of a local dance from aborigine women from Taiwan.

To finish off the afternoon, it was nice to catch and talk with a great MTB rider and friend Cory Wallace,two times Mongolia Bike Challenge Champion,and various podium finishers at the most hardest MTB races in the world.Cory has been invited by the Taiwan Cycling Federation to take part at the event and to challenge the Elite riders.I can see Cory placing himself very well in tomorrow race.

Cory Wallace.

Good Night