Words: Erin Avil - Simpson Nouvelles Team Rider
Photos: Paul Hinninck, David Walters
The weekend of the 5th of April 2025 was the first time the team had been together this year, and with the arrival of our 3 new riders - 2 Aussies and a lone Kiwi the week prior- it was definitely a good way to kick things off.
Whilst the lack of fish and sea life visible from the Channel Tunnel windows was disappointing for the new recruits from Down Under, the weather greeting us on the other side of the crossing was anything but. Blue skies and sunshine welcomed us ashore!
The race ahead of us was the Ottergem 1.15A, the team’s first Belgian kermesse of the year. Well, it was for half the team, for the other half it was their first kermesse ever, so it’s fair to say the nerves were high.
The race consisted of 12 laps of a 7km undulating loop with many tight corners, narrow lanes and a draggy climb to top it off. With 147 riders on the start line, as usual with kermesse races, positioning on the opening few laps would be crucial to the outcome of the race. The flag dropped and the chaos began.
The first few laps were just as hectic as I remember them being last year: fast, technical and punchy. The team managed to stay clear of any early race crashes, but with the pace high early on we were down to three riders by the half way point.
But with the bunch thinned out and the pace beginning to settle, Abby McLain, our new Aussie rider, was able to make her move following AG Insurance rider and fellow Aussie, Anya Louw, up the road to join two survivors from an earlier move to make a strong group of four.
The break built then held a solid gap, and with 1 lap to go they had 15 seconds on the main peloton. But then half way round the final lap hesitation in the bunch meant the chase stalled. The peloton sat up and the gap extended.
With Abby up the road, and the remaining members of the team - Beth Jackson and myself - nestled in the main bunch coming into the final few minutes of the race, the team was in a good place. But, there was no time for relaxing.
The final sprint was messy; a pile up on the left side of the road took a chunk out of the peloton but both Beth and I managed to stay clear rolling in with the bunch.
Abby and the rest of her breakaway managed to hold off the peloton behind and Abby secured herself a mega 4th place.
The weekend was a fantastic way to get to know everyone and blow the cobwebs off the race legs, with a great result for the team to top it all off.
And now for the data nerds:
Erin Avil, 5th April 2025
Race distance: 84km
Race speed: 37.8km/h
Average heart rate: 187bpm
Normalized power: 205w
Next up: East Cleveland Classic - 2nd Round of the Women's British Road Race Series - Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 13th April, 2025.
