Ok, so I thought I was being watched yesterday...I guess I should have read PEDAL mag....see the last two paragraphs...now I get it...I didn't check the WWW the week of the race to not get too hyped about things...
http://pedalmag.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=16085
who knew? everyone except me...oh well.
DSJ
Monday, June 29, 2009
Road Nationals..Aaron and RWR take Elite Title!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since my Dad tells me that my blog posts are way too long I'll get right to the point.
Tasha did the
TT on my bike, she went pretty well but had a slight mechanical at 4km to go as the shifter slipped out of the bar end as she hit a speed bu,p at 50km/hr it kind of freaked her and she tried to put it back in while coasting on the downhill but still salvaged 12th position after not pedalling for a bit. Not a bad way to spend her birthday...we had to keep
TT on my bike, she went pretty well but had a slight mechanical at 4km to go as the shifter slipped out of the bar end as she hit a speed bu,p at 50km/hr it kind of freaked her and she tried to put it back in while coasting on the downhill but still salvaged 12th position after not pedalling for a bit. Not a bad way to spend her birthday...we had to keep
Aaron in the middle, RWR Elite National Champ!
celebrations to a minimum as the weekend was pretty busy, but we'll eat some cake soon.
Her road race started off the gun, I rode up part of the course to watch the women's field that shattered in the first 10km. It came to a bunch sprint at the end and Tasha got boxed in and finished up 11th. She said she had to start her sprint late as she knew where she wanted to be but just couldn't get there. Good thing is she realizes that the tittle was there and a few little changes here and there and she would have been in it for the win, even in a group kick.
Mens race. Well...I'm still shocked. All week, I've been preparing myself for the possibility of winning the title. I knew it was possible, I believed in myself and I was not scared to risk loosing it in order to win it. Aaron and I drove to the course together in the morning and went over some scenarios and we discussed what the best case would be. He basically asked me how he could contribute to help me win. So we set up our game plan and let it roll. It played out perfect the tempo oin the first climb was super easy, the main thing we were worried about is the race going off too fast and Aaron not being there in the first little bit as too many people would be in the way. I was right at the front on the first climb, as in first wheel I wanted to attack, but as I didn't see Aaron, I just waited and let others play it out. SO I started covering and some moves went, Aaron covered a few and then it just went. I tried to go across but guys were on my wheel and there was no way in hell I was just going to roll away. I tried a few more times to go across, but the numbers just didn't work and I just let it go. I was a perfect scenario, have a guy in the break, sit on, counter if it gets caught. Although you would think that rolling in the pack is easy, it's still pretty hard, especially when the surges in speed are just so taxing.
Anyways, gap goes up to 8 minutes, I smile, I know that there is a bout a 60% that they will stay away, the gap goes to ten minutes, I was about 90% sure that it was going to stick. So I covered moves and just let Aaron do his thing. Boy did he ever, although he didn't win the sprint, he came 4th, but he ends up being the Elite National Champion. So RWR colors fly the National Jersey for 364 more days and Aaron has to figure out if he is going to go to Worlds, get carded by sprot Canada, good thing it's not an Olympic year or else he'd have to go to London!
Man, who knew? Well turns out I did. Oz Bakker was also in the break and I knew those guys would roll it so hard. Obviously the guys from the other teams underestimated a bunch of guys they have never heard of.
In a perfect scenario, I should have came 3rd in this race as I would have had a ticket to sit on the guys chasing, but a lot of attacks can happen during 180 km's and I did alot. You may not hear about it on Canadian Cyclist or Pedal, you may not see any pictures, but I know I did a good job and although I wanted to win, Aaron is great guy he has been at this forever and I'm glad that I have contributed to help him win the biggest race of his career and truely the crowning moment in his Cycling career.
I'll tell you why it happened though. It's because we were both willing to let the other win and we both had the ability to do it in different ways. Neither of us were selfish, we just stuck to the plan and did what we had to do. Good on Osmand for coming 2nd as well. I know there has been some friction between the clubs and personalities and stuff, but all that BS aside, he's super strong and as far as racing hard goes, man the guy races hard...so good on him.
Not bad for a bunch of 30 so0mething guys with full time jobs and families. Aslo notes that Warrnen Mac cracked the top group in the TT and rolled in 5-6th I was told, I hadn't looked at the results yet.
So yah, that's how I see it. It was kind of wiered though casue after the break went I just had a feeling that it wasn't really the DSJ day...I felt it during the week, but I wanted to win under sunny skies, like I always do...crazy, I know but I would rather win the sun.
Last thing...as an aside, I did manage finishing 7th in the Elite race, so actually that's somehow a really great result as well. But funny enough I cracked pretty bad and cramped up during the last lap and I was dead last in the second group and a few guys opened up gaps that were just a little too big and I got caught. But I just waited and drove it at the right time and somehow made it back to the first group then rode right through them. So moral of that story, even when you feel like shit just hold on, don't panic cause maybe you just need a few minutes and everything will work out.
DSJ
Monday, June 22, 2009
RWR take Preston St Crit!
The RWR SQUAD put in a good day and showed the colors yesterday on Preston st.
i casually rolled down to Preston st to see local junior Matteo win the junior race in style, off the front, so maybe I had a little inspiration. The second race of the day had Robbie O rolling in the break and just missing out on the win, even after almost everyone from the break crashed at one point during the rainstorm that was almost choreographed to the start and finish of the second race. I was little worried about the 140 lbs of pressure in the 21 mm tires I was rolling , so had to hit the eject valve and rode a modest 110 as there was a 4 foot cobble stretch across the last corner that did not agree with 3mm of tire contact at 50km/hr...especially if it rained.
The funny thing is, the bigger the race, the less nervous I become, World Cup, Nationals, Tour de Beauce, NO PROBLEM...BUT LOCAL RACE, I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS. Maybe it's because over the last couple years I've had to train through a lot of the races, or i just have trouble bringing the intensity that fires me up at bigger events. So I guess the pressure that I was feeling was cause there was really no excuse. Really, it's June, I'm fresh off Beauce, Nationals next week...this is my time, there was 1000$ for an hours work, you 'd have to be a little silly not to want to go well. That being said, it's never easy to win and obviously they are not just going to let me ride away.
