Tour de l'Ardèche

This was a cool tour just south of Lyon and there was some great weather, it was the first time I have ridden in just shorts and a short sleeved shirt since I got here! and to top it off we had a really strong team and we ended up winning the tour!

1st stage was a short 100km but was pretty hilly. Like usual it was on from the start and there were basically my team and another team that were the strongest in the race so there was always someone from my team up the road. At about 40km there was a 4km steep climb that split the race up and there were 20ish left at the front and I had my whole team there and basically from there each of us would attack until eventually one got, so a bit of luck was needed to get away. In the end Jeremy from my team got in the winning break and ended up coming 3rd on the stage. I finished in the bunch behind.

Next stage was a 6km time trial, 3km flat then 3km uphill at 7 percent average gradient. This made it a bit tricky for deciding whether to use a tt bike or just the roady... I ended up using the road bike and I was 6th, with same time as 4th and 5th just split seconds separating us. Im not sure but I might have been faster with a tt bike because everyone in front of me were on one but all good I was still happy with my time. Jeremy ended up with the yellow jersey after the stage.

doing some work on the front

Last stage was another 100km hilly again but this time we had Jeremy in yellow so it was up to us to control the race. We pretty much rode the stage perfectly, from the start we were on the front just setting a good tempo and making sure we had someone covering any dangerous attacks. There was only one point in the race that we almost lost it, when we over one of the harder climbs there was only me and Jeremy from the team in the front so I had cover everything for 10km before some more team mates got back up to us, but all good. Basically for the rest of the stage I was on the front with 2 other team mates till the final climb to the finish and I was smashed so I went backwards. But Jeremy ended up 5th on the stage and won the overall so happy all round!!

Circuit Bedat, and other things

Firstly after my last races the knee problem I got didnt just go away unfortunately I had to take it really easy for a week, I was only aloud to ride in the small chain ring and I went to see the team physio every day. In the end he said it was a tight ITB band which was most probably caused by the change in pedals. But now I'm back to the pedals I had before and I have to do stretching every day. It was a real bummer I missed out on the weekends racing because they were pretty good races for me, but it only the start of the season and its better to make sure this small injury doesn't turn into a bigger problem.
The next week I still had to take it fairly easy, luckily the pain had gone but I just couldn't do any efforts. I decided to try it out in the race in the weekend and the knee held up real well, it pretty much felt normal so that was a massive relief. I actually didnt feel to bad in the race, i managed to make a breakaway of 20ish riders but I had more bad luck come my way, I punctured and there was no support cars behind the break yet so I had to wait for the peleton to go past before I could get a wheel. The break I was in didn't end up getting caught either so it was a bit of a missed opportunity for me but owell.

Now this week I'm back into my training progam, and the weather has come really good too! clear skies and 20degrees right now... big change from the minuses last week so I hope it stays like this. Yesterday we had our team presentation which managed to take up the whole day. First thing in the morning we went to the O"rka bike factory who are our bike sponsors and we got a factory tour and had lots of photos taken. They then put on a nice lunch for us. We then had more photos done in a park in Lyon, and by the time that was finished it was 4pm and almost time for the team presentation, so we got to sit down for an hour and was straight back into it. But was worth it for the mean feed we had afterwards.. hopefully all the fancy french pastries I ate wont weigh me down to much this weekend..
Will put some photos up from the presentation etc when I get them.

Tramontane and Ronde du Canigou

So first two races in France were bloody cold and windy, both races there was around 70 - 90 km/h winds and with the wind chill the temperature was in the minus. I don't think I have ever worn so much kit for a race....

Tramontane
This race was on a 30 km circuit done 4 times with 1 decent climb in it of about 6km. would have been a really good race for me had there been no wind.. From the start the first 3km were head wind then a right turn into a massive cross wind. The peleton instantly split up with people dropping wheels all over the show, there was a group of 20 at the front and that was the race already decided. I was in the 3rd group by the time we made it to the hill and I managed to bridge up to the second group in front on the hill and stayed with them for the rest of the race. I finished in 36th. Only 50 finished out of 200 starters. I was feeling ok but just suffering in the cold, especially in my lungs.

Ronde du Canigou
 Second race was on a big loop fairly hilly with one long climb of 6km again and then 3 finishing circuits at the end. This race I had much better positioning in the wind and made the 2nd group before the first hill. I was really feeling good on the climbs and I managed to bridge up to the first group with one other guy so there were 24 of us at the front. I was with them till 60km when in a cross wind section I got blown of the road and into the gravel, luckily managed to stay on my bike. But when I was back on the road I couldn't get back on the group. Unfortunately I had to wait for the group behind and ended up finishing with them in 32nd place. Again only 50 out of 200 finished. Also during this race I have picked up a bit of a knee problem which I think was from my new pedals, so Iv changed back to my old ones and I'm just trying to rest up my knee at the moment and really hoping its nothing to serious..................

The rest of the training camp went really well. Most of the guys are the same from last year so that's good. I am back at the apartment now and its snowing which is not so good.


In other news me and Martins bought a new coffee machine. Goes real good

2012!!!

