Joe Brookes journal #05: crashes, comebacks, and the season’s close

Second-year under-23 Joe Brookes rides for the French AVC Aix-en-Provence team, and is supported by the Rayner Foundation. In his latest journal post, Joe reflects on a rollercoaster ride that saw him bounce back from a crash in Italy, navigate a series of setbacks at the Volta Valencia, and finish on a high at U23 Paris-Tours. From bandaging reopened wounds to racing on muddy gravel tracks, Joe shares how these tough experiences only fuelled his motivation for what’s next.

In my last journal, I signed off with the crash in Italy that interrupted a run of good form. After I had crashed my focus switched to easing my training load to give my body time to recover. I wasn’t too worried about losing any fitness since my form had been solid, the rest would help reset everything and I had a couple of weeks before my next race. As the next race approached – the Volta Valencia – I started feeling stronger and the cuts to my leg were healing nicely. I wasn’t yet 100% recovered, but I was determined to push through and saw Spain as a chance to start afresh.

Even though I didn’t have anything to prove, I was still nervous. No one shows up to a race wanting to do anything less than their best

This three-day race started with an individual time trial, my first one for the year. Even though I didn’t have anything to prove, I was still nervous. No one shows up to a race wanting to do anything less than their best, and I was no different. After losing momentum from the Italy crash, I was eager to get back to the level I had been at, so standing on the starting ramp with my number on, the nerves were definitely present. Last year our team had won this event and because of that and the alphabetical ordering of our team, I was wearing #1 and so first off the ramp. I started fast, ready to give it my all. Approaching the first roundabout, I noticed the road looked a little shinier than usual but before I had time to fully process this, I was on my backside sliding at some speed, heading straight off the road and into a drainage ditch.

Everything had happened fast, I was quick to get back up and hop back onto my bike, fuelled by an extra boost of adrenaline. It wasn’t until I had crossed the line that I could begin to process what had happened. I sat there with a mix of emotions, the largest one by far being the embarrassment of being the first rider off and crashing on the first corner. A second dose of bad luck was even harder to swallow. However, some of my embarrassment was lifted when the rider who was second off the ramp crossed with similar looking road rash to mine and I soon found out he also had crashed on the first corner, and it seemed there was something on the road – so I certainly felt comforted that it was not just a crash of my own making.

The last thing I wanted was to be bandaging up the same cuts that had just healed, this time made all the worse as the teams were accommodated in the spartan, prison-like bedrooms of a local boarding school

Aside from part healed scabs that had reopened and some bruising to my body, that was not the only issue – a crack on my top tube meant that my bike was a write off too. Cycling can be a brutal sport. That evening, the last thing I wanted was to be bandaging up the same cuts that had just healed, this time made all the worse as the teams were accommodated in the spartan, prison-like bedrooms of a local boarding school. After a short and uncomfortable sleep, I woke up feeling incredibly rough and it was clear my body was not in the best of shape, but in time honoured fashion I was there to race and if I could help my team in any way, I certainly was prepared to give it a go. The rest of the race was one I do wish to consign to history, a rough day 2 in the saddle doing the best I could to help the team and then on the start line for Day 3 a DI2 issue on my spare race bike meant I was a DNS. A weekend to forget!

Even though the lows of this season have been tough to manage, often they motivate me to train harder for when the good days come. When things go wrong, it pushes me to make the most of each training session. However, you also need to listen to your body when it needs to recover and now, I needed to completely focus on rest and recovery for a few days before resuming training. Initially I was motivated to come back strong for the Coupe de France – a key race for the team that I was scheduled to race, and to finish the season on a high. However, this plan soon changed after a call from my DS, who after hearing about my crash, had decided to pull me from the Coupe de France.

When things go wrong, it pushes me to make the most of each training session

My initial disappointment was put to one side when he explained it was to give me more time to recover and instead, I was to wrap up my season with 2 UCI races, the Tour de Eure-et-Loir and U23 Paris-Tours. Every cloud has a silver lining, and I was excited at this opportunity – a big step up but one that gave me even more motivation to finish the season strong. Once recovered and back into training, the only slight issue was that without my race bike, I had to train without a power meter – something of a first world problem but it also felt good to be back the old school way, riding on feel and instinct.

After the extra week of recovery, I approached the Tour de Eure-et-Loir with good form. Whilst I’m still figuring out exactly what kind of rider I am and which races suit me best, I know I’m definitely not a sprinter. A flat, windy UCI race in northern France is not my strength, but I was still motivated to give the race a go. With two of the stages just shy of 200km and coupled with the forecast of high winds and rain —it was all set to be a very tough three days. As soon as the flag dropped on the first stage, the race lined out into single file, and it wasn’t long until gaps started forming. I realised I was in for a long day but managed to stay near the front for most of the race, until I punctured and with the team car well behind, I dropped back whilst waiting for a wheel change.

After a tough opening first stage, the following two longer stages weren’t going to be any easier. Feeling good on day two, when we hit the only few short sharp climbs of the day midway through the stage, the race came together, and it seemed like the right moment to give it a go. I tried to follow the attacks but ended up pushing too hard, blowing up a little and, to top it off, had another puncture so came in 12 minutes back from the lead group.

Stage 3 was another long stage and in the second half I was feeling good, riding on the front for a prolonged period to help bring back the break. Whilst I rolled in a minute or so behind the lead group it was good to receive some words of praise from my DS for a good few days of racing.

After a quick return home, I was back in France the following weekend for my final race of the season, the U23 Paris-Tours. This one was at a different level, not least for being held the same day as the elite event. A great day recceing the course on Saturday in gorgeous Autumn sunshine gave way to grey clouds and rain on the day of the race. With the last 60km being on and off gravel tracks the race went full gas from the start.

Riding up the finishing straight with the crowd banging the barriers, the commentator shouting full gas and the cameras filming for the big screen could not have been a better way to close off my first season abroad

An early break got away, and we spent the day chasing it down, never to quite close the gap. Whilst a tough race, the day was one I really enjoyed, with the muddy tracks putting my years of cyclo-cross to good use. Riding up the finishing straight with the crowd banging the barriers, the commentator shouting full gas and the cameras filming for the big screen could not have been a better way to close off my first season abroad and to leave me with a hunger and desire to return for more. But for now, it’s time for some post season R&R.time to start planning for 2025!