The last couple of days I was back in Aigle coaching at the 3 jours d’Aigle. It was my first job coaching for the Dutch federation.   Hylke van Grieken and Rigard van Klooster raced the sprint program at this 3 day race and I came along as their coach. For me being on the road and coaching riders at a race is the best. It was great to be back in Aigle and i.e. catch up with Keith.

Once a year the Dutch national coaches conference is organized and at this event once a year the NLcoach support price is awarded. Last year I was nominated and this year I was awarded the price at the conference!

A special part of my web page will be dedicated to the price and my program, journey and the results it will have for me as a coach this year. Time is limited so I have decided to report only in Dutch. I hope non Dutch readers can use google translate if they are interested.

My program exists of two parts:
* I requested a coach and help with developing a personal development plan for me as a coach.
* I want to broaden my knowledge, skills and certificates as a cycling coach by attending the coaching development programme with the UCI in Aigle, Switserland.

You can read my reports, in Dutch, here: www.cforcycling.nl/nlcoach-support-prijs

I hope other coaches will be inspired by my journey and learning progress to develop them selves: 1+1=3

Friday the 29th of October I’ll be leaving for Falun in Sweden for a sixday race with Mark Welle and Christian Bosch. Mark and Christian wilL be racing and I’ll be there as their coach. More info on Bf-one.com, use translate: http://tinyurl.com/2g36nns

15 & 16 October, there were races at the track in Büttgen and we went there with Natalie and Margo and guest riders Sven Boekhoven and Renate Welle. Both days the women raced in  scratch, points race and elimination race. For Sven who is a C3 para cyclist the race was a European Cup where there were points to earn for the World Cup and Olympic games. Sven represented the Netherlands all by himself with a little bit of my coaching for help.

A short film of the event by Sven.

The women raced in teams of two riders. Both their results of each event were put together and then classified. Natalie and Margo raced as team C for Cycling in the outfit of team Sprinters Velodrome Amsterdam. Renate was teamed up with a German rider. Natalie in her champion jersey was unbeatable for the field. Margo fought as a lion in one of her first track races and as a team they came second the first night. The second day Margo and Natalie laid the foundation for the victory of the day in the scratch race by finishing 2nd and 3rd.
Renate, who just became a junior, did very well in this field of elite women. She stood her ground!
Sven has improved tremendously and gained a wealth of experience. In the 3000m pursuit he even raced for the bronze medal. Al tough he improved himself a lot he came 4th.
Sven has written a report about his experiences on his blog: http://www.e-sven.nl/2010/10/hoe-een-coach-het-verschil-maakt/

Last weekend Margo had her first win in her still short cycling life. She was the fastest in her age category for riders until 35 at the National Championships Time Trial for free riders on the island of Texel. As a result she had to try on the jersey.

It was a good weekend for her anyway because she came 20th in the Elite race in Hilversum the next day. This was also a first since she had never before won a price in an Elite race.