dreececycling

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

The result I’ve been looking for

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Luck hasn’t really been on my side this season with multiple punctures, mechanicals, bike not turning up etc so I was hoping that the next big race in the calendar, the UCI Tour of Kosovo that my luck would change.

I prepared for this race with it being one of my goals throughout the season. After a few races in the uk throughout June with some good performances my eyes now changed back to foreign tarmac, the stuff I like. Real racing, hard courses, good competition and sun, what more could you want.

With all new parts on my bike, chain, cassette, jockey wheels and a change of tub brand due to the amount of punctures, I made sure that I was prepared for this race the best way I could. These change to my bike all thanks to The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund! And not to forgot my personal mechanic Roy Holmes of Holmes cycling who constantly fixes, adjusts and improves my bike at any notice! Does your coach do that?

So I left for london early am to catch the flight to Kosovo with my team mates! We arrived to sun and heat to which I was happy! Bikes built and off we went to explore a new country for a 2 hour spin.

After refuelling, some stretching and use of the foam roller it was time for bed after a long day. The next day was time for the typical pre race spin, consisting of some opening small efforts and sprints followed by a cafe stop.

The next day soon arrived and Stage 1 of the Tour of Kosovo was here. I was ready and exited to start racing. After the opening ceremony we headed out for a 14km roll out to the start like. Ahead was 140km of racing.

For the first 45 minutes I sat in to watch and see who was who. After this I knew there was a climb coming up where the race could possibly split. Not long after the climb and a few moves later I found myself in a move with about 15 riders including two of my team mates. This was perfect for us, not long after and a few other riders joined us to make it a 20+ group of riders, each team having a selection to choose from. The race went on and the last 20km were soon upon, after pulling through hard early on in the day I started to cramp up with 5km to go, I managed to just shake it off in time for the final drag up to the finish. After 88 miles of racing in 35 degrees it began to take its toll on some riders, the last 2km was hard, I was pushing 450w and still loosing wheels, I came in 19th with my team mate just missing out on a podium in 4th. All still the play for the next 2 stages as I didn’t loose much time to the leader.

Rehydrated and feeling motivated stage 2 was here and I was ready to go. The more flatter of the stages we expected a large group to form like yesterday. This never happened, after about 70km everyone realised that no moves were getting anywhere, the next 70km was extremely easy sat in the wheels doing nothing. The last part of the race was a rapid downhill decent before a climb to the finish. I knew this suited me. Dom who was in 4th gc attacked about 5km to go getting about a 20 second lead, I thought he had the win and we’d take 2 of 3 jerseys into the final stage. Unfortunately about 1km to go we caught him and it was down to a uphill bunch sprint! I positioned myself well and fought in the tight space against the barriers and managed to pull of 7th in a pro race! Happy to say the least but I still thought I could of gone earlier to better that result!

The 3rd and final stage was here. I expected the race to explode being the last day. Starting up a 7km climb the pace was tough! Averaging over 400w riders were dropping out the back already, they were looking to split the race early and make the day hard! I stayed with front group with all my team mates still there. We knew that with Dom in 4th gc only a few seconds down we had to try and do something during the race. With long open stretches came crosswinds, this is where we decided to try and split the race as a team to get the gc win! We did drop riders but not the right ones. And turning into a tailwind for the final part of the race we knew it was down to the sprint to try and gain any seconds. The finish was another slight drag uphill but I didn’t think it was enough to suit me in a sprint. The last 10km was super fast and after 157km I didn’t think I’d compete in the sprint. On the wrong side and boxed in I just decided to move out and give it a go to see what I had left, the legs were tired so I didn’t expect much but again I came away with a 7th place! Happy but my positioning the last mile could of made the difference to get onto the podium.

So a great results with,

19th Stage 1

7th Stage 2

7th Stage 3

7th Points classification

3rd team classification

For me it’s a result some bigger teams can see, and believe that if I’m given the chance in bigger races that I can perform!

The next target for me is the Tour of Montenegro in September, a race I did well in last year I’m looking to better my result and hopefully take a gc win!

I’d like to say thanks again! To The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund for getting me to all these races abroad and giving me the opportunity to perform in front of the bigger teams, and suppling me with a top sports psychologist to help me overcome a few barriers in my way!Also my coach Roy Holmes for setting me up physically and my bike for these races. Below will be all the social media platforms for these people so check them out, they could benefit you!

