Kiwi celebrates his birthday with a win

Aug 2nd, 10. Young Kiwi Ruaraidh McLeod celebrated his 19th birthday a few days early when the won his first European race over the weekend.

McLeod working hard in NZ earlier in the season ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I'm stoked, so happy. I guess it is more of a relief to get a win as I've come pretty close a few times but not quite managed it," McLeod told RoadCycling.co.nz

McLeod and fellow Cantabrian Michael Vink have been in Europe for four months racing with team top Belgian team, Isorex. They've both had their share of ups and downs but this weekend it was McLeod's turn to be victorious.

"The race was an U23 race in Aarsele, which is about 10mins ride from where i live. It was a pretty standard Belgium day, the course was quite tricky with lots of turns. The fact it pissed down for over half over the 112km didn't make it easy, nor the fact I stupidly decided to put 150psi in the tubs!" McLeod explained.

"After about a lap Michael Vink went up the road.  About six riders went across to him and then I came across with another rider about a lap later. So two laps into the 18 lap race the break was established."  

The break worked well together until four laps to go when things started to heat up.  A rider from the Davo Lotto team tried to make a solo break but, with three riders in the break, Isorex fought their fatigue and controlled the group to reel him back in.

"Mike went up the road a few times but the other riders jumped on him pretty quickly. I would then have a go, but to no avail. Coming into the last lap I could see it was going to end in a sprint, and it was about a 5km game of cat and mouse."

"Mike went for a flyer just inside the last kilometer but they jumped on him quickly.  Coming into the final straight I was in 3rd wheel and with about 200m to go I found a gap between the rails and the Davo rider and took it."

"I kept thinking someone was going to come around me, but I got to the line and no one had. And that was my first win in Belgium, a few days before my 19th and a month before i go home. I celebrated with a kebab and ice cream," he said.

As is tradition in cycling, McLeod was looking forward to the kisses from the podium girls, but he got more than he bargained for.

"The guys told me after that there was a really hot podium girl... they lied, it was a guy on his stag night, apparently in Belgium it's tradition for the groom to dress up in a pink dress and do weird stuff, only in Belgium," he joked.

McLeod has one more month in Europe before heading back to New Zealand.  He will race a few interclub events and the Tour of Antwerpen where he hopes he'll carry over this current great form.