3rd cat racing in Belgium/Holland

olleyuk
olleyuk Posts: 7
edited April 2011 in Amateur race
Hi,


I live in Hull and have good access to Belgium/Holland using North Sea Ferries. I am interested in doing a bit of racing across in Belgium/holland but not sure how to go about it. Are there any othe 3rd Cats out there who have done some racing in Belgium/Holland? How did you find it?


Cheers,


OlleyUK

Comments

  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    i am 3rd cat and raced over in Belgium last year, having spent a month in france before going to belgium racing and training.

    I got dropped with one and a half laps to go in my first race then finished 26th i think in my second race, my best result there was 12th. It is fast and hard and took a while to get used to the constant accelerations, i live in guernsey and so don't get to do many races with points up for grabs so think it if did i would be 2nd or 1st cat, compared to the 2/3/4 cat races i have done in england belgium was miles harder more like the standard of E/1/2/3 but there is only one way to find out how you get on and that is to go across and do a few races
  • olleyuk
    olleyuk Posts: 7
    Thanks for info mate. Which category races did you enter? Was it the 1.12 zc or the 1.18 races? Also, What was the racing like in France in comparison?
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    in belgium i did 1.12b u23 elite, in france i did a mix of 1/2/3 and 2/3 the 1/2/3 were very hard and their equivalent to a prem over here but a bit more aggresive, first race i didn't last very long, then the 2/3 races i did i was mixing it at the front getting in breaks and attacking, although that said the 1/2/3 road race i did was my first and so wasn't going as well then as in the other races, i also did a 1/2/3 crit which i found very hard and similar to an elite,1,2 jersey crit i did
  • olleyuk
    olleyuk Posts: 7
    Sounds awesome dude. You also sound like you gave it a right go. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Going to give it a go. Like you say, only way to find out is to give it a go. Happy peddling pal.
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    when are you planning on going over? hopefully i will be in belgium for a few weeks in May
  • olleyuk
    olleyuk Posts: 7
    Won't be till July/August time. Looks like there will still be plenty of races on. Need to learn a bit of Flemish aswell. Where do base yourself?
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    yeah there is loads on around that time, i will be in Knesslare which is about 10k away from Brugge and 30k away from Gent
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    You might try contacting Patrick Schils at Velo Schils, Colchester. His son is currently racing in Belgium (and doing very well) and Patrick will have contacts and advice. Very nice fellow indeed.

    http://www.veloschils.com/html/about_us.html
  • olleyuk
    olleyuk Posts: 7
    cheers Proto - will do.

    Morale is now pretty high as i won at the weekend (Sheffrec Spring RR). It was a kermesse style race. Time to try my hand in Belgium i think!!

    Cheers

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