day in the office

Since the prologue things have been a bit of a rollercoaster… the stages are all finishing in field sprints which are dominated by Colavita. Things are not going super hot for me, or for my team. I had hoped to keep my legs alive for one more week of racing, but I am reaping what I sowed in a big way from traveling and racing so much this year already, my mind and body are out of synch, my legs are pretty well useless and I am trying each day to just get through and help the team where I can. It’s nothing to be bummed out about, I had planned a mid season rest after this race – I had just planned to get there fresh and hungry and have to make myself rest, rather than getting there smashed and looking forward to it!

If you’ve been keeping up with the results I am finishing a little down on the winner each day on time, basically what’s happening is on the final few laps riders who can’t hold the leadout pace open up gaps a few wheels ahead.. so either you close the gap down or you lose a little time. As I am no longer interested in the GC – and a stage result is about 500 meters up the road at 35mph- I usually just watch the gap go and sit up and avoid the carnage. Guys are so hot and heavy to make same time that they are dive bombing the corners from way back behind and throwing themselves all over the road! I guess it’s the first time I’ve spent much time at the back end of a field this season… and I am remembering how much it sucks and how dangerous it is back here, so today I am going to give it everything to get the hell outta there. We have two more races to do, a longer road race today then the Stillwater criterium Sunday, which is infamous for being possibly the toughest crit in the country (you hear that about every crit, but I’ve seen photos of this one… should be a doozy.) I’ll do everything I can for the team at this point and hopefully we can put out stamp on this event before its time to go home.

I’m keeping positive about things, the body is a machine like any other and you need to take it to the shop every now and then for repairs and a tune-up and mine is a few thousand miles overdue. I’ll be heading home and maybe on a short non-bike vacation before beginning training again to ramp up for another stab at the NRC circuit in July. As always thanks for your comments, emails and calls of support.
Scotty in his new 'super-man' time trial position on my TT bike.

I'll have to go at least a little faster today... we have a new team policy, lowest rider on the GC from the team - or Kenda Kup - has to wear the JUICY shorts to sign in!!! Here is Jaime looking amazing in them.