The last weeks my breathing is slowly going better and after a great ride last week in Moneasa, I learned that I could already have pretty ok race results even with the handicap in the start. Sure, for a couple of months now, I haven’t done any training, just riding, but I would at least now have a good basic level. The mission: feel the body, don’t look to the others and try to have the highest pace my body can handle for now.

9.45, time to go the the start. I see a long lign at the other side of the field and a smaller at the closest side, so I ask how it works. People tell me I have to get in the small box as that is the long distance. Oh, ok, so the long line must be middle distance. About 10minutes later I see Veronika and she tells me I am in the wrong box? Apparently this one is for the stars :) Oh, shit, so, I try to escape the box and now I am behind 500riders, so I decide to pass them to the front, but officials hold me. I try to explain that this was a misunderstanding and with some pushing (don’t like it) I get to 20th place.

10.00, we go. As I know my lungs will not work and a fast start is still impossible, I am so happy knowing this start is neutralized and long. I can stay in the group close enough to the front and although it’s not slow, it’s just ok for me. By the time we reach the off road, I start to feel ok and I start to move to the front as I remember from 2015 that we will get into a fast single. I am in 3rd position but I can go faster and so I take the lead. When we exit the descent, we are only 5 people left, perfect. Now, I need to slow down, to think for my pace and once the others start to take the lead, I already know they are all faster, but that’s ok. I can’t expect miracles, I am happy to be here in the front, to ride and to feel stronger again. Up till km 20, I can stay with them, but then I have to let them go. When we reach the first climb to Dobogoko, I am already 1.5min behind the first, but ok, what can I do? Sure, I can try to go down like an idiot :) And so I do, I like the trail, but its too short as I can cut 1minute, still 30sec behind… Now we are on fast roads, not my favorite… I can see Szillard slowing down and I get to 15sec from him, but then he suddenly speeds up incredibly and disappears? What was that? But, I still feel ok, I know we will get steep nice trails all the way to Dobogoko where I will find Dani again with 2 fresh bottles (thanks man!!!) and so I continue my pace.

After the second switch of bottles, I start to speed up. From here nothing should go wrong, it’s mainly down, I have food and drinks and I wouldn’t like to finish with too much energy left, so I start to push, but in this traffic, it’s a little dangerous… The speed differences are big and I don’t want to have a crash or to create troubles for the others.

At one of the last waterpoints, I suddenly come to Andras? He was in the front, now it seems he stopped racing? He explains to me he has made a mistake, missing some part of the loop and so he is out. Aii, he was strong, for sure stronger, a shame! 'Thanks' to this, I move to 3rd place, but this is not the way to get to the podium, but it happens… I still try to go fast all the way to the end and by the time I cross the finish, my legs are empty and so I am a happy man! The gaps to the first are ok, I can live with that :) 

Now, today, we start our family holiday and then I will do transalp, I am ready for it. See you!!