News 2004

2004

December

24 December; I will wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

23 December; Yesterday I got second place in the Omnium of the Derny Kerstprijs - GP Doeland at the track "Velodrome Amsterdam". The Omnium includes four disciplines; a Time Trail of one lap (200m) with flying start, a Danisch Elimination race, a Handicap race and a Teamsprint. The Time Trail and the Danisch Elimination race were both a victory for Jans Koerts (Chocolade Jacques) and I was able to win the Handicap race. The Teamsprint became a victory for my team together with Jans Koerts and Jan van Velzen (both Chocolade Jacques). Finally Jans Koerts became the winner of the Omnium, I became second and Eelke van der Wal (Bankgiroloterij) became third. The Derny race was a victory for Matthé Pronk (Bankgiroloterij) before Robert Slippens (Axa) and Servais Knaven (Quickstep-Davitamon). Results and more information can be found on  www.velodrome.nl

21 December; Tomorrow I will race the omnium during the Derny Kerstprijs - GP Doeland at the track "Velodrome Amsterdam". This will also be my last race as a professional, because per 1 January I will race in the category Elite without contract with the Belgium Team Diametal-Colnago. Other competitors are i.a. Michael Boogerd, Rudi Kemna, Matthé Pronk, Bert Hiemstra, Jans Koerts, Bart Voskamp, Servais Knaven, Tristan Hoffman, Max van Heeswijk, Danny Stam and Robert Slippens. Totally 24 professional cyclists will participate at this event.

11 December; Today is announced that Team Diametal-Colnago will become the satellite team of the Belgium professional team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. Team Diametal-Colnago also will have their clothing in the same colors as Landbouwkrediet-Colnago.

9 December; Update of my website - Biography and Photos.

November

20 November; Today I received the message that the name of Team Bianchi-Diametal is going to change.

The team of 2005 will be called; Team Diametal-Colnago, this means for next season that our team will race with Colnago bikes. Next to that there is a possibility that Team Diametal-Colnago will become a satellite team for an existing professional team.

7 November; Last Saturday we had a first meeting with,Team Bianchi-Diametal, my new team in 2005. The purpose of this meeting was to meet my new teammates, to give the meassures of the bikes and to fit the new clothing.

Team Bianchi-Diametal will exist out of the next 20 riders;

Cuppens, Tjarco  (Ned)                                                         Kos, Patrick  (Ned)                                                                                     Sterckx, Brad  (Bel)       

De Feyter, Ken  (Bel)                                   Luyten, Lester  (Bel)                                  Van Gorp, Yves  (Bel)

De Hert, Dimitri  (Bel)                             Mariën, Bert  (Bel)                                                        Van Kuik, Frank  (Ned)

Dierckx, Kurt  (Bel)                                               Mariën, Guy  (Bel)                                                                                           Verdonck, David  (Bel)

Goddaert, Kristof  (Bel)                      Pudans, Harald  (Let)                                                                        Vyncke, Chris (Bel)

Jochems, Piet  (Bel)                                             Roziers, Jan  (Bel)                                                                                         Wouters, Anton  (Bel)

Kavsek, Rik  (Ned)                                                                                      Sels, Nick  (Bel)                    

5 November; Victories for teammates in Australië ! My teammates with Team ComNet-Senges, Ashey Hutchinson and Corey Sweet, won together three stages in the Tour of Queensland (Aus) UCI 2.5 . Ashley won two stages, the first stage in Maryborough and the eight stage in Bundaberg. Corey won the sixth stage from Gin Gin to Mount Perry and became third in the General Classification.

Oktober

19 Oktober; Last Sunday I started in the European Beach Challenge in Scheveningen (Ned). This is a beachrace with the Mountainbike over 60 Km, from Scheveningen to Noordwijk and back. After two hours I became 16th in the result. There were over 600 starters.

