Following everyone’s arrival during Saturday morning, the team set out in the rain for a steady ride to help loosen any stiff muscles after flights and car journeys. This was the last preparation before the Omploop Het Volk which took place on Sunday. The Het Volk is a very famous semi-classic for men, held in February, and this year was the first year that the race has been added to the calendar as a women’s UCI race. It was the perfect way for the team to start at the top!

With representatives from major sponsor Fat Birds Don’t Fly (www.fatbirds.co.uk) at the race to see the event, the team were hopeful of a good start to the season. The course was 91km in length with 4 cobbled sections and 4 climbs. All of these came in the first 46km before the race entered a 15km finishing circuit for 3 final laps.

With the blend of European experience and international racing novices, the key for the team was to place riders well in the bunch over the early climbs and ensure we were ready to get in front section of any splits in the peleton.

On the approach to the 3^rd climb, Lorna Webb punctured and following a quick change was paced back onto the bunch by Emma Silversides, who defied her inexperience in the European Peleton with a mature piece of riding. This effort from Emma allowed the team to place 4 riders in the front group (Lorna, Cath, Helen and Emma Pooley). Line Ramsrud and Emma Silversides followed closely behind in the second group on the road.

Having entered the final circuits, the race was destined to come down to a sprint and the team concentrated themselves on keeping their position on the final laps. However with many of the worlds best sprinters and their lead-out trains in the race, the 3 remaining FBUK riders found themselves out of position going into the final corner, but still finished in very good positions for the first UCI race for the team in 2006.

Result:

1^st Suzanne De Goede

2^nd Mirjan Melchers - Van Poppel

3^rd Tanja Hennes

52^nd Cath Hare (Team FBUK)

57^th Lorna Webb (Team FBUK)

58^th Helen Wyman (Team FBUK)

98^th Emma Pooley (Team FBUK)

Time Limit Line Ramsrud (Team FBUK)

Time Limit Emma Silversides (Team FBUK)

Following the race, the team then returned to their Belgian base to train for a week together. Key elements were introduced to riders throughout the week like riding with race radios, using team cars and collecting bottles. All of these parts of pro racing need to be second nature to the riders if they are going to succeed in the European peleton.

The final part of the week was a short trip to Holland for a 60km Criterium in Oud-Vossemeer. Again, this was a testing challenge for the riders without European experience. With the race going from the gun, with an average speed around 44kmph, all riders must hold their nerve and hold their line if they are to succeed.

With a small group of 5, 30 seconds up on the bunch of 119 riders, Helen Wyman attached the bunch and quickly formed a group of 13 riders who gained a lead of 30 seconds within 2 laps of the 1.5km course. With Cath Hare working hard in the main bunch with Line and Emma, Helen’s group successfully stayed away, with Helen finishing 11^th. Cath Hare finished in the main bunch in 31^st.

It was a great end to the week for the girls who had worked hard in training and looks to be a promising start to the 2006 for the team.

For more details please see the following:

www.teamfbuk.com

www.helenwyman.com

www.emmasilversides.com

www.fatbirds.co.uk

www.schwinnbikes.com

www.schwalbe.com

www.abus.de