John Murphy

June 2006 - Posts

• IWT

  I.W.T. UCI 1.2 June 28, 2006 With most our U23 national Team in Spain doing a stage race, Brandon McKeever, Winston David, and I headed out for I.W.T.  The race was 172k with rolling hills including the cobblestone climb the Muur.  For lack of better words, it’s hard.  After 110k we hit the local circuits with 4 laps of 15k.  Each lap consists of 2 cobblestone sectors, both almost 2k long.  The first sector leads right into a 700 meter climb immediately following the cobbles.  After the climb, there was 4k until the next cobblestone section.  After the last section of nearly 2k’s long, we hit the finishing straight with 700 meters to the line. The race didn’t start off so hard, so the group was together most of the day.  With just a small breakaway of 6 riders up the road, the peloton just kind of cruised.  That was until we hit the Muur.  Actually, all hell broke loose with about 4k before the climb.  Everyone was fighting for wheels and if I didn’t know better it seemed we were about to hit the finish line.  Anyways, I did know so I came to the Muur top 20 and made it over with the leaders.  The group didn’t split up much, but it was the first time the race got hard so many riders were popped off at this point.   When we came to the circuits, there were a dozen or so riders in the breakaway now.  On the first lap of the circuits, the cobblestone section came up on me fast than I thought, and I was caught up in the middle of the group.  When we finally came off the cobbles onto the climb, I was another group rolling away of about 18 riders.  Damn, I was already hurting trying to move up on the cobbles.  I screwed up.  Too far back.  All I could do is hope to go across with another group.  I followed some wheels on the next lap and got away with 15 other guys.  On the final lap, I tried to get away several times, but couldn’t stay away.  On the final section, I drove it hard, trying one last time to get away before the finish.  After a moment of hard effort, the group was still on me.  So coming off the section I sat up, making someone else lead it out.  A couple guys jumped so I jumped hard to get on their wheel.  I guess the length of the race was getting to the other guys because when I came around and looked back, there was no one.  Maybe they just didn’t want to sprint.  Either way, we didn’t catch the front group and I got in some really good training.  Maybe on Sunday I can have a better race and get up there in the front group.   Technorati Tags: Cycling [link] Posted Jun 29 2006, 06:29 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Omloop Het Volk

  Omloop Het Volk 1.12 Top Competition June 24th, 2006 The team for this year’s edition of Omloop Het Volk was John Devine, Mike Wolf, Chris Stockburger, Brandon McKeever, Scott Jackson and I.  Today’s race was 172k long, with rolling hills all day.  There was a 115k big loop with 2 X 28k circuits at the end.  The race broke up early on with a group of 12 getting away about 25k in.  We hit the Cappelestraat climb after about 60k.  Devine and Wolf went across to the break with 18 other guys.  Now there was a 30 man front group and we had two.  In the Peloton, Chris and I were the only ones left.  With 10k to go, the peloton of now about 50 caught the front group.  There were 9 riders up the road, and the peloton now with Devine, Wolf and me.  They were both hurting from a long day in the breakaway, so I did what I could in the 700 meter uphill to the finish.  My legs were cramping pretty hard so it was all I could do for 13th in the field sprint.  Finishing 22nd, I was happy to finish the day towards the front.  Devine and Wolf was just behind in the group after a hard day in the breakaway.  It was a good race for the team so the motivation is good for the guys leaving for Spain on Monday.  I’ll be staying in Belgium for two more races and then back to the US for nationals.   Technorati Tags: Cycling [link] Posted Jun 25 2006, 07:20 AM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Crashing Sucks!

  Well, on Tuesday we headed to a race about 20k from the house. We drove there, just because it was a 156krace. It basically was a glorified kermis becuase it was 13 laps of a 12k circuit. The course was tricky with lots of turns and over 190 starters. We were tipped off that it was going to be splintered from the go, so we started in the front. As the gun went off, the pace was in fact blistering. I was at the front and throwing down as hard as I could. Just following everything and staying top 10 at all times. After about 10 minutes, I jumped with a group of 5 that looked promising. We went through an "S" bend turn, and on the way out of it I lost traction with my front wheel. In an instant I hit the pavement and slid into a ditch. An imediately numbness took over my left shoulder when I realized I couldn't move it. I almost couldn't breath. I laid there in the ditch until the entire field came by. When I finally sat up, "Pop," my shoulder went back into place. Wow, that was scary. My race was over. I stood up to check out my bike. It was fine. I hoped back on and limped it back to the feed zone. I had some road rash on my hip barely allowing me to pedal. It hurt with every pedal stroke. It was short day for me, and most of the team had not such good luck either. Luckily I was the only one to crash, but Brandon McKeever was the only one to survive past 50k, making it until 3 laps to go when his group was pulled. My shoulder is fine now, but it was pretty sore that night and the next day. Het Volk for amateurs is on the menu for me this weekend, so that will be cool. Then maybe a trip down to Spain for a stage race next week. Technorati Tags: Cycling [link] Posted Jun 22 2006, 06:09 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Bertem 1.12

  Bertem 1.12June 18, 2006Well, this Sunday was the going to be one of the hottest days yet.After the hot day, we will all be looking to re-hydrate for the race this upcoming Tuesday. Technorati Tags: Cycling [link] Posted Jun 20 2006, 07:39 AM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Some pictures from this week

