Shonak and sutty68- We expect Nikola back on road at next road race (which is in about a month). Yep, it's classic blessing in disguise. Marko definitely "profited" with that Nikola's injury. We'll see how will he handle the Leader's pressure.

Uh-uh, pressure! I got few minutes free since i just did pre-race training and i decided to share this with you. I am so excited about this race, since i am going to be leader, as you already know. Terrain is quite hilly but it's still categorized as flat. That should help me, but i don't know how to feel right now. I'll try to relax a bit now, and will finish this post after race.





Aaand here i am! It was definitely exciting race. At the start, one of my best friend , O. Hodžić (Red Star) made an attack with J. Janković (Metalac) and F. Vrcić (Novi Pazar). It was looking good.



Gap never got higher than 2 minutes and peloton caught them surpsingly quick, just after 25 kilometers. I felt that pace and i knew that is going to happen , but i had no idea WHY guys did that. However, race continued.

Some guys that were listed as favourites attacked as well. At that point, Borac (as team) decided to get some action done, and didn't let them go.



As they tried at least 5 times to get some advantage and create breakaway it made me happy. I knew i would have bigger chances if they're tired But, after some time, my guys got exhausted as well. It was terrible moment for that. Luka Kotur (Partizan) somehow noticed that and decided to do a Cancellara - attack without getting out of saddle. That was perfect decision in perfect time , for him.



He definitely struggled alot, but he kept the advantage over 2 minutes. As finish was closer and closer it was getting clear that he's going to win this.



Okay, 1 fight is lost, let's try to get another one - to win group sprint. We set up sprint and guy did really good job. Red army was ready to strike once again!



Meanwhile , local photographers took some photos of L. Kotur who was clearly happy with his win, since he celebrated it in style. If only i got his place! But it's well deserved. That guy was absolutely the best today.



We crossed finish line about 2 minutes after him. At the start of the sprint, i got blocked for few seconds, which was enough to keep me away from podium. But finish 4th in this type of race, makes me happy as well. I think i did good job, if nothing else.



Dragić and Kuzmić finished in front of me. Shame i got blocked, but that's cycling.

1	Luka Kotur	Partizan Cycling Team	4h04'49
2	Dragan Dragić	Partizan Cycling Team	+ 2'15
3	Ognjen Kuzmić	AS Cycling Team	s.t.
4	Marko Šantić	Borac CyclingTeam	s.t.
5	Miloš Marković	Red Star CyclingTeam	s.t.
6	Jovan Jovanović	Partizan Cycling Team	s.t.
7	Kosta Perović	AS Cycling Team	s.t.
8	Igor Vidić	Metalac CyclingTeam	s.t.
9	Ilija Borov�anin	AS Cycling Team	s.t.
10	Fariz Bronja	Novi Pazar Cycling Team	s.t.

1	Luka Kotur	Partizan Cycling Team	35 points
1	Marko Ivanović	Metalac Cycling Team	25 points
2	Ognjen Kuzmić	AS Cycling Team	23 points
3	Igor Vidić	Metalac Cycling Team	22 points
4	Marko Šantić	Borac Cycling Team	18 points
4	Dragan Dragić	Partizan Cycling Team	18 points
6	Nikola Čupić	Borac Cycling Team	15 points
7	Fariz Bronja	Novi Pazar Cycling Team	13 points
8	Miloš Marković	Red Star Cycling Team	10 points
8	Miloš Marković	Red Star Cycling Team	10 points
10	Jovan Jovanović	Partizan Cycling Team	8 points

Ye! 4th at League Rankings even before hilly terrains. This smells good! Sadly, i have to log out now. Need to get some post-race ride and i am going to sleep then. I feel so empty right now.

Cheers, Marko

4th at League Rankings even before hilly terrains

emre99 , 24sebaf1 and sutty68 - Indeed. Great result for him , considering on which terrain he prefers. He hopes for at least one podium, in next few races (look at calendar, they're hilly).

Shonak - Yep. Well, that can be realistic only if Nedic and Marko starts a mountain attack together, or Cupic and Marko organise sprint perfectly. And even then, that would be very hard, but still not impossible. Borac CT will be happy with even 1 guy on Top position. Hope Marko can achieve that in next few races.

Hey guys, exactly a month passed since my last post here and it's time to clean the dust from this blog. I'll bring you a little update about my life and my cycling training/races.

I am currently focused on CycloCross training and i am giving my all to get in best shape before season starts, 22nd May in Czech Republic. My teammates are all alot older than me and this is the first time i am racing in some international kind of competition, which is more serious than my past races and experiences.



But don't worry , i will never neglect and stop road racing. My training schedule is based on 1-2 system. It sounds complicated , but it's very simple. 1 day i'm going on road ride and another 2 i'm focusing on CycloCross.



As i saw this from some TV show, where Carlos Sastre (current Le Tour winner) were talking about it, it definitely has to be sucessful. We'll see. That's it for now, i just wanted to give you some info. See ya in few day!

Cheers, Marko

sutty68 - You'll be able to check that out soon. Just to say once again, next race is first CycloCross race in Marko's blog, so be sure to check the thread tonight and tommorow.

Faillu - Something like that, but with MO/HIL as his primary stats. Something like Gallopin, more. Anyway, that's still far from this point, so just follow to see what's going to happen. I already planned alot of things, it's going to be very interesting to follow (at least i hope it will be)!

All - Just doing some final edits on CycloCross DB and hopefully it's going to be ready for use in next few hours which probably means that report's going to be ready for tomorrow. Honestly, i am really excited about that, since it's going to be my first time to report some CycloCross race.

Shonak wrote:
Can't wait for the cyclocross stage.

Shonak and Faillu - As i said alot of times , it's all planned so you just have to wait for it. I am sure it wil be interesting.

aidanvn13 - Thanks alot, mate. I'm glad that you like it and that you are trying to comment as much as you can. It can only get more interesting in future, so stay tuned.

All - I'm really sorry that i didn't play that CycloCross stage today, but i was really busy and tired all day. I'll try to post it tomorrow, but won't promise anything more about reports.

Ah, i am so excited - my first CycloCross race in new colours. Actually, i am not in "new" colours, i am in colours of my country, as National Champion!

Race is pretty short, but with some nice climbs here. No cobblestones, but some snow should suit me perfectly. My plan is to attack from an early start, who knows what's going to happen.



Race started. I was placed somewhere behind, so i couldn't attack from an early start, but i somehow managed to get on top of the group at first serious climb. Downhill and transfering from asphalt to gravel should make my attack easier, since bigger group will have problem there, surely.



And everything gone as planned. I made an attack and quickly got some advantage. I am in really good form!



But Serbian guy getting some advantage in CycloCross race, over all of these Belgians, Dutchies and Czechs? That was pretty strange!

I kept my own pace and i was feeling great. As i grow up in really cold and hilly region, everything was perfect for me. At one point, i saw peloton way behind and i noticed that they let me gain some big advantage there. They probably forgot how serious i am.



Of course, other favourites chased me. But aren't they a bit late? I only had to keep that pace and i was about to get 1/1 in CycloCross!

20kms of chasing were slowly passing and at the end, i manag...