Sam Andrews is an exceptional cyclist who has been making waves in the cycling world lately. As a sponsored athlete for Burgh Cycling, he has been steadily building his reputation as a skilled and determined rider.
Recently, he took on the challenge of the Belgian Waffle Ride in Arizona, one of the most demanding races in the region. Despite the grueling course and tough competition, Sam proved to be a force to be reckoned with, displaying remarkable strength, endurance, and tactical prowess.
In this short-form blog, Sam shares his thoughts on his performance at BWR Arizona.
“I embarked on a grand desert escapade to Arizona, all in the name of kickstarting my season with a bang at the Belgian Waffle Ride. The course was a tantalizing blend of treacherous terrain, featuring undulating hills, specially designed MTB trails, rugged sand washes, and bumpy 4×4 roads.
And all of this set against a picturesque backdrop of the stunning desert rock and prickly cacti. The course, spanning 122-miles, was a perfect medley, making it the ideal prelude to a long season ahead.
With the 7am start fast approaching, I found myself at the front of the start line, flanked by ex-world tour pros, national champions, Olympians, conti riders, and weekend warriors. The atmosphere was electric, and everyone was eager to prove their worth after months of grueling winter training.
As we set off on a neutral roll out, we were almost immediately faced with a long, grueling climb. At first, it was a peaceful ascent with friendly chatter, but soon after, the pace intensified, and Pete Stetina led the charge up the steep inclines.
Despite my best efforts, I found myself in the second chasing group, struggling to keep up with the lead pack. However, as soon as we hit the first off-road sector, I kicked into high gear, determined to make up lost ground and tackle the challenging terrain with all my might.
The race was not without its obstacles, but I dug deep and persevered, never giving up. And as I crossed the finish line, I was elated to have secured a top 30 overall finish and a top 20 spot in my age category. It was a gruelling yet rewarding experience, and I can’t wait for more of it this season.
See you out there!”
