With little in the way of racing at the moment, Daniel Kogan travelled over to Belgium on 14th July in search of some hard racing and he wasn’t disappointed! Staying for a week, the plan was to do three elite/under 23 races.
Monday saw the first race and Kogan’s first senior Belgium race. After racing as a junior there last year, he knew it was going to be flat and hard racing. A 3pm start and 75 riders lined up for the 120km race over 22 5km flat and twisting laps with high winds and a 500 metre section of cobbles. The race went off as usual at a ferocious pace and, with the bunch lined out, positioning was key as riders were continuously being fired off the back due to the unrelenting speed. Sitting too far back and with the roads making it hard to move up, Dan was playing a dangerous game. The warm weather was also taking its toll as picking up bottles when the bunch was lined out at 35mph proved tricky. With three laps to go, dehydration and the constant kicking out of corners had finally caused a split and unfortunately Dan was on the wrong side of it! Coming into two laps to go Dan was in a small group just off the back of what was left of the bunch. Through the finish again and his group were pulled out. Disappointed he may have been but Dan knew his positioning was to blame and although his first senior race was a shock to the system, he came away with a 37th place, a little prize money and a lot of valuable experience.
On Wednesday Dan headed over the other side of Belgium near to Blauberg where another 120km race greeted the riders. A later start meant 135 riders signed on. The circuit was much more suited to Dan as it was a 15km lap with a few drags. Keen to improve on Monday's result, as soon as the flag dropped Dan moved into the top 15 of the bunch and attacked up the main drag taking four other riders away with him. These included Guy Smet, one of the most successful amateur Belgians around with 40 wins last season, a Continental Pro in the form of British rider Matt Brammier and a guy from the Predictor Lotto feeder team. Riding hard, Kogan felt strong yet the break was short lived and soon everyone was back in the fold. Avoiding some big crashes in the group Dan stayed near the front yet somehow missed the winning break. It wasn’t to be today as soon the break had built up a healthy lead and it looked like the bunch was going to have a 100 plus rider sprint to the line. Not keen on mixing it up in the sprint and after trying the whole race to get away, Dan sat up and rolled in 64th. Although not the result he wanted, Dan was happy with the strength he had and the experience gained.
Friday came, and the final race of the week was to be the hardest. 110 riders lined up in Ingelmunster for the 118km race, which saw riders from the USA National team, the Rabobank under 23 team and Quickstep feeder team take the start. With lots of road furniture, tight corners and open roads it was going to be tough and sure enough, as soon as the flag dropped the pace rocketed as riders grappled for wheels. With a prime every lap it was bound to be fast but no one could imagine it would be that fast! Coming into the last lap and after two and quarter-hours of chewing the bars groups of riders were everywhere. Dan, still in what was left of the bunch, saw a USA national team rider attack and seeing his chance Dan went across and joined him. Soon five riders were away and working well together. Coming into 2km to go Dan knowing his sprint was not good attacked his group and created a small gap but it wasn’t to be today and, with 100 metres to go, his group were on him again. Coming across the line Dan claimed 43rd place out of 110 riders. With an average speed of just over 28mph Dan knew he had been in a race!
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