I will have to say that who ever thought of getting Aaron to ride with us is brilliant as it really changes the dynamic of the racing. Not only is it one less guy to chase down, but it's one of the strongest guys working with you and not against you. Coupled with Glen having some good form from 6:1 ration RWR plan(for every 6 hours racing do approx 1 hour training) and G Reain throwing down some Blue Steel attacks, it makes for a wicked strong team.
We had a rough plan of what we wanted to do for the race, basically what we did on Tuesday night's dress rehearsal Bill Patterson Memorial. I thought maybe we let the cat of the bag but I guess no one was paying attention, cause it was a pretty familiar move. Anyways that's not to say I didn't attack about 87 times trying to stir the pot, but it would not have been possible without Glen, Greg and Aaron.
I'm not sure if you could see the little nuances from the sidelines, but the little things like Glen going to the front at the start to single file it, Aaron just lighting it up making hard to just hold the wheel, let alone attack, Greg's perfectly times attacks and tactful positioning in the the rotations, these are the things that make bike racing fun! To have a loose plan (like a wizards sleeve) then to actually execute it, man it like a good trance song, like Tiesto live at the Gellderdome, it just doesn't get much better than that. Sure it's one thing to win a sprint, but anyone that knows me, knows that that is the way that I like to win with "no else in the photo". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but when it does it's sweet.
I don't really remember what lap I went off on but it was after Aaron was driving it and I do remember a few key thoughts going through my head. One was "why did you put yourself in this situation, again, you know this is going to hurt", the other was "you like to hurt, this is why you do this, this is why you can win, cause no one else wants to hurt like this right now,"...luckily that latter voice triumphed and and I just rode at 90-95% until i heard JS was closing the gap then I rode outside of myself for a bit, so much that as I had been pedaling through all the corners I clipped a pedal on the first corner. Funny enough it was just like a little fart at your in laws and I just pretended it didn't happen. "What? That wasn't me". It got really hard for a few laps but the damage was done and there was no way they could close, with 2 laps to go go i knew for sure it was mine. I must have looked back 16 times though on one lap as I was a little panicked about only having 10 seconds, but the RWR guys did the job and kept it from rolling down to low.
I did a couple double fist pumps with jersey zipped up tight and one final shoulder check a la cyclo cross to finish first in front of a very empathetic home town crowd in front of my friends, Natasha and my dad on Fathers day, so it was a big one for me. Especially since a few years ago I finished second just shy of the win, it's nice to come back and seal the deal. So i was pretty ecstatic with victory celebration across the line, I was pumped and just couldn't help the celebration.
DSJ
Sunday, June 21, 2009
France
Although Tash was a little down after getting sick and not having a stellar Tour of PEI I think it worked out for the best. After Natasha crushed it in the break at PEI, she obviously got noticed, and she was invited to go to France to do two stage races in a few weeks. So she will be wearing National team clothing again, this time on the road which was one of the objectives of the season as well. So we're pretty happy for her as she's obviously been working hard, but for some reason on the road things just haven't went her way as of yet.
Hopefully things start to turn around from here for her.
So she'll be in Paris n the last day of the Tour, but i think the only thing she'll see of the Tour is the traffic and ticker tape. So now we just have to find her some cash to pay for the ticket and we're set. SO I guess maybe I'll have a bit more incentive to go for some primes in the next couple weeks, especially if they are giving tickets to France...well maybe not but one can hope.
I guess this will give Tash more incentive to start reading her intro to french book she bought at Chapters a few weeks ago.
On deck today is Preston st Crit. We've been chillin at Casa Norm and Jane in the Westborough as we have a room here as well and are making ourselves more and more like Gypsies. Jane is down at Mooney's racing dragon boat and just came third in the semi's.
Hopefully the sun comes out and the rain ends as I generally ride better when it's sunny, maybe it's just in my head, but that's the way it is.
Derrick
Hopefully things start to turn around from here for her.
So she'll be in Paris n the last day of the Tour, but i think the only thing she'll see of the Tour is the traffic and ticker tape. So now we just have to find her some cash to pay for the ticket and we're set. SO I guess maybe I'll have a bit more incentive to go for some primes in the next couple weeks, especially if they are giving tickets to France...well maybe not but one can hope.
I guess this will give Tash more incentive to start reading her intro to french book she bought at Chapters a few weeks ago.
On deck today is Preston st Crit. We've been chillin at Casa Norm and Jane in the Westborough as we have a room here as well and are making ourselves more and more like Gypsies. Jane is down at Mooney's racing dragon boat and just came third in the semi's.
Hopefully the sun comes out and the rain ends as I generally ride better when it's sunny, maybe it's just in my head, but that's the way it is.
Derrick
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tour de Beauce....exceeding expectataions
Well I'll try to go over the last couple days without too much detail but still giving a little bit of what was going through my mind.
So we woke up to rain the morning of the TT, as I was getting ready, Phil noticed the tubular on the disk wheel was not glued right, I ripped it off with my hands...ut oh...oh well, I used only the deep dish wheels for the TT, but it may not have been a bad choice as I rode a solid ride to keep my GC place. I could have probably went a little faster at the start, but hey it was pretty sketchy.
So we woke up to rain the morning of the TT, as I was getting ready, Phil noticed the tubular on the disk wheel was not glued right, I ripped it off with my hands...ut oh...oh well, I used only the deep dish wheels for the TT, but it may not have been a bad choice as I rode a solid ride to keep my GC place. I could have probably went a little faster at the start, but hey it was pretty sketchy.
(Above pics courtesy of Can Cyclist, Rob Jones, rolling the break in Quebec and going for the Blue Jersey in QC city)
The crit. Well it was really the only part of the race that sucked, because they were not counting it for the GC, because apparently that is a UCI regulation. SO I decided that if an opportunity to arose to get in a break I'd take it but only if it was right there and even at that I would do the square route of SFA and just try to podium. Well the break went and Ryan (ROth) got in it but he came back to the pack and told me it was so frigin hard, so I knew I made a good decision to stay at the back and just carry my speed through the corners and basically somehow use the crit as a recovery ride.
