I raced a 2 day race which features 4 stages. A team time trial and then a road race in the afternoon. The following day we rode an individual time trial and then a road race in the afternoon. Both road races were on lumpy courses. Stage 4's road race hurt like crazy and featured a 14% climb and 7% climb. I remember riding in the peleton and seeing 4 laps to go and my brain said "what, I don't think I can face 4 more times up those hills".
Even now 2 days later my legs hurt when I walk down stairs. My shoulder cramped up really bad on both road stages and I kept riding but that caused a searing pain on Monday evening that couldn't be stretched out. I visited Magic Matt (of Team Garmin) who went to work for about an hour on my shoulder and gave me pain killers so its sort of better. But Matt is Magic. He's touched the legs of Dan Martin and Kristian House.
All in all a good race. 2nd in the Team Time Trial, despite our team of six only being able to practise the time trial on the ride out to the start. We averaged 25 mph over as 8 miles, on a windy and rainy course.
I'm pleased I won the sprint on the line in my group which finished 4 minutes down on the leaders.
In the individual I rode hard but not so I couldn't breathe because boy did I need the legs for the road stage.
Stage 4 I stayed with the peloton until 2 laps to go, then I snapped and fell out the back with 10 others. Then really snapped on one to go. Stupidly then I had to ride like crazy into a nasty head wind to stay away from a large group of 20 riders so I could keep my top 30 place in GC. Yeh top 30, that's bad.
Good race and well organised.
Thanks again to Spesh for the TT helmets matching our Black and White team kit.
Big thanks to the team for sending me to the race.
Even now 2 days later my legs hurt when I walk down stairs. My shoulder cramped up really bad on both road stages and I kept riding but that caused a searing pain on Monday evening that couldn't be stretched out. I visited Magic Matt (of Team Garmin) who went to work for about an hour on my shoulder and gave me pain killers so its sort of better. But Matt is Magic. He's touched the legs of Dan Martin and Kristian House.
All in all a good race. 2nd in the Team Time Trial, despite our team of six only being able to practise the time trial on the ride out to the start. We averaged 25 mph over as 8 miles, on a windy and rainy course.
I'm pleased I won the sprint on the line in my group which finished 4 minutes down on the leaders.
In the individual I rode hard but not so I couldn't breathe because boy did I need the legs for the road stage.
Stage 4 I stayed with the peloton until 2 laps to go, then I snapped and fell out the back with 10 others. Then really snapped on one to go. Stupidly then I had to ride like crazy into a nasty head wind to stay away from a large group of 20 riders so I could keep my top 30 place in GC. Yeh top 30, that's bad.
Good race and well organised.
Thanks again to Spesh for the TT helmets matching our Black and White team kit.
Big thanks to the team for sending me to the race.
Congrats to our rider Cath Williamson - who is wise and knowledgable and a good leader. She finished 3rd overall and won the sprint jersey.
Prize money for 2nd
Kit for the race
Emergency chocolate after day 1
Swapping frames in hotel after Ang's was broken in a crash (note Rene is doing nothing just watching)
Dependable Kellogs breakfast. I opted for Frosted Wheats and coffee
Started warming up, felt good - listening to Mumford and Sons
Then it started to rain when I switched to Beyonce....
Curley warms up
Katie looks well fast in her TT
I like this guys photos. He's done a couple similar. Check the link and also the final shots on his portfolio. They are a bit alarming but cool.
Toughest course in London. Fact.
Summer means Tuesday night Crystal Palace, 17 races that each week inflict serious pain in the legs and make you feel like you are breathing razors. Each week I go back its such an excellent course.
Canadian born Maryka Sennema attached a small camera to her seatpost. She wanted to see what happens in an attack, how quickly the bunch caught her and for her own research her performance in the race.
All the 25 laps of round 2 were captured - check out part 3 (below) laps 9 through to 13 where I played a starring role on her wheel (can I just note I did race the the 60mile Chesire Classic 48 hours previous).
At the end of the race I took second to Emma Patterson (2nd National Derny Champs). Check out our sprint for the finish and note our two different sprinting styles.
Emma's seated track hand on the tops style versus my Husvord out of the saddle on the drops
Summer means Tuesday night Crystal Palace, 17 races that each week inflict serious pain in the legs and make you feel like you are breathing razors. Each week I go back its such an excellent course.
Canadian born Maryka Sennema attached a small camera to her seatpost. She wanted to see what happens in an attack, how quickly the bunch caught her and for her own research her performance in the race.
All the 25 laps of round 2 were captured - check out part 3 (below) laps 9 through to 13 where I played a starring role on her wheel (can I just note I did race the the 60mile Chesire Classic 48 hours previous).
At the end of the race I took second to Emma Patterson (2nd National Derny Champs). Check out our sprint for the finish and note our two different sprinting styles.
Emma's seated track hand on the tops style versus my Husvord out of the saddle on the drops
Its even better when the season is over and then some random cyclo cross thing pops up half way through summer. It reminds me there is only five months until it all kicks off again. Boom
Dylan Coulter took this shot below. Check the Vimeo of behind the scenes and how he got the snaps.
Vimeo Vid
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Why is Alexandre Vinokourov nonplussed?
--Because he has no eyebrows
--Because his celebrity doppelganger, Conan O'Brien, is having a hard time right now
--Because Astana is using tartar sauce as chamois cream in order to save money
--Because Ivan Basso's sunglasses are hovering mysteriously above his head
Wahoo. Pretty pleased. Not quote 'there' as a complete bike. Missing panache with it's looks. But boy is it nice to ride.
Got new bar too. Deda Newton Shallow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Got new bar too. Deda Newton Shallow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
After some discussion with Curley and TC. We've worked out who's not just got the legs. I'm racing the Chesire Classic at the weekend and catching a lift with Rachel after her flight back from Majorca. So that's plenty of hours to discuss the faces of the pro peloton.
Curles has a definate soft spot for the mighty Thor Husvord but he's one man. The rest of his team have faces for radio.
Our hot list started to ramble on but we definately agreed on...
Damien Cunego (Lampre),
Iljo Keisse (6 Day legend),
Spartucus - can't disagree with those legs (but only with his helmet on, his mop lets him down)
Heinrich Haussler - (Cervelo)
Boonen
Lance - Curles reckons he's ok, I'm not so sure?
She backed up her suggestion with this video though... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDawlrIeaVM
Sad thing is - these little pedallers are all foreign. Where are the Brits or even a British team. HOLD UP. think again Rapha Condor Sharp, now those lads are definatley bringing home the bacon.
Curles has a definate soft spot for the mighty Thor Husvord but he's one man. The rest of his team have faces for radio.
Our hot list started to ramble on but we definately agreed on...
Damien Cunego (Lampre),
Iljo Keisse (6 Day legend),
Spartucus - can't disagree with those legs (but only with his helmet on, his mop lets him down)
Heinrich Haussler - (Cervelo)
Boonen
Lance - Curles reckons he's ok, I'm not so sure?
She backed up her suggestion with this video though... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDawlrIeaVM
Sad thing is - these little pedallers are all foreign. Where are the Brits or even a British team. HOLD UP. think again Rapha Condor Sharp, now those lads are definatley bringing home the bacon.
