The year started with a minor setback, I was forced to sit the first race out with a niggling knee injury, but hearing that the team rode strongly in what was the first round of the Copa Espana did at least help my confidence. Thankfully my knee soon felt better and by the time the next race came round I was ready to go, at the Clássica Internacional Loulé Capital Europeia do Desporto UCI 1.2, there was a strong field of the best Portuguese teams and a few strong foreign teams too, including the American team Optum Kelly Benefit. The race started at a fast pace with different groups constantly going up the road before being brought back, then finally just before the first main climb of the day a strong group of 25 attacked off the front and I managed to follow. From there it was a case of sitting the wheel and saving as much energy as possible as the group worked hard to open the gap to the finish. With 5km to go the front group hit the final climb, I tried following a strong attack by Canadian Michael Woods but he was too strong and soloed into Loulé to take victory. Behind there was confusion as the group went the wrong way on a roundabout but I managed to not lose much time and finished 9th, and also 1st in the under 23 category. It was my first time on a podium spraying champagne, which as you expect did not go so great, but a great start to the year.
Up next was the first stage race of the year for Zappi's Racing Team. The two day Trofeu Alpendre Internacional do Guardiana UCI 2.2. We expected the first day to be one for the sprinters but the it turned out to be hilly than expected. Myself, James Locker and Callum Ferguson managed to hold onto the front group over the climbs and then following an impressive recovery by Locker who crashed on one of the descents before catching us up, we decided to work the best we could to help him in the sprint. It was a chaotic sprint, and in the end the break was never caught, Locker placed 29th on the stage, myself and Callum lost no time, whilst the rest of the team rolled in the group behind.
Stage 2 was a day for the climbers and despite a small crash the day before I was really looking forward to it. From the gun the pace was high up a 5 kilometer climb, the Ecuadorian team of the race leader working hard to close down any moves that were going away and then keeping the pressure on the crosswind sections over the top of the climbs. Approaching the first classified climb of the day, a few splits were forming and myself and Callum made an effort to get ahead before the climb started. It was a smart move as the front split really put the hammer down up the climb and soon 30 of us were away. Unfortunately Callum had a mechanical over the top of the climb and had to wait for assistance. Up the road the American team Optum Kelly Benefits worked hard to try and extend the gap the front group had. With the crosswinds it was tough riding in the gutter and eventually we were brought back by the chasing group, with Callum in it, before the final two laps around Alcoutim. The group was whittled down over the two laps, and there was roughly only 40 of us remaining for the final 10 kilometres. Despite suffering from cramp I managed to follow a few moves and approaching the final descent into Alcoutim found myself right at the front of the group. It was a hair-raising finish with many riders taking serious risks on the fast final few corners. I entered the last straight in 6th position and ended up 5th in the sprint, a result I was incredibly pleased with. I was 19th overall and 4th in the young riders classification.
Our final race in Portugal is going to be the Trofeu do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina UCI 2.2 and from there we travel to Italy for a another month of racing.
Keep you updated,
James Knox
