So been a wile since an update because I have been real lazy and haven't really had time up untill now!
A whole lot has happened since my last update so ill try and get everything in and keep it pretty short!
So here it goes....!
After
getting back from London it was back into some good training to burn off all
the shit I ate while I was away in some not so good weather as usual. That weekend I had two races which I was not
looking forward too as I felt like crap training all week. I was planning on
using them as training to get back into shape. On Saturday it was a hilly
circuit we did 10 times. I followed a move on the second lap and we had a gap
by the top of the main climb. I then got excited and dropped the guy on a
technical decent and was away solo. Turns out my legs wanted to go full gas and
I ended up riding solo for the rest of the race and won by over a minute!
The next day was another race 120 km long. The team plan was
to try and get someone in the break. I attacked pretty hard throughout the race
until I blew my tits and dropped doing 100 km. I was still happy with my race
and felt like my form is still on the up.
After that is was another hard week of training in some more
wintery conditions. I can’t believe we are meant to be in summer and it was
averaging 13 degrees some days, bloody ridiculous, France needs to sort its
self out I reckon. This week we had only one race which was a Category 2 night
race. It started at 9pm and was 70 laps of a 1.2 km loop. The race started off fast but I tried to go
off the front and spent the first few laps solo just to see how I was feeling.
After I got caught I sat in the bunch rolling around. Racing in pitch black
with poor street lighting is quite an experience and makes you need to fully
concentrate which isn’t my strong point so there were a few close calls from my
half. About half way through I made it into a move of 3 with my team mate Chad
also being in there. This seemed to be the winning move as we held 25-35
seconds ahead of the bunch for the remaining 30 laps. With 3 laps to go I hit
it as hard as I could to try and get away, this worked and I ended up coming in
1st. My team mate Chad ended up 3rd which topped off an
awesome night for the team! My eyes were burning after the race from the
flashes from cameras.
After that it was onto another week of training! This time
we had a few days of Sun which was nice and helped to get the tan line on the
leg back in action. This week it was a race which was super close so Chad and I
squeezed in a quick ride in the morning with Craig (Chad’s Dad). It was a
stunning day for racing with temperatures over 28 which was awesome. It was an
88km race over 10laps with a big climb each lap towards the finish. At the
start of the race Chad was following heaps of moves and being active until he
was brought back and I hit it and then spent 2 laps in a break with one other.
With it being super hot I started to pour bottles over me that I collected from
the team. Knowing shag all French I didn’t realize it was lemon syrup in them
which started to dry which does not feel nice! My break away got caught by a
select group that throughout the race got smaller and smaller and the heat and
course took their toll. On the final lap there were 5 of us left. I sat at the
back up the final climb until a guy hit it and I chased him and came over the
top of him with about 100m to go where I had enough time to salute and take in
the victory!!
Enough of all the cycling banter, now it’s on to some
travel. Early Sunday morning it was a
quick pack and time to blat away to Spain for a week with Chad and his Parents.
We are heading to Costa Brava to the beach for some time in the sun and to get
some good training in. On the way down we stopped in Uzes which is an amazing
small town south of Lyon. The town is so old with cobbles and old brick
buildings everywhere! After a night there it was on with the journey down to
Spain. Once we got there it was breath taking! Stunning beach with crystal
clear water and topless girls as far as the eye could see, must have been
pretty bloody close to heaven I would say. With 32+ degree days every day I
could have stayed there forever. Chad and I found an awesome rock jump that we
went to everyday. On Wednesday Chad and I rode into Girona to meet Ryan Sissons
and the Tri NZ Team, would love to live and train where they are all year!
Super Jealous! It also amazed me how much cheaper shopping and food is in Spain
compared to France! Would be saving a fortune living there!
On Friday before we left back to France we spent a day in
Barcelona. It’s such an awesome city from what I got to see in a day can’t wait
to go back! Awesome shops and even better Spanish girls!
After the trip to Spain it was a quick unpack, washing and get ready to go to Alpe D'Huez to watch the tour!
I lost my phone so i didn't have photos but to sum it up quickly i had goose bumps the entire time, really motivated me and opened my eyes to what it takes to be professional and how amazing it would be!
So that's about it, i have some exciting news and will let you all know next week!
Thanks Scott!