  Here are some pictures from Brugge. It's one of the most famous cities in Belgium. Devine and I spent the day there Monday. It's a really cool city. On the beach in Da Haan, just a few k's from our vacation house. This is Alex. He is our Souigneur while we are at the vacation house. He is a bad ass with his great cooking and awesome massages. The guys works ridicously hard so he gets his rest in the evenings while we clean up. Technorati Tags: Cycling [link] Posted Jun 16 2006, 03:34 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Cras Avernas

  So we headed out for the Cras Avernas 1.2 on this hot June Morning. We started the 200k race with John Devine, Pat McGlynn, Scott Jackson, Brandon McKeever, Winston David and myself. After a big 168k loop, the raced finished with 3 X 12k circuits. After 60k, the race had dwindled down from 140 riders to 75. Devine, Pat and I were the remaining national team riders in the peleton. As the race drove over the 5 climbs of the day, Pat and I were dropped over the last one, just 25k from the circuits. Devine got to the circuits in the main group with just 3 riders up the road. He was top ten in the group sprint. It was a solid day from Devine coming in 13th. Pat and I pulled out at the circuits just ready to be done with the hot day. [link] Posted Jun 12 2006, 07:40 AM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Coffee shop time back in Roeselare

  So today we headed back to Roeselare to chill out for some coffee and maybe some pannekoeken(pancake). I had a pannekoeken and some cappuchino. The guys John Devine, Pat McGlynn and Brandon McKeever joined in for the coffee. Then after some good times at the coffee/Pannekoeken house, we headed back to our town of Izegem. On the way we decided to sprint for the city limit sign. Luckily I took it... Tomorrow we are doing Cras Avernas 1.2. It's 200k's with pro teams like Lambowkrediet-Colnago, Unibet and Chocolade-Jacques. Should be a good time. [link] Posted Jun 10 2006, 06:40 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Roeselare Crit

  With Cras Avernas 1.2 this Sunday, I decided it would be a good idea to get a local race in before to keep the leg speed up. Luckily there was a crit in the town next door to us in Roeselare. It was a 65k crit with 1.4k laps. I started on the front row and jumped with the first move right off the line. The 50 starters were instantly strung out. I never looked back for the first 30 minutes just following attack after attack. Once all the favorites were up the road with me in an 8 person break, the race was shattered behind us. After an hour of racing, 1 rider got away and stuck it to the finish. My chain was skipping pretty hard core from a 1970 watt effort halfway through the race. I broke one of my chain links halfway like it pulled apart. That limited me a little bit, but I was still able to go hard as long as I sat down. So in the sprint I wasn't able to go completely flat out. I was 2nd in the sprint for 3rd in the race. It was a hard race; the best way to prep for the race sunday. [link] Posted Jun 10 2006, 08:14 AM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Waver 1.2 Top Competition

  Waver 1.2 Top Competitions June 4, 2006 Fresh off training down in Monaco with my buddy Tyler Farrar, I arrived back at the packed U23 house in Belgium.  I say it’s packed because we have 3 programs going for the U23 (15 riders), and 2 programs for the newly revamped junior national team program (10 riders).  That’s 25 riders for a house that only has 18 beds.  Yeah, pretty crowded. Luckily 7 riders are in Spain racing so the house is just at 18 right now.  Anyhow, Brandon McKeever, Ulrich Deyoung, and I were the national team riders for the Waver race.  The race is 172k with 3 X 15k circuits at the end.  With just a couple shorts climbs before the circuit, the race was basically just attack after attack.  I was in several moves but nothing stuck.  Once we hit the circuit, there were 20 riders up the road and we had no one in it.  There was a 3k cobblestone sections just 2k before the finish of the circuits.  After one lap of the circuits, I was sitting 15th wheel going into the cobbles.  There was a big pile up about tenth wheel so I went hard right to avoid it.  I almost did but just caught this guy’s wheel that jumped at me at the last second.  I went down hard on the cobblestones.  First my elbow hit and then my head.  Damn, my head was ringing.  I stood up and pulled the guys bike off me whose big chain ring had conveniently gouged into my left shin.  Blood all over my leg.  I got up and my bike still rolled freely so I got back on it.  I rode easy until the whole peloton came by.  With my head still aching I was pretty much just going to call it a day.  After about half the caravan passed me before I finished the cobblestone section.  Once on the paved rode, I took a sip of water and started feeling a little better.  I decided to jump back in the cars and make a chase back on.  After a few k’s in the caravan, I got back on the back of the main group.  The 9 guys who were in front of the crash bridged up to the front group.  Now there were 29 riders up the road and I was just looking to finish the day.  I just rode towards the front and finished the race maybe top ten in our group.  A few guys slipped away at the end so maybe I finished like 45th or something.  I wasn’t hurt too bad but my helmet was from the crash.  I guess it did it’s job though cause I cracked it in two places. Next race is Sunday at Cras Avernas.  I don’t know too much about it but it should be fun.  Maybe some kermesses(local races) are on the menu for the week.  Well see… [link] Posted Jun 05 2006, 09:56 PM by jpmurphy with no comments