So Natasha came back from PEI on Friday and the great people at Louis Garneau made sure the condo was opened for her upon her arrival. I think she was pretty impressed when she walked in as like I've said it's got pics of Louis and trophies and it's a really nice place.
The mechanic Seb drove me to the condo in BMW and i thought he was going to rip it up but drove slower i do, so it wasn't as fast as I thought it was going to be.
Winning the stage in Quebec city has been my dream for a long time. This year was no different, I actually told Louis I would try to win the stage there. Phil and myself started attacking the shit out of the race on the second and third lap. Otavio, the Brazilian followed the move and 13 guys were off. It was pretty cool to not only be in the break but have had a clear tactic going in, the properly executed the first part. At the first time check we had 40 seconds, then all of a sudden we had 5minutes. Woh. I was only 650 down on GC, potentially if I played my cards right this could move me up to 5th in the GC. So I was rolling the break through without being too obvious tht I was hyper motivated to keep the gap as high as possible since I was by far the best seated in the GC. But also wanted to win the stage. I tried to communicate with Otavio a little during the race but it wasn't as effective as I would have liked.
So 2 laps to go. Guys are hitting it pretty hard, wait, be patient, pick my opportunity. So cover moves. 1 lap to go, I go to take a pull , I roll through and no one is there, so I click down a couple gears and just start riding away with 8km to go. A couple guys join, we roll we get caught. I go again after Cam Evens, we roll, we get caught, 5km to go, as we get caught there is a slight pause and I go a 3rd time, no one comes, press into the pedals harder and harder and then I get my chance. All or nothing please legs please, i press harder and harder and harder and it hurts alot. Push, pull, push, pull, just a little faster, push pull 120%, I look over my shoulder as I round the final 1500 meters and I have a good gap, i start ascending the final climb and there are thousands of people screaming...i look there is no one, 1km to go, look and there are two FLy V guys, Otavio is about 6 people back, he lets them go, I yell for him to go but he does not, we waits, then he goes, I recover then go, 120% effort for the last 500meters and I end up 4th just shy of my podium. Shit. Oh well I can't say I wish ed I would have came 3rd as a podium for me is more important for carding reasons, but I went for it and I have o regrets, I went for it my way AND IT ALMOST WORKED. SO whatever. I go to win, I put myself on the line for the team to win, and I have no regrets about my tactic as it was perfect in that scenario and still yielded a good result.
THe last stage, I had moved up to 10th on the GC and I wanted to move into top the 8. SO I tried to getmyself into another break and we tried to launch Otavio off the front again. He got a gap with 3 laps to go but then sat up as he was pretty knackered. I payed for my efforts and eat shit up the 1km climb from Nationals last year that was repeated 12 times, and I tasted the pain in sour beads of salted sweat roll down face. The race was insanely hard. 80 started, 37 finished.
I was in the main group on the last lap and two guys rolled away, there were some attacks. I just waited and went at the end, I was a little too far back at the start of the climb but muscled myway to 8th in the uphill sprint.
So results for the week, 4th, 8th, 11th and 10th in the GC, also top Canadian and 11th in points(which was also the last money spot). I think if I took every result I've ever had in cycling and put them all together multiplied them by about 5, this week is still better. Not only that but Tasha got to see me ride and almost get it in QC city. And the team's performance is absolutely fantastic, Louis is so happy, we were happy and it was awesome.
It's so funny, cause really three is not so much different than before. I just believe in what I am doing and commit myself 120%. Sure I am really lean, and a bit retentive about certain aspects of m eating and stuff and I did make a coaching change and sometimes I don't even plug my SRM in anymore. I just make a goal (that is realistic) and I just do it. It's not really about a secret training program, cause I actually just kind of do what feels right and and talk to Dan to get the basics and if I feel like I need to do something then I do it. It probably helps that I've done the race a few times now and I know the courses and I ride with my head not my legs as well. I think it's just about confidence of knowing you belong, and going after what is yours like anything in life. Really it's not that complicated, it's just a bike race, we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, just trying to figure out how to get that wheel to cross the finish line first or in the best position possible for that day.
Think about it.
DSJ
So Natasha came back from PEI on Friday and the great people at Louis Garneau made sure the condo was opened for her upon her arrival. I think she was pretty impressed when she walked in as like I've said it's got pics of Louis and trophies and it's a really nice place.
The mechanic Seb drove me to the condo in BMW and i thought he was going to rip it up but drove slower i do, so it wasn't as fast as I thought it was going to be.
Winning the stage in Quebec city has been my dream for a long time. This year was no different, I actually told Louis I would try to win the stage there. Phil and myself started attacking the shit out of the race on the second and third lap. Otavio, the Brazilian followed the move and 13 guys were off. It was pretty cool to not only be in the break but have had a clear tactic going in, the properly executed the first part. At the first time check we had 40 seconds, then all of a sudden we had 5minutes. Woh. I was only 650 down on GC, potentially if I played my cards right this could move me up to 5th in the GC. So I was rolling the break through without being too obvious tht I was hyper motivated to keep the gap as high as possible since I was by far the best seated in the GC. But also wanted to win the stage. I tried to communicate with Otavio a little during the race but it wasn't as effective as I would have liked.