13 Oktober; Yesterday I raced the Sluitingsprijs in Putte-Kapellen (Bel) UCI 1.3 , halfway the race the bunch broke into two pieces en unfortunally I was in the second bunch. Almost all riders in the second bunch abandoned included me

New team for 2005 ! Yesterday I signed a contract for the season 2005 with the Belgium team BIANCHI - DIAMETAL. This means that I'm racing next year with Elite without contract. For next season I'm very motivated, because the Belgium classics are good races for me.

11 Oktober; Yesterday I started in the race in Alken (Bel). Halfway the race I was in the break away of 15 riders. With our group we sprinted for the victory. Belgium rider Bruno Taelman, who didn't lead in the last 30 Km, won the sprint. Finally I became fourth.

5 Oktober; Thursday 30 September I raced the Omloop van het Houtland UCI 1.5 in Lichtervelde (Bel). After 177 Km I finished in the bunch as 49th. Winner of the race was the Belgium rider Bert De Waele (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago).

Friday 1 Oktober was for the second time the Grotcriterium in Valkenburg (Ned). This is a criterium where the course goes for a part through the caves in Valkenburg. During this race I won the General Sprint Classification, which was a sprint every three laps. I won the Sprintclassification with 13 pnt. before Max van Heeswijk (US Postal) 9 pnt. and Frank Vandenbroucke (Mr. Boomaker) 6 pnt. Winner of the race was Max van Heeswijk (US Postal), I finished 13th.

Sunday 3 Oktober we started with our team, Team ComNet-Senges, the last race of the season in Germany, Rund um die Burg in Kempen (Dui). During the mass-sprint we brought Robert Retschke in good position and he finally got 3rd place behind the Germans Sven Teutenberg (ex-Phonak) and Sven Bauer (Frankfurt-Brügelmann). I finished the race in the bunch.

One day later on 4 Oktober I raced the pro-criterium in Oostrozebeke (Bel) after 105 Km nine riders were in front finally I was 21st. Former teammate with DCM, Bart Dockx (Relax-Bodysol) won the race.

September

27 September; Yesterday our team started in the GP Wieler Revue in 's-Heerenberg (Ned). This was the last race of the Dutch Topcompetition and had a distance of 205 Km. Of Team ComNet-Senges ,Olympic Champion on the track, Luke Roberts became fifth, Robert Retschke 12th and I became 19th.

20 September; Last week I raced the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt (Ger) UCI 2.3. This Tour started awesome with a stage win of Luke Roberts of our team, he also took the leader jersey. This was meaning for our team a whole week of hard working. Unfortunally after the second day I got dropped on a climb and had to abandon. During the 4th stage Luke lost the yellow jersey and finally got 9th place in the General Classification.

Sunday I raced in Bochum-Langendreer and after 112 Km I became 6th.

13 September; Last week I did some serious training in the Rheinland-Pflaz near Daun in Germany.

Yesterday I raced Nürnberger Altstadt (Ger) UCI 1.3 over 185 Km. With 20 km to go I tried two times to attack but it didn't work out. It turned out to be a bunchsprint and I finished 32nd.

6 September; Friday I raced a pro criterium in Almelo (Ned). Winner of the race was Olympic Champion, Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step), I won the sprint of the bunch and became 10th.

On Saturday I raced the Delta Profronde of Midden-Zeeland (Ned) UCI 1.2. I had good legs but unfortunally after 135 Km my derailleur cable broke, so I had top quit the race.

August

31 August; Yesterday I came back from the Tour de Slovaquie (Sk) UCI 2.5. This was a hard stage-race with some hard mountains. The race started with a prologue where I got 10th place. In the other stages I couldn't get any important results. On the fourth day there was a Mountain Time Trail of 10,7 Km with an average of 9% . But most important is that I finished this stage-race in preparation for the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt (Ger) UCI 2.3.

23 August; Tomorrow we leave with our team to Tour de Slovaquie (Sk). This stage-race starts with a prologue and there is one real mountain stage. The other stages are on hilly courses and I hope to get a good result in one of those stages.

