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Roc d'Azur Fréjus, F |
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| Date: |
12.10.2008 |
| Description: |
XCO Race |
| More information: |
http://www.rocazur.com/ |
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| Diary:
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| 14.10.2008 |
Friday Marathon, 1lap, 83kms
4.03hrs, 30th. Place, 30min off winner Roel Paulissen
Time-wise I was super tight, when showing up at the start line this morning at 8 o’clock. I could barely get my gloves on in time, and then the start gun fired and we were off…
This was also the wake up call for my jet lag. I arrived two days ago from America and before I could collect myself I was in southern France again.
I do like to finish the season down here with consistently good weather; a nice racing course and the sea still warm enough to hang out.
But now back to racing… my legs feeling good, my stomach not. I guess my digestion was still on American time. I could not eat and the appeal of race drink made me feel like throwing up over my handle bar! But despite these feelings I broke away from the field together with Roel Paulissen and it looked like was there was still something to fight out, since the marathon world championship finish is still so present!
But today a big bang or better worse still a double big bang happened. I cut both tires in a very rocky fast descent. The front I could fix with the tube, but no more spares for the rear tire. Luckily I found good help in the form of two spectators down the trail allowing me to still finish the race.
I still have Bobby my team manager’s words in my ears, when I came through the feed zone way off the back: “I told you, you little f*%& egit..” The day before, Bobby tried to convince me to race our Armadillo tires, which are super good puncture resistant but so heavy and bad in race performance. This tire is awesome for a touring trip around the world or winter training but not for real racing. Anyway we didn’t have those tires in the team truck, so I am completely innocent!!
Sunday XC, 1lap, 53kms
2.36hrs, 133th. Place, 30min off winner Roel Paulissen
The air was sparkling fresh and crispy when we headed out at 9.30 for the 53km lap. The pace was so much faster than at the marathon race. After the first wide - open grass field start, it was single file all the time. I sprinted hard for the first single trail and turned in there first. Roel and myself set the pace, but when coming into the fist long bumpy descent my chain link came off. I only realized it on the bottom of the descent when I wanted to start pedaling again. I had to start walking back up the mountain to collect my chain. It was easy to find, but to pick it up was another story because of riders coming down full speed, wheels on wheels all riding over my chain! Finally I managed to pick it up, but I did not take the chance of finding the chain link in the dirt! After a long time waiting, a spectator helped me out with a chain tool. After the saga I was ready to go and I took it steady with all the other fun riders until the finish.
By the way, my team was still waiting at all the designated feed points for me! We started together, we finish together!!
Link 1: http://www.rocazur.com/
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GMT