Also thanks to the team and sponsors for all the kit and help given at these races! Thanks for reading!

Instagram

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23

• Davereece94

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

• David Reece

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

• @davidreece1

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

A few more punctures

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June was looking to be good month, with a big stage race in Holland and some elite races in the uk, the form was looking to be coming on and I was ready for battle.

First race of the month was Tour de Lasalle in Holland, and 4 day 5 stage race. After not being abroad for a huge 7 weeks! I couldn’t wait to see the sun and actually do some real racing. We arrived after 17 hours of travelling! To be treated by sun in which me and Matt (my team mate) decided to go for a spin at 9pm as you can’t resist the sun

Arriving 2 days before the race started gave up chance to ride a few of the courses to prepare for what we were going to be racing around!

Stage one on the Thursday! The heavens opened on the way to the race and it reminded us all of home, luckily by the time the race started it held off for us for a while. The race being on one of the smaller islands in North Holland the peloton had to get a ferry to the start, the ferry being where the race would kick off from. Holding some good bunch positions it started super fast! I np power for the first 25 minutes was 405w! A few crashes split the bunch up and unfortunately I got caught behind one. Luckily I managed to keep the gap as small as possible to the end of the stage keeping myself in contention for the rest of the race.

Stage 2 was on a big fast circuit also, with a lot of road furniture the concentration levels had to be kept high for the whole race. A slight wind but not much meant nobody could split the race up across the open sections. 2 laps to go I gave it a go off the front as I knew the size of these guys I didn’t stand a chance In a bunch sprint, having to do over 35mph to even get any sort of gap made it impossible to get away but I did try and try again but ended up rolling in with the bunch for a sprint finish.

Stage 3 and 4 were on the same day, individual tt in the morning and road race in the evening. The tt was only short with 5 hairpin bends, it was an average performance for myself with power being down slightly but still had a top 30 out of over 100 riders. Stage 4 was looking good for me which the only slight incline in the whole race. I was feeling really strong and was in the 2nd group until I punctured. Again, as usual, whenever something is going well for me there’s always something to ruin it. With there being 50 rear spare wheels I was expecting to be back in the race in no time but no, every single one of the rear wheels had been used! Totally shocked and annoyed but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Out of gc as I finished with the time as the last group 7 minutes down! Frustrating but time to move onto the final day.

Stage 5 was a town centre Kermesse. I started at the front and didn’t leave the top 10 riders for the whole race, legs were on fire and I was going with every move, o was hoping that just one would stay away even towards the end but nothing would stick, this was due to there being sprint laps every 5 laps to the guys fighting for the points jersey wouldn’t let anything go! After one last big attack 5 laps to go it again came down to a bunch sprint where I finished in the bunch!

So at the moment I’m currently spending £60 every 10 days for new tubs 😂 not on a good role at all! Said this last time but maybe this long long run of bad luck will end!

Back home in the uk after a long travel I had the first Nat A criterium of the year at Ilkley. Feeling good for this as it would be my first one of these so didn’t know what to expect apart from chaos at the start!

once started it wasn’t anywhere bad like I thought was really smooth race. About 5 laps in there was a crash at the bottom corner right on the climb, this going to about 15% split the bunch in half, one half losing all momentum into the climb. Unfortunately I was in the middle when this happened and got caught up behind. After that the top 20 riders were gone but by the end of the race both groups were doing the same speed throughout so nobody was catching each other. As I knew a top result was out the bag I decided to just stay on the front and give myself a really good workout, I thought there was about 7 of us in the group but I took a look back 2 laps to go and there was a bunch of about 30 riders! Funnily enough id only seen the same 5 all race…..

After this race I’ve got a small break of racing to get 2 weeks solid training in before the next Nat A crit at Colne. Hopefully doing better than the first!

Then the biggest race of the season yet at the end of July again takes me abroad to the UCI Tour of Kosovo, a lumpy stage race ideally suited to me! If I can pull of a good result there that should set me up for next year! With all the training I’ll be doing throughout July this is a real goal of the season and I hope to have the legs to possibly get a first Professional victory.

Thanks again to all the help and support from The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund for getting me to these foreign races! And to the team and sponsors below!