Last Friday I raced the pro-criterium in Hamm (Ger). Erik Zabel (Team T-Mobile) won the race, I myself finished in the bunch.

On Saturday there was a pro-criterium in Stolberg-Gressenich (Ger). After I was in front halfway the race with my teammate, Frank Dressler and David Kopp (Lamonta), there was a break away of 10 riders. From our team Karsten Vogel was in front and he became second after Jens Heppner (Team Wiesenhof). Stefan Steinweg and I were chasing the break but we didn't caught them anymore. Finally I became 11th.

21 August; Interview with Hans Will of Radsport-forum.de (German).

19 August; Last Tuesday I raced the Dr. Tisaertsprijs (UCI 1.3) in Zottegem (Bel). Halfway the race I was in a break away of 15 riders, but after 100 Km we got caught again. Later a big group escaped and nobody wanted to chase anymore, so the bunch took it easy. Then I abandoned the race after 140 Km.

16 August; Yesterday I raced in Mönchengladbach (Ger)  the GP NVV AG.  There were several  good riders at  the start from  Team     T-Mobile, Gerolsteiner, Phonak, Illes Balears-Banesto, Wiesenhof etc. At the end I was in the break away of 10 riders and became 9th. Rolf Aldag (T-Mobile) won the race in front of Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) and bert Grabsch (Phonak).

13 August; Interview with Willem Mesuere of Rennersfiches (Dutch).

8 August; Saturday and today I raced two days in my hometown Landgraaf (Ned). On Saturday I feld strong and I was from the beginning in the break away with five riders. Unfortunally with 10 laps to go another five riders caught us, since then our group didn't work together anymore. Everybody tried to attack, with the consequence that the bunch caught us again with one lap to go. In the sprint after being 75 Km in front I became 10th.

In the second race in Landgraaf (Ned) on Sunday I didn't had good legs at all and I had some troubles with the heat of 33°C. After 20 Km I was in a break away of six riders. But to get a good result I had to save my energy, so I didn't sprint for primes etc. Finally it turned out to be a sprint and in the last corner I was in third position behind Danny Sijen and Maikel Paas (both Team Fuji Bikes). Unfortunally the chain of Danny Sijen feld of his chainring and Maikel Paas could sprint easy to the victory, I only became third.

7 August; On last Wednesday was the Bavaria Ronde of Maastricht (Ned), this is next to Heerlen the second after-Tour criterium in Limburg. At the end there was a break away of six riders. Aart Vierhouten (Lotto-Domo) won the sprint of the break and won the race. I was in the bunch and was sprinting for place seven, finally I was 10th.

2 August; Yesterday we raced with seven riders of Team ComNet-Senges in Rund in Aachen (Ger). This criterium was important for our sponsors of the team. In my opnium we didn't disappoint them, because the first five riders in the result were all riders from Team ComNet-Senges. Robert Retschke won the race, he was in front together with Hans-Jürgen Juretzek who became second. Behind them were Markus Ganser and I, Markus became third and I was fourth. In the last lap also Karsten Vogel attacked out of the bunch and became fifth.

July

31 July; On Friday was the after-Tour criterium in Heerlen (Ned). With nine laps to go there was a break away of nine riders, Robbie McEwen and Aart Vierhouten (both Lotto-Domo), Thor Hushovd (CA), Bart Voskamp (Chocolade Jacques), Marc Lotz (Rabobank), Björn Cornelissen (Flanders-Afin), Russel van Hout (Colombia-Selle Italia), Jos Lucassen (Axa) and I myself. With three laps to go I jumped away out of the break and did one lap alone but with two laps to go the leading group caught me again. In the last lap Marc Lotz attacked and went solo to the victory, Robbie McEwen became second and Thor Hushovd third, I became 8th.  

29 July; yesterday I raced the after-Tour criterium in Neuss (Ger). Winner of the race was Jens Voigt (CSC) in front of Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) and Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick Step), I finished 16th.

