In a comeback year after injury, U23 international Aaron Buggle has had a roller coaster time since the National Championships in June. Some medical problems have led to inconsistency in form, but his class has shone through very clearly a number of times. In this latest dispatch from his base in France, he says he’s hopeful for the period ahead.
It’s been a long time since my last update and a lot has been going on. Not all of it good unfortunately, but I have just had to get on with it….
Day’s after the National Championships in June I was feeling a bit low and put it down to the emotional roller-coaster I had at the Champs – being awarded the U23 TT title and realising there had been a mix up and that I hadn’t won. But I was wrong. A blood test revealed I was drastically low in iron and was running a few infections, my ear being one. So I started antibiotics and upped the iron dosage and headed back to France.
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It wasn’t long before I had Kreiz Breizh Elites in store; a UCI 2.2 four-stage race that I was doing with the Ireland team in France. I was going into it with an open mind as I was having some very good days in training and some horrible ones. The form was very inconsistent, which was more than likely the iron issue.
It was a hard race, really hilly and not many easy parts! But I fought through the weekend thinking I would come out of it stronger rather than thinking of a result. I knew I hadn’t the form and that was underlined in the hilly individual TT. I got a total hammering and it was probably the worst TT I’ve ridden for as long as I can remember.
After some much needed recovery I spent the next few weeks at home preparing for the European Championships, with a lot of time on the TT bike for the first time this year and a few TTs aswell.
I travelled up to Woodgreen for a 25 mile TT a few days after arriving back from France. I was still a bit tired but I knew it was my last chance to get a long test in before the Europeans. I ended up doing an unbelievable ride considering the tough patch I was coming out of. I went through the 10 mile mark with a low 19 min time and hadn’t really stressed myself too much. I ended up posting my fastest 25 by a long shot and one of the fastest ever on Irish soil; 48:46.
Along with a course record a few day’s later at a 10 mile TT, I was feeling better about myself. And those two competitive time trials, along with training data, gave my coach David McCann the much needed info he needed to plan the European TT.
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I arrived at the Europeans – the week before last - very relaxed for a change. And I was confident my ability would take me to a top 10 place even if my bikes didn’t arrive off the plane and I was without them for a day - a little frustrating.
The course wasn’t what I would design for myself. It was very stop-start and not many sections where you could really get into the aero tuck and stay there. Nonetheless, I gave it my best shot. I ended up 50 seconds off my target. Not a disaster, but still well off. It was my acceleration out of corners that slowed me down.
The road race a few days later mainly consisted of crashes and trying to stay upright. It was really hard to move around with the narrow roads and I didn’t get to see much of my team mates on the day. I was beside Sam (Bennett) once. I think I gave him a bottle, asked if he was ok and that was it.
I didn’t even know he had punctured towards the end until Conor Dunne and Sam came up the outside after Sam got back on. Sam still managed a top 10 which was very impressive and who knows what it could have been without the puncture.
I have arrived back in France and unfortunately am still feeling a bit iffy. I didn’t ride well in a small race a few days ago but having my coach there to speak to helps a lot as he has been the one who has brought me back to my current level after injury.
I have progressed throughout the season and done well considering I came off the back off no racing last season. I expect to return next season at a higher level, and I’m sure with discipline and the structure of David’s training I’ll achieve that.
I just hope I have done enough this year to get a decent team next year. Where I’ll be riding is still undecided.
Until next time
Aaron
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