So 2 laps to go. Guys are hitting it pretty hard, wait, be patient, pick my opportunity. So cover moves. 1 lap to go, I go to take a pull , I roll through and no one is there, so I click down a couple gears and just start riding away with 8km to go. A couple guys join, we roll we get caught. I go again after Cam Evens, we roll, we get caught, 5km to go, as we get caught there is a slight pause and I go a 3rd time, no one comes, press into the pedals harder and harder and then I get my chance. All or nothing please legs please, i press harder and harder and harder and it hurts alot. Push, pull, push, pull, just a little faster, push pull 120%, I look over my shoulder as I round the final 1500 meters and I have a good gap, i start ascending the final climb and there are thousands of people screaming...i look there is no one, 1km to go, look and there are two FLy V guys, Otavio is about 6 people back, he lets them go, I yell for him to go but he does not, we waits, then he goes, I recover then go, 120% effort for the last 500meters and I end up 4th just shy of my podium. Shit. Oh well I can't say I wish ed I would have came 3rd as a podium for me is more important for carding reasons, but I went for it and I have o regrets, I went for it my way AND IT ALMOST WORKED. SO whatever. I go to win, I put myself on the line for the team to win, and I have no regrets about my tactic as it was perfect in that scenario and still yielded a good result.
THe last stage, I had moved up to 10th on the GC and I wanted to move into top the 8. SO I tried to getmyself into another break and we tried to launch Otavio off the front again. He got a gap with 3 laps to go but then sat up as he was pretty knackered. I payed for my efforts and eat shit up the 1km climb from Nationals last year that was repeated 12 times, and I tasted the pain in sour beads of salted sweat roll down face. The race was insanely hard. 80 started, 37 finished.
I was in the main group on the last lap and two guys rolled away, there were some attacks. I just waited and went at the end, I was a little too far back at the start of the climb but muscled myway to 8th in the uphill sprint.
So results for the week, 4th, 8th, 11th and 10th in the GC, also top Canadian and 11th in points(which was also the last money spot). I think if I took every result I've ever had in cycling and put them all together multiplied them by about 5, this week is still better. Not only that but Tasha got to see me ride and almost get it in QC city. And the team's performance is absolutely fantastic, Louis is so happy, we were happy and it was awesome.
It's so funny, cause really three is not so much different than before. I just believe in what I am doing and commit myself 120%. Sure I am really lean, and a bit retentive about certain aspects of m eating and stuff and I did make a coaching change and sometimes I don't even plug my SRM in anymore. I just make a goal (that is realistic) and I just do it. It's not really about a secret training program, cause I actually just kind of do what feels right and and talk to Dan to get the basics and if I feel like I need to do something then I do it. It probably helps that I've done the race a few times now and I know the courses and I ride with my head not my legs as well. I think it's just about confidence of knowing you belong, and going after what is yours like anything in life. Really it's not that complicated, it's just a bike race, we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, just trying to figure out how to get that wheel to cross the finish line first or in the best position possible for that day.
Think about it.
DSJ
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Beauce-day 2 Theford Mines...day 3 the Mega Megantic
So here is how yesterday's stage played out. For me, as I was 10th in GC be smart...recover, save energy, not go for any sprint or kom points. So I did. What made it even easier is my roomate, Phil Cortes, put himself into a 3 man break and took second on the stage, holding it by only a few meters from a charging and I mean charging pack!
Other than our Director hitting a guy from Trek LivesStrong.
So, today was the big one...Mont Megantic. My plan was to just be conservative and use as little energy once again until the summit of the climb. Abreak of 20 guys rolled away and got 3 minutes on the field, but I was climbing well and finished perhaps 8th of the pack which had all the GC guys, well the main ones anyways. I think I may have lost one position or so in the GC and I would be 11th or so now. So still hanging in there, try to do a good TT tomorrow and then take it from there.
Don't really have lots to say as the racing is obviously hard and it's about racing and not alot of energy left to tell stories. Well maybe around the dinner table...which is soon. The food is same as last year and the year before...have stayed away from badness food of one more day.
But today I did endeavor into using half a pound of Swedish Berries instead of gels as I'll run out soon. I did also get to use the Dura Ace carbon low profile wheels, which will not be coming off until the end of the tour.
I just wish I could find some of those candy bananas.
DSJ
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tour de Beauce, day 1 Lac Etchemin
Well day one is in the books. Few, cause it was tough.
The plan was, well we'd just try to put at least one in the break and roll with it.
I covered some moves, the boys covered some then I covered another and one more and that was it. A group of 10 or 11, we broke away at about 50 km into the 165km stage...
So that was 100 km off the front, and as always never easy here in Beauce.
It was a little bit of a cluster this am, as we were slightly unorganized, we only had 2 radios and I didn't get one and we never really sorted out the feed zone. Actually a pretty huge lack of communication, as we did have someone in the feed zone, but with water and no food...so...yah.
And as I didn't have a radio I dropped back to get a feed and suffered for 5km to get back on, which was totally lame as at this level you just can't waste any bullets.
Although I have to admit that I did what I said i wasn't going to do and got into the sprints and kom's. I popped with 5km to go, lost a little time and think I ended up 11th on the stage. But I think I got a time bonus for the sprint so top 10 in GC? I said I wasn't going for a GC, since that's just agonizing as you have to put good rides together all week which is super hard...but we'll see.
So did I say it was hard...well I guess that's no surprise and mixed in a little ill timing, excited sprints and I'm not totaly shocked that I popped at eh crunch time. But hey, c'est la vie. I'll have to figure out what the main focus will be for the week as being scatter brained here is not good, at all. I feel like I had 4 Red Bulls, although I have had none. I was counting on everyone being tiered from Philly and not chasing today, so I guess I was kind of right, they chased, hard, but didn't come back.
So here is the big question...will there be at least one photo where I look good in pink...time will tell. If you're interested Canadian Cyclist has updates during the race. I can't promise that I'll get in another break tomorrow, but hey you never know...Oh yah and I think I'm number 2 Canadian in GC...not bad for a man nurse?
In other news Tasha had a crasha today ...but she's ok, apparently some one went down in front of her and she could not avoid it...she chased forever, but at least she's really good at that!
She was hopping on the bus for dinner. It sounds like it is just her butt and legs, no face injury...few! She said her Cross foe Hanka K was all bloodied up in the face, ouch!
DSJ
The plan was, well we'd just try to put at least one in the break and roll with it.
I covered some moves, the boys covered some then I covered another and one more and that was it. A group of 10 or 11, we broke away at about 50 km into the 165km stage...
So that was 100 km off the front, and as always never easy here in Beauce.