26 July; Last weekend I raced on Saturday together with four teammates the race in Witten-Heven (Ger). Unfortunally nobody of our team took the victory but we were statisfied with our results, Wolfram Wiese became 3rd, I myself became 6th and Ashley Hutchinson became 10th. Tom Veelers (Löwik-Tegeltoko) was the winner of the race.

23 July; Wednesday I race the criterium in Schermbeck (Ger). In my opinion the course was dangerous and I decided to take no risks. Finally my result was 10th place.

19 July; On Saturday I resumed my training again and my recovery is passing better then I thought. Because of my quick recovering I will start on Wednesday in the race in Schermbeck (Germany).

15 July; Bad crash during training ! During my training on Tuesday 13 July I had a bad accident. In all probability a car hit me from behind and because of that I crashed on a parked car. I myself can not remember anything from the accident. After this accident which happened in Eschweiler in Germany the Ambulance brought me to the Hospital in Aachen. In the hospital they made a CT-Scan to check my head-injury. Fortunate there were no fractures in my face. But I do have a cut between my lip and nose and beside some grazes in my face my  upperlip and nose are swollen, but all in all I was lucky. To observation I had to stay in the hospital in Aachen for one night. This means that for recovering I have to take a rest for two weeks before I can start with training and racing again.

12 July; Last weekend I raced on Friday, Saturday as well on Sunday. On Friday I participated in a rainy criterium in Bottrop-Kirchellen (Ger), this was the second day of the GelNet Tour. Because the road was very slippery I quit the race halfway.

On Saturday we raced with four riders from our team in the Bauer-Rad-Preis in Löhne (Ger). Finally I sprinted with six riders for the victory. I won the sprint with half a wheel ahead and thought ofcourse that I was the winner of the race. But the jury decided differently because on the finishphoto, which was taken from behind and also two metres before the finishline, I was just in second position. The people and even the speaker who were standing at the finishline could confirm that I crossed the finishline first. But in spite of that the local rider David Dudek (Ger) won the race and I got second place, the German rider Jörn Reuβ (Team Winfix Arnolds) became third.

Finally we raced again with four riders from our team a criterium in Bocholt (Ger). The race turned out in a bunchsprint. My teammate René Schild brought me into a good position for the sprint, but unfortunally I got second place. Bastiaan Krol (Ned) won the race and my former teammate Martin Neffgen (Ger) got third place.

8 July; 3rd VICTORY OF THIS SEASON ! Yesterday I won my third race of this season in Coesfeld (Germany). In the last lap I left the German Markus Haverland behind and went solo to the finish.

6 July; From the 2nd untill the 4th of July we participated with our team at the Braunschweiger Radsport Trilogie, this was a three-day race with two criteriums and one classic on the last day. In the criterium on Friday I had some bad luck, during this race a dog crossed the road. I couldn't avoid the dog and crashed together with four riders. During the second day the weather was bad, rain from start untill finish, there was a break away of 10 riders. Teammate Robert Retschke became third. The last stage was a classic over 187 Km with seven times a climb. After 15 Km there was a break away of 15 riders, included from ComNet-Senges Stefan Cohnen, Robert Retschke and myself. I got dropped at the first climb and get caught through the second group. Stefan and Robert stayed in front, with 50 Km to go Stefan and Björn Papstein (Team Lamonta) attacked and together they sprinted for the victory. Stefan won this sprint easy and won the last stage, Robert became third and I became 18th. Robert also won the General Classification of the Braunschweiger Radsport Trilogie. So this was a very good weekend for our team.

1 July; Due circumstances I had to cancel my participation for the Superweek Pro Tour in the United States. This means I will do this month with my team, ComNet-Senges, some small stage races and some criteriums. At the end of this moment we will participate in Sachsen Tour (UCI 2.3).

