Richard Hooton (DMG-Visit Nenagh) has just returned home from a six-week stint in Belgium where he sampled life as an ‘amateur professional’ in the Flanders region. Here he recounts the ups and downs of his experience, in conversation with Brian Canty.
Well I’m just back from Belgium and all I can say is that it was an eye-opening experience. I was based just outside a little village called Heffen near the town of Mechelen. It’s halfway between Brussels and Antwerp. I was staying with a couple, Luc and Ingrid. It was Siobhan Horgan who helped me get the accommodation; she stayed with them in the past.
For my time in Belgium I rode 1.12B races; your typical bread and butter Belgian kermesse races. They were hard; very hard and intense but I guess all races are like that. I wouldn't say I was in anything harder than Rás Mumhan. I was able to hold my own against the Belgians, I felt I was as strong if not stronger than a lot of them; certainly any Irish A1 would have no problems.
Advertisement
Of course, all that said, I was still far from winning.
I think the biggest difference between Irish racing and Belgian racing is when you take to the start line in Ireland realistically there's only four or five guys who can win the race; guys like Adam Armstrong, Ryan Sherlock, Páidi O’Brien and Sean Lacey. It’s the same guys every week.
But in Belgium you take to the start line and there could be 20 to 25 guys who realistically could win, and 100 more who won't be far behind. It just means that you have to really, really use your head; you probably could only make one or two real bids for victory and if they don't work then forget it.
Also, no matter what happens the bunch will never give up, there's always someone willing to drive it up front.
And then of course there's the typical differences of the cobblestones and corners etc. But I felt I adapted to that aspect pretty quickly, it wasn't as hard as I imagined it would be. Irish riders are certainly capable of competing in Belgium.
Sometimes I'd finish in the bunch, sometimes I'd be gone after 30km, sometimes I was in breaks, sometimes I was swinging off the back. What you have to understand about Belgium is the nature of the courses - fast and technical - means that once you lose contact with the bunch then straight away it’s over and you’re effectively eliminated from the race.
Related News
It was hard at the start, very hard to finish a race; I wasn't physically hard enough. Once you get over there you realise that the Belgians aren't actually better than you, but being physically fit is only half the battle.
You have to be 110 per cent concentrated110 per cent of the time and fight for your place on the road. I was there for 40 days, 38 of them I was on the bike. I like to have a plan and a routine with everything I do so naturally in Belgium my days just followed the same pattern.
Typically I'd be up around 9am, have breakfast, check e-mails etc and aim to be on the bike for 11:30am. Then I'd do 1-4hrs (usually 3hr). I wasn't doing a lot of specific stuff as the races were enough for that but I was getting in more than 20 hours a week. So then I'd be home around 2pm or 3pm and I'd have some lunch and watch the Tour.
I also took to cleaning my bike every single day, Luc gave me a proper work stand and all the tools and cleaning equipment I needed. I became quite obsessed with having a clean bike in the end. Hopefully that will carry on into the winter though I doubt it!
Then in the evenings I used to study (Geology). Because of the Rás this year UCC agreed to postpone three of my exams until August so I was just preparing for them.
I loved my time in Belgium, I really did. I would say there are a handful of things in life you have to do before you can call yourself a real cyclist and racing across the cobblestones in Flanders is most certainly right up there.
As to whether I will go back again….. Well, I wouldn't go back under the same circumstances. I went for six weeks this year and my only goal was to learn, get experience, see what it’s all about and just enjoy myself. It was a holiday more than anything else.
I had no ambitions for race results or anything like that. I lived the dream for six weeks but the reality is it’s an expensive dream and if you’re not winning races then you’re just wasting your time. If and when I'm regularly winning races in Ireland then I might consider heading back over there on a more long-term basis. But until that point I'm pretty happy with staying here.
I don't think a pro lifestyle would suit me. You have to be prepared to give yourself entirely to the bike and while I love it very much I don't think I would be willing to completely give up my whole life for cycling and in reality that’s what it takes to make it as a pro.
Bye for now
R
Topics