Firstly welcome to all my readers it has been awhile! but don't worry I am back writing for the 2012 season with Team Vulco! Before I get into what I'm up to now a quick catch up on my time in NZ. Basically I spent most my time catching with mates and working so not a massive amount of training was done, but all good I have all year to some of that. It was bloody good to get back home and see everyone again, and after a week at home it was like I hadn't even left I'd just slotted straight back in which was cool. Cheers for everyone back home for a sweet as summer although the summer weather wasnt all that great....
I did a few races back home but never found any form so that was a bit shit but almost to be expected as I'm really aiming for the season away in France so just gotta look at the bigger picture. For sure the most enjoyable race I did back home was the NZ cycle classic in Manawatu, for team Armstrong motor group with Ryan Sissons, Chris Macic, Jason Christie and Kieran Hambrook. I didnt have any decent results but I was really starting to feel good on the bike again. The whole team got on really well and we managed to have some good laughs off the bike, so a really huge thank you to Tim Stephens who put the team together it was awesome!

Well now I'm back in France after some hectic times, with only a day after the NZ cycle classic finished (in which I had to go the docter and the dentist and pack my bags) I was on the plane back to France via Osaka, Japan and Frankfurt. When I touched down in Lyon I was greeted to snow and -5 degrees a bit of a shock after coming from a New Zealand summer. Luckily it was pretty easy to settle in to my apartment as it is the same as last year so it almost felt like coming home........

Looking out the window of my apartment the day after I arrived (there's nowhere near as much snow as the day before)

Unlucky for me the next day I had some testing to do on the bike. Because in France if you were in the top 300 riders the previous year you must do some testing to make sure your all good and healthy etc. Feeling a bit jet lagged I had little choice but to do it this day because the team was leaving  for a training camp the following day. For the tests I had to do an eye test, have my heart scanned, check my lung capacity, height weight BMI and fat percentage recorded, eating habits recorded, teeth checked, general check up and a V02 max test on the bike. Was a shit load just to get a racing licence if you ask me.... Just in case you were wondering I passed everything and I have my licence.


I am now in Spain for our training camp and luckily down here the sun is shining and the temperature is a little higher just getting above 0 degrees. The team has 2 races this weekend which I'm not doing as I'm still a little jet lagged, and then we have 2 again next weekend which I should be doing. Being one of the few not racing today gave me the chance to ride my new bike for the first time and I must say I forgot how good it is to ride a brand new bike!

Training in the Hills and looking down on where our hotel is

New Bike

Chilling

So had a little holiday in Paris and Amsterdam the last few days so here is what we did- http://bradtilby.blogspot.com/2011/09/trip-to-paris-and-amsterdam.html

I'm too lazy to write anything so that is the link to Brad's blog.

a terminé la saison

My season in France has come to an end with my last race done on Monday. It has been a while since I have done a post on here as I am getting a bit slack with it being the end of season. It would be fair to say I have been going out a lot to make up for a quiet year etc.

Well anyway quick update on my last races.

From the 26th to the 28th of August I had a small tour - Tour du Pilat. It was a hard race and I ended up 20th or something in GC.
After that race my training basically went downhill. I probably have spent more time out in Lyon town than on my bike but its all good fun.

The following weekend I had 2 races. The first was a hilly race Prix de Coligny. I actually felt really good in this and found my self in every break away only to be caught in the last lap and finish in the bunch. It was ok however as a team mate got 2nd.....team happy. The day after I had a criterium in Annecy and was pouring with rain. Not so good for the motivation and I was not keen on crashing on the tight circuit so I ended up pulling out half way. This was also another good race for the team though as we won.

So now the weekend just been. I had a race Sunday and Monday, with my last race of the season on Monday. Sunday's race was another criterium and I wasnt feeling the greatest so I just went all out from the start and got away by myself to win the first money prime....40 euro in the bag. After that I just cruised around in the bunch.
Finally, the last race in France for this year I should have been motivated but I wasnt and I ended up pulling out. Not the best finish but got to drink some beer while I watched the rest of the race.

In the bunch at a crit (Martins in the white Latvian national champs kit)

Crit again

Now that the season is over for me Im just chilling out waiting to leave here on the 20th of September. I am going catch the train to Paris to meet Brad Tilby and Matt Kurtovich for 3 days and we will do some touristy stuff. Then after that I am going with Brad to Amsterdam for the weekend....... And then I am spending a week with some family in Holland. I catch a flight out of Amsterdam on the 1st of October back to New Zealand just in time for my 3rd summer! First stop will be the Titirangi bakery for a Caramel slice......also amped for the RWC

I have really enjoyed this year and feel I have really progressed as a rider. The team was the perfect choice for me and exposed me to some of the biggest races in France below the pro races. Now that I have seen and done all of these big races once, I want to come back next year and compete for some top results. I feel I was there or there abouts, its now about closing the deal. I am stoked that I got two wins this year and its given me a lot more confidence.

Also for the 2012 season Im stoked that I will be returning to France to race with Team Vulco again!

A few more photos from 24hours du mans

Walking away form the podium with our winnings

Me and Martins