June

30 June; Together with my teammate, Stefan Cohnen, I raced the Belgium kermesse in Mol-Ezaart. Halfway the race there was a break away of nine riders. Behind them there was a group of 20 riders included Stefan and me. Because our group wasn't working together we didn't catch the leading group again and our group was sprinting for 10th place. I won this sprint and became 10th, Stefan became 16th place in the result.

28 June; Yesterday I raced my National Championship in The Netherlands for Elite-riders which was held in Rotterdam. Right from the beginning there was a break away of five riders, they had a maximum gap of 10 minutes at the bunch. This gap was closed by Bankgiroloterij. It looked like there was coming a bunchsprint again this year, but in the final kilometres three riders escaped and Erik Dekker (Rabobank) was the fastest of those three. The peleton could sprint for 4th place. Because I became locked in the sprint I was 31st in the result. During the Dutch Championship I had pretty good legs and before the race my goal was to get in the first twenty in the result, unfortunally I didn't succeed but I'm not really discontented with my race.

24 June; With windforce 10 and rain we raced yesterday Brussel-Ingooigem (UCI 1.5) in Belgium. Already early in the race there was a first group of 26 riders. After 60 Km there was a chasing group of 20 riders included me. The peleton was taken out of the race, so only those two groups started on the six local laps. Because all the prices were gone and there were squalls through which blew some riders of the road, most riders of the second group abandoned the race. I also abandoned the race after 130 Km. Steven Caethoven (Vlaanderen - T-Interim) from Belgium won the race, only 15 riders did finish the race.

Today I get the final confirmation of my participating at the Superweek Pro Tour in the United States. The races are ridden throughout the state Wisconsin, mostly not far from Milwaukee. The course of several races runs along the shores of Michigan Lake. The Superweek Pro Tour will take place from 9 July until 25 July.

22 June; Yersterday I raced in Erembodegem-Terjoden (Bel), a open race for Professionals (GS1/2/3) and Elite over 146 Km. Early in the race I was in a break away of 16 riders. Because our group was working good together we had quickly a gap of 2.30 min. at the bunch. With 25 Km to go I was leading together with three other riders, Hans De Meester, Stefan Wijnands and Gunther Van Impe. In the last 5 Km De Meester and Wijnands attacked and unfortunally Van Impe and I got caught by three chasers, Kevin Van Der Slagmolen, David Meijs (both Vlaanderen - T-Interim) and Herman Lauwereys. Because my legs were a bit tired I became last of our group and finally got 7th place. Afterwards I was statisfied with my result and I'm feeling that my form is coming back. Winner of the race was finally the Belgium rider Hans De Meester.

20 June; Today I participated in Dortmund-Dorstfeld (Ger), during this race I took it easy and finally got 14th place. Winner of the race was Björn Glasner (Team Lamonta) from Germany.

14 June; Yesterday I raced in Berg & Terblijt a Climb Race. The criterium was 93 Km and with 31 times the climb, Geulhemmerberg. It was a hard race and finally my result was 11th, Belgium rider Kenny De Block won the race.

My conclusion of the last two weeks is that my form is not that good. In preparation to the National Championships my form has to become better. In the next two weeks I have to do some good training sessions and also have some restdays. Then I hope my form is good in the Nationals.

9 June; Today I started in the Dutch Championship Time Trail for Elite riders in Bergeijk. Because of back problems I had a bad time over the 56 Km Time Trail. My result was only 25th place and for myself I can only be discontented with my result. Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) became the new Dutch Champion Time Trail.

7 June; Yesterday I raced together with my teammate, Stefan Cohnen, a kermesse in Kerkom-St.Truiden (Bel). The weather was 25 degrees and it was a difficult race with a cobble section of 1 Km. Finally we were both in the chasing group of six riders behind the 13 leaders. My result was 18th place and Stefan became 19th.