It was a little bit of a cluster this am, as we were slightly unorganized, we only had 2 radios and I didn't get one and we never really sorted out the feed zone. Actually a pretty huge lack of communication, as we did have someone in the feed zone, but with water and no food...so...yah.
And as I didn't have a radio I dropped back to get a feed and suffered for 5km to get back on, which was totally lame as at this level you just can't waste any bullets.
Although I have to admit that I did what I said i wasn't going to do and got into the sprints and kom's. I popped with 5km to go, lost a little time and think I ended up 11th on the stage. But I think I got a time bonus for the sprint so top 10 in GC? I said I wasn't going for a GC, since that's just agonizing as you have to put good rides together all week which is super hard...but we'll see.
So did I say it was hard...well I guess that's no surprise and mixed in a little ill timing, excited sprints and I'm not totaly shocked that I popped at eh crunch time. But hey, c'est la vie. I'll have to figure out what the main focus will be for the week as being scatter brained here is not good, at all. I feel like I had 4 Red Bulls, although I have had none. I was counting on everyone being tiered from Philly and not chasing today, so I guess I was kind of right, they chased, hard, but didn't come back.
So here is the big question...will there be at least one photo where I look good in pink...time will tell. If you're interested Canadian Cyclist has updates during the race. I can't promise that I'll get in another break tomorrow, but hey you never know...Oh yah and I think I'm number 2 Canadian in GC...not bad for a man nurse?
In other news Tasha had a crasha today ...but she's ok, apparently some one went down in front of her and she could not avoid it...she chased forever, but at least she's really good at that!
She was hopping on the bus for dinner. It sounds like it is just her butt and legs, no face injury...few! She said her Cross foe Hanka K was all bloodied up in the face, ouch!
DSJ
Monday, June 8, 2009
LG in the house...
Greetings cycling fans. Well the last few days have been very interesting to say the least.
With Tasha gone to PEI I had to fend for myself in Cornwall and already started missing her on Friday. I did a ride with the Cornwall boys on Saturday and it was really cool to ride with a different gang and do a good ride before heading to Beauce, in which I will be racing the Tour for the third consecutive year with the LG formation.
Louis (Garneau) invited me to stay at the Condo across from the Factory in St Augustin, right where Montreal-Quebec finishes. Once there I met up with J Schiller and Otavio Bogarhelli from Brazil. His English is pretty good but we are trying to corrupt him and show him all kinds of slang like...well, all kinds. The condo is pretty boss as well. There is enough room to sleep 2 entire teams, and there are pictures of Louis in his hay day, racing all over the World, some really cool photography and medlas, trophies plaques that the team have won so far. Pretty frigin cool. Not to mention Louis, who is a super cool guy, for a millionaire kind of franchise mogul.
Today we met up with another LG teamate Aroussen and we did a few laps of the MTL-Quebec finishing circuit and did some pace line and I almost had a heart attack as we were cruising!
Off to the LG factory to pick up my kit bag for the race. N ow I'm going to add some pretense to this. Usually I get a pretty sweet bag, but this year, you have no idea how spoiled I was. They asked me for my shoe size and bike measurements and they were going to put together a full Dura Ace road and tt bike for me. I was a little hesitant of this as I 'm sensitive with equipment, in the fact that I need certain measurements, but I did accept test out some Dura Ace wheels and Vittoria tubs, no problem on that!
So I won't waste your time with all the details but I basically got three bags full of pink gear! I think they are hoping I will do a good tour as I have never ever had so much unwrapping to do in one day. Don't get me wrong my current sponsors take very good care of me, I love the Opus that I ride and I think the RWR kits are are great and Glen has done his best to support me, not just with stuff but also in more of emotional kind of support and personal support which are ultimately more important than swag. But I have to say it's really fun to crack open 3 sets of bib shorts, two helmet boxes, sun glasses, dufflebag, countless socks, gloves, jacket...track suit, tee shirts...I could go on but alas time is of the essence.
Anyways, I was a little hesitent to open all the bags as I have have worked hard for everything that I have in cycling and feel like I was given all this stuff for just a week. Last year I did a whole season on one new kit and a used skinsuits! But I frigin have smile on my face ear to ear. Ok maybe I won't be able to use some of it past this week, but none the less, it just makes you feel good. So after cracking open all the stuff, Sandra , Louis assistant, who is so helpful, told us we could lunch in the caferteria for free as well.
One of my goals this year was to get at least one new skin suit, (I think I have 3 or 4 now) and not not look fat in at least one picture, as for some reason I look fatogenic.
So skinsuit check, fingers crossed that there are a few good pics this week. Results? Basically I found that when you look good , results follow as you are confident, haha. ALso I think my hair is good this week, feeling very think as the conditionner is really good. Not as good as Curt Harnett's hair back in the Pert days, more like Ed Norton in Fight Club.
So what is the moral to this story? I'm not really sure. I work hard for this. That's all I know. Wheather or not I get one kit or two or three, it doesn't really change my desire to perform, that is constant. Sure it makes me happy to feel special to get all this attention, who wouldn't?
But it does feel good to get some stuff everynow and then when you work so hard to get where you are. It's kind of like my racing results, I've earned every single podium I have stepped on.
There have been no flukes, just hard work. For real.
Also the boys noticed I was more tanned than the Brazillian, way to go Cornwall!
Derrick
I spoke to Tasha she said the TT was "ok" in PEI, she's still not 100%, but I think she'll come around as the Tour goes on. She is having good times in PEI and said it is beautiful there.
With Tasha gone to PEI I had to fend for myself in Cornwall and already started missing her on Friday. I did a ride with the Cornwall boys on Saturday and it was really cool to ride with a different gang and do a good ride before heading to Beauce, in which I will be racing the Tour for the third consecutive year with the LG formation.
