Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses

Coming off the back of a very active Junior Tour of Wales, Alistair Gardner won the first two Junior Kermesse races he entered last weekend. Having finished his A Levels earlier this year, Alistair is fully focussed on racing and looking for a Team to ride for next year.

Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses

BRITISH WINNER! Britain’s Alistair Gardner has won back to back Kermesse races in Belgium

Coming off the back of a very active Junior Tour of Wales in August, claiming two stage podiums, 6th on GC and the most Combative Rider Award, Alistair Gardner won the first two Junior Kermesse races he entered last weekend. Having finished his A Levels earlier this year, Alistair is fully focussed on racing and looking for a Team to ride for next year.

Here is Ali’s report of the victories.

Saturday – Lochristi
I started the day with an initial passive approach, thinking more about going for a bunch sprint with quite a simple course and no strong wind. However, after a group of around five riders went up the road which included representatives from all of the main teams, I saw teammates blocking on the front of the peloton and spotted the group working well and pulling away so I knew that I needed to get over to it.

I bridged to the group and once I joined them, we worked relatively well but in the end we were brought back by the peloton. After a series of attacks from others, I countered and went solo with about 40km to go, expecting to be joined by others but willing to commit to being solo, I paced it well to establish a gap which I held and stayed away for the solo win.

Sunday – Hoeselt
Two riders went straight from the gun and built a big lead early on. I knew not to panic but be patient and think smart about the situation, to be in with a chance of winning. Another group of about six riders got a gap and started working well, again I knew that I had to get to that group, so when three others started bridging, I went over to them and worked with them.

I then pushed on and ended up getting up to the group of six up the road on my own. Eventually, more riders joined us and we ended up with probably over 20 riders in the group. As this group reformed, I was still willing to push the pace, but on the climb, a rider let my wheel go and so I took advantage of the gap. Another rider then joined me and we worked well for a lap and by the end of this lap, we could see the two leaders. I pushed on up the climb to catch them and dropped the rider I was bridging with and made it to the front.

I tried to motivate the two other leaders to push on with me, I was happy with it coming to a reduced bunch sprint and backed myself, we worked relatively well until the last few km’s. It was very cagey coming into the sprint, I ended up on the front and so waited until the last minute to open up, closely watching the other two. The guy on the back opened up with about 150m to go, I launched and held both of them off for the win.

I really enjoy Kermesse races in Belgium, the parcour suits me well and I enjoy racing aggressively which is often rewarded here as a lot of the races are won by a breakaway. I think that these are also the best races in which to learn and improve as a Junior, particularly as you can often race both days over a weekend and so try to learn things from the first day and implement these on the second day.

Staying Belgium
I am currently living at the Flandrien Hotel on a scholarship, where we riders help out around the hotel and in return are given free accommodation and access to their facilities. I drove myself and the other Junior lad (an Australian) to the two races last weekend, so it’s quite an experience. I am meeting a lot of new people and I am really enjoying my time here. Kermesse are raced on closed road circuits through local towns and villages with lots of local people coming out to watch, listen to the race commentary on the loudspeakers and support the races.

Congrats to Alistair and good luck in future races and getting a team for 2025