Koen's report for the month of April and Stage 1 Tour of Belgium

After a period of rest following the Amstel Gold Race, with the main priority for my knee to recover after a long period of knee pain, things just weren't going to plan. The knee pain persisted and it was only after about three weeks that I was able to go full blast again. At the same time that the problems with my knee were solved, my dear granny died and I found it very hard to carry out training well.
Just before I resumed competition in the Tour of Picardy, I was once again able to go full out in training without any problems and I was really looking forward to the three day stage race in North France. During the first stage I felt surprising good but I fell hard just before the final kilometre. I was able to start the following stage but unfortunately I fell again on the same shoulder. Luckily there was nothing broken. It was very painful to train last week but I pretty much was still able to carry out the training week I had planned.
So I started the prologue of the Tour of Belgium without too much expectations because it was just great that I could once again race and I really felt up for it.
I'm not completely unsatisfied with the result (33rd, AvH) considering the circumstances although of course I can do alot better.
The coming days will be really tough in the Tour of Belgium if I believe the weather forecast; tomorrow there will be alot of wind with a few downpours and we will be finishing on the coast.

It's going to be an interesting day!

Greetings,  Koen