Louis (Garneau) invited me to stay at the Condo across from the Factory in St Augustin, right where Montreal-Quebec finishes. Once there I met up with J Schiller and Otavio Bogarhelli from Brazil. His English is pretty good but we are trying to corrupt him and show him all kinds of slang like...well, all kinds. The condo is pretty boss as well. There is enough room to sleep 2 entire teams, and there are pictures of Louis in his hay day, racing all over the World, some really cool photography and medlas, trophies plaques that the team have won so far. Pretty frigin cool. Not to mention Louis, who is a super cool guy, for a millionaire kind of franchise mogul.
Today we met up with another LG teamate Aroussen and we did a few laps of the MTL-Quebec finishing circuit and did some pace line and I almost had a heart attack as we were cruising!
Off to the LG factory to pick up my kit bag for the race. N ow I'm going to add some pretense to this. Usually I get a pretty sweet bag, but this year, you have no idea how spoiled I was. They asked me for my shoe size and bike measurements and they were going to put together a full Dura Ace road and tt bike for me. I was a little hesitant of this as I 'm sensitive with equipment, in the fact that I need certain measurements, but I did accept test out some Dura Ace wheels and Vittoria tubs, no problem on that!
So I won't waste your time with all the details but I basically got three bags full of pink gear! I think they are hoping I will do a good tour as I have never ever had so much unwrapping to do in one day. Don't get me wrong my current sponsors take very good care of me, I love the Opus that I ride and I think the RWR kits are are great and Glen has done his best to support me, not just with stuff but also in more of emotional kind of support and personal support which are ultimately more important than swag. But I have to say it's really fun to crack open 3 sets of bib shorts, two helmet boxes, sun glasses, dufflebag, countless socks, gloves, jacket...track suit, tee shirts...I could go on but alas time is of the essence.
Anyways, I was a little hesitent to open all the bags as I have have worked hard for everything that I have in cycling and feel like I was given all this stuff for just a week. Last year I did a whole season on one new kit and a used skinsuits! But I frigin have smile on my face ear to ear. Ok maybe I won't be able to use some of it past this week, but none the less, it just makes you feel good. So after cracking open all the stuff, Sandra , Louis assistant, who is so helpful, told us we could lunch in the caferteria for free as well.
One of my goals this year was to get at least one new skin suit, (I think I have 3 or 4 now) and not not look fat in at least one picture, as for some reason I look fatogenic.
So skinsuit check, fingers crossed that there are a few good pics this week. Results? Basically I found that when you look good , results follow as you are confident, haha. ALso I think my hair is good this week, feeling very think as the conditionner is really good. Not as good as Curt Harnett's hair back in the Pert days, more like Ed Norton in Fight Club.
So what is the moral to this story? I'm not really sure. I work hard for this. That's all I know. Wheather or not I get one kit or two or three, it doesn't really change my desire to perform, that is constant. Sure it makes me happy to feel special to get all this attention, who wouldn't?
But it does feel good to get some stuff everynow and then when you work so hard to get where you are. It's kind of like my racing results, I've earned every single podium I have stepped on.
There have been no flukes, just hard work. For real.
Also the boys noticed I was more tanned than the Brazillian, way to go Cornwall!
Derrick
I spoke to Tasha she said the TT was "ok" in PEI, she's still not 100%, but I think she'll come around as the Tour goes on. She is having good times in PEI and said it is beautiful there.
Monday, June 1, 2009
DSJ wins GP Charlevoix!
"High five"...as Borrat would say for sure.
Man where to start. Well I could tell you about the funny week I had, renewing my drivers licence, that apparently was expired in 2008, who knew I thought it said 2009. I guess my sister getting stopped for not having her seat belt was a blessing in disguise as it made me check my licence, must run in the family. Good thing I drive like Miss Daisy.
So, back to Charlevoix. I knew it was going to be a good weekend for a few reasons.
1) I had a really good horoscope in the Sun, so good that I cut it out and carried it with me to the race.
2) I had some good hair. I used some conditioner this week and Natasha commented on the thickness of my hair, and obviously that's a really good thing.
3) When I spoke to Dan P(coach), I told him I would send him a picture of the podium, this weekend as I decided I wanted to win this race as soon as I committed to doing it.
4) Third time is a charm.
5) I had my sweet new Sidi shoes, which are really fast I have decided. And since I paid for them, that's no BS, as I could say they sucked if I wanted to, but they are BOSS, so there, go buy a pair of SIDI shoes cause if I have to pay for something, you know it's good.
Back to the story...I was feeling pretty good on Saturday, even when Glen told me the guys were running a little late, so I had to chill for a few hours outside of Starbucks/Sushi Stop in Pointe Claire Friday. Then I didn't ride Friday as we arrived there a little late, so again I didn't panic and just did some yoga burn in the hotel room in my boxer shorts.
Also tried not to panic when I was in the car and I thought I had a gastro as I had the urge to throw up really bad, but I eat some rice crisipie squares and it went away, good thing it wasn't the other way around.
So Saturday...
TT-push-pull-go fast.
Crit_Line..go fast don't break pedal through corners and make the front group to gain a few seconds.
Sunday...well for a 117 km race, it was damn hard. It felt like there was more up then down, as there was as we had a 10 km downish descent home from the hill top finish.
Anytime I have ever won a race there have always been three things consistent, 1) pain, 2) not feeling 100% 3) well can't tell you that one...anyways apparently everything was right for me on this day.
There was obviously lots going on in the race, and swear to God, the 3 hr 36 min and 8 seconds it took to complete this arduous endeavour I did not loose focus, not once, not for one second. i knew going in that because there was a KOM, the RR and battle for GC, if I tried to do too much I would end up with nothing. Boily attacked I responded, so did Bell, we got a gap Boily opened a gap to Bell and I, looked to see everyone's position on the climb and just crushed the pedals to get across the gap that he had opened. We rode a hard steady metronome rhythm up the climbs and it was tortuous to us both. We carried a good beat on the flats and i rode well in the wind.