May

31 May; From the 23rd until the 30th of May I raced the FBD Milk Rás (UCI 2.5) in Ireland. There were several strong teams at the start, like the Slovenian Prutnina Ptuj, Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic, The Murphy & Gunn mix-team and the national teams of Ireland, Kazakhstan, Great-Britain and Wales. During this 8-day stage race our team was very succesful. My teammate Stefan Cohnen won the 2nd stage as also the General U23 Classification. I myself gained a 4th place in stage 5, which was won by Malcolm Elliott. Totally our team had six top-ten results during the eights stages in Ireland. The General Classification of the FBD Milk Rás was won by the Irishman David McCann.

18 May; Press Release FBD Milk Rás - "Ireland can take honours in FBD Milk Rás"

17 May; Sunday I raced the Belgium race Walhain-St.Paul. Halfway the race I was in a leading group of four riders but unfortunally the bunch caught us again. Finally I finished the race in the bunch as 22nd.

10 May; Yesterday I raced Lincoln International GP (UCI 1.5) in Great-Britain. It was a hard race with the finish at a cobble climb. Half race I was in a leading group of 30 riders. With 20 Km to go the whole group feld apart, there were two riders in front and two groups of four riders behind them, then came my group of 10 riders. Finally my result was 14th. My former teammate with DCM, David O'Loughlin, won the race.

5 May; On a very rainy day I raced yesterday GP Stad Vilvoorde (Bel). There was a early break of 19 riders which stayed away until the finish. Unfortunally I missed this break and could only race for 20th place. Finally my result was 28th. Steve Schets (Vlaanderen 2016) won the race.

3 May; Yesterday I started in the Climb Race of Voerendaal (Ned). After 3 of 22 laps, there was a break away of five riders. Behind them I was together with four riders, we came with our group untill 20 metres behind the leaders, but we couldn't close the gap. Two riders in front get dropped so there was a leading group of three riders. Finally I was in the chasing group of three riders together with Danny Sijen and Maikel Paas, both of Team Fuji Bikes. In the sprint for fourth place it was Danny Sijen who won before me and Maikel Paas, so I got fifth place. The Belgium rider Kenny De Block won the race. 

April

25 April; 2nd VICTORY OF THIS SEASON ! Today I won a criterium in Genk (Bel). Before the criterium there was a prologue of 2.4 Km, in this prologue I became 2nd with a time of 3.00.02 . In the criterium I was in a break away of eight riders, with seven laps to go I attacked and only Frank van Kuik (Palmans-Collstrop) could follow. The two of us worked really good together and it was not that hard to stay away untill the finish. At the finish, which was on a little hill, I won the sprint of Frank van Kuik without any problems, and won my second race this season.

18 April; Yesterday I raced a kermesse in Zutendaal (Bel). The first half I was in a break away of six riders, but then a big group of 20 riders catched us. Finally two riders escaped and stayed in front untill the finish. The group were I was in sprinted for the fifth place, I became 10th. In the Mountain Price I became 1st.

14 April; In the kermesse in Boom (Bel) I finished third. I was in a leading group of 13 riders, finally we were racing with eight riders for the victory. In the last 2 Km Dave Verlinden attacked and won the race, behind him were Rudi Vingervoets and I. We became 2nd and 3rd, short in front of the other riders of the leading group.

10 April; Yesterday I raced a kermesse in Belgium, in Heist-op-den-Berg (Zonderschot). There were 220 riders at the start on a 5.9 Km lap (22 laps). During the race there was a break away of nine riders, but at the end it turned out to be a bunch sprint. During this sprint, at 300 metres before the finish, there was a big crash of 30 riders. Lucky for me, I was on the other site of the road and I could sprint to a 7th place.

8 April; Today I started in Saint-Ghislain - Hornu (Bel), this is the GP Pino Cerami for TT3/Elite-2. After five kilometres I was in a break away of seven riders. After 70 Km nine riders came back to our group, so there was a first group of 16 riders. In the last three local laps the first group completely feld to pieces, three riders in front and behind them four riders included myself. Unfortunally the three riders in front were to strong and stayed away. In the last kilometre I attacked and crossed the finishline as 4th. The Frenshman Marc Chanone won the race.