Thanks for reading!

Instagram • The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund • TBW23 • Davereece94

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

• David Reece

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

• @davidreece1

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

A month of bad luck

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After a good start to the season I was looking forward to a few good races in preparation for more foreign races coming up. I had built up a good bit of form and to keep this going you need to race, there’s nothing like racing. So a few Nat B’s ready for this month which would see me move forward ready for a big few races in June.

Unfortunately this has not been the case at all this month! I’ve only been able to finish 2 races either due to mechanical failures and then to top it off this last week of May I’ve been ill. I’ve punctured twice in races this month on a brand new tubular each time, £65 a go…plus the entry fee’s, hotels and petrol costs make for a frustrating day out each time. Now I’m at the point of when will this end, bad luck is meant to come in 3’s but for me seems like 300’s.

Now I’m starting to get over the illness I’m probably 2 weeks behind fitness wise which have to try and make up ready for Tour de Lasalle in Holland in early June. It would be nice to take another foreign Gc win this year. I’m seem to fair a lot better racing abroad than I do here in the uk, the style of stage racing suits my strengths far better than the one day stuff in the uk.

Just before I head off to Holland I have a local Nat B stage race which I’ll be looking for use to grab some form, 1 of the stages is ideal for me so a performance in that will boost my confidence since it’s running slightly low after this downer of a month.

A shorter blog this month literally due to the bad luck I’ve had, time to get my head down these next few weeks and bring that jersey home again!

Thanks again to all the help and support from The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund for getting me to these foreign races! And to the team and sponsors below!

Thanks for reading!

Instagram • The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund • TBW23 • Davereece94

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

• David Reece

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

• @davidreece1

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

April

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After preparing all winter the season has really started now with races picking up in April. My first race in April was the Tour Ta Malta. I have been targeting this race for an early season goal to give me a strong step ahead of the rest of the season.

First week of April I left for Malta all in good order. Until I arrived…..the one thing I really do need to race…my bike never turned up. It was a good start. Thanks to the Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund I was quickly able to hire a bike over there until my own turned up. The first stage started on the Thursday morning and we arrived on the Monday. After much running around to find my bike, we found it. Still I’m Manchester and it was to be on the next flight which arrived at 11.50pm on the Wednesday LOL.

After getting back at 2.30am with still needing to build my bike I was beginning to lose hope in any sort of result for this race as nothing was going my way.

Anyway the first stage was a ITT. I was quite tired so wasn’t expecting much. It went okay and I came in 8th place but merely dissatisfied as the watts I pushed were nowhere near what I’m capable of, dew to the fact of 5 hours sleep probably.

After a good night sleeps cane stage 2. A rolling stage where I needed to make up sometime. With 5 strong riders in our team we really did have multiple options on what to do. After 2 lap and my team mate were in an early break, soon to be caught by the bunch. A counter attack went with 2 of my team mates, soon as we hit the climb I decided to go and bridged over to them meaning we were in a 3 man break of our team. The perfect scenario. 8 laps later and it was 1 lap to go, and guess what, some more bad luck for me with a mechanical meaning I was caught by the bunch and came away with 12th place. I thought my race was over! Annoyed thinking why always me.

The 3rd stage and again I was just waiting for something to happen. The flattest stage of them all which made us think it could be a bunch sprint. Now I really did need to make up some time if I stood any chance of taking the gc, over 2 minutes in fact! Again 2 laps in a got in the a break with 3 other guys. A hard situation for me and we had the leaders jersey back in the bunch, once the gap was out to 1 minute I sat up and didn’t pull through to try and make sure we had as many people close to each other on gc as possible! Anyway the three other guys carried on hammering it through and the gap got pulled out to over 3 minutes! 1 lap to go I attacked and brought 1 guy with me, soon as he was on my wheel I attacked again and managed to solo taking stage 3 and leaving myself 2nd on gc by 6 seconds.

All down to the last stage. Stage 4, the hardest of them all with a 4/5 minute climb each lap. This was perfect for me. I knew I could win the gc. The race was controlled by my team mates who rode there race for me which I can’t thank them enough for! Many many attacks later and everything was closed down, it was down to the last lap and I had to beat the leader by 6 seconds. Coming into the last climb I positioned myself well, Once round the hairpin I attacked and didn’t look back. I knew it was now or never, going round the final corner I glanced behind only to see my own team mate! Now I knew I’ve won the gc! Somehow after all the bad luck I received it turned round for me taking a 1,2 with my team mate again on the stage and the race overall.

