James Newman spent a wonderfully hard summer getting getting his ass handed to him in Belgium. He did have a couple great days on the bike. This was one of them.
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I think it was a semi classic not a kermesse as it was a longer race on a bigger circuit. 120 miles. At least two large “rollers” one was steeper and went up into a village then right back into the potato fields on the descent. The other was longer and more than a false flat but had a curve to the right all the way up through a nicer towns store fronts. There was also a freeway over pass that if I remember right was harder that either roller because of the wind. It was grey and like 50-ish degrees but dry. I had arm warmers on and socks over my shoes. And a colored hairnet blue/red/yellow on top and white around the circumference and white straps. I made the first split from over a 100 to about 50 probably in the first 50km in. Then I made the break of like 7-10. Most notably were the 4 Lithuanians. They weren’t as thick as most of the Belgians but more ripped and lean. Two specifically were like albino blonde but they were all light complexion and emaciated. They’re kit was all at least a year old and stained grey likely from only hand washing.
Anyhow, they would taken turns like in a ttt, always keeping the pace high and the Belgians would attack one at a time then blow and come back right through the group and disappear. I waited on the back, happy to just hold on. Then with about 30km left I was the last one with 3 Lithuanians. 1 was up the road and I was in a small group I think of 3. The ones I was with insisted I take a pull. I did, then one attacked just as I was wanting to come off. I let him go and the other 2 sat up. I jumped and they both came with, then one of them jumped and I chased. At this point we’re on the gradual hill in the nice village by the shops. Me chasing the one while the other sat on my wheel. 2 Lithuanians and an American in Flanders. People were cheering and the car behind with the guy with the loudspeaker and Het Volk newspaper stickers on the hood talking incessantly over polka music.
Finally near the crest, the Lithuanian on my wheel jumps and leaves me. We had at most a full lap to go, maybe only half a lap. I got caught by a group of Belgians who were previously dropped and took the sprint from them at the finish for 6th or 7th. I had one other top 10 that year and it was 4 months later.
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