7 April; Press Release FBD Milk Rás - "German pro team, ComNet-Senges, for FBD Milk Rás"

4 April; Yesterday I participated in the race Grand Prix Del Bruyere (Bel). This was a hard race on a hilly course with a lot of wind, that it was a difficult race appeared out of the average speed, only 37 Km/h. Half-way the race I was in the break away of 11 riders and at the end there were five riders left. In the sprint, which was unfortunally too hilly for me, I became 4th. Jean-Claude Lebeau won the race before my former teammate with DCM, Sven Renders (Vlaanderen 2016). The first chasing group finished at more then two minutes behind us. All in all I was statisfied with my result.

March

28 March; Today I started in the criterium in Krefeld-Fischeln (Ger), there was a very strong David Kopp (Lamonta) at the start. Unfortunally two riders escaped at the end of the race, through that the bunch was sprinting for the 3rd place. I won the sprint of the bunch and became 3rd, ex-Telekom rider David Kopp became 4th. Deniz Tuzcu won the race in front of Roman Jördens.

27 March; Yesterday I came back from Tour de Normandie (UCI 2.5) in France, with some bad luck I abandoned in the 4th stage. Still I did get a little result, in the 2nd stage I became 16th.

19 March; Wednesday I started in Nokere Koerse (UCI 1.3) in Belgium. But already before the start I had a little injury on my hamstring, because I fell of the stairs at home on Tuesday. During the race I became some cramps in my right hamstring and I decided to quit the race after 120 Km and taking no risk in view of the Tour de Normandy. Yersterday my soigneur, Jo Kersemakers, treated my injury and I did a training of five hours without any problems. So there must be no problem for the Tour de Normandy, which is from 22 untill 28 March.

14 March; 1st VICTORY OF SEASON ! With our team we started with eight riders in the Nienburger Frühjahrspreis (Ger). This was a race over 133 Km. It was difficult because the course was a bit hilly and there was a lot of wind. After 20 Km I was in the break away of nine riders and with 50 Km to go we were only left with five riders. 25 Km before the finish I attacked alone and had a gap of 20 sec. and with 10 Km to go the gap was 55 sec. That was enough to stay in front alone and win my first race this season. To complete the succes my teammate, Stefan Cohnen, became 2nd also alone, then my other teammate, Markus Eichler, won the sprint for 3rd place. So this race was awesome for our team, also because only three riders of our team finished the race, 1st ,2nd and 3rd ! It turned out to be a hard race because only 30 riders did finish the race out of 120 starters.

8 March; Saturday I participated in the Classic De Vlaamse Pijl (UCI 1.6) in Harelbeke (Bel), a race over 152 Km. In this race there were some hard climbs like, the Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg and Côte de Trieu. After the Oude Kwaremont I was in the second group just behind the leaders, together with my two teammates, Stefan Cohnen and Markus Eichler, we closed the gap at the beginning of the Paterberg. After that we were only left with 25 riders and in no time we had a 2 minute gap on the bunch. In the local laps the leading group fell to pieces, Three riders in front, then four chasers and then 11 riders included me. Because I made a mistake in the sprint, I lost a good result and became only 17th. Jurgen Vermeersch (ex-professional with i.a. Landbouwkrediet) won the race.

The day after on sunday I raced Rund um Straelen (Ger), a race over 120 Km. Right after the start I noticed that I didn't had good legs after saturday. That's why I stayed in the bunch the whole race.

4 March; The first race of any importance this season was yersterday Memorial Samyn (UCI 1.3) in Fayt-le-Franc (Bel) over 185 km. In the last 50 km Lotto-Domo turned on the gas and reeled the leaders in. In the last local lap the bunch broke and 27 riders were in front. I was in the bunch en finished as 98th. In spite of this result I still had a good feeling during this race and I'm looking forward to race next Saturday in De Vlaamse-Pijl - Harelbeke (UCI 1.6).