A nice win to start off with and now hopefully many more to come. In May I may possible be going to America to guest for a team over there and compete on the Cascade Classic stage race. A really big opportunity for me! Until then I have some British races to do like Lincoln Gp, Ponteland Gp and a local support race for the tour series! I hope to be able to get another win in preparation for America!

Again thanks to the Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund without there support I wouldn’t have these opportunities to take hold of.

Below are all social media profiles for myself, my sponsors and my team! Take a look

Thanks for reading!

Instagram • The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund • TBW23 • Davereece94

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

• David Reece

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

• @davidreece1

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

A cold start

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After returning from Spain I thought I brought the weather back with a few days of sunshine….but that was all. Typical British weather resumed which for me personally is not very good. I suffer with Raynaud’s which is blood circulation problem, so when it’s cold by body doesn’t function in the same way someone without this would. So when I saw the forecast for my race I wasn’t to happy.

The 6 layers I had on in the race couldn’t keep me warm and dry, in which I had to pull out because of what I was told was stages of hypothermia. It was not nice.

March has consisted of a block of hard training with not much racing, I’ve been denied from numerous races, 30th reserve for another, having to travel 200 miles to get a race….even though there are races on my doorstep that I was denied entry for. Annoying but when there are hardly any races on for anyone every single race is having double the amount of entries.

Next week I travel to Malta for the Tour Ta Malta, a race which I’ve been training for and plan to win the Gc overall. I feel good in training but the lack of racing could tell during the race, as there really isn’t a way to get race fitness without racing…

After this I have a few more British races before hopefully! I say, going to Poland for the UCI 2.2 Baltyk karkonosze Tour. A really big race which me and my team are trying to get over to.

A smaller blog this month as all I’ve really done is train. Thanks to The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund for getting me over to these foreign races! Without your support it wouldn’t be possible.

Below are all the social media links to the support I receive, the sponsors, my team and my social media platforms if you’d like to see what’s going on.

Thanks for reading!

Instagram • The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund • TBW23 • Davereece94

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

• David Reece

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

• @davidreece1

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net

Andrew Hillman fb.me/sportsmassageandrewhillman

Wigmore Cycling Club http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/wigmorecc/

Winter is over?

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It’s been a few months since my last blog. After the Tour of Tobago I had 5 weeks off the bike, 3 of which were spent in Bali ☀️. I normally only have 2 weeks off after the season but I thought I’d try something different this time and it’s seem to have worked so far.

The weather itself wasn’t to bad over December which was when I started back on the bike. Half my time was spent in the gym focusing on strength, conditioning and core work and the other half on the road. The weather did take a turn halfway through January, luckily enough though I jetted off at the start of January to altea in south Spain and spent just over 5 weeks there. There I built a solid base with a lot of long efforts in. I also applied a no stop rule to all my rides which certainly has helped, well because you can’t stop in a race can you? Far to many people go to Spain and sit in the cafe longer than they ride 🤯.

Now back in the UK, not for long though, I have a few local races to start the season then in the first week of April I’m off to do the Tour Ta Malta, in Malta lol. My aim is to win the GC on this race as I know I’m more than capable of doing so especially after the winter and current form that I have.

I’ll be riding for the same team this season which is TBW Stuart hall cycling Bottechia. Long name, we have a lot of foreign races planned which is what I love and aim to do well in.

I will he support by the Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund. A huge shock when I got the call again and totally grateful for there help and support over the past few years. I believe this will be by far my most successful and I can’t wait to race. Again thanks for this season support it really makes all the difference enabling riders to be full time on the bike.

Also thanks for to my coach Roy Holmes of Holmes cycling for putting up with my late ride uploads and being my personal mechanic. Thanks Roy!

Below are all the social media links, take a look for regular updates from me and my sponsors

Facebook

• The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund

• TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Gett Taxi Bottechia

Twitter

• @LewisBTrustFund

• @holmescyclinguk

• @TBW231

Websites

Teams sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors…

Stuart Hall Cycling. https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/

TBW The Bike Warehouse www.thebikewarehouse.net