Welcome to my blog which will document my cycling career after a 10 year break. I ride on the road and track all over the UK, Europe and South East Asia.
I am writing this blog to document my progress and hopefully inspire others to get back on the bike. On here I will have details of my training, races, events, trips, pictures, links to my sponsors, my coach and other useful things.

My first big adventure for the year is the International Tour ta Malta a race I first rode approx 15 years ago. It will be great to return to the race.
My main goal for the season is the World Masters Track Championships in Manchester in October. Before then I will also target the Masters National Track Championships in Newport in June, British Elite Track Championships in September, LVRC Track Championships, Masters tour of Majorca and towards the end of the year I will be taking part in the Masters Tour of Chiang Mai and Tour of Chiang Rai both in Thailand

Eddie Soens 

Calendar

March 8th Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap

March 9th ACT Track League Manchester Velodrome

March 16th Act Track League Manchester Velodrome

Tour ta Malta 4 day stage race

Arrived in Malta on Monday Evening and was picked up by the event organisers as promised. Managed to get out on the bike on Tuesday despite the weather which was wet and windy. Wednesday was better the sun came out and I had a great ride over to the Gozo ferry terminal. Found a great little cafe stop and had a beef pasty washed down by several cups of tea. 
Just finished getting my bike ready for tomorrows prologue. Racing tyres and tri bars fitted, numbers pinned on, I am ready to go.
 In such a short stage race its important to do a good prologue, I have never been great at time trialling so it`s a matter of restricting my loses. If I can stay within a couple of minutes of the leaders I am still in with a shout of a good position on GC. Its not your average prologue course its more like a mountain time trail. The things in my favour are it looks like it will be windy, wet and slippy. I am hoping my bike handling skills will help claw back a some time.
My main goal for this event is to race myself fit. I have ridden the track all winter but there`s no substitute for a good hard stage race to get you fit.
Off to bed now it am early start in the morning.  

March 25th Tour Ta Malta Stage 1 Malta

25k Prologue Time Trial

Stage 1 Prologue. Tough day, it was wet windy and slippy in places. The course was a dual carriage way with two dead turns and a hill in the midddle. I will get the results later but going of the winners times I am likely to be a several minutes off the leaders on GC. There`s three more stages to go so, hopefully I can knuckle down and get a result. Looks like it will have to be a stage win. I can`t see me clawing back minutes on the road stages unless I can get away in an early break and try and build up a decent lead. 

March 26th Tour Ta Malta Stage 2 Malta

This was a baptism of fire. Pig of a climb each lap. Managed to stay near the front and hit the bottom of the climb first but then watched as the leading group just rode away. Managed to get in a small group which smaller and smaller each lap. Ended up time trialling to the finish on my own. At least I finished and can start tomorrow.

60km Road Race San Martin

March 27th Tour Ta Malta Stage 3 Malta

60km Road Race Island of Gozo. Despite getting up at 4.30, breakfast at 5.00. on the coach at 6.00. Then a ferry trip to Gozo and a twnety minute ride from the port to the course the event was cancelled half an hour before the start due to torrential rain making the circuit unsafe. Caught the ferry to Malta back then rode back to the hotel.

March 28th Tour Ta Malta Stage 4 Malta

60km Road Race Mellieha

A tough day in the saddle it was a short stage but with a very tough hill to contend with each lap.  Got into a small break straight from the start but were caught on the first hill by the bunch. Got to the bottom of the next climb with the leaders but struggled to keep in contact. The race was blown to bits on the climb and apart from the leading group most riders finished in small groups.

April 6th ACT Track Open Meeting Manchester Velodrome

Great day at the ACT Open Track meeting. Picked some good results so the training is starting to  pay off.  

Scratch Race 5th
Devil 1st ( 2nd win of the season)
Course de Prime 3rd
Points Race 2nd

April 13th ACT Track League Manchester Velodrome

Tough nights racing. No wins or placings just sore legs.

April 18th / 19th 
No racing this weekend, I am organising the Manchester-Chester-Manchester Sportive on Sunday

www.mcmsportive2015.blogspot.co.uk

Online entries close on the 17th we also take entries on the day

April 20th ACT Track League Manchester Velodrome
April 27th ACT Track League Manchester Velodrome
April 29th Litherland, Liverpool 12th
May 1st Knowsley Track, Liverpool
May 2nd Bury Clarion Salt Ayre
May 5th Salt Ayre Circuit Race
May 6th Litherland, Liverpool
May 9th York Cicuit
May 10th Darley Moor
May 12th Salt Ayre
May 16th Darley Moor LVRC
May 25th SQT Madison M/C Velodrome
May 30th Darley Moor
June 13th Retro Ronde Criterium Oudenaarde Belgium
June 14th Retro Ronde Oudenaarde Belgium
June 28th National Masters Track Championships Newport Wales
June 29th National Masters Track championships Newport Wales