February

29 Februari; Today we started with five riders of Team ComNet-Senges at the Belgium race in Oud-Heverlee, the under 25 riders of our team participated in Brussel-Opwijk (Bel). Also in this race I was in the break away, this time with six riders, included my two teammates Luke Roberts and Hans-Jürgen Juretzek. In spite that we did everything to stay in front, the bunch caught us again after 60 km. Before the bunch caught us Luke attacked and was in front alone, but after 20 km the bunch also caught him. In the last lap there was a break away of 11 riders, with Wolfram Wiese from our team. In the sprint Wolfram became 6th, the others riders from our team were all in the bunch.

28 February; Because of the bad weather (snow) the two races of this weekend, Saint-Severin and Brustem-St.Truiden (both Belgium), were cancelled. That's why I participated on Saturday in Dalen (Ned) at the "Akkers en Maten Omloop", a race of 148 Km. After 15 km there was a break away of 10 riders, included my teammate Hans-Jürgen Juretzek and myself. Unfortunally the bunch caught us again after 80 km. With 15 km to go five riders got away, I finished 17th.

22 February; The last trainingsrace before the real races start was today in Veldhoven (The Netherlands). In the first half of the race two riders attacked. Because the bunch didn't chase at all, those two riders had in no time a nice gap. Finally there was a chasing group of 6 riders included myself. Unfortunally we just didn't get the two riders in the last lap and our group had to sprint for the 3rd place. Roy Curvers (VHG) won this last trainingsrace in front of Dirk Bellemakers (Van Vliet), Kees Jeurissen (VHG) became 3rd and I became 4th.

15 February; Today I raced a trainingsrace in Landgraaf (The Netherlands), which is my hometown. Halfway I was in a leading group of 11 riders. After several attacks at the end, we were only left with 4 riders with also Floris Goesinnen and Frank Kwanten both from Moser-AH. In the last lap Floris Goesinnen attacked and in the last km I catched him again, then I won easilyy the sprint and won the race.

12 February; Yesterday I returned from the trainingcamp with our team on Gran Canaria ! The weather was just perfect, 28 degrees. De sphere in our team was excellent and I think we have a really strong team this season.

3 February; Tomorrow morning we will leave with our team on trainingcamp to Gran Canaria. This is going to be a week of hard training and a lot of mountains. But at least the weather is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius !

1 February; The third trainingsrace which I raced was in Veldhoven (The Netherlands). After a few attacks of some different riders, I finally was in the break away with three other riders, as well as Jurgen van Pelt. In my opinion Jurgen and I were the strongest riders in the leading group and that's why we also did the most work. In spite of that another rider did win the race, Jurgen van Pelt got 2nd and I became 3rd.

January

30 January; Teampresentation Team ComNet-Senges at EWV in Stolberg (Ger).

25 January; In spite of all occurences last week, I decided to race this Sunday a trainingrace, again in Oss.

Immediately there were attacks and I was in the break away of 3 riders. At the finish I became 2nd after Reinier Honig (Bert Story - Piels).

23 January; At this time it's hard for me to concentrate on cycling, because of the dead of a close family member.

On moments like this you realise that some things where we worry about during daily life are not important anymore.

17 January; I raced on Sunday a trainingrace in Oss (The Netherlands) on the road. At the end I was in a leading group with 11 riders, in the sprint I won the race before Bas van Dooren (yes, he's racing again) and Jeroen Boelen (VHG), Pascal Hermes (Axa) became 4th.

After my last two weekends I must conclude that my form is on schedule. The next weeks the intensity of my training will be higher. After the trainingstage with my team I will take a rest before the races are starting.

10 & 11 January; I had a good weekend on the track in Büttgen (Germany). I won all the four races as also the Madison together with the young German rider, Timo Wecek. It was for me the first time ever participating a Madison race.