by Lauren Kitchen
I have just returned from our first team training camp with Wiggle Honda in Italy. During the 10 day camp we also competed in G.P Padova and Alfredo Binda World Cup. It was a really beautiful area where we were based for the camp, just outside of Treviso in the north east corner of Italy. The team arrived throughout the evening of March 14th to a cute Bed and Breakfast on top of a hill, over looking the Italian Alps. My first thought was “who picked accomodation on top of a hill” but it turned out to be a great location and the climb back up each day was not as challenging as I first thought.
The first two days of training camp was really just receiving team clothing and getting to know each other before six of us headed off to G.P Padova on Saturday the 16th. We raced really well as a team and delivered Giorgia to the front where she convincingly out sprinted the rest of the bunch for the teams second win of the the season! It was nice to celebrate the win with the whole team back at the accomodation.
The next week was spent split between long endurance rides with the whole team with some steady climbs and some time trial work. It was the first opportunity to test out our time trial bikes and to begin some teams time trial work with the goal of a good result at the Worlds TTT for the team. We spent one whole day with our sponsor Fizik at their factory, where we got to see how the saddles are made and designed as well as discuss any further ideas for some upcoming projects fizik have. A really enjoyable day with a great sponsor team!
On Friday the 22nd the World cup team of Anna, Giorgia, Bea, Emily, Mayuko and I headed to Cittiglio for the second world cup of the season. It is a really beautiful area there, an area I know well from being based close when I was part of the AIS. On Friday and Saturday we enjoyed beautiful Italian spring weather checking over the circuit and preparing for the race. On Saturday afternoon we had a great time with our title sponsor Honda, meeting the Honda race car drivers at the Monza race track, which included a hot lap of the track! A great experience that we were all buzzing from!
Sunday the 24th was race day and we woke to what we had expected. Rain. It was a chilly 5 degrees and persistant rain for the entire race, much like alot of our races have been so far this season. Not letting the cold and wet conditions get to me, I was 100% commited to having a good race for my team and for myself. I was unsure how I would feel on such a challenging circuit, with 5 decisive climbs throughout the race I wasnt sure what to expect. I focused on always looking for my team leader Giorgia and thinking about warm thoughts in order to not let the cold get to me. I managed to still be in contetion with the front bunch as we headed to the finish line to sprint for 5th place. Being a bit far back on the last corner I finished 13th. I was really happy with my performance as I never expected to be in the front bunch in this hilly world cup but I know my sprint can be alot better, however this gives me more motivation and confidence of my form heading into the big one, the Tour of Flanders on Sunday the 31st of March.
Overall a great week with the team in Italy, now its back to Holland for a week before Flanders and Energiewacht tour! Thanks for reading.
