Project NICE Blog 5

Words by James Ion

Race to the Bottom: Lessons from My First Crit Race

Taking the plunge into a crit race was something I’d been planning for a while. The goal? To enter the Masters 2 event, a 40km race around a 1.6km course. It seemed simple enough on paper, but reality hit hard when I found myself totally unprepared. The result? Well, let’s just say I had a front-row seat to what it means to be dropped right away.

Humbling Experience: The Project NICE Reality Check

The gun went off, and within minutes, I was struggling. I had big aspirations to hang on and turn this into a decent training ride, but the pace was relentless. Soon enough, I found myself dropped and alone in the back. Then, as I was thinking about calling it quits early, the leaders came back around and lapped me. At that point, I had two options: keep going and get in the way, or accept the lesson and pull the plug. I decided to cut my losses after just 8km.

Turning Disappointment into Motivation

Here’s the twist: Despite being humbled in such a dramatic way, I left the race feeling more motivated than ever. Getting my head kicked in actually turned out to be an eye-opener. I had some of my best power output during those 8km, and I realized that my body is capable of more than I thought. It was a wake-up call, a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from smooth rides but from pushing through tough moments.

As the legendary pro cyclist, Jens Voigt, once said, “If you have a bad day, you just have to keep going. The good days are coming.”

This experience didn’t defeat me—it fired me up to work even harder. I know I have plenty of room for improvement, and now I’ve got a serious chip on my shoulder to make sure I’m more than ready next time.

Training: Gearing Up for What’s Ahead

Now that the crit race is behind me, the next few weeks are all about sharpening up for future challenges. I’ve been putting in around 10 hours of training a week, with a structured schedule to ensure steady progress. But with the race season heating up and Valkenburg just six weeks away, I’m turning things up a notch.

Current Training Plan

Here’s how things have been looking lately:

• Monday: 1-hour Turbo session

• Tuesday: Gym session (strength-focused)

• Wednesday: Long endurance ride with some efforts

• Thursday: Gym session (more core and flexibility work)

• Friday: 1-2 hour interval session

• Saturday: Long ride, mainly Zone 2

This base training is solid, but now that I’m moving into a new phase, it’s time for the real work to begin.

New Training Phase: More Riding, Less Gym

Starting next week, riding hours will increase. I’ll be adding another ride on Tuesday, which means fewer gym sessions. The focus will shift to more intense endurance rides that gradually ramp up in both duration and effort.

I can’t afford to have my head kicked in again, especially with the clock ticking toward Valkenburg. This means hitting those extra intervals, pushing the limits on long rides, and making sure every session counts. As former World Champion cyclist, Marianne Vos, puts it:

“You have to love the process, not just the result. The work is what makes you stronger.”

It’s all about trusting the process and pushing past the moments that test your resolve.

Next Stop: Austria and Scenic Rides

Next week, I’m heading to Austria for a bit of a change in scenery. Hopefully, I’ll get to do some beautiful rides through the mountains. I’m considering using my gravel bike, but I might rent a mountain bike for some extra fun on the trails. Either way, I’m looking forward to some long, endurance rides through breathtaking landscapes.

Of course, you can expect some scenic shots on the ‘gram. It’s the perfect chance to reset, enjoy some fresh air, and get in some low-key miles while soaking in the views.

It’s these moments—when the pressure’s off and the world is open to explore—that keep me grounded and remind me why I love this sport so much.

Embracing the Journey: The Power of Resilience

The truth is, cycling is as much about overcoming setbacks as it is about chasing victories. Whether it’s the sting of a bad race or the challenge of a tough training session, the ability to learn and grow from these moments is what defines us as athletes. No matter how many times you get dropped, the key is to get back on the bike and keep pushing forward.

If anything, the lesson from my crit race is clear: there’s no such thing as failure, just opportunities to learn and improve. And as I head into the next phase of training, I’ll carry that mindset with me—one pedal stroke at a time.

In Conclusion

So, whether you’ve had a tough race, a difficult training session, or just one of those days where things don’t go as planned, remember that setbacks are a part of the journey. They don’t define you; they refine you. With every disappointment comes the chance to grow stronger and more resilient. Just like my first crit race.

And as they say in cycling: “The pain is temporary, but the pride is forever.”

Let’s ride on.