Man we almost got caught...coming into the village before the second KOM, we could see the chasers, we talked a little, rode tempo on the flat and just felt like we rode the absolute perfect tempo pace up the climb. Put it this way, we had merely 20 seconds at the bottom, then we had 1 min 30 at the top. We were not even tempted to fight for the kom points as an acceleration could have not only damage our rhythm but could have compromised the stage and the race. We just crushed ourselves and in the end rode to the line, glued to each others wheels maximizing the time between us and the field. I crossed the line, counted 15 seconds and no one was in sight we had finished with 1min 38 on the field, I raised my arms in Victory, as Boily celebrated his stage win, I lifted my arms in the air as I heard the announcer say "Derrick ST John de Ride with Rendall est le nouveau leader et a provisoirement gange le GC".
I gave a few quick interviews in French for news the paper and radio http://veloptimum.net/velonouvelles/9/ART/6juin/Soleil1.htm
drank a couple chocolate milk and bananas and yah that was aobut it, had some good stories and smiles on the way home.
So, it was nice. I'm happy about it, I got the jersey, the trophy the flowers and a few bucks and I didn't sound all cracked out in my interview, funny that I give a better interview in French, don't understand that at all. Not only that but i did a good race and think both Boily and I were rewarded for our work and once again the racing was hard but it was fair.
I think this is my best victory to date and it's a good feeling that I am still developing and the races in which I am winning are getting to be a step up. Good resluts are good, but there is nothing quite like winning. This is big for me. Thanks to the guys for being around this weekend. It wasn't really a race where your teamates could "work" for you, unless they pushed you up the hills, so good on all the Elite guys for riding right to the line.
I had trouble pushing 145 lbs up those climbs so I can't even imagine pushing a 6 foot frame up those hills....
Funny story... Casey only had a 25 tooth cog and his derailer was messed up so he was riding up the climbs in a massive gear... bet you he's gonna be sore.
Nash put in a good TT, also Nathan Underwood from Sask who has joined our team finished top10 in the GC and not to mention all the RWR Master guys who were rocking the race and basically dominated a lot of the other categories.
Send your wishes to Tash as she is on her way to feeling better, I'm glad she maid the right choice.
DSJ
Man where to start. Well I could tell you about the funny week I had, renewing my drivers licence, that apparently was expired in 2008, who knew I thought it said 2009. I guess my sister getting stopped for not having her seat belt was a blessing in disguise as it made me check my licence, must run in the family. Good thing I drive like Miss Daisy.
So, back to Charlevoix. I knew it was going to be a good weekend for a few reasons.
1) I had a really good horoscope in the Sun, so good that I cut it out and carried it with me to the race.
2) I had some good hair. I used some conditioner this week and Natasha commented on the thickness of my hair, and obviously that's a really good thing.
3) When I spoke to Dan P(coach), I told him I would send him a picture of the podium, this weekend as I decided I wanted to win this race as soon as I committed to doing it.
4) Third time is a charm.
5) I had my sweet new Sidi shoes, which are really fast I have decided. And since I paid for them, that's no BS, as I could say they sucked if I wanted to, but they are BOSS, so there, go buy a pair of SIDI shoes cause if I have to pay for something, you know it's good.
Back to the story...I was feeling pretty good on Saturday, even when Glen told me the guys were running a little late, so I had to chill for a few hours outside of Starbucks/Sushi Stop in Pointe Claire Friday. Then I didn't ride Friday as we arrived there a little late, so again I didn't panic and just did some yoga burn in the hotel room in my boxer shorts.
Also tried not to panic when I was in the car and I thought I had a gastro as I had the urge to throw up really bad, but I eat some rice crisipie squares and it went away, good thing it wasn't the other way around.
So Saturday...
TT-push-pull-go fast.
Crit_Line..go fast don't break pedal through corners and make the front group to gain a few seconds.
Sunday...well for a 117 km race, it was damn hard. It felt like there was more up then down, as there was as we had a 10 km downish descent home from the hill top finish.
Anytime I have ever won a race there have always been three things consistent, 1) pain, 2) not feeling 100% 3) well can't tell you that one...anyways apparently everything was right for me on this day.
There was obviously lots going on in the race, and swear to God, the 3 hr 36 min and 8 seconds it took to complete this arduous endeavour I did not loose focus, not once, not for one second. i knew going in that because there was a KOM, the RR and battle for GC, if I tried to do too much I would end up with nothing. Boily attacked I responded, so did Bell, we got a gap Boily opened a gap to Bell and I, looked to see everyone's position on the climb and just crushed the pedals to get across the gap that he had opened. We rode a hard steady metronome rhythm up the climbs and it was tortuous to us both. We carried a good beat on the flats and i rode well in the wind.
Man we almost got caught...coming into the village before the second KOM, we could see the chasers, we talked a little, rode tempo on the flat and just felt like we rode the absolute perfect tempo pace up the climb. Put it this way, we had merely 20 seconds at the bottom, then we had 1 min 30 at the top. We were not even tempted to fight for the kom points as an acceleration could have not only damage our rhythm but could have compromised the stage and the race. We just crushed ourselves and in the end rode to the line, glued to each others wheels maximizing the time between us and the field. I crossed the line, counted 15 seconds and no one was in sight we had finished with 1min 38 on the field, I raised my arms in Victory, as Boily celebrated his stage win, I lifted my arms in the air as I heard the announcer say "Derrick ST John de Ride with Rendall est le nouveau leader et a provisoirement gange le GC".
I gave a few quick interviews in French for news the paper and radio http://veloptimum.net/velonouvelles/9/ART/6juin/Soleil1.htm
drank a couple chocolate milk and bananas and yah that was aobut it, had some good stories and smiles on the way home.
So, it was nice. I'm happy about it, I got the jersey, the trophy the flowers and a few bucks and I didn't sound all cracked out in my interview, funny that I give a better interview in French, don't understand that at all. Not only that but i did a good race and think both Boily and I were rewarded for our work and once again the racing was hard but it was fair.
I think this is my best victory to date and it's a good feeling that I am still developing and the races in which I am winning are getting to be a step up. Good resluts are good, but there is nothing quite like winning. This is big for me. Thanks to the guys for being around this weekend. It wasn't really a race where your teamates could "work" for you, unless they pushed you up the hills, so good on all the Elite guys for riding right to the line.
