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It has been more than 187 days since Jack Reed pinned on a number for a race.
The excitement of being back in the peloton with a new team in France was understandable after a virus cut short his calendar last year.
He lined up alongside his VCP Loudeac teammates for the Grand Prix Cycliste De Péaule on the weekend in an outing that has boosted his confidence for the season that lies ahead.
"With my first race in over 187 days I was very excited to get back racing, but also optimistic on where I would place myself within the other riders in the field," he said.
"I certainly had a bit of rustiness in the peloton for the first race back and it took me a while to get used to riding in the big peloton of just under 160 riders again."
"This also wasn't helped by the poor weather conditions and muddy roads meaning there were lots of crashes to dodge."
The circuit was just under 7km long and the race unfolded over 14 laps.
"A break had slipped away early in the first two laps and once I regained my confidence and positioned myself to the front of the race it was too late.
"This didn't stop me trying to launch counter offensives to bridge to this main break but sadly nothing worked.
"In the end the break stayed away and the reduced peloton I was in came down to a sprint so I limited my losses.
"Overall I am happy with the outcome of the first one back, I have got my confidence back in the peloton and happy with where my fitness is. This is all good for the coming weeks with the classic one day Brittany races starting."
He crossed the line 27th out of 114 finishers.
Reed will line up for Plaintel - Plaintel on 25 February before moving on to L'étoile de Tréssignaux on 2 March. On the 9 March it is the Souvenir Louison Bobet elite national before taking on the Circuit du Morbihan elite national on 10 March.
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