I had trouble pushing 145 lbs up those climbs so I can't even imagine pushing a 6 foot frame up those hills....
Funny story... Casey only had a 25 tooth cog and his derailer was messed up so he was riding up the climbs in a massive gear... bet you he's gonna be sore.
Nash put in a good TT, also Nathan Underwood from Sask who has joined our team finished top10 in the GC and not to mention all the RWR Master guys who were rocking the race and basically dominated a lot of the other categories.
Send your wishes to Tash as she is on her way to feeling better, I'm glad she maid the right choice.
DSJ
No MSR
So the decision was made with the help from my coach and teammates, definitely don't start the Montreal Stage Race today were the words of wisdom. I woke up this morning stepped on the scales and saw that now my weight had dropped a total of 7lbs since Saturday morning. This was not what I wanted to see and not even sure how it was even possible as I didn't throw up at all, it was all out the other way. I was still tossing and turning last night and my recovery from doing 11 laps of 110k on Saturday up Mount royal consisted of eating one piece of toast and a glass of OJ yesterday. I guess with my new found lightness I can be the climber that I always wanted to be, not sure how many less watts I'll need to push out going over hills now but I'm sure it will be significant.
Derrick is staying in Ottawa for the next few days and I was pretty mad at him over the last 12 hours as I really needed someone to talk to and maybe cry on there shoulder. He ended up winning the GC at Charlevoix which is a huge win for him and I'm glad he finally got an amazing weekend of racing in, he really deserves it. On his way home last night he decided to stay with the RWR team and go to Ottawa instead of coming back home to Cornwall. I was a little hard on him, but more because I had no one to help me out. I've laid on the couch since Saturday night trying to sleep here and there between my stomach swishing around and aching thinking of ways I could be 100 % to race again today. Obviously there is no magical solution. These next two weeks of racing were super important to me. It wasn't an easy decision to skip out on Montreal and it wasn't an easy time going to do the World Cup on Saturday not feeling 100 % and having no fight to stay near the front of the race. I really wanted a top 20/25 finish and I feel like every year I am so unlucky at the races I want to well at. It's not about choking or anything, it's pure unluckiness, I get sick right before or during these event. I feel like I replay the same events every year, but each year I am that much fitter and know what kind of results I can produce when I am 100%. Everything is there on paper, all I need is for one of those days that I am super rested for important race, is for me to not be sick. I absolutely hate having excusing or someone asking me how a race went and I say oh I was sick, most of the time they really don't truely understand the situation or believe you. Like even last night when my team manger called up, he was understandable but he didn't really get it. He said are you sure it wasn't just nerves. Ah nope, the water coming out of me for 24 hours was not nerves especially after the race was over, and my stomach making noises that I've never heard before, yep that wasn't nerves either. The sweats and cold chills, pretty sure that wasn't nerves. Anyways, like I said, he was still understandable and the communication barrier is always hard to over come (English to French) and also having to tell him I have diarrhea isn't easy, but to really explain the diarrhea is even harder. I just told him I had lost 7 lbs in a day and hope he understands what kind of pain and suffering that required.
When Derrick's Mom was sick last week, I should of got as far away as possible from Cornwall as I could. I figured this year with getting to race the WC and two stages races I would be able to get at least one or few good days in. On the positive note, I knew PEI was my best shot to do well so I guess all I can do is rest up for that and be 100%. It's funny for the first time I am listening to what people tell me. Dan, my coach, said just take it easy for the next 3 days even if I am itching to ride hard. On the plus side if all goes well I can hammer again by Wednesday and get ready for PEI. Sounds like a good compromise for me.
NCE
Derrick is staying in Ottawa for the next few days and I was pretty mad at him over the last 12 hours as I really needed someone to talk to and maybe cry on there shoulder. He ended up winning the GC at Charlevoix which is a huge win for him and I'm glad he finally got an amazing weekend of racing in, he really deserves it. On his way home last night he decided to stay with the RWR team and go to Ottawa instead of coming back home to Cornwall. I was a little hard on him, but more because I had no one to help me out. I've laid on the couch since Saturday night trying to sleep here and there between my stomach swishing around and aching thinking of ways I could be 100 % to race again today. Obviously there is no magical solution. These next two weeks of racing were super important to me. It wasn't an easy decision to skip out on Montreal and it wasn't an easy time going to do the World Cup on Saturday not feeling 100 % and having no fight to stay near the front of the race. I really wanted a top 20/25 finish and I feel like every year I am so unlucky at the races I want to well at. It's not about choking or anything, it's pure unluckiness, I get sick right before or during these event. I feel like I replay the same events every year, but each year I am that much fitter and know what kind of results I can produce when I am 100%. Everything is there on paper, all I need is for one of those days that I am super rested for important race, is for me to not be sick. I absolutely hate having excusing or someone asking me how a race went and I say oh I was sick, most of the time they really don't truely understand the situation or believe you. Like even last night when my team manger called up, he was understandable but he didn't really get it. He said are you sure it wasn't just nerves. Ah nope, the water coming out of me for 24 hours was not nerves especially after the race was over, and my stomach making noises that I've never heard before, yep that wasn't nerves either. The sweats and cold chills, pretty sure that wasn't nerves. Anyways, like I said, he was still understandable and the communication barrier is always hard to over come (English to French) and also having to tell him I have diarrhea isn't easy, but to really explain the diarrhea is even harder. I just told him I had lost 7 lbs in a day and hope he understands what kind of pain and suffering that required.
When Derrick's Mom was sick last week, I should of got as far away as possible from Cornwall as I could. I figured this year with getting to race the WC and two stages races I would be able to get at least one or few good days in. On the positive note, I knew PEI was my best shot to do well so I guess all I can do is rest up for that and be 100%. It's funny for the first time I am listening to what people tell me. Dan, my coach, said just take it easy for the next 3 days even if I am itching to ride hard. On the plus side if all goes well I can hammer again by Wednesday and get ready for PEI. Sounds like a good compromise